It’s the moment of truth now…time to seal the deal and get ready to see all of your plans come to light. In Part 1 you figured out the basics; in Part 2 you delved into the details; here you’ll take some action and get set to jet!

Step 7: Get your ticket, let’s go!

Despite the sequence of this list, buying your tickets – plane, train, and attractions – will be a little spread out over the course of your planning. In fact you’ll want to buy your plane ticket and book your lodging at the same time and well in advance (think around Step 5). Advance purchase of attraction tickets and day trips are also a great idea to avoid lines and sold out excursions. You’ll save money by pre-booking in virtually every case. 

Step 8: Get your stuff together

I have seen some “miracle packing” articles out there that are quite impressive! - Mine is coming soon. I’m a firm believer in going carry-on only. Packing light will enable you to have the best possible time. Less fuss at the airport and less weight to carry around town makes for less stress (don’t forget you're supposed to be stepping out of your comfort zone a bit). Consider it a test of your creativity – how many outfits can you get out of 3 pairs of pants, 4 shirts, and 2 scarves? Answer: more than you think!

A few more things to consider: hit up Amazon for things like an outlet converter, money belt, and snacks (granola bars travel well). It’s a good idea to have some cash – you can exchange currency beforehand at most banks. Make sure your passport is up to date and won’t expire for at least 3 months from the end of your trip. Establish an emergency contact and give copies of documents and itineraries to a trusted relative or friend. There is more, but I’ll share a detailed list in another post.

Step 9: Time to revel

You did it! You’ve planned your dream trip. Maybe you’ve just booked your last ticket, or you’re literally headed to the airport. Or maybe you can just picture yourself being in that moment – I’m reliving that moment from last Spring as I'm writing this.

Revel in this feeling. Your diligence and sacrifice has paid off. You’re on your way to exploring this great big world and even after all the work you’ve done to get here, this is just the beginning – you still have your entire trip to savor! And be sure that you do savor every moment. Take insane amounts of pictures (like I did) and make sure you’re in them. Try the weird dish that you can’t pronounce. Stop and listen to some street musicians. Don’t spend your whole day in a museum (unless that’s your thing). Engage the people you encounter with whatever broken language skills you can muster. You are finally there - have the time of your life.

Then come home, share your stories, and start planning the next round. 

Share your thoughts:

• What did you think of this series?
  
• Can you relate to this process from your own travel experiences?
  

When it comes to packing for a trip, there are so many articles you can find about how to pack light, pack smart, and pack an insane amount of stuff into a tiny little space. This post is a little different. Sometimes it's just best to leave most of your stuff behind.

First, a caveat: I am a woman, like most of my readers (in case you were wondering). I'm also well aware that I have far too many clothes and a whole lot of hair and beauty products (all of which I "need," by the way)! This bit of travel advice I'm about to dish is a challenge, even for me. It may seem like an impossible task, but I hope you'll see the benefits of trying it.

The TSA and all major airlines have been socking it to us over the past few years. It seems every travel season there are stricter rules concerning allowed items and the size and number of our carry-ons. We all know the liquid rules (if you don't, read up on them here), but now our carry-on luggage is also being downsized. Bags on most domestic American airlines can now be no larger than 22" x 14" x 9" (see Delta's notice here) and there's word that many international airlines are going even further. But never fear, SHEbirdie is here to help you make the most out of your limited space.

As you may know from my other travel tips, I highly recommend going carry-on only when you fly. With that in mind, and considering that up to 40% of our luggage as women is toiletries, the focus here will be on paring down our beauty arsenals. 

At the beginning of this post I mentioned that sometimes it's best to just leave most of our stuff at home. Well if you're doing carry-on only, this is pretty much a necessity. Taking this approach will require that you allot some extra cash ($10-20) to buy a few toiletry items from the local drug store when you arrive at your destination. If you're concerned that there won't be a drug store around, or that you won't have the transportation to run errands, don't forget that most airports have drug stores in them! 

Here is my list of what you should pack versus what you should buy:

Notice that under "PACK" there are only 2 items listed that will count against your liquid allowance (with leeway for a few specialty products). Also, if you get done with all of your packing and still have room left, you can of course pack in some of the "BUY" items and save yourself a bit of cash.

Overall, I think it's worth spending a few dollars at the drug store to save yourself the aggravation of trying to pack an impossible amount of toiletries into your small carry-on bags. As long as you're not too particular about your toothpaste, this approach may be just what you need to get around one of the major hurdles of air travel.

• What do you think? Is this something you already do, or would try?
  
• What other ways do you simplify your packing?