Smooth Sailing: 3 Tips for Stress-Free Summer Travel

Summer is finally here, and it’s time to plan your next family adventure! I’m a travel junkie – have been since childhood – and now I’m so pleased I get to share that experience with my family. My family’s major wanderlust means that I’ve mastered some tips, tricks, and hacks that 100% ensure we enjoy stress-free summer travel and prevent challenges we learned to avoid the hard way (don’t learn it my way, take my advice instead!). 

Be sure you read them before hitting the road for your next trip, and I promise you that you’ll thank me later.

Have a travel tip of your own? Drop it in the comments! I’m always ready to learn!

Tip #1: Don’t make this major passport mistake!

Check the expiration of your passport before traveling abroad! Don’t let an expired passport ruin your trip like it almost did for me and my husband. Make sure your passport is valid for the dates you’re traveling and renew it if there are less than three months left until it’s expiration. And make sure you file for your new passport or renewal considerably before your departure date so that you aren’t waiting anxiously by the mailbox! You can check the current passport application processing times on the US Department of State Website here. FACT: Some countries will not let you in even if your passport is current but expires in under 12 weeks – know the rules before you hit the road!

Tip #2: Always carry cash as a payment option! 

Let’s say I learned this the hard way while wandering a foreign country’s hot and dusty streets trying to figure out how to pay for our transportation. Not all places or vendors accept credit cards or apple pay. Make sure you have enough cash for taxis, food, and souvenirs. Even in remote towns within the US, it’s important to carry cash because small mom-and-pop restaurants only accept cash. 

Tip #3: Bring your medicines to help get you through the night until you can see a doctor! 

This is the former pharmacist and total household CEO talking to you! You never know when you might get sick while traveling. Always hand carry any prescription medicines and bring over-the-counter medicines like pain relievers, allergy medicine, and stomach remedies. 

• Fever reducer (Tylenol or Motrin)
• First Aid Kit: Bandaids, antibacterial cream, and a bandage wrap
• Eye drops (Visine)
• Stomach medicine: antacids (TUMS or Pepcid), Diarrhea medicine (Pepto-Bismol and Imodium) , Cough/Cold medicine (DayQuil/NyQuil) 
• Cough medicine (Robutissin) and cough drops
• Antihistamines (Claritin or Zyrtec): Allergy medicine, watery eyes, sneezing
• Decongestants (Afrin nose spray and Sudafed)

Don’t let these common mistakes ruin your summer trip! Follow these tips to enjoy truly stress-free summer travel… and be sure to take plenty of photos on your adventure! Happy travels! 🌴🌞🌊