For an event that should be fun, relaxing and free of stress, often times, all of the planning and logistics ends up turning a dream vacation into one big headache. Follow the travel tips in this article to reduce the stress involved in vacationing so that you can return from your next trip, relaxed and rejuvenated.

Be flexible when making your travel plans. Unless there is some reason that you must travel on a specific day, flexibility will save you money. Allowing a booking website to search for flights near your desired travel dates could save you as much as a hundred dollars per flight, especially if it shifts you off of a weekend flight.

If you are squished for space while traveling by air, take advantage of every inch. Take the magazines out of the pocket in front of you and move them instead to the overhead bin. Depending on the size of the magazines, you could have bought yourself a couple of extra inches.

Limit the amount of luggage you take on your trip to a carry-on bag. Luggage has a nasty habit of getting lost in airports. Even if it does not get lost, you often spend an annoying amount of time waiting for it to show up on the luggage carrousel. Limiting the luggage you take to a single carry-on bag will eliminate this problem entirely.

If you want to bring back souvenirs with you, make sure you take an extra empty suitcase. You should also research ahead of time if there are any restrictions on certain products, such as alcohol. You might be allowed to bring home with you only a certain quantity of food and beverages.

Taking a trip no matter how far from home may cause you to want to bring pieces of your home along for the vacation. Do not overpack toiletries, just bring what you need. Travel size toiletries and other gear are great, because space is at a premium when traveling Then pack the things that will be most essential to you and your comfort.

Having a small sewing kit and an eyeglass repair kit tucked away in your luggage can save the day! Whether you rip your clothing, need to remove a splinter, replace a button, or replace the tiny screws on the back of your child’s hand held video game these tools are great!

Road trips are fun but at the end of each day of driving you want to just relax so choose a hotel that is near restaurants or has room service. You can call ahead where you plan to stop and ask the hotels what food options are available nearby.

Tired of the same boring road trip? Next time you have to pack up and go to an out-of-town event, try something different. After you map your main driving route, pick a few random places off the beaten path to stop at along the way. It could be a small mom-and-pop diner, a state park or maybe your first visit to a comic book store. Not only will this break up your drive, you will have added memories to keep forever.

One of the easiest, most effective and affordable ways to offset the unflattering aftermath of jet lag, is to drink plenty of water. Being dehydrated can cause you to feel light-headed, dizzy and fatigued, upon landing. Seasoned travelers report that drinking at least four eight-ounce glasses of water over a five-hour trip, can make a noticeable difference.

Before you begin thinking about where you would like to travel next, subscribe to get emails from major airlines, hotels and rental companies. It will increase your amount of “junk” mail, but these newsletters often include information about last-minute hotel deals or flights that will allow you to use your frequent-flyer miles. Since these deals go quickly, finding out about them first is essential.

If possible travel during off-peak hours. The price of flights changes depending on the hour, the day and the month of travel. You can save a lot of money by booking flights during off peak hours. For example, flights on Thursdays are usually cheaper than those of Fridays. This is because the demand for seats is lower on a Thursday as people who work away from home during the week normally want to fly home on a Friday.

When taking a cruise, your health should be your number one priority. Before you depart, speak with your doctor about the trip you are planning on taking and any extra medication you may need. Let your doctor know the ports your cruise ship will visit and all modes of transportation you may encounter. Your doctor can offer advice on where you can obtain medical care as well as where you can get a prescription filled in an emergency.

If you are traveling overseas, search for restaurants that have menus in the local language. These establishments typically have inexpensive food that tastes great, and they provide a glimpse into the culture of the area. These restaurants normally won’t be in the middle of all the tourist traps, so you might have to look around a little.

If you are leaving the country, make a copy of your passport to take with you. If you happen to misplace your original passport, it will make getting a new one a much simpler process. The two minutes that it will take for you to make the copy will likely save you hours when getting it replaced during your travels.

If you travel to a foreign country, it can be a good idea to bring your own bottled water. Many countries do not purify their drinking water and this water can cause many different illnesses. Bottled water is important even for tooth brushing purposes. Avoid putting the local water in your mouth at all.

As you can see, there are a number of ways to reduce the stress of planning your vacation and simplifying the logistics. Make use of any or all of these tips when planning your next vacation. Instead of being stressed out, you will have the time and energy to truly enjoy your vacation.