My three children and I had a spontaneous moment and found ourselves headed for Las Vegas! On the way there, I reserved a hotel room and now the only thing we had to look forward to was the inevitable! Whatever happens in Vegas… get’s posted on Facebook. Three hours later, we were in the lobby of a three-star hotel room. Upon announcing we had a reservation, the hotel lobby clerk said they had no more vacancies; however, they could upgrade us at no charge to one of their suites! It didn’t end there. She also slipped in two complimentary drink tickets, one free pole dancing lesson with Lucy (or was it Loosey?) and a 10% discount toward the buffet, after midnight! I’m already feeling like I’ve hit the jack pot! Of course, I jumped at the opportunity!

Almost 40,000 people die in car accidents each year, according to the Center for Disease Control. Every 10 seconds, a victim of a car accident is treated in an emergency room for accident-related injuries. Sixteen percent of all fatal crashes in 2008 were caused by driver distraction, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These are some scary statistics. Many of these crashes could have been prevented.

On December 26th, give yourself a great big pat on the back for successfully getting through the holiday season! You’ve most likely attended more than your fair share of parties, battled never ending lines at the mall and even done some time with the in-laws. Now it’s time to give yourself a post holiday treat: take the rest of this week off from chores, running errands and even work if you can. Instead, spend as many moments as you can simply enjoying your loved ones. To make the most of your well deserved time off, take a moment to consider these ideas.

Travel brings plenty of stress. From rushing to catch your flight to worrying about having everything you need, there is plenty to stress about when you take a trip, whether the trip is for business or for pleasure. Relieve some of the stress by reducing and eliminating wrinkles in your clothes. No matter what happens in the course of your travel, you can relax knowing that your clothes are ready to go.

Plan wisely when packing for a bus trip. While buses do not have the same restrictions as airplanes do regarding baggage, you still have to make sure you do not bring certain items, such as sharp objects, firearms or a bottle of wine, on board. If you are traveling with small children, you want to make sure you have all necessities in your carry on baggage. Each person is generally allowed one piece of luggage stowed under the bus and one carry-on piece.

Hitting the open road in a travel trailer gives your family a chance to bond as you visit new places. A well-stocked camper makes a difference in the outcome of the trip. Packing the right things before you leave gives you more time to focus on entertainment instead of finding local stores to buy the forgotten items.

Traveling with diabetes requires more preparation due to the special medical situation. A diabetes travel pack ensures you have all of the necessary diabetic supplies to address any medical issues that occur while you are away from home. The length of the trip affects the amount of supplies you should pack in the kit. Even short trips warrant the addition of a diabetes travel kit. Packing too many supplies is a much better situation than being caught short.

Winter travel can be bulky. Between extra outerwear and extra layers of underwear, it can seem like you are packing the whole house. Make a list of everything you need to keep your packing streamlined and under control. Bring everything you need to be safe, warm and comfortable, without bringing more than you need.

Family vacations should be relaxing experiences, but if you have to spend days planning, researching and organizing, the fun and relaxation of it all could be lost. Instead of piecing your vacation together, choose an all-inclusive family package. With meals, activities, accommodations and other factors already taken care of, you can pack your bags and take your family on a truly relaxing trip.

Travel can be many things. It can be an obligatory visit to your relative’s home for the holidays. It can be a quick one-night getaway to the city to see a show and do some shopping. Or, it can be a week-long toes-in-the-sand vacation where you escape from everything just for a little bit. Whether you’re packing the car or boarding the plane, travel planning requires some dotting of i’s and crossing of t’s. You’ll never be able to control the long line at airport security, but if you follow some general guidelines, you will be able to shape your next trip. Here are ten tips for trouble-free travel: