There’s no getting around it: Travel is stressful. Between the anxiety of forgetting to pack some essential or other, the chaos of navigating long airport lines, and the constant looming threats of delayed flights and lost luggage, hopping on a flight is enough to get anyone’s blood pressure up. But that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a cortisol spike every time you walk into an airport. There are ways to make your travel experience feel calmer and less stressful, and as a travel editor and frequent flier, I’ve tried them all. From packing to getting through the airport to navigating an unfamiliar destination, I’ve nailed down a few strategies to take (most of) the stress out of each stage of the travel process.
Some hiccups are unavoidable, but with these travel hacks, at least I can keep my fight-or-flight response in check. Keep reading for the stress-free travel hacks that’ll save your sanity on your next trip.
1. Make a detailed packing checklist
One of my biggest travel anxieties is feeling like I forgot to pack something essential. After spending way too many travel days stressing about whether I remembered everything I’d need for my trip, I decided I needed to get more organized up front. Now, I make a very detailed checklist of everything I need to pack before I even open my suitcase. It includes everything from toiletry items (face wash, deodorant, sunscreen) to specific clothing pieces (brown maxi dress, striped linen pants) to miscellaneous essentials (phone charger, daily vitamins).
Then, as I load each item into my suitcase, I check it off the list. No more last-minute panicking about whether you packed enough underwear or grabbed that specific sweater you wanted to wear—you can just check the list to make sure. This list lives in the Notes app on my phone, so I can easily tweak it for each trip without having to start from scratch.
2. List out last-minute to-dos
The same strategy can be applied to any last-minute to-dos you need to complete before leaving the house. My list typically includes basic household tasks like watering my plants, adjusting the thermostat, and taking out the trash, but you can get as specific as you want. If you’re someone who tends to panic on their way to the airport, wondering if you remembered to unplug your hair straightener or close the garage door on your way out, write those things down and then check them off. It’ll give you some extra peace of mind knowing you checked off everything you needed to do before embarking on your trip.
3. Keep your toiletry bag stocked between trips
Toiletries are the biggest category where I’m likely to forget something. And trust me: You do not want to spend the first day of your vacation hunting down the nearest drugstore because you forgot something non-negotiable like deodorant or a toothbrush. To solve this problem, I keep my travel toiletry bag permanently stocked with all the essentials. Things like a travel toothbrush, a mini hairbrush, hair ties, and travel-size versions of my go-to products all stay in the bag between trips so I don’t have to repack it each time (and risk forgetting something). Plus, it’s one less thing you have to unpack when you get home!
4. Get to the airport extra early
If you’re trying to make travel less stressful, skip the “airport theory” trend and just get there early. Hanging out in an airport probably isn’t your idea of a good time (especially when it comes to early-morning flights), but it beats sweating in the security line because you’re about to miss the final boarding call. Take the pressure off and get to the airport well in advance, making sure to pad in extra time for things like parking and dropping off checked bags if needed. Then, once you get through security, you can take your time grabbing a pre-flight snack or drink or relax with a book by your gate before boarding starts.
5. Schedule your transportation ahead of time
In many cities around the world, public transportation is a fantastic way to get around quickly and affordably—but I wouldn’t recommend trying to decipher a complicated public transport map when you’re fresh off a 10-hour flight. My advice? Figure out the local metro or bus system when you’re not running on zero sleep and bogged down with a bunch of luggage. In the same vein, trying to flag down a taxi or an Uber (especially during peak times or the middle of the night) can come with all sorts of added stress. Instead, I recommend scheduling your transportation from the airport ahead of time so you know exactly what to expect when you get off the plane.
On a recent trip to France, I booked a private airport transfer through Blacklane ahead of time, and it was so nice to step off the long flight—bleary-eyed, jet-lagged, unsure what time it was—and have a car waiting to take us directly to our accommodations. The driver was even able to track our flight and adjust for any delays, so I didn’t have to worry about rescheduling when we got in a little later than expected. It made the first couple of hours in an unfamiliar city so much less stressful, especially when I was in no state to handle complicated logistics.
6. Get travel insurance
Travel is already expensive enough, so trip insurance is one of those added expenses that can be tempting to skip. But if disaster strikes—whether that’s a last-minute trip cancellation, a lost suitcase, or a medical emergency—having travel insurance can save you a lot of additional stress and money. I highly recommend it for big international trips or extended stays. Check whether your credit card offers travel insurance as a benefit, or look into purchasing a policy from a travel insurance company. You hopefully won’t need to use it, but if you do, you’ll be so glad you thought ahead.
7. Book hotels, not Airbnbs
In recent years, I’ve experienced far too many instances of Airbnb hosts cancelling stays at the last minute or going completely radio silent when a problem comes up (like when you’re locked out of your accommodations at midnight because the code to the building isn’t working). Now, unless I’m travelling with a big group and really need more space than a hotel room can provide, I almost exclusively stay in hotels when I travel. Just having access to a secure entrance, daily housekeeping, and a 24/7 front desk staff who can handle emergencies instantly takes a lot of stress off. Plus, you won’t have to deal with completing a huge list of chores before checkout like you might with an Airbnb (I mean, isn’t that what the cleaning fee is for?).
8. Download maps and translation apps for offline use
Especially when you’re travelling internationally, reliable cell service is not guaranteed. You can rely on an international data plan or eSIM to stay connected, but there may be times when your signal is weak or nonexistent. And at times like those, you don’t want to get lost in an unfamiliar city with no clue how to get back to your hotel. To ensure you still have access to navigation tools, download maps for offline use before your trip. You can easily download a specific map area within both Google Maps and Apple Maps, and it might just save you a lot of stress later.
I also apply this same tip to language translation apps. With the Google Translate app, for example, you can download the language of the country you’re visiting ahead of time, so you can still access all the features when your service is spotty. I’ve found this super helpful when trying to decipher restaurant menus or train schedules.
9. Screenshot all your important documents
Speaking of unreliable internet connection, you definitely don’t want to be that person holding up the line because the shitty airport Wi-Fi isn’t loading your boarding pass. I always screenshot all my important travel documents—including boarding passes, hotel booking reference numbers, rental car or airport transfer confirmations, and museum tickets—so I don’t have to rely on Wi-Fi or cellular data when I need to pull something up. Even better, save all these screenshots into a specific folder on your phone so they’re easy to access at a moment’s notice.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.
