Travel can be an amazing source of inspiration, but if things go wrong, it can take on a nightmarish quality, instead. No one wants to go on a vacation that’s more aggravating than relaxing. Fortunately, you can protect yourself against some common travel mistakes and stresses, by following a few easy tips.

Before traveling make sure you get enough sleep. For many people, the few days before their vacation are filled with either stress or excitement, sometimes leading to a lack of sleep. When this happens, you tend to ‘crash’ when you reach your destination, meaning that you waste vacation time because you are already exhausted. A good night’s sleep before traveling will mean that you arrive invigorated and upbeat.

Purchase a travel dress, which is a garment that can be worn multiple ways. It can be worn as a dress, skirt, shirt and wrap. You can then pack a few other accessories and accompanying items, which will save lots of space in your suitcase for all the souvenirs you wish to bring home.

If you have a choice when booking flights for travel, select an airline that uses primarily 767 jets. These larger jets have more legroom, and offer more direct flights because they can stay in the air longer. Also, the 767s have a two-three-two seat configuration, meaning there is only one middle seat per row instead of the usual two.

If you are squished for space while traveling by air, take advantage of every inch. Take the magazines out of the pocket in front of you and move them instead to the overhead bin. Depending on the size of the magazines, you could have bought yourself a couple of extra inches.

When you are traveling, invest in money containers that you can wear inside your clothing or sew simple pockets into the inside of your waist band. If you can not sew, ask someone who can to do it for you or bring it to a tailor or seamstress, and request they sew an inside pocket for you. This keeps your valuables, identification and money safe and you need not worry about someone stealing your travel bag or wallet.

When you travel make sure you take a travel-size bottle of Febreeze or similar product in your handbag. The person who sat in the seat of the plane, bus, or train before you may not have had time to shower before sitting down for a long flight. Avoid spending your trip smelling the previous passenger’s body odor by spraying your seat with Febreeze.

If you are planning on going swimming at all during your trip, bring two different swimsuits. This way, when one of them is wet, you can let it in the bathroom to dry and you will have to fresh one to put on for whatever water activities you have scheduled for the day.

With this array of tips in your arsenal, traveling will be a breeze, not a pain. These are simple ideas, but simple acts can be an extremely effective preventative. Simple sense is all you need to keep a travel experience positive and fun, even when you’re venturing way off the beaten track.