Do you have travel in your future? You’re not alone. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, people around the globe take 1.4 billion international trips each year. That’s nearly 4 million travelers each day!
While traveling can be an amazing way to open your mind, it can also be a stressful endeavor. Bustling airports, crowded roads, and complicated train schedules are a one-way trip to an anxiety-provoking situation.
If you’re looking to travel stress-free on your next adventure, read on for our favorite stress-free travel hacks.
Stress-free Travel by Car
There’s nothing quite like a classic road trip. Windows down, loud music, and the open road; what could be better?
Unfortunately, real-life road trips aren’t always the carefree adventure movies portray them to be. Thanks to traffic, road conditions, and care troubles, road trips are ripe with stressful situations. Here are our best tips for keeping that stress to a minimum.
Plan to travel midday, mid-week
There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in rush hour traffic while you’re on vacation. While you may think the best solution is to travel on the weekend, it’s not. Rest stops, restaurants, and roadside attractions are always busier on weekends.
Instead, plan to travel midday, mid-week. Leave after morning rush-hour and plan your dinner during evening rush-hour. That way, you’ll spend your driving time on the midday open road.
Prep your emergency kit
The longer your road trip, the more opportunity to run into car problems. Car issues can be stressful, but with proper preparation, you’re completely capable of handling them.
Prep your roadside emergency kit with the following:
- Jumper cables
- Flares
- Tire gage
- Coolant
- Motor oil
- First-aid kit
Include weather-specific items based on where your trip will take you. For a snowy drive, pack an ice scraper. For a desert excursion, pack emergency water.
Don’t rely on cell service
Do you have any country or desert travel on your itinerary? If so, you shouldn’t plan to depend on your cell phone’s data for maps or phone calls.
Most navigation apps offer the ability to download portions of their maps for offline use. Before you leave, load your route and download your maps.
It’s also a good idea to put a handful of quarters in the car in case you need to use a roadside payphone. On the off-chance you run into car trouble in a dead zone, you’ll be able to call for help.
Stress-free Travel by Plane
Traveling by plane brings its own unique stressors. Depending on the distance you’re traveling, you may be spending up to 24-hours in various planes and airports, interacting with hundreds of people, and sharing a tiny bathroom with an entire plane of travelers.
Here are our favorite travel hacks for stress-free flying.
Pack your most important items in your carry-on
It only takes one lost bag to ruin your entire trip. A mishap with your checked luggage may leave you with days without your items.
Do yourself a favor and pack your most important items in your carry-on. That includes things like your passport, credit cards, medications, electronics, camera, and more. It’s also a great idea to pack at least one change of clothes in your carry-on luggage, so that you don’t get stuck in the same pair of socks and underwear for several days.
Find a way to sleep on the plane
If you have a long flight and a drastic time-zone change ahead of you, it’s imperative that you sleep on the plane. This will help you sync up to your new schedule, and also help pass the time!
We know what you’re thinking: easier said than done, right?
There are a few things that can help you get better sleep on a plane. For one, avoid caffeine prior to and during your flight. Also, be sure to bring some kind of cushioning for your neck. That may be a travel pillow or even a thick sweatshirt that can prop your head up.
Finally, explore sleep aids that may work for you. We love vegan CBD gummies with melatonin. The combination of non-psychoactive cannabinoid oil and natural melatonin can gently lull you into restful sleep.
