The art of successful and stress-free travel is planning ahead. Challenging, though it may seem, your goal is to think of every possible contingency that might arise, and take action before it happens. What should you do if your luggage is lost? If you get sick? If you forget your blue pumps? Be proactive reduces the risk of a serious crisis occurring during your trip. Budgeting for your trip Travel need not break the bank - not if you're willing to plan for your holiday spending. First, decide how much you can afford it, then make your travel plans. Start searching early for travel deals - talk to your travel agent, look for Internet specials, and check with travel clubs for discounts. You can find some great bargains in package deals that combine hotel and airline tickets at a discounted price. If the holidays tend to get you in trouble on your credit card, consider starting a savings account just for travel - where you put aside a small amount each month toward your next trip. You should also plan to use traveler's checks instead of credit cards to stay within your budget. It's amazing how easy it is to go overboard when start handing out the plastic! And be sure to keep track of how much you actually spend - in relation to your budget - throughout the trip. You may have a small pad of paper with you for recording expenses and tallying up your total for each day. If you can not seem to make it happen on your budget, consider compromising with lower priority expenses in exchange for a higher priority ones. When my husband and I travel, we are always ready to stay in a budget hotel so we can afford to eat out and attend cultural events. We decided that the expensive hotels are wasted on us, because we spend much time in our room, and we would rather spend our money elsewhere. Where are you willing to buy from? PACKING SIMPLIFIED Have you ever been away from home and suddenly realized you forgot your toothbrush, your shoes, or your bathing suit? With that rush around replacing items that you left behind not only wastes time and money, it also reduces your enjoyment of the trip. And sometimes you might forget an item that is not as easy to replace - as your finances or the report you would attend tomorrow's meeting. But you can save yourself a lot of heartache by taking the guesswork out of packing. Start to develop packing lists for both short trips (one to three days) and longer trips. You can even create different lists for different types of travel - camping, business, foreign travel, trips to the beach, cold weather travel, etc. Try to include any and all generic items that you might need - clothes, toiletries, alarm clock, night light , whatever you want to take with you. Then use these lists as memory-joggers as you pack for every trip. You can also cut down on the time you spend preparing for travel by keeping a "pre-packed" toiletry bag with duplicates of the items you use in your home. Fill your kit with samples of shampoo, soap, lotions, cosmetics, toothpaste, and shaving cream - even miniature toothbrushes and razors. These trips and medium-sized objects will take up less space in your suitcase, and you will be less likely to leave something important behind. And do not forget your important documents - especially if you travel abroad. You should plan to obtain evidence of citizenship, an official government decision photo identification (driver's license or military ID is fine), a government-issued birth with a raised seal certificate and a passport. Remember that children and babies also need to have a state issued birth certificate for travel. LESS IS MORE If you can get away with it, try to not check your luggage. I bought a very spacious Pullman continue that will accommodate up to a week's worth of clothes - that way, I never have to be worried about losing my bags. If you pack "mix and match" outfits and plan to do some washing along the way, you do not need 15 different outfits for a week's trip. And if you need to check a piece, be sure to keep the items that you could not live without in your carry on - toiletries, a change of clothes, clean underwear, medications, maps, travel confirmations, and any materials you may need for a future business meeting . But try not to take more than one medium and one carry on bag per person. Remember that you can always fix underpacking, but not OVERPACKING! However heavy your suitcase is when you start, it will be twice as heavy when you get home. If you plan to do any shopping while on your trip, you can choose to bring an extra bag for carrying your purchases home. Put your filled suitcase inside a slightly larger empty one - or get a folding tote that will take very little space in your bag. But the easiest option (but maybe not the cheapest) is that each store ship your treasures directly to your home. This is a very good policy if you'll take home anything large or bulky on a plane, as airlines often charge extra for large parcels. And every bag you have to lug around limits your communications. Heavy suitcases mean cabs and porters and inconvenience and fatigue - while a light suitcase as travel freedom. Protect yourself and your property even if no one wants to be paranoid about their safety when traveling, it's a good idea to be on the safe side of caution when planning your trip. So let's start with your "stuff" - list the contents of each bag and keep the list close at hand anytime your bags are out of sight. It saves a lot of frustration if your bags disappear and you must file a claim or replace your belongings. And do not forget to mark your luggage for easy access - all these black Pullman's starting to look like, and it is easy for someone else to pick up your bag. When you make lists, create a written record of your credit card, travelers checks, health insurance, emergency phone numbers and other important information to take with you when you travel. And always keep this information hidden away somewhere safe - a hotel safe deposit boxes are a good choice - where you can easily access it if you need it. Not - I repeat not - keep this item in your purse or wallet. Think about it. These are the first things a thief will take - if you keep your list of credit cards and travelers checks, it does not help much when they are stolen. You are better to keep it in your shoe (as long as your feet do not sweat a lot!) Finally, be sure to have a contact in the home - does anyone know where you are and how to reach you. Make sure to give this person any information that may be important in the event of an emergency - phone numbers and addresses where you live, the code for your alarm system, doctor's name, etc. will ease your mind knowing that you can be contacted if something goes wrong at home - and that you have someone who can act on your behalf if something goes wrong at the end. Keeping HOUSE SAFE Nothing can ruin a fabulous vacation more than worrying about your home while you are away. But some simple precautions can help calm your mind and keep your community safe. Before you leave, let the police or a trusted neighbor know you will be gone - especially if you are planning a long trip. Nothing says "not home" more than a pile of newspapers in your driveway or magazines pouring out of your mailbox - so stop your mail and newspaper delivery or neighbor collect them. Invest in timers for lights, radios, etc. - and puts them to go on and off at random times during the day - will make your home look lived in and keep burglars away. And if you still are not comfortable abandoning your home, rent a Housesitter. Make your Journey One thing that very few people remember to do before leaving home is on their insurance. This is particularly important if you travel abroad. First, make sure you have the proper personal liability coverage. This is intended to insure the loss or theft of your personal possessions, injury (to yourself or someone else), your legal defense (as other countries do not function like the U.S.? - Remember that guy in Singapore who was caned), and the repatriation of your remains should you die abroad (not a pleasant thought, but it happens). Check with your insurance carrier - your homeowner's policy may include coverage for your belongings while you are away from home and your credit card company probably offers inexpensive life insurance. If you plan to drive a vehicle while on your trip, check to see what your car insurance cover. If you are in an accident in a rented car, what is paid for? Are you covered if you are in an accident abroad? Are there any hidden costs that you will be expected to pay? You should also familiarize yourself with your health insurance. What steps has your insurance company require if you become ill or injured while out of state? Out of the country? If you take a package tour or an expensive trip, if you will be visiting a dangerous or unpredictable parts of the world, or if you have a personal or medical situation that may disrupt your travel, you should also consider trip cancellation and interruption insurance. This type of coverage can protect you in case of bad weather (ie: a cruise canceled because of a hurricane), illness, family emergency, and also the default or bankruptcy of your travel suppliers. But remember that certain situations - as pre-existing medical conditions, terrorism, hijacking, and war - may affect your trip cancellation coverage. Make sure you clearly understand all the terms, conditions and EXCLUSIONS before you purchase your insurance. Is it only cover situations where someone in your party becomes ill, or if someone at home gets sick as well? When does your coverage start and end? Does "medical evacuation" means you are evacuated to the nearest hospital or at home? You may want to contact the insurance company itself, as many travel agents can not understand all the terms of your policy. Do not assume that nothing is covered until you check it out yourself. SCHEDULING, Science Some of the biggest frustrations people face when they travel is disruption in her schedule - flight delays, traffic jams, getting lost, long lines, you name it. But you can take a number of precautions to ensure that you are able to stick to your itinerary when you travel. Do not wait until you arrive at your destination to learn the lay of the land. Take time to research your trip before leaving - develop at least a cursory knowledge of the routes, directions, tourist attractions, transportation and weather. Look at your options and pick a few major sights that you really want to see while on your trip - just remember that you can not do everything! Then make as many advance reservations as possible after your itinerary is set, remember to build the travel time from sight to sight in your itinerary. Be sure to confirm all times and reservations before leaving - and then confirm everything when you arrive. There is no such thing as double-checking too much! We've talked a lot about physical preparations for your vacation - but preparing yourself mentally is equally important. Decide in advance what to expect for your trip. What must happen to make this a successful journey? Which activities or sights you it would disappoint you to miss? Which activities or sights you it would not bother you to miss? And what problems you have had on other trips that you want to avoid this time? Try to admit to yourself that things can not go perfectly during the whole trip. Be flexible and have other options ready (reading, other activities) if your schedule gets off track. Understand that you can not control every (or any!) Aspect of travel. The more willing you are to accept difficulties and delays, the less disruptive they will be if this happens. Happy travels!