How to Have a Stress-Free Vacation

We all want stress-free vacations, especially if we only take them once a year. Why is it, then, that often we find ourselves in some foreign airport freaking out about a luggage or paperwork problem, or getting lost and feeling stressed?

Following are some ideas to take the hassle – both actual and psychological – out of your next vacation.

Know and discuss your travel style:This may seem obvious, but it’s rarely done. Instead, couples and travel partners take vacations together year after year and find themselves fighting (or fuming) about the same old things. A little forethought, empathy and clarity will go a long way. Invest the time to have a conversation about what is important to you, and ensure you ask about what is important to the other member/s of your travel party as well. If one wants to go on tours while the other wants to lounge around the pool, it doesn’t mean you can’t vacation together; it just means you can talk about a way in which you can work around what you both want, and there are countless ways to do that. Sometimes a little understanding is all it takes to stave off a heat-of-the-moment fight.
Invest in a GPS:Much holiday stress the world over is from getting lost, whether it’s on a driving trip across the country or in your rental car in Europe. If you will be in a car at all, a GPS is a worthy investment. Not only can you get driving directions, you can also handily pull up shopping, dining and emergency options. Many of today’s cell phones (the iPhone for example) have built-in GPS units as well as great applications for finding local amenities.
Be organized:It should go without saying but it doesn’t. We see lots of people digging in their bags for paperwork at hotels, airports and rental car companies. Keep a file folder with all your reservations, confirmations and other important paperwork and store it in your carry-on or other easily accessible bag. Before you leave, file your paperwork in the order you are going to need it, eg. flight, rental car, hotel, excursion. You should then be able to file a piece of paper at the back once it’s used and be ready for your next counter, with no hassle and no digging. You may even find it worthwhile to invest in an affordable, zip-up 81/2 x 11 business binder with pockets – for your passport, traveler’s checks and any other important notes - so you can keep things handy and all in one place.
Chill out: Seems obvious, right? Often we put too much pressure on ourselves to make the most out of our vacations and have them be ‘perfect.’ This, ironically, puts a damper on the whole thing and sucks the fun out it. Try to remember that you’re with someone whose company you enjoy (or try to enjoy if you’re on a business trip with a less than favorite person of yours – it’s your life!), and just relax. Whatever happens will happen, and surprises can sometimes make for great stories and memories. Also, be open to learning about and tolerating other cultures’ different speeds, foods, languages and ways of doing things. One complaint we hear muttered a lot on our travels is ‘They don’t even speak %$^# English here!’and this drives us nuts. Relax! Enjoy the cultural ambiance and maybe even learn something (hello, please and thank you in the local language would be a great start). Part of the richness of traveling is getting to know other people and experiencing other ways of life. You never know who will be your next great friend in this world.