Travel stress free, is it really a foreign concept to many or is it we just haven’t mastered the art of it? Regular readers know I am always traveling somewhere, I spend more time at airports and foreign lands than I do at home. I love to travel, I experienced my first solo travel in 2014 when I traveled to Zambia alone. I was pretty scared to be honest but also chilled because I was well prepared and afterall I was going home. There are people who hate dislike traveling because of the stress that come with it. I have never traveled with children before so I can’t even advice on how to travel stress free with kids.
Because I travel so much, even what others consider stressful, I feel as though it is part of the entire experience. Waking up at crack of dawn has never been fun for anyone except for me because I will still catch up on my sleep. There are certain things that I do that ensure I travel stress free without a care in the world. Today I am sharing my trusted 7 ways to travel stress free.
Seven (7) Ways to Travel Stress Free
Pack in advance, seriously this is a nobrainer but how many people pack last minute? I am an early packer who then unpacks night before to double check things. I enjoy looking through what I had packed earlier in the week just to ensure I am still happy with my choices.
Pack only what you need, how many times have you packed 7 outfits and only wear 1 for the duration of your holiday? I have had this happen to me too many times to not improve on and put systems in place. If I am going for a weekend getaway, first thing I pack; nightwear then clothes to return in. I do this because I love being comfortable in my sleep wear and I don’t take prisoners on that. Choosing clothes to wear on return helps me to plan and organise my life. Then I pack outfit(s) for the day(s) I will be exploring and this has to be comfortable yet stylish outfits.
Dress comfortably (no jewellery or heels), for a jewelry addict like me this is usually hard. One thing I hate dislike at airports is taking off my (fake) jewelry. It is such an incovenient thing to do but a necessity for airport and public security. If my flight is a night flight, I travel in either the most comfortable trousers or PJs and I don’t apologise. I get the need to look cute and stylish but honestly everything has it’s own time and place.
Organisation and good investiments
Get organised – have all relevant documents ready. This is something our families drummed into us whilst we young, always ensure you have your documents ready and organised. It’s surprising how many people don’t have documents ready on day of travel. I am one of those people who has; electronic ticket and printed paper copy, passport copy at home. I like to print confirmation emails of hotels or attractions in an event that my phone or tablet runs out of power I require a backup. This is not enough for me, I reprint the same documents again and keep one in backpack and one in purse. It can be thought of as excessive until you find you need it, better safe than sorry.
Invest in good luggage, on m first ever trip to the states I went with only hand luggage. I know it’s shocking, a transatlantic flight and I don’t even have haul luggage but I was lucky TJMax had me covered. Having awesome work colleagues they managed to take me around New Jersey for some good suitcases and I found a few. Sad thing about me traveling is I feel like I need to always spend. 90% of the time I don’t need to but the TJMax luggage was too great an investiment to not spend.
Good Food and Rest
Pack snacks and reading material, whether flight is 45 minutes or 16 hours I pack snacks and reading material. Now I don’t always get to read because I am usually busy, snoozing or talking (family disease). But I am always hungry when I get on a place plus with the extortionate prices I like to bring my own. Obviously liquids I will need to buy, I always travel with empty bottle and fill it up after passing security. This way I save money on unnecesarily and expensive drinks which I can find everywhere cheaper.
Get good rest before you travel, highly encouraged. 90% of my weekend getaways are either very early in the morning or late at night. If early in the morning, I will leave my home the previous night and sleep at the airport. Though not the most comfortable, when you’re tired you can sleep on top of a volcano (I can).
These are my seven (7) tips for being able to travel stress free regardless of the duration or destination. Many people get themselves worked up on things they can control (being prepared) or cant control (flight plan). But such is life and we are all different, I hope my tips will help you on your next adventure.
Remeber: Traveling is meant to be fun not another burden.
Anosa says
Awww bless hope your next plans don’t get cancelled and you guys actually manage to escape somewhere nice
Anosa says
I know it can be difficult but a lot of it is discpline and self belief i think
Anosa says
You’re most welcome
Lisa Lambert (mumdadplus4) says
Some great tips here. We always stay at airport night before and early flight save the stress of a taxi ride and traffic
Anosa says
Exactly whyb I prefer to sleep at airport
Tanya Howard says
I can’t grasp how people can dislike travelling! I love travelling and feel disheartened if I leave it too long in between trips away. I have definitely improved over the last few at travelling stress free and I would say that’s in large part from organisation and packing only what I need. Great tips!
Anosa says
I know right, I think traveling is the best thing since the internet lol. Thanks Tanya
RosieCorriette says
Completely agree with dressing comfortably – can never understand why people want to dress up at an airport
Anosa says
Tell me about it, I get wanting to be fashionable but some styles are just a problem at the airport
fashion-mommy says
I am so with you on packing in advance, I pack about a week before and do a little each day, with a list. It is so much easier.
Anosa says
It makes like so much easier doesn’t it
Jemma Andrew-Adiamah says
Great tips! Travelling can be very stressful, especially with a child in tow.
Anosa says
I can only imagine what it must be like with a child in tow
TheLocdBella says
Thank you so much for the tips. I’ll be doing more travel next year and these are extremely helpful.
Anosa says
Glad to hear it and good luck to you
Claire @ Country Mouse Claire says
The empty bottle tip is one of my favourites – such a great way to make a little saving!
Anosa says
I know right, I learnt that from MoH
The London Mum says
Fab tips and things I do myself when I travel to make life easier.
Anosa says
Very glad to hear that
Karate and Caviar says
I generally pack the night before for shorter trips. If I go longer than one week then I try to at least already save a place in the house where I slowly put the stuff I want to take with me 🙂
Anosa says
That works too, if I am going for weekend getaway I like to pack atleast 2 days before but then double check night before I leave
Rhian Westbury says
I always like packing ages before I travel as I am less stressed feeling like I’ve forgotten something x
Anosa says
I know the feeling, I pack ages in advance then double check night before
Nicol Wong says
good tips! i have to be organised all the time when I’m travelling. i get paranoid if I’m not
Anosa says
I know the feeling, organisation helps most of us stay calm before our travels
Helen Costello says
I agree that good luggage is such a treat and reduces stress. Also a great tip to get a good night’s rest before travelling. Happy travels!
Anosa says
Thanks Helen, resting well before the trip is awesome a nice idea
Divya @ Eat. Teach. Blog. says
I always travel with my essential oils! Lavender really helps me calm down when I’m in the plane! 🙂
Anosa says
I do love essential oils but never travelled with them before. I will try the lavender one
Janine Good says
I completely agree with all of these! I try to pack in advance, but sometimes I question what I have added to the suitcase. I do also agree with getting a lot of rest the day before as I have high anxiety and cannot cope sometimes.
Anosa says
It can help with your anxiety if you pack early enough and write down what you’ve packed. The night before just double check your list and that’s that
Hannah Heartss ❄️⛄️ says
SO many good tips, I need to remember these when I go on holiday early next year x
Anosa says
Thanks Hannah
Stephanie Merry says
I definitely need to learn to pack lighter – I just love having options! x
Anosa says
I too love having options but I know what to pack for what trips
Beautyqueenuk says
I really need to learn that ‘Pack only what you need’ I always take so much more x
Anosa says
It comes with practice and remembering the tips
Blair Villanueva says
Thanks for sharing your tips! When I travel, I just pack clothes that I can easily mix and match, mostly basics.
Anosa says
That’s my way too, it saves so much time that way
Baby Isabella says
Awesome tips….pack only what you need is super important and we always pack a couple of days before hand!
Anosa says
Thanks, always important to pack what you need and a few days earlier too
Sondra Barker says
Great tips! Dressing comfortably is highly overlooked, I think, since we’ve got stars like Kendal Jenner showing up to the airport right out of fashion shows and things! Great job, love!
Anosa says
I know right, may are forgetting some of these stars are riding first class with so much room to change into comfy outfits
Gurki | My Blogging Adventures says
I get stressed out whenever I am traveling, always thinking that I’m forgetting something. Your tips are pretty handy!
Anosa says
I used to be like that too but these tips have changed things for me
Kathryn says
I fly out on the 14th, so this post has come at a very handy time xx
Anosa says
Where are you off to? Glad I shared at the right time
Imaobong Asuquo says
I totally agree with your point of packing only what you need, and that’s something I learnt the hard way!
Anosa says
I guess sometimes we need to learn the hard way for it to stick with us
Milly says
This is a great post! I’m so fussy about my travel documents, I print about three copies of everything on various parts of my luggage/self!
Anosa says
I so know the feeling, I like to have some control where I can
Tara | C&CO. says
Some really good tips here, must bookmarking for my next getaway!
Anosa says
Glad to hear it Tara and thanks
Aish Das-Padihari says
Really great tips. Saving it for sure. And loved that burgandy jacket on you.
Anosa says
Thanks so much Aish
everinmay says
Such good tips, I am exactly the same as you with the hard copies of all my bookings, I’ve had plenty of travel experiences where having a copy has come to the rescue! I never thought about sleeping at the airport the night before, I did stay in the airport hotel once which was pretty nice but in general I just do the really early wakeup call- great post! xx
Anosa says
Thank so much, I wouold stay in airport hotels but they tend to be too expensive for my liking
Julie Maloney says
I have eight years in the airline industry behind me and I stick to every one of these rules when I travel.
Anosa says
I am so glad to hear that and thanks
Sarah Bailey says
I love these tips – I totally admit I am always a stressy mess whenever we go away.
Anosa says
I hope these tips will help next time, I am still perfecting my travel but these certainly helps me stay calm
Melanie Edjourian says
I would love to get out and travel more and have 1 holiday booked so far, this will be useful 😉
Anosa says
I hope you get to utilise these tips on your next adventure
Amber says
I always have issues with the packing. I tend to pack more than I really need. I need to stop that!
Anosa says
It takes time and before you know it you will have mastered the art of packing lol
Paula says
I travel a lot and I do exactly what you are saying, such a good tips 🙂
Anosa says
Thanks Paula, glad to hear it