Our Favorite Travel Hacks for Stress-Free Travel

Planning can be hectic, but it doesn’t have to be. There are countless travel hacks to help make life easier.

We compiled a few of our favorites so that you can experience stress-free travel.

Here is everything you need to make planning, preparing for, and going on your trip a million times easier.

Planning your trip

One of the best travel hacks we can give you when planning is to start early. Last-minute trips can be stressful and end up costing you more.

However, there is such a thing as too early. The sweet spot for booking domestic travel, according to CheapAir.com, is 67 days before a summer trip, 94 days before a winter trip, 84 days before a spring trip, and 89 days before a fall trip.

Ideal times for booking international trips depend on your destination. However, most North American locations are two months out, Central America is 1-3 months, the Middle East is 1.5-5 months, Africa is three months, and Asia and Europe are roughly 120 days out.

These estimates are based on previous years, so it’s always helpful to monitor for the best deals.

Use a private browser when booking

Another hack for scoring the best deals on travel is using an incognito browser. Websites store cookies and data, and prices can increase if you exit and return. Using a private browser will prevent this from happening.

Preparing for Your Trip

Make copies of important travel documents

People often worry about having the correct travel documents before leaving for a trip. They will usually double-check if they have their driver’s license or I.D. and passport but don’t always make copies.

In the unfortunate circumstance that any of these items get lost abroad, it is tremendously helpful to have hard copies of them.

Before you leave, make copies of these items along with credit cards and visas and email them to yourself. Keep these copies safe and separate from the actual documents.

Contact your bank and credit card company

If you are going on an international trip, you should contact your bank and credit card company to alert them that you’re leaving.

There is nothing worse than getting to your destination and having your credit card frozen because they think you have a stolen card.

Avoid this entire mess by calling them to let them know where you’ll be going and for how long.

Trading currency

Another travel hack for stress-free travel abroad is knowing when is the best time to trade your currency. If you have a common currency like the U.S. dollar, you can exchange it abroad. However, if you come from a country with a less common currency, you might want to trade it before leaving.

Overall, it is generally the most expensive to trade at the airport and at a bank. You can often withdraw from an ATM or a place that doesn’t charge commission.

Pack with intention

Packing intentionally instead of throwing everything into a suitcase will save you a lot of stress. Dedicate some time and space to layout your belongings and filter through them before putting them into your luggage.

Additionally, carefully consider what you’ll actually need during the trip. In most cases, you’ll be able to buy most items you forget at your destination.

However, you should also create a list of any items you can not get at your destination that you absolutely need. Planning ahead will ensure you don’t forget these items and eliminate anything unnecessary.

Budget for your trip

Budgeting ahead of time is another travel hack that will make your trip stress-free.

Your budget doesn’t have to include minor expenses, but getting a rough idea of what you’ll be spending makes things easier.

You can include big-budget items like flights and hotels on your list, then list spending categories for the rest. For example, instead of including eating at restaurant XYZ, make a category for dining.

Always add a little bit of cushion for emergencies and flexibility.

On Your Trip

Book a morning flight and arrive early

One travel hack that we swear by is booking a flight early in the morning. Flight cancellations and delays accumulate throughout the day, so you’re more likely to be on time if you book a morning flight.

Additionally, getting to the airport early will save you a lot of stress. There is nothing more agitating than frantically running to your gate last minute. Arrive at your gate with plenty of time to spare to account for changes and avoid unnecessary scrambling.

Take care of yourself on the plane

The environment on a plane is a bit harsh. When you’re at a high altitude sitting for hours on end, it’s easy to feel gross and sluggish when you reach your destination.

Make sure you take extra care of yourself during the flight. Bring a refillable water bottle and fill it with water before leaving. Stay hydrated during your flight to combat the effects of the dry air and altitude.

Additionally, make sure you get up and walk if you are on a long flight. It’s good to get circulation during a long journey, even if it’s just going to the bathroom and back.

Pre-download Google Maps

One of the best travel hacks for going to a new location is pre-downloading Google Maps. Sometimes, cell phone coverage can be spotty or non-existent in some destinations. Also, if you’re in a foreign country, you might not be able to access your data.

That is why you should download maps before you reach your destination. Then, you’ll have no problems if you don’t have a signal, and you can use the app in the same way you would normally.

Use Google Translate’s offline feature

Google Maps isn’t the only app you can use offline. You can also download Google Translate offline.

All you have to do is download a specific language before departure. Then, when you’re at your destination, you’ll have access to word translation, voice to text translation, and even sign translation in real-time. It is an amazing tool you should have on hand if you’re traveling to a place where you don’t know the local language.

Get a passport holder

Finally, one thing that will make your life so much easier while traveling is getting an “around-the-neck” passport holder. This tool will help you, even if you’re going on a domestic trip.

A passport holder will hold your most important travel documents and make it easier to go through security and avoid getting these items stolen.

It is definitely worth getting if you want to keep your hands free to take care of your suitcase and other items.

We hope that these tips will help you prepare for stress-free travel and make your life easier! Don’t forget to check out our other travel-related blog posts!

Let us help you!

Use our trip planner to map out your trip before you leave!

Planning can be hectic, but it doesn’t have to be. There are countless travel hacks to help make life easier.

Our Favorite Travel Hacks for Stress-Free Travel