Vacations are meant to relieve stress, aren’t they? Well, they certainly can while you are sitting around the pool with a cocktail in your hand, but the lead up to going away can be entirely different. In fact, it can be super stressful, so make sure you follow the checklist below that should keep you as a calm and as organized as possible.
Sort your travel documents
First of all, you need to make sure that you have all the correct documentation for the trip you are taking. This includes your tickets, passport, and visa or visa waiver.
Now, when it comes to tickets things have got a little easier as you can put them on your phone with a QR code, and also do online check-in making things go more quickly. However, you absolutely need to have your passport when you travel, and it’s wise to check that it doesn’t run out before the end of your trip too.
Additionally, don’t forget that even if you are going for on vacation, many countries require you to have the correct visa or visa waiver, or they won’t let you in. To that end, be sure to reach and apply for the correct one; otherwise, you could end up pulling a load of stress on your plate during vacation!
Plan your airport arrival
Do you know what one of the most stressful things about vacation is? When you are right at the beginning and heading to the airport. After all, you are fretting whether you have packed all the correct items and whether you will get there with enough time to park, get through security and get onto your plane.
Luckily, you can help to alleviate some of this stress by checking out your airport parking options beforehand. Then you will know exactly how much it will costs, as well as where you will be and how to get to the gate you are boarding at. To be forewarned is to be framed, after all!
Pack your carry on
Urgh, carry-ons are so much work these days because you have to make sure that all of the things you have with you adhere to the regulations. Of course, that means traveling with liquids no larger than 100mls, and putting anything exceeding this in your main luggage.
To that end, removing any manicure items from your carry-on is essential, so if you know you need some contact lens solution on moisturizer during or straight after the flights, it is crucial that you take them in travel sized bottles. Otherwise, you could end up having a very stressful situation when you get to the security gates.
Come up with an itinerary
Finally, when it comes to reducing stress on vacation, it’s a smart idea to come up with, at least a loose itinerary of what you will do, when. Then, you will have peace of mind knowing you will be able to fit in all the sites and actives you want, and so can relax and unwind as soon as you arrive.
