20 Tips for Easy Summer Travel
Summer travel is back in full force. If you’ve booked a flight recently or traveled on a holiday weekend, you’ve likely felt the price hikes, full flights, and packed highways. As you pack your bags and hit the road or skies this summer, we’re sharing our favorite tips to make travel less stressful and easier on everyone. Drop us a line in the comments and share your favorite travel tips with us!
If you’re a frequent traveler, keep your toiletry bag stocked with your favorite items so it’s packed and ready to go anytime you need to roll out the suitcase. This means buying doubles or travel sizes of your favorites, but it will be worth it to have everything ready when your trip arrives!
When packing your bags, lay all of your items out. Think about sticking with monochromatic outfits and items that can be mixed and matched. Once everything is laid out, take away 1-2 items from each category. Once you’ve scaled back what you need to bring, roll your items and use packing cubes to pack efficiently and save space.
Stuff your shoes with your socks to save space and stash a few plastic grocery bags in there too. These come in handy for trash and dirty shoes and clothes.
A handful of these small items can come in really handy and won’t take up too much space: a small, packable raincoat, eye mask, ear plugs, tweezers, bandaids, ibuprofen, laundry strips, and dryer sheets (to keep your suitcase smelling fresh).
Drowning in cords? Tame the chaos with a container or bag dedicated to keeping them organized.
If you’re traveling with kids, keep a stash of lollipops and a few small prizes like stickers or fidgets handy in case of emergencies (like waiting in a long customs line)!
Traveling abroad? Be sure to hit the local grocery store and pharmacy when you arrive. Stock up on fun snacks, chocolate, and skincare products.
On long road trips with kids, be intentional with your time. Have an hour for screens, an hour for audiobooks/podcasts, and the next hour for screen-free creation time like drawing, reading, knitting, and crafting.
When traveling, find a special item for your home that will remind you of your trip. Think about a cool piece of art, a kitchen gadget or dish, blanket, or vase.
Choose a travel-size perfume to take on your trip, preferably something different from your usual go-to. Only wear it on the trip. After you return home, this scent will always remind you of your trip!
Noise canceling headphones, an eye mask, a comfy pillow, and a pair of compression socks are a must for long flights.
Make a special playlist for your trip that suits the location. Bring a small travel speaker to listen to it while you’re unwinding.
Keep a little cash or local currency and a credit card in the hotel safe. If you have anything stolen from you, you will have a safety net if you need it.
Traveling to a rental house this summer? If you love to cook, think about assembling a kitchen crate with your favorite go to tools, knives, and items to bring with you. This guide is a great place to start.
Read a book connected to the place you are traveling. There’s nothing like immersing yourself in the location! Some great suggestions here!
Airline crews deal with loads of cranky travelers everyday. Brighten their day with some nice chocolates and gift cards for a coffee or tea.
Pack some food/drink items that only require water and hardly take up space! Think instant oatmeal, tea bags, and electrolyte drink packs.
If you’re traveling internationally, take photos of all of your important documents and send them to a trusted family member or friend. This will come in handy if you lose something along the way!
Before you leave your house, do a safety check in each room. Spend a little time tidying up (bonus points to put clean sheets on your bed!). Clean out the refrigerator and note what you will need upon your return. You can even use a grocery store delivery service and fill your cart with the items you will need when you get back. Don’t hit send on the order! Then when you return from your trip, hit send on the order and groceries will be on the way while you unpack and unwind. Don’t forget to include an easy dinner in your order like a frozen pizza to enjoy while you unpack.
Consider cutting your trip short by a day to give yourself a buffer or reset day when you return. This makes life so much easier! Give yourself a day to rest, run errands, and get ready for the week ahead!
Safe travels on all of your summer adventures! Be sure to utilize your planner and notebook as you stay on top of all of your to-dos and packing lists. And don’t forget to share your best travel tips with us in the comments! We want to hear your favorite tips!