If you’ve got a trip coming up, then you’ve come to the right place. Preparing for a trip can be one of the most stressful things you do. But below we have some advice for stressed out trip goers that can help things run much smoother and not leave you needing a vacation from your vacation.

Travel during the off-peak seasons. Hotels and airfare are usually a lot more expensive during the peak summer months. Also, popular destinations can be so over-crowded during the summer that it takes the enjoyment out of it. If you travel in the off-peak months you can save money on airfare and accommodations and you can avoid the crowds.

If you travel often, invest in small reusable plastic bottles. You can find reusable bottles at most large supermarkets. Putting your regular shampoos and conditioners in these small, reusable bottles is more cost efficient in the long run. Travel sized toiletries are often very overpriced for the small amount of product inside them.

Request samples online. Instead of paying for miniature travel-size versions of all your toiletry items, do an online search for free samples. Companies regularly offer samples of new products that will be mailed right to your home. Request everything from toothpaste to shampoo to cosmetics and keep a small stash in your travel bag so you are ready for your next trip.

Sometimes by choosing multiple means of travel one can get the best of everything. For example by taking a plane somewhere and renting a car when you arrive, one can get the benefits of a quick flight as well as the benefits of having a car to go wherever wanted while traveling.

Try your best to pack all your belongings in as little amount of luggage as possible. You don’t want to bring 5 bags of luggage with you on the plane and overwhelm yourself. Try and fold and tuck stuff into areas where you can make more space without harming any of your belongings.

Check the websites of your airline to get the best deal. Sometimes they have the best price.

If you’ve ever traveled with young children you’ve undoubtedly been asked far too many times how much further it is. One way of solving this is to get each of the children a map and instruct them how to read it. They’ll be entertained, and you’ll be teaching them a skill that they will use the rest of their lives!

If you are having a problem picking a destination to travel to then make a list. Make a list of the top places you want to visit and then rank them. From that list you can then research how much it would cost to travel and pay for expenses while in that area, this can help narrow your decision in picking places you want to visit in the near future.

Hopefully at least some of these tips will be helpful for you on your upcoming vacation. While each tip may not work for every person and every vacation, you should now be armed with some extra knowledge to make things run a lot smoother and help you avoid any problems.