I wouldn't consider myself an expert traveler. Still, over the years, I've gathered some tips that have become customary when traveling, whether you're going away for a long weekend or taking a 2-week backpacking trip across the country. These seven travel tips will be easy to incorporate into the planning of your next trip and ought to help make the venture more manageable, fun, and a bit less stressful.

Here are 7 of my best tips for traveling.

01 Bring less baggage. For my fellow over packers, just hear me out. Especially if you're flying, try only to use carry-ons and personal items instead of checking a bag. Using carry-ons only helps not waste time at the baggage claim and makes getting around easier. If you like collecting souvenirs along the way, consider shipping back a box of your dirty clothes, so you have room for your new items. We like to use the USPS flat rate box. You can shove a lot of clothes in those little boxes. And if your flight doesn't offer a free checked bag, it's typically less expensive to ship back a package instead of paying to check a bag or two.

• If you're flying light and not checking a bag: Don't forget to leave any liquids (moisturizers, perfumes, hair gels) over 3.4 fluid ounces at home. See the FAA website for the latest rules & regulations.

02 National Parks Perks. If you're planning on visiting more than 3 National Parks in a year, consider purchasing an annual National Parks pass. This pass can save you loads of money! This pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federally recognized sites & parks. A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees, and day-use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). It's $80 for a fiscal year. So if you buy it in June 2022, it'll be good through June 2023.

03 Go with the flow. But book a few "must-dos." Using sites like Viator and GetYourGuide are perfect for searching destinations and booking day trips and excursions. You can scroll through activities and reviews, and book tours in confidence. Don't forget to give Pinterest a quick search; there are so many "day guides" from travel bloggers all over the globe offering up great tips on the best places to go, traveling on a budget, and all the best places to dine and miss the crowds.

04 Bookending. If you don't mind a little last-minute planning, I'd suggest doing what I like to call "bookending" your trip. Reserve lodging for the first and the last destination -- typically, these locations are within a few hours of whatever airport you're flying into and flying out of. Doing this allows you not to have a stringent itinerary, and you can drive/go wherever your travels take you. Use apps like HotelsTonight, Airbnb, and VRBO to book last-minute accommodations at a discount. This style of travel won't be for everyone, but it leads to some exciting & fun memories.

05 Act like a local, think like a local. Go where the locals go. Make small talk with the locals and find out all the best-hidden places that aren't crowded with tourists. Get a head start by asking the employees at the airport! Some of the best places to see and experience are not well known.

06 Hydrate before your trip. Nothing is worse than trying to enjoy a vacation and feeling icky. A tip I wish I had started implementing many years ago. In the days leading up to your trip, drink lots of water and eat a higher fiber diet. Your diet will likely differ while traveling; you'll try new foods, dine out more often, and possibly have a celebratory drink. Prevent an upset stomach and stay hydrated.

07 Even if you’re not Type A - this is for you. Get organized to reduce overwhelm. Create a note on your smartphone and start jotting everything down so all plans, dates, confirmation #, etc., are accessible at a moment's notice. Use the sharing feature if traveling with a friend or significant other!

• Dates

• Airports and flight times

• Rental car reservation #

• Lodging confirmation #

• Tour / guided trip confirmation #

• Towns you'd like to visit

  • Places/things you'd like to to do in each town

• Expenses / budget planning

Here's a screenshot of our note from our recent trip:

Extra: Piggybacking off of #6 — keep snacks readily available. Don't get me wrong; it wouldn't be unusual to catch us walking up to the Casey's counter with arms full of the good stuff; sour punch straws, chips (gotta have bbq and something cheesy), and then some chocolate to wash it all down. You know, like an unsupervised child at a candy store. But when we're traveling, we tend to lean more towards the nutrient-dense options, especially when we aren't sure when we'll be stop for a real meal.

These are our favorites:

• Kate's Real Food

• Almonds

• Beef jerky

• Trailmix

• Nature Valley bars (yes, the crunchy & extremely messy oat bars 😋)

Now I'm off to plan our next voyage.

xx, Riss

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