How to Take the Stress Out of Travel

Between all the summer activities, getting ready for the upcoming school year, and the insane holiday season just around the corner, thinking about planning your next vacation may feel a bit overwhelming right now. However, if you plan to travel this winter or upcoming Spring Break, it's important to get reservations made as soon as possible before prices continue to increase and availability becomes more scarce. 
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​Below are some simple tips for taking the stress out of travel...

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Think about the last time you went on a vacation. Did you really escape? When you returned home were you just as exhausted before you left? If you're like a lot of people, you took off, and got back just as stressed as you were prior to your departure. The number one cause of not full enjoying a vacation? It's a tie between dealing with stressful situations that came up on your trip, and not leaving the stress of life back home at home.

Let's discuss how to avoid this...

Plan your travel early. Time goes by so fast these days, and in a blink of an eye you only have a couple months left to figure out your travel plans. By then, the best accommodations are full, the good flight schedules are sold out or no longer have seats together, and prices tend to be higher.

I see this too often and many people end up no longer traveling because the price has increased so much more since I quoted them months prior. There is a common misconception that waiting until the last minute offers the best deals. This use to be true many years ago, but hasn't been the case for a long time. Don't forgo your vacation because you waited too long to book. Everyone needs a break and you will find the best deals by making your arrangements well in advance.     

Create a plan to execute, but be okay with ditching the plan. Make a list of everything you need to bring with you on your trip, and then pack. Just this trick alone can save you loads of stress. Rather than worrying if you forgot something, you'll have peace of mind because you took time to think about what you needed instead of going about packing haphazardly.

Make a list of the places you want to see and visit on your trip. This is where being willing to ditch the plan comes in. Too many people create an itinerary, and then feel they have to commit to it causing them to do and see things that didn't keep the fun going. If you get to a museum and suddenly realize they bore you to tears, you don't have to go to any other museums if you don't want to! Consider this your permission slip.

Get everywhere early. Flights, dinner reservations, shows and games – what do they all have in common? They generally have a time attached to them. Give yourself plenty of buffer time to arrive everywhere you need to be. Nothing ruins a vacation faster than missed flights and late arrivals to important events.

Intend to be on vacation. Okay, this one might sound silly, but you need to have the mindset to be on vacation. This means not checking in at work, or working at all while on the vacation. Going into a vacation with the intention of letting everything at home stay at home can work wonders for your stress levels. Your body and mind needs this escape, so allow yourself to actually get away completely!

Go to sleep, and sleep at least 8 hours every night. This tip may shock you, but one of the reasons travelers come home even more exhausted and stressed, is they try to pack too much into their schedule while away, and they barely sleep. Yes, a getaway is exciting, but you'll enjoy it more with a good night's sleep each night.

Hire a travel agent. When you work with a travel agent to coordinate and schedule your travel accommodations and transportation, you're allowing them to take some of the work off your plate for you. If anything goes wrong or need changes - you have someone to call that works for you, so you can get back to enjoying your trip.


For your next trip, call Destinations HD at (913) 244-9195. You don't have to spend countless hours creating your perfect trip – that's our job! Let us handle the heavy lifting for you, so that all you have to do is show up. ​Book your consultation or call (913) 244-9195.

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