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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Summer’s slow stride is one of the season’s great joys. It creates space to consider adventures not had and wonders not seen, and then offers the blank canvas of experiencing them. Sounds dreamy. But figuring out how to make your vacation happen and realizing all the ways it can go wrong, makes travel intimidating. Don't let that stop you. Instead, put to use tried and true advice from travel experts who know how to smartly maximize trips, domestic or overseas.

Stress-free travel strategies

Slow down ahead of your trip

You might be tempted or feel obliged to overwork before you leave. But trying to fit in too much ahead of a vacation means you’ll probably waste some of it. “It just results in people getting very wound up and spending the first few days of their trip undoing this,” says Charlotte Russell, a clinical psychologist and founder of The Travel Psychologist. Another downside: Pre-trip rushing and cramming puts you off-kilter. “If we experience delays or disappointments we are not going to tolerate this emotionally,” she says. “We can deal with stress and disruption much more effectively when we look after ourselves in the run-up to our trip.”

If you travel with a companion, choose wisely

Consider whether someone is a good match for you in stressful situations and/or your expected accommodations and modes of transportation. Talk openly about your hopes and expectations for the trip beforehand. Be sure you're on the same page about spending money, or have a spending strategy if your budgets differ.

Be realistic

“If you are expecting to feel blissful and wonderful 100% of the time, this just isn’t realistic even for the most luxurious trips,” Russell says. “As a strategy for travel, and indeed life more generally, think about how you want to deal with stresses and disappointment.” If you set an intention to make the best of your trip it will help you focus on the positive elements you experience. Relaxation techniques can help you manage disruptions. Think slow breathing, guided meditation, imagery and mindfulness. “There is a reason why these are top of every therapist’s recommendation list — they work,” Russell says. “This makes dealing with disruption and disappointment a whole lot easier, as it allows us to focus on what we can do.”

Be adaptable

Disappointment is relative, which means travel hiccups can be blessings. “Look for the gift in that delayed plane or wrong turn,” says Niamh McAnally, author of Following Sunshine: A Voyage Around the Mind, Around the World, Around the Heart. On one of her trips, McAnally had to drop out of a strenuous hike in Laos but ended up on a dugout canoe floating down the Mekong River, where she caught elephants washing their backs at the end of their working day. “Sometimes the unexpected can yield even better experiences,” McAnally says.

Download helpful tech tools before you depart

McAnally, who has traveled extensively, recommends the following: what3words app - This app, which can be used offline, divides the world into 3-meter squares and assigns each square a unique combination of three words in order to pinpoint it. It helps you find and share locations. You can use it, for example, to coordinate meetups. It also can help emergency services find you. A translation app - Useful, obviously, if you're traveling somewhere that speaks a foreign language. Google translate is an easy go-to. Google Maps - Download maps ahead of time so you can use them without an internet connection. WhatsApp - This app is the most inexpensive way to call or text while overseas. TripIt - This travel app and service organizes your travel plans by pulling information from your confirmation emails and other sources so you have all you need in one location. Virtual books - “Load up your eReader with books in your own language,” McAnally. “Having something to read offline can occupy you during periods of ‘waiting’.”

Use the right luggage

Opt for a carry-on if possible. “It'll prevent your luggage from getting lost and make it easier for you to react to travel disruptions like cancelled flights,” says Meena Thiruvengadam, a travel writer, whose credits include Travel+Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, The Washington Post and Fodor’s Travel. It's also more maneuverable than a huge suitcase, which means you'll easily be mobile. And it forces you to pack less, leaving room for treasures you find on your trip and want to take home. Backpack - Ideal if you'll be moving around a lot or traveling to remote areas where transportation and/or the terrain might be challenging. Roller bag - Ideal if you'll be staying in one place.

Pack smartly

If you must check a bag, keep your essentials (medicines, laptop, chargers, valuables) and a change of clothes in your carry-on luggage. Take extra medication in case your return gets delayed. Put an AirTag in each of your bags and wallet, and keep one with your passport, Thiruvengadam advises. Take digital copies of your passport, travel insurance, reservations and any other documents critical for your trip or safety. Don't wait until the last minute to figure out what you need for your trip. That includes your passport — has it expired? Do you need a visa? Immunizations? Particular gear?

Be strategic with your budget

“Spend money on the experiences that will make the trip worth it in hindsight,” Thiruvengadam says. “Don’t go all the way to a place and skip the thing that brought you there because of the price,” which can leave you feeling shortchanged and linger long after your trip.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="184822" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1747691929702{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/babo-botanicals-clear-zinc-spf-30-sunscreen-lotion-fragrance-free"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="184821" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1747691946683{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/natural-factors-travelbiotic-10-billion-active-cells-bb536"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="184823" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1747691961470{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/airborne-immune-support-vitamin-c-13-vitamins-minerals-herbs-very-berry-10-effervescent-tablets"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]