The holidays are always a little stressful, especially when traveling is a part of your plan. In this post I plan to share tips and tools for traveling in general. Traveling is hard on the body (especially for those with fibromyalgia), so I start preparing two weeks in advance. I get a jump on doing things like washing laundry, filling prescriptions and getting travel size toiletries. Packing can seem like a daunting task, but I’ve found that using a travel list makes it much easier! I created a Word document with check boxes that I use every single time I pack. I don’t have to try to remember what I have or haven’t packed, I just look at my list. My list has items on it for every type of trip and I just check all the things off that I don’t need to pack.

I try to scale back social commitments, plan easy meals, figure out what outfits I’ll want to pack and plan a loose itinerary. It is best to have plans that are flexible, since some days you’ll feel better than others. I like to read up about the place I’m going to visit and create a plan that lists things I definitely want to do and things that I’d like to do if I have extra time or feel like I can do more on any particular day. Although this takes some extra time, it also eliminates looking into activities once you’re at a destination. It can be even more helpful if you include the business hours on your itinerary since that can help you figure out when you want to do what.

The night before traveling be sure to plan for a full night’s rest. Try to finish packing before the sun goes down so you’ll even have some time to relax in the evening. If you’ll be staying in a hotel during your trip, consider what type of room you want to request – do you want a handicap room? A room on the first floor? A room near/far away from the elevator? I always want the latter because I’m such a light sleeper that an elevator (and the people using it) can keep me up at night. If you find yourself feeling sore while traveling, consider getting a massage from a nearby spa or your travel mate. This once saved me while having extreme back pain (the kind that keeps you up at night) while on vacation.

What are some of your tips for traveling?

You may also be interested in reading:
Tips & Tools for Traveling via Airplane – Part I
Tips & Tools for Traveling via Car
Tips & Tools for Traveling via Airplane – Part II

Pack it up!*

*Image Credit: from www.flickr.com by find eric