As I start writing this post, it’s only been 10 days since we’ve been back stateside from the biggest trip I’ve ever planned: 24+ hours of travel each way, 3 weeks in Thailand, 2 destinations, and 15+ family and friends who joined us.
A trip that was all-consuming in amazing and sometimes rough ways — now feels like ages ago. Maybe it’s the jet lag, which has made each day we’ve been back a hazy fog of a lifetime in itself.
If you read my last post on treating trip planning as a conscious, joy-filled ritual, you know I’ve been exploring the bigger systems and frameworks to guide the journey. Today, I’m zooming in on the tiny things — the tips, tools, and practices that made our Thailand trip not only smoother, but more joyful and spacious. These are the pieces that turned a complex, multi-destination, multi-generational trip into something we could savor instead of survive.
Planning
Start early. Yes, for the practical reasons. But also because the anticipation is part of the joy. The weeks leading up to a trip are scientifically proven to be a mood booster — so why not stretch them out?
Stay organized. Find a central place for everything: discoveries, research, confirmed plans, packing lists, random notes. I used my own travel planning Notion template, which kept me from constantly sifting through email confirmations and months of text message history.
Curate your inputs. It’s endless out there. You can read 100 different “Best Of” lists and watch every TikTok ever made about your destination — but should you? I decided no. I picked one or two trusted travel voices for recommendations, plus one main platform for rabbit-hole research. That was more than enough.
Google Maps lists. Make one for your trip and add everything — both the non-negotiables and the “ooh, maybe” places you hear about. Even if you don’t go, it’s a great keepsake and an easy way to give friends recommendations later without racking your brain for that amazing noodle place’s name.
Plan loosely. We had core activities and a bunch of “choose your own adventure” options for each day, based on what people felt like doing. There was never a moment where we were bored or stuck — but we also never felt overstuffed.
Check holidays and hours. I reached out to a few places before we left and discovered some would be closed for Thai holidays. Better to know ahead than show up to locked doors.
Anchor moments. In recent years, I’ve found the surest way to have a peaceful, fulfilling time on a trip is to release expectations, and practice detachment from outcomes. Pick 1–2 experiences that will make you feel complete about the trip. For me, one was sitting in the sand with my baby for the first time. The rest was all bonus.
Packing
Packing cubes. They really do make a difference. We got a set big enough for the whole family. Each person’s stuff contained, easy to grab, nothing spilling everywhere.
Hard-shell containers. Perfect for books and journals (no bent corners!), plus fragile souvenirs. I used these.
Multi-use shawl or scarf. Works as a cozy layer on cold flights, a modesty wrap in sacred spaces, or an impromptu picnic blanket.
“Pack” your phone ;) Download and set up any apps you’ll want to have on hand, like Google Translate, WhatsApp, and a maps app with your destination downloaded so you can find your way even without service. Do a quick search for destination-specific apps. For example, in Thailand Grab is the go-to app for ride-sharing and meal delivery — it was so nice to have an account and payment all set up and ready to go.
Transport
Loyalty programs. Just sign up — even if you don’t fly often. We always fly EVA Airways when we go to Thailand, and though the trips are rare, the miles/points do add up. I had enough unexpected points to get all of us into the lounge during a layover — free meals, snacks, and a safe space for a toddler to wander.
Know the kid perks. A lot of available accommodations for families and special needs aren’t loudly advertised, but it’s so worth to do a quick Google search for those travel hacks. EVA offers baby bassinets and kids’ meals, but you have to request them ahead. Lifesaver.
Prepare your entertainment to match your reality. With a one-year-old, I knew I wasn’t watching anything start-to-finish. My flight entertainment was audiobooks, music, and podcasts while walking the aisles while the baby napped in the carrier.
Refreshed > entertained. While I kept my entertainment belongings minimal (phone + Airpods), most of my carry-on packing was focused on prioritizing the little things that would keep me feeling sane, refreshed, and me while on this trip. Makeup bag, face wash, Lunya sock-slippers, hair tie, extra outfit and underwear. Also, I never go anywhere without a nail clipper. A hangnail on a 16-hour flight is a personal hell I never want to experience.
All the cords. I kept every charger for every device in one pouch, labeled and tangle-free. Highly recommend.
Arrival
Enlist help. My mother-in-law met us with diapers, wipes, and a stroller already set up in our hotel room. Felt like magic. Don’t be afraid to ask others to help prepare for your arrival!
Extra keys. With a big group, it’s nice to have a couple of room keys floating around so people can drop things off or help with the baby without a whole handoff situation. Request a couple extra at check-in!
Unpack everything. My favorite decompression ritual: shooing everyone out of the hotel room, putting the baby down for a nap, and fully unpacking. Chargers in their spots, clothes in drawers, toiletries lined up, and little spaces and corners rearranged for function and ease of living.
Maximize space. We had an armchair removed from our hotel room to create more floor space for us all. Don’t be shy to ask! It ended up not being a big deal at all.
Stagger arrivals. We got there a few days before the rest of the group — which let us get oriented, settle in, and ride out some jet lag before things got busier.
Private outdoor space. Getting a room with a balcony or terrace is clutch with a napping toddler. It was nice to not feel so trapped during nap time.
During your stay
Partner check-ins. Even just five minutes to swap stories, vent, or laugh together can keep you from bottling up stress. So so needed when there’s so many people and generations in the mix.
Sensory souvenirs. My friend Monique nailed this — jasmine oil to remember the flower necklaces we got after a massage, rose toner from our facials, shells from the beach.
Solo and one-on-one time. In a group of 15+, there’s something special about peeling off with one or two others for some quality time. Embrace the scattering — there’s time for everyone to be together, and time for smaller groups and more intimate moments.
Plan only 24 hours ahead. With teens who wanted pool days, a mother-in-law who wanted to host, and friends chasing markets and shopping excursions — I didn’t always know how we’d fit it all in, but we did, and a big part of that was just focusing on the plan for the next 24 hours.
Drop off laundry. Pack less. We all like to wear the same items every day, anyway.
Remember the “just being there.” Some of the best moments aren’t about the big attractions.
put it so lovely in a reply to a note some months ago — “a lot of the fun will be just being together.” Same with ’s sentiment: “as in writing it’s what happens between the planned content where memories are made.”Keep a running “next time” list. A bit of a meta-recommendation (given the topic of this post!), but keep a running list of your tips, learnings, and MVP items and mindsets that are helping along the way. You’ll be that much more prepared and seasoned for your next trip.
Return
Buffer your re-entry. If you can swing it, build in some buffer time before you leave and after you come back. Coming home on Saturday instead of Sunday gave us a full day to re-enter life without rushing.
Come back to a clean house. We left with fresh sheets and a tidy home, so post-travel chaos was a little less chaotic.
Pre-write your grocery list. Even better if there’s a frozen meal or two waiting. Future you will thank you.
ICYMI: My Sacred Travels Notion Dashboard is ready!
These 30+ tips are a mix of personal trial-and-error, advice from seasoned travelers in my circle, and a few happy accidents along the way. They’ve now all been folded into my Sacred Travels Notion Dashboard.
If you want a space to hold your trip intentions, discoveries, and practical details — without losing the magic — you can grab my dashboard here.
I’d love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this week’s issue, please consider:
A quick tap of the 🖤 icon below
Tapping the 💬 icon and sharing your best travel tip
Pick your favorite quote and hit restack 🔄
Thank you for the mention! I remember making that reply now -- I had no idea it would be remembered on your side.