Travelling abroad - stress free travel tips

Does the thought of travelling abroad fill you with anxiety? Are you often overwhelmed on the day of travel? A certain amount of stress is inevitable, but these tips from Grace's experience of travelling will help you stay calmer and be more excited about your trip:

• Make a packing list when you are calm starting several weeks before you leave.

• Visas: Give yourself plenty of time if you need visas, passport renewal, driving permits,  immunisations etc.

• Pets and mail: arrange for pet care and mail hold before you leave.

• Easy to forget items: Make a space to put things as you remember them such as camera film, maps, currency, addresses for postcards home, presents, foreign change for phone calls when you land at the airport etc.

• Pack minimally and leave room for new purchases while away. You will need less clothes than you think – include comfy clothes, casual, dress up, outdoor etc.

• Hand luggage: When packing hand luggage, think of comfort on the plane. Pack toiletries, water bottle, snacks, medication, a book, your documentation, maps and foreign currency, period stuff, glasses/contact lense solutions, and extra underwear in case your luggage gets lost.

• To avoid exhaustion, try to get enough sleep the days before you travel. Taking a homeopathic remedy while in the air called "No Jetlag" seems to help jetlag symptoms - see www.nojetlag.com.

• Keep a diary of your activities while away. It is easy to forget what you did once you return home

• Give yourself time to adjust to being back. Unpack as soon as you return home,  have a shower, prepare a home made meal and only attend to your letter, voicemails and emails when you feel ready. Have a friend buy in some groceries for your return.

• Relive your vacation by getting your photos developed soon after you return, and send copies and thank you notes while your memories are fresh.

COMPLIMENTS OF GRACE GERRY www.gracefulsolutions.ca