I'm Preparing for My Summer Trip and I Swear by This Travel Prep Checklist
Spending time away from home and visiting new places is one of my favorite parts about traveling. Whether it's an hours-long road trip to visit friends or hopping a flight and spending time at the beach, planning my next trip always gets me excited. But the closer it gets, the more stressed out I become.
Even though I travel often, I still get flustered thinking about how I'm going to fit everything I want to take in my suitcase or carry-on, how best to navigate TSA security lines and even how I need to prepare my home to spend several days away.
I'm currently planning a 10-hour road trip to Florida and while I'm excited to see my loved ones and explore nature, I'm already feeling the pressure of undertaking such a big trip that requires two full days of driving one way. It's nothing I can't handle with a little preparation, though. I just need to take it step by step.
To start this preparation journey, I compiled tips to make the whole travel process smoother, no matter if I'm booking a flight or gearing up for a road trip.
Want more travel tips? Here are the best times to book plane tickets for cheap airfare and how to avoid having your flight canceled or delayed.
Tips for easier flying
Airports can be anxiety-inducing even during the best of times. From researching flight cancellations to packing strategically to maximize space in your suitcase, here are some necessary tips for easier, stress-free flying.
Fold, roll and cube clothing
You may have your own unique approach to packing clothes. Some people choose the folding method, others prefer rolling garments into tight logs and some choose to flatten their clothes into packing cubes. My suggestion is to combine these three methods.
You can maximize space by folding your structured and bulkier clothes like jeans, trousers, formal dresses, jackets and coats. Then, roll up the rest of your clothes and fill the remaining spaces in your suitcase. To further compress your items, place some of the rolled clothes into packing cubes for added organization. It's also helpful to pack loose items like socks and underwear into these compressed packing cubes.
Prepare for TSA
If you're flying, consider getting TSA PreCheck or Global Entry to skip the long lines and for easier security screening. Whether you're a frequent flier with these perks or showing up for the standard TSA lines, keep your electronics in a convenient spot where you can take them out and put them back with ease.
It's best practice to have your electronics in the top layer or outer pocket of your suitcase, or your allotted personal item. Otherwise, you'll have to dig around for your laptop, iPad, etc. stalling the line behind you in the process.
Pack essentials in your carry-on
When you check your suitcase, you run the risk of losing it. I haven't had this happen frequently but the one unfortunate time my checked suitcase was lost -- and I had to spend three days exploring London without my luggage -- I was thrilled that my essentials were still with me in my carry-on bags.
Your carry-on or personal item is the optimal place for the essentials that would be most difficult to replace. This includes your wallet, contact lenses, eyeglasses, prescription medication, chargers, electronics or anything you would hate to not have for several days.
Track your bags
To give your luggage some extra protection from loss or theft, consider outfitting your carry-on and checked bags with tracking devices like Apple AirTags or Chipolo One Point Trackers.
Leave wiggle room
It's very likely that wherever you travel, you'll want to shop and bring back souvenirs. That means you need to take into account any extra space you might need for the trip back to avoid overweight bag fees.
Tips for a stress-free road trip
Driving comes with its own set of concerns. From preparing for flat tires to mapping out your route, here are some necessary tips for easier, stress-free road trips.
Get your car serviced beforehand
If you're hitting the road this holiday season, you should take your car for an inspection to make sure you don't have any issues on the route. Ask the mechanic to check the tires, car battery, brakes, fluids and wiper blades, or anything else that may concern you.
It's best to do this several weeks in advance to make sure you have plenty of time to fix any issues or order any parts.
Prepare for an emergency
Roadside emergency kits are a must-have if you're traveling any significant distance. Some 30 million roadside assistance calls are made every year, according to AAA, so it's best to be prepared for any emergency.
Plan your route
Maybe this seems like a no-brainer, but it's imperative to know which roads you'll be taking on your drive. Not only will this keep you confident while driving, but you can note any road closures that may impact your route and adjust your plan accordingly.
As another safety measure, I recommend taking a screenshot or printing directions if you're traveling in regions where cell service could become spotty.
You should also take into account any hotels, gas stations and rest stops along the route in case you get tired or need a quick stop.
How to prepare your home before your trip
To ensure that you'll come back to find your home just as you left it, follow these safety and home-preparation tips.
Unplug your electronics
Not only can unplugging electronics lower your energy bill, but it will also reduce the risk of electrical fires. Before you depart, unplug your appliances, lamps, chargers, routers, computers and TVs for maximum safety.
Lock your windows
Triple-check all your doors and secure all windows before you head out of town. Consider purchasing a smart lock that can alert you when a window is unlocked and allow you to lock it remotely or a home security system to arm your home while away.
Time your lights
Leaving lights on to make it look like you're home can deter any potential burglars. Rather than leaving lights on all day and night, plug light timers into your outlets or install a remotely controllable smart bulb. Then you can set your indoor lights to turn on and off as they normally would, and set your outdoor lights to turn on at night.
Safety is a priority for most families when they travel. To keep your home safe and secure while you're away, follow this home safety checklist to complete before going on vacation.
Keep your plants alive
You don't have to leave your house plants to die when you travel. You can fashion a drip system out of a plastic water bottle by filling it with water, drilling some holes toward the top and placing it into the plant soil. Read this guide for a full tutorial on how to keep plants alive while traveling.
For more travel tips, check out CNET's picks for the best travel credit cards in 2025. You can also explore the 12 travel essentials you always need to pack and the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
Airplane Audio Doesn't Have to Suck and This Bluetooth Transmitter Proves It
If you fly often, you already know the routine. You settle into your seat, grab the in-flight entertainment screen, and then your AirPods won't connect. That means reaching for the airline's wired headphones that feel flimsy, let in every engine roar, and make everything sound muffled. It's one of the most frustrating parts of flying, especially on long trips when decent audio can make all the difference. Between the engine noise, crying babies and that one guy snoring in 14C, you need a better option. The good news is there's a simple device that fixes the problem completely and makes flying feel a lot more like streaming at home. If you travel often, you probably already know the struggle: You're settled into your seat, ready to dive into the in-flight entertainment, only to realize your AirPods won't connect to the screen. The airline's wired headphones? Practically useless. They're uncomfortable, have no noise cancellation and let in every engine roar and crying baby within a three-row radius. For long flights, it's a recipe for a frustrating, low-quality listening experience. That's exactly why the AirFly Pro has become a must-pack item in my travel bag. It's a simple Bluetooth dongle that lets you connect your wireless earbuds (like my AirPods Pro) directly to the airplane's entertainment system, no adapters or wired workarounds required. Since I started using it, I've stopped dreading in-flight audio and finally get to enjoy movies the way they were meant to be heard. If you fly often, this little gadget might completely change how you travel. The AirFly Pro lets me truly enjoy in-flight entertainment The AirFly Pro from Twelve South is a minimally designed dongle that lets me connect to the 3.5mm headphone jack on my flight to listen to in-flight entertainment on my noise-canceling earbuds. All I have to do is pair the AirFly Pro with whichever Bluetooth headphones I'm using, like my AirPods Pro, plug the AirFly Pro into the display in front of me -- and I'm all set. I don't even need to use my phone to connect the two devices. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET There are four versions of the AirFly: the AirFly SE, which costs $35 on Amazon and connects to just one set of headphones; the AirFly Pro ($55); the Pro V2 ($60), the newest version of the Pro; and the Pro Deluxe ($62), which comes with an international headphone adapter and a suede travel case. I use the AirFly Pro, and it's been a game-changer for me on flights. I've never had to worry about battery life -- the AirFly Pro lasts for more than 25 hours and can fully charge in 3 hours. I can also pair two separate pairs of headphones to a single AirFly Pro, in case I'm with someone else on a flight and want to watch the same movie or show. And if that's not enough, the AirFly Pro also doubles as an audio transmitter, so I can turn any speaker with a headphone jack, like my old car stereo, into a Bluetooth speaker. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET The AirFly Pro makes a great gift The AirFly Pro is the perfect present to give to someone who's planning to travel this year. Besides my Anker MagSafe battery pack, the AirFly Pro really has become my most treasured travel accessory when I fly, which is why I consider it to be one of those can't-go-wrong gifts. For more travel gear, here are our favorite tech essentials to travel with and our favorite travel pillows.
Skift
an hour ago
- Skift
Airlines Set to Fly Millions for Fourth of July
Airlines are gearing up for what is expected to be another record breaking Fourth of July, with international bookings up. Airlines and federal agencies are preparing for what could be the busiest Fourth of July travel period in more than a decade. The FAA expects a total of 300,000 flights between July 2 and July 8 – it said it is 'preparing for the busiest Fourth of July week we've seen in 15 years.' The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.5 million people between July 1 and July 7. July 6 will see the highest passenger volumes at around 2.9 million. United Airlines anticipates flying around six million passengers for the July Fourth holiday weekend. For the summer, the carrier said it will fly 50 million passengers, about three million more than last year. International travel is also up. United said international bookings are up nearly 5% this summer compared to last summer, and the most popular destinations include: London, Cancun, Frankfurt, Rome, and Paris. June 27 and July 3 are expected to be the busiest travel days for United. Airlines are expected to report their second-quarter earnings in the coming weeks, and while carriers reported softening demand for domestic travel, it seems as if that trend is expected to continue. A June 27 Deutsche Bank report found that domestic demand for the second quarter, particularly among price-sensitive travelers, has been weak. International travel has been the most resilient, with demand continuing to increase. During United's first-quarter earnings call, chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella said international demand was offsetting much of the weakness in domestic. What am I looking at? The performance of airline sector stocks within the ST200. The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets including network carriers, low-cost carriers, and other related companies. The Skift Travel 200 (ST200) combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. See more airlines sector financial performance. Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200.
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
I rented a stranger's pool with Swimply — and I'd do it again
I don't have a pool — heck, I don't even have a backyard — but a quick visit to Swimply can change that for a few hours at a time. Consider the platform to be a scaled-down, sun-soaked version of Airbnb rentals. With a few taps in an app on your phone, you can reserve someone's pool all to yourself. It's a shortcut to a private afternoon swim or the pool party your living quarters just can't provide, all without the hassle of buying an above-ground pool or the long-term financial commitment of building an in-ground pool. Creeped out? I get it. Slipping into your best swimsuit at a stranger's house isn't quite the same as renting out a vacation home for the weekend. Plus, there are more traditional avenues to securing a cooling dip in a pool, such as swim club memberships, joining a fitness center or, you know, traveling for a vacation. Despite these alternatives, I was still intrigued by Swimply and wanted to see if it could provide the relaxing, accessible getaway it claims to. So, I reserved four hours at a pool about 30 minutes from my cramped apartment. Here's my honest review of the experience, from booking in the app to sipping a cold one while submerged in pristine (albeit rented) waters. Swimply Swimply is a platform dedicated to short-term pool rentals. As long as you can get past the idea of swimming at a stranger's house, it's an accessible shortcut to beating the heat for a few hours. Simple booking process Everything about Swimply works through an app. It's not complicated. Search for hosts in your area via a list or a map, then book their pool for an hourly fee. Where I live, most pools were between $70 and $150 per hour. There were outliers — like this glorified kiddie pool for $35 per hour (which is definitely not 5 feet deep) and this ludicrous backyard lazy river for $215 per hour — but the majority of the options were the kind of backyard setup you'd be jealous of on a hot day. I ended up booking 'Welcome To Paradise,' an in-ground, saltwater pool in a beautifully landscaped backyard with generous seating, all for $135 per hour. I then added the heated pool amenity for an extra $25 per hour because, although it's hot in the Northeast this time of year, a warm pool is just that much more inviting. Once I selected a time slot on my chosen day, the app requested a few additional details, including a headcount for my group and the reason for our stay. That triggered a message to my host, who answered the next morning and confirmed I was all set. Welcoming host Prev Next On the day of my reservation, I was running a half hour behind schedule. I let the host know via the in-app messaging system, and he responded in three minutes, assuring me there was no issue. He also let me know where to park at his house, what temperature the pool was and asked if I had any music preferences for the speaker system. Once my wife and I walked into the backyard, the host came outside to say hello and let us know how to access the restrooms. A door to the house was clearly labeled as such and led directly through a laundry room and into a full bathroom. Heading inside was probably the most awkward aspect of the entire experience, but I didn't mind it. I used the restroom twice and never felt as if I was invading their space or being surveilled. Beyond that interaction, I didn't hear a peep from the host. It truly felt like I was getting the private reservation I sought. An oasis as advertised We've all been through experiences where reality didn't live up to the pictures, and this was probably my biggest fear going into this test. Sure, the images on the listing looked immaculate, but when I showed up, would I be greeted by a pool full of leaves, walkways covered in weeds and nosy neighbors wondering what the heck was going on over the fence? None of that was the case. Everything lived up to the expectations the listing gave me. The pool was clean too. Its temperature sat at a perfect 88 degrees Fahrenheit and the loungers, hammocks and cabana helped me relax. The towels, made of Turkish cotton, dried quickly and felt cozy. I brought a variety of snacks from home, but if I hadn't, there were a few provided on the poolside table. And though there were neighbors out using their own pools, the property was large and landscaped well enough to provide privacy. There's no escape from some nuisances While my Swimply experience gave me a relaxing afternoon I couldn't have achieved in my own home, it might not fit everyone's definition of 'paradise.' Yes, I felt the sun's warmth and heard the birds chirping — but only when the leaf blowers and construction trucks at a nearby renovation died down. Then there's simply the premise of Swimply: I was swimming in a stranger's pool while they were home. Truthfully, it didn't seem that weird to me. My wife, however, was less enthused. She tagged along to catch some rays (and because she's a good sport), but this wasn't an experience she'd sign up for regularly, which is understandable. Pricing and availability come with caveats My Swimply experience would have cost $640 for four hours. That's not cheap at all. To get a little more value out of my next booking, it would have to be for a larger event with more people. Because while $640 for two people to sit by a nice pool for an hour is kind of silly, $640 for me and 15 of my closest friends to have an awesome pool party sounds like a blast. Unfortunately, Swimply charges more based on how many people are in your group. For the pool I booked, the price skyrockets to $240 per hour for 6 to 10 guests to $350 per hour for 11 to 15 guests and then to $475 per hour for 16 to 20 guests. I can understand a slight increase to account for the added noise and upkeep that extra people come with, but to triple the rate is borderline absurd. Even if you were to sign up for the $20 per month Swimply Premium membership that cuts down on fees and kicks back 10% in app credits for every booking, there are a lot better ways to spend nearly $2,000, including a swim club membership that would last far longer than four hours. Then there's availability. I'm in the suburbs of New York City, so there are ample options for me to book. But bouncing around the map and checking other parts of my home state of New Jersey revealed fewer options. It's nice to think there's a relaxing getaway right around the corner thanks to Swimply, but that's not going to be the reality for all users. I sat down to write this review after a couple of weeks of digesting my experience with Swimply, and it just so happened to be during an extreme heat wave on the East Coast. Maybe the temps are getting to me, but I find myself wanting to go back to a pool. It's neat that I have that option just a few taps away on my phone. If you can get past the mental block of walking into a stranger's backyard, give Swimply a look if only to see what's available around you. There's no cost to download the app. From there, you might just find a mini oasis that's too good to pass up the next time you want to get away, even if just for a few hours. Related article The 15 best kiddie pools for babies and toddlers, starting at $12 What is Swimply? What is Swimply? Swimply is a short-term rental platform for pools. Think of it like an Airbnb, but instead of booking someone's house while you travel, you get only their backyard and pool while you escape the heat that has hit your home. Swimply also has categories for tennis, pickleball, basketball, pets and indoor spaces. The inventory is smaller for those bookings. How does Swimply work? How does Swimply work? Users create an account on the app, then browse their area for pools to rent. Reservation details include time slots, group sizes and requested amenities. From there, all communication with the host is done in the app. CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors with several years of experience testing, researching and recommending products who ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this article, associate testing writer Joe Bloss actually reserved a pool via Swimply and spent hours enjoying and analyzing its offerings. Bloss is an experienced product testing writer for CNN Underscored who has often written honestly about his experiences, including that time he attempted to become a 5K runner when he hates running.
