21 Best Ways to Reduce Travel Stress

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We’ve all been there… anxious about missing our flight, thinking we forgot something in our suitcase, worried about if our Airbnb is exactly what it says it is.

“Vacation” may actually be “what the heck did I just get myself into.”

Finding calm in the chaos can be immensely difficult.

So what’s the secret(s) to a calm, relaxing, and enjoyable vacation?

Follow along and you’ll be on your way to your most stress-free vacation yet!

Here are the 21 Ways to Reduce Travel Stress

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1. Get enough sleep

Sleep is a game changer. You’ve probably realized this in your daily non-traveling life as well. If you are well rested, you’re more likely to tackle your day head on. You’ll be more positive, less anxious, and you’ll get along better with others (like our favorite TSA staff or your nagging little brother😊).

2. Pack enough food

We all know that hangry feeling that creeps up on us at the worst times. Make sure you plan ahead any snacks you want for your flight or any periods of time at your destination where you’ll go hours without eating.

There are tons of healthy snacks you can prepare that are perfectly portable. Check out my post 5 Best Healthy Travel Snacks for some yummy ideas!

3. Water, water, and more water

Staying hydrated should be your #1 priority when you’re traveling. If you’re dehydrated, your energy levels plummet, you become more fatigued, your concentration/mental performance reduces, and our favorite – digestive issues are in full swing. All together is the perfect combination of a grumpy traveler – exactly what we’re trying to avoid!

So drink ya water! I personally use the 32 ounce Takeya water bottle. 32 ounces is perfect – not too big, not too small, and you don’t have to fill it up as often.

4. Try daily meditation

I’m sure you’ve heard all the buzz around meditation lately. That’s because it fricken works! It can be hard to start, but once you get better at it and increase your muscle memory, it’s a mood changer.

Even if you’re in the most high stress situation, using meditation techniques can bring your mind to peace again.

I use the app Headspace. It’s perfect for beginners as well as advanced meditation-ers? I highly recommend it. If you’re not about the apps, you can easily find hundreds of Youtube videos on meditation. Give it a go!

5. Double check your travel checklist

One of the worst feelings is feeling like you forgot something. You’re ready to board the plane and you remember you left your toothbrush AND charger. The necessities. You were too busy running around trying to find your beach towel that you forgot to pack the two most important items!

Make a list, or better yet, print out a pre-made list off pinterest and double check that you have everything packed.

6. Give yourself enough time to get to the airport

Nothing is worse than thinking you’re going to miss your flight. Trust me, I’ve been there. I found myself running (sprinting) with my massive hiking backpack through the Phoenix airport a couple years ago. Not a fun feeling.

Even if it’s a 6am flight, get your booty up well in advance so you don’t have to rush. Rushing straight out of bed will make your trip stressful from the get-go.

Have everything packed the night before, grab your granola bar, get the kids together, and stay calm as you head out the door. You can even leave yourself enough time to grab some Starbucks – that in itself will put you in a happy mood😊

7. Plan out your trip from start to finish

Unless you like the uncertainty and are in for a spontaneous trip, you’ve gotta plan. If my trip isn’t a spontaneous one, I make a google doc and share it with my travel companions so we can plan our trip together. If not, you’re going to be stressed about finding things to do, transportation, if your hotel/airbnb is in a good spot, and food.

It doesn’t matter if it’s 2 days prior or 3 months prior, plan it out! I find planning can be one of the most exciting parts – I get so giddy about all the things I’m about to experience!

8. Be prepared for a change in plans

Of course, a change in plans WILL happen. It’s inevitable. The best thing to do is go into your trip prepared for anything. Try and stay calm, cool, and collected if something happens – try to look at the big picture – you’re on vacation! No worries here😎

9. Make sure your finances are in check

Can you imagine being in the middle of your 3 month trip in Europe and run out of money? Worst case scenario right there.

Before your trip make sure you have a proper budget and enough money to get you through. Extracurricular activities may come up, drinks/food may be a lot more expensive than you’re used to, and the rental car place may screw you over with an additional $1000 of insurance that they didn’t tell you about.

Have your card packed and ready to rumble💸

10. Hygiene

Boarding a plane feeling stinky, dirty, and like your clothes haven’t been washed in a week (maybe they haven’t) is a terrible feeling. Make sure to remember your toothbrush, comfy clothes, and most importantly… to take a shower!

Full transparency, this has happened to me before. The entire plane ride I was stressed out because I had a feeling my seat neighbor was having a dreadful ride thanks to me. Try your best to carve time pre-flight to make hygiene a priority.

11. Research safety concerns before you go

Safety is a primary concern – and not just when you’re traveling. It’s especially important to research areas at your destination to stay away from.

Make sure your hotel/Airbnb is in a safe neighborhood/city, and that you’ll feel comfortable walking around the area. This may be the most stressful thing while traveling as safety is a primary concern. Hop on Reddit or Google search safe areas around your destination. You won’t regret it!

12. Get on the same page as your travel companions

It can be quite stressful when you want to do things that your travel pals aren’t interested in. Of course, when you’re on vacation you want to do everything you want to do. Make sure you’re on the same page with your travel buddies. I love making google docs and sharing them with my friends so we can all collaboratively add things and move things around to our liking.

Pro tip: have a wine night and get all excited about the things everyone wants to do collectively. This makes it so much fun and takes the pressure off asking to do things to your liking! Plus who can pass up a fun wine night with the gals🍷 (or guys).

13. Make sure you feel prepared before leaving home

Suitcase is packed. Got my toothbrush. Got my toothpaste (that’s less than 3.5 ounces). Got my underwear. Got my phone charger. I’m good to go. No stress.

14. Make sure you leave everything back home in good hands

Of course, you want to make sure someone’s letting your dog out, watering your plants, and feeding your fish. If you forget this important part, you’re bound to be worrying about your little doggo, fish and plants alllll trip. I recommend having this in place weeks before your trip so you have time to find someone to take care of all your household responsibilities. And of course, make sure it’s someone you trust!

15. Be prepared to navigate through unforeseen circumstances/different areas and cultures

Wherever your vacation is, it’s going to be different. Be prepared to feel out of the ordinary, uncertain, and lost at times. Embrace the tourist life.

Many places have locals who take advantage of tourists because they’re easy targets and easy to point out. I’ve had friends who have lost their entire belongings (including their passport) and had to fly to the countries embassy to get a new one so they could fly home. Situations like this are not uncommon. Be prepared for things to go wrong!

16. Research the culture and area before you go

This is similar to researching the safety concerns in #11 – but it’s a little different. There may be different cultural practices that you may want to know before you go. My cousin was visiting another country and she actually had to dye her hair black before going. Some cultures are very different and have certain ways of looking and acting that you should be aware of. Research, research, and more research is key here!

17. Take breaks

We think of vacation as relaxing on a beach with a 12 pack of beer at our side. While this may be the case (no pun intended), we might actually have a case of the go-go-go’s.

This has happened to me one too many times, I have 4 days at a destination and I want to fit in everything. I schedule zero time for relaxation and end up getting burnt out after the first day.

Make sure to schedule that beach day or to put a couple hours aside to just chill. Go on a walk and notice the different scenery and people around you. Find some down time and just be in the present moment🧘

18. Try other stress reducing techniques (yoga, meditation, breathwork, etc).

Beach yoga? Breathwork on the top of a mountain? Meditating by a crystal blue lake? Going off of my last point, find time in the present. Your mind may be thinking of which bar you’re going to go to tonight, what you’re going to do tomorrow, or how your fish is doing back home. Be in the now and look at this life and travel experience with gratitude. Not many people get to experience the world like you’re experiencing it!

19. Focus on the positives

You’ve been waiting for this trip for soooo long! Focus on all the good things that are coming from it; seeing a new place, experiencing a new culture, spending time with loved ones, and finding something new about yourself.

Traveling is such a positive experience. It’s important to reflect on all the ways it’s filling up your cup. The fact we get to hop on a plane to a place that’s thousands of miles away, meet new people, and hear new languages is unbelievable in itself. Put gratitude at the forefront and set the worries aside. This world is incredible and you are living your life to the fullest!

20. Post trip: Have another event to look forward to

The post trip blues are REAL. This is a massive tip to avoid the stress of the travel back home. I get so mopey when I have to leave vacation and travel back to reality. Having something to look forward to when you get back is a game changer.

I like to set up dinner/drink dates with friends so I can catch up with things I missed. Plus, it’s great to see familiar faces post traveling. Sometimes there’s nothing better than home after a long vacation.

21. Disconnect and recharge

Sometimes the best thing to do is just sit on a rock and watch the sunset – no phones/watches present.

When I went to New York I planned a million things to do with barely any downtime. I ended up taking two hours to sit in a coffee shop in Times Square to rest and recharge until I got back out into the thick of it.

Put the phone down, and recharge your social/mental/emotional battery. You can get burnt out faster than you think!

I hope you loved this post on the 21 Best Ways to Reduce Travel Stress! As always, feel free to reach out to me or to interact on my socials – I love chatting with you all😊

See you next time!