How to Plan a Travel Day Without Losing Your Mind
Let’s be honest—travel days aren’t the glamorous part. Between packing up, checking out, navigating transportation, and figuring out where to stash your luggage before check-in, they can get chaotic fast. Add a toddler, time changes, or a long layover? The stress multiplies.
But after years of country-hopping—and now traveling as a family—I’ve developed some go-to strategies that make travel days feel smoother, less overwhelming, and sometimes even enjoyable. Here’s how I plan our travel days with intention, flexibility, and a whole lot of grace.
1. Build in Buffers (They’re Your Lifeline)
If the train leaves at 11:00, I pretend it leaves at 10:30. If hotel check-in is at 3:00, I assume we won’t be able to settle in until 4:30.
Travel days take longer than you think, especially with kids or multiple connections. The more margin I build in, the calmer we all are when delays, traffic, or snack-fueled toddler meltdowns happen.
2. Pack a “Day-Of” Essentials Bag
This is non-negotiable. Even if the rest of our bags are checked, I always keep a “just in case” pouch on me with:
A clean outfit or at least an extra shirt and leggings
→ After sitting next to a baby who threw up mid-flight, I learned this lesson quickly.Ziplocks (for snacks, wet clothes, or mystery messes)
A portable phone charger
Moisturizer + lip balm
Hair ties (you never think of them until you don’t have one)
Travel wipes + tissues
A minimum of one toy or quiet activity for Kiah, but I love the dollar-store stock up trick, and bringing many distraction toys!
All important travel docs within easy reach
3. Never “Venture Out” on a Layover (Unless It’s a Layover You Love)
I tried to make the most of a long layover in Zurich once—after a red-eye. I’ll just say… it did not go as planned.
Now, I never plan to leave the airport during a layover—especially after a long-haul flight. The exhaustion, stress, and logistics just aren’t worth it.
What I do love? A well-planned stay-over. Book a hotel, get real rest, and better yet—stay for a couple of days to break up your journey and explore without the pressure.
4. Always Preplan Your Arrival Strategy
One of my golden rules: know exactly how you’re getting from the airport or train station to your hotel or Airbnb.
Will you take an Uber? Public transit? Is there a hotel shuttle?
I always download the right apps, screenshot directions, and plan my route before we leave.
Winging it while jet-lagged is how you get scammed, stranded, or suddenly spend $120 on a cab.
5. Find a Cozy Stop Between Check-Out and Check-In
There’s often that awkward window where you’ve checked out of one place but can’t check into the next—and it can feel like lost time if you’re not prepared.
Here’s what I do:
I ask hotels if they’ll store our bags—even if we’ve already checked out (many will!)
I’ve had great luck with luggage lockers at train stations or nearby storage facilities in larger cities
I always scout a nearby café, family-friendly lunch spot, or museum where we can hang out for a couple hours comfortably
Bonus: I try to time our transit so we don’t lose a full day of exploring, but also avoid long dead zones. A late morning train or midday flight usually hits that sweet spot.
6. Keep Dinner Plans Ridiculously Simple
I always save one no-brainer dinner option within walking distance of wherever we’re staying.
Whether it’s a cozy bistro or takeout you can eat in bed—it makes life so much easier on a travel day.
Because no one wants to wander around a new city hangry, exhausted, and juggling bags or babies.
7. Treat Travel Days as Part of the Trip
This mindset shift changed everything. I used to treat travel days like a throwaway—something to survive before the “real trip” started.
But the truth is: some of our most memorable moments have happened on travel days.
A quiet train ride. A surprise bakery find. A moment of stillness in a sunny park while we waited for check-in.
When you expect less, leave margin, and allow space for the day to be what it is, travel days become part of the adventure—not something to dread.
8. For Early Flights, Stay at an Airport Hotel
If you’ve got a morning flight, do yourself a favor and book that last night at an airport hotel—ideally one with a shuttle.
It’s a total game changer. No early morning scramble through traffic, no 4 AM wake-up call in the city, no stress about missing your flight. You just roll out of bed and head straight to the gate (preferably with coffee in hand).
Travel Days Don’t Have to Be the Worst
Yes, they’re often long. But with some thoughtful planning and flexible expectations, you can turn travel days into calm, even enjoyable parts of the journey.
Want help building a trip that flows beautifully from takeoff to check-in (and every moment in between)?
Let’s build something intentional—from your dream destination to the details that make getting there feel effortless. Work with me →
