Research your destination. Learn important details such as your destination's time zone and climate. Read guide books or search the Internet for interesting, fun things to do when you arrive. Having a general idea of what to do when you arrive eases the stress of searching an unfamiliar area for food, lodging or entertainment.
Get all of your travel documentation in order ahead of time. If you are traveling by bus, rail or air, purchase your tickets and clip them to a copy of your itinerary. If you are driving, print out directions from a map website or use a store-bought map to draw out your route. If you are leaving the country, make sure your passport is up to date and you have any visas necessary for the countries you are visiting.
Plan a budget by researching your destination in guidebooks and online to see how much food, lodging and entertainment costs. If you are driving, set aside extra money in case of car trouble. If you are traveling via air, rail or bus, find out about any checked luggage fees and budget the cost of transfers from the airport or station to your hotel.
Pack wisely. Research the climate for the time of year you are traveling and pack accordingly. Keep luggage weight restrictions and extra baggage fees in mind if you are traveling by air, rail or bus. If you are traveling outside the United States, find out if your destination has any cultural differences requiring specific types of dress such as head coverings or modest dress for women in public or in holy areas.
