Life In Pleasantville

Food, Travel, Life

Nine Ways to Reduce Travel Stress

by Candace Sampson

Travel is a funny thing. It’s meant to bring relaxation but it often brings the complete opposite.  The more I’ve travelled though, the more I’ve learned to play an offensive game. While there’s nothing you can do to prevent travel delays or sudden illness, there are things you can do to eliminate other stressors. I use these tips every single time we travel now.

Nine Ways to Reduce Travel Stress

Keep Your Meds With You

Last year we were asked at the gate to check our carry-ons because the plane was full. Not seeing any harm we volunteered our bags assuming they’d be waiting for us on arrival. You know the punchline of course; they lost our bags that contained my husband’s very important heart medication.  Since then we keep all meds in my purse which will never get checked. Also make sure you keep them in the bottles they’ve been prescribed to you in to avoid questions at customs.

Roll Your Clothes

The less you have to carry the better.  Rolling your clothes allows you to fit more clothing into one bag so that you might even be able to fit the whole family into one.

Exchange Your Money Before You Go

There is nothing worse than landing and trying to find foreign currency. Since I found out about CIBC Foreign Exchange, I’ll never worry about it again.  I can order my money online and have it delivered directly to my door before I travel. Not only is it a time-saver, it’s a sanity saver.

Carry Battery Packs

I always have my phone and laptop with me so I can work on the road. My kids have their iPods and my husband has his laptop and phone as well. That’s a lot of devices to keep charged and there’s not always a place to charge them. Everyone gets a battery pack in their carry on as back up.

Carry a Reusable Water Bottle

Nothing irks me more than paying for water, unless of course it’s paying through the nose for it at the airport. Carry an empty reusable water bottle through customs then fill it up on the other side. Keeps money in your wallet and plastic out of landfills.

Take a Picture of Where You Parked

You may think you’ll remember where you parked the car at the airport, but trust me after a week of Margaritas on the beach your memory won’t be so stellar. Snap a picture with your phone and then share it with someone in your party as backup. I  once took a picture and then accidentally deleted it. Losing an hour searching for a car is not the way to end your holiday.

Leave Important Documents With Someone At Home

Quick, close your eyes and recite the numbers on our credit card, bank card and passport. Exactly. Unfortunately, I feel like I’ve learned all these lessons the hard way for you. Years ago on a trip to St. Martin our credit card was stolen and our bank card was cancelled. We were just engaged and my future husband decided that he’d rather spend the rest of his life living in St. Martin then ask his future father-in-law for help. “Hello sir, I’d like to marry your daughter but first can you bankroll the rest of our vacation?” We made it through, but since that time I take photocopies of all important documents before we travel and leave them with someone we trust just in case.

Get a Pashmina Shawl

I can’t emphasize this one enough for the ladies. Travel is exhausting and sometimes you just want to wrap yourself up in a blanket and let it go. My shawl has been my coat, my blanket, my pillow, my scarf, my headwrap. It is the best travel investment I’ve ever made.

Keep Hand Sanitizer On Hand

Planes and airports are germ-y places based solely on the fact that thousands of people pass through them daily. Not to go all Howard Hughes on your here but airports and airplanes are crawling with microscopic bugs just waiting to get all up in your business. In my purse I religiously carry three things; hand sanitizer, hand moisturizer (because hand sanitzer is drying) and face spray (because airplane air is drying).  Just like I wouldn’t leave home without my passport, I would leave these three things behind either.

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About Candace Sampson

Candace Sampson is the founder of Life in Pleasantville and the host of What She Said, Canada’s longest-running women’s talk show turned podcast. A trusted voice in Canadian lifestyle and travel media for over a decade, Candace blends storytelling with sharp insight to connect with women on everything from solo travel to social issues. She’s also the creator of Girl Trips, a women-focused retreat and travel brand. Find her on Instagram @candace_said @whatshesaidtalk and @girltrips.ca

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sandy T

    Bring a change of clothes & swimsuit in your carry-on bag, in case your luggage is lost or delayed!

  2. angela m

    My best tip is to bring snacks and books on your carry on for wait times at the airport.

  3. Glogirl

    My travel tip is to place all your liquids (ie. shampoo/lotions etc.) in a ziploc bag in case they leak!

  4. prairiebelle

    I recently saw someone mention as sunglass case for all your cords. I think it is a fantastic idea

  5. ksceviour

    My travel tip is to bring lots of healthy snacks,so you are not tempted to stop in gas stations and buy chips and junk food.

  6. Jenn

    I always pack a days worth of clothing in my carryon bag, just in case.

  7. Christina D

    My travel trip is using ziplock space bags to help with getting all your cloths to fit into a suitcase.

  9. tanyab79

    I roll my clothes to make more room to bring more.

  10. Krista M

    Get new toys & activities for the kids and stagger them. Do not give them everything at once– make each individual activity last as long as possible. I find by the time we’ve arrived at our destination I still have stuff leftover they haven’t yet seen or played with (to use on the way back!)

  11. Andrea Amy

    Be organized. Organization is everything! Plan ahead, and be prepared.

  12. BlessedTA

    Be flexible

  13. Jolie

    I always pack a change of clothes in my carry-on in case my luggage gets lost.

  14. Josh S

    Pack lots of snacks.

  15. Tammy Dalley

    Have lots of snacks on hand

  17. Lushka Smith

    Use small containers for your beauty products, refill when you get home, then you are ready for your next trip with less hassle.

  19. Juliee Fitze

    I roll all my clothes then put them in an airlock bag so they weigh less.

  20. Maria

    Don’t overpack ! We always bring more than we need

  21. favgreen(Rhonda W G.)

    Always allow for more time than you think…

  22. Rebby

    My travel tip is simple, stay organized, pack light but make a list so you don’t forget anything!

  23. edmontonjb

    Mix up everyone’s clothes into different suitcases so that if a piece of luggage gets lost, everyone will still have some clothes to change into.

    Jonnie

  24. Pam

    Make sure you have all the meds in your carry on: tylenol, diarrhea, stomach, allergy and above all Polysporin.

  25. David

    lots of snacks on hand

  26. lori b

    mine is packing a smaller bag inside my suitcase for purchases

  27. Jackie M

    Bring an extra light weight duffel bag. You never know if you need to pack a little more (yay to shopping!)

  30. Courtney

    Pack food, snacks and drinks. It’ll save so much money!

  31. Jenny

    bring lots of snacks

  32. ivy pluchinsky

    roll my clothes up to make more room

  34. nicky

    carry a water bottle and snacks, this will help keep everyone happy!

  35. Florence C

    I always put clothes in my carry-on. I also put an outfit in my husbands suitcase and one of his in mine.

  36. Lindsay T

    My best travel tip – when travelling with someone else put half of your clothes in each checked suitcase, that way if one gets lost you’ll both still have clothes!

  37. Jennpup

    Pack ear plugs (never know when you’ll get noisy hotel room neighbours/hallways) and gravol.

  38. SUMMER PLEWES

    Buy bead organizers at the dollar store to stock your jewelry and necklaces.

  39. Mark V

    try to stick to carry on only.

  40. wendy hutton

    I roll my clothes so I can get more in the suitcase

  41. Jenness M

    Photocopy your passport and other id and keep it seperate. My purse was stolen in Barcelona and that would have helped!

  42. Tricia Cooper

    Bring a pair of PJ’s and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag. BTW — lots of great ideas here!! Thanx!

  43. Bailey Dexter

    When packing for a trip with the kids, I lay out a top & matching bottoms one on top of the others. Then I add the underclothes,socks & matching hair accessories. I then roll it up in a roll, this way they can pick all the rolls and everything is all in it, as well as always have enough of everything for them!

  44. Jasen H

    Backup all data of every electronic device you are bringing with you. You never know when you might misplace a phone or laptop!

  45. em

    use a ziploc bag when you travel with liquids. put the ziploc around the bottle then close the lid, flip the ziploc inside out and zip

  46. zahra premji

    Keep an extra ziploc bag and a change of underwear at the very least in your carry-on/purse

  47. janicour

    bring a copy of passpots and drivers license when you travel

  48. Cristina L (@gLawrieous)

    Scan copies of your passport, ID, medical cards and Travel documentation and email them to yourself, so if you ever lose anything you will always have access to copies!

  49. Fiona Mullins

    Pack all liquids in plastic bags

  50. Paula R

    Pack a couple days ahead, then when you remember something you can just add it to your suitcase

  51. ginette4

    Bring plenty of snacks and stop often to stretch legs and visit local attractions

  52. Nate Fuller

    I pack everything in my carry on bag!

  53. Tamra H

    Buy your own re-fillable travel toiletry containers and fill them yourself. Much less expensive than buying them each trip!

  58. Cheryl

    Prepare yourself ahead of time with lists so you don’t forget anything

  59. KC

    Pack some clothes in carry on in case your checked baggage gets lost!

  60. Nicole Jubleew

    If you are traveling outside of the country, scan copies of all your documents including passport and credit cards and email them to yourself. That way if they get lost of stolen you will have easy access to a copy to get them replaced.

  61. magscheung

    Just in case, I always keep my liquids in ziplock bags! I am always afraid they leak all over … I’ve learned from before! =)

  62. gene d

    pack less than what you think you will need

  63. Mandy

    My tip for moms with babies is to bring extra clothes for yourself as well as baby on the carry on.

  64. nicolthepickle

    Mine is make a list and check it off as you go along.

  65. Brenda Lacourciere

    My best travel tip is to always plan ahead but leave some room for extra activities even if it is just resting.

  66. Stephanie

    Best travel tip is bring lots of sunblock because it can get expensive in destination countries

  67. Michelle Chang

    Use packing cubes to keep luggage neat and organized – it makes packing, unpacking and repacking much easier!

  68. seham merzib

    bring games, books for the kids

  69. mongupp

    Photocopy all documents and leave with a trustworthy person.

  70. Patrick Siu

    Always carry your passport with u, never in a luggage in case of theft.

  71. Tina L.

    bring snacks and reading material in case of delays

  72. stacey h

    bring healthy snacks and a change of clothes on your carry on.

  73. Caroline

    I roll my clothes when packing, place shampoo etc in Ziploc bags in case they leak, and make a list to ensure I don’t forget something.

  74. Andrea

    My best travel trip is to roll clothes instead of folding, it saves space! Also, create a checklist so you won’t forget anything!

  75. Angela M

    I always make use of empty spaces such as shoes

  76. Eldon L

    I always have extra paper towels with me

  77. Tracy D

    Bring a power tube to keep your electronics going, even during delays!

  78. CL Chin

    my best travel tip is to pack fairly light and keep an extra set of clothes in your carry on luggage just in case.

  79. KellyPC

    Pack light!