I received the following products in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Traveling during the summer is fun. The weather is nice, pools are open, nights are long and it’s warm at night (in a lot of places). While I don’t like humidity and temperatures over 95 degrees (F), I look forward to one event every summer—the Perseidmeteor showers. This year, the showers last from July 17 to August 14, 2015, peaking around August 11 (the beginning of the week). TimeandDate.com tells you the best time to see the showers and where to look in the horizon on August 11 and 12.

For me, the most stressful part about traveling is packing and figuring out what to do (everybody seemingly has no idea what to do, but have an opinion about your ideas). Here are my tips to make summer trips go a little smoother.

Summer Travel Tips

• Start making your packing list early. I’m a list-maker. I want to make sure that I don’t forget things, like my underwear. As soon as I plan a trip, I use a comprehensive pre-made travel checklist (this one is my favorite) and add anything to it that’s not listed, like gifts that I want to take to a friend.

• Make sure you have enough meds. Some pharmacies can’t fill certain types of prescriptions if you travel to another state. Make sure you pack enough.

• Call your bank. When a bank notices debit card charges in a different state, they may freeze your account, thinking that someone stole your card. Before your trip, call your bank and let the representative know your travel dates, the destination and any layovers.

• Pack a sewing kit. Hotel sewing kits are so-so, but you can do better. I really like the Quick Stitch kit. The kit is smaller than a CD case (Remember those?) and comes with a variety of needles, scissors that really cut, a dozen small spools of thread in different colors, seam ripper, measuring tape and more. This permanently stays in my travel kit.

• Cord organization. Somehow, I’m always the one in charge of transporting cell phone chargers and cords. I use a little makeup bag, like the free-gift-with-purchase kind at the department store, to keep everything together. If you want something more manly, an eyeglasses case that snaps together works well.

• Bring your own water bottle. I hate paying for bottled water (unless the tap water is contaminated). Whenever I travel, I always take my Sigg. I use my carabiner to clip it onto my backpack or bag so I don’t lose it. My trusty water bottle has already traveled to three countries.
• Pack moisturizer. Hotel moisturizers aren't that great, which is bad for my chronically dry feet. I always pack a good moisturizer in my travel kit. This summer, I'm taking the Organic & Vegan Ultra Hydrating Facial Mositurizer by NOUVEAU/ORGANICA. While this moisturizer is for your face, I love it for my skin and feet because of its first ingredients -- shea butter and coconut oil. These oils are a bit too heavy for my face, but they're great for your body. When I use the cream on my feet, they stay hydrated all day.  

• Protect your phone. Going to the beach, theme park or aquarium? Protect your phone from water by using a waterproof case, like the Universal Waterproof Smartphone Carrying Case by Number 1 in Gadgets. While you may not be able to retrieve your phone from the bottom of a lake, the case will keep your phone safe in a “splash zone.”

• Roll your clothes. When I pack, I lay the clothes for a daily outfit flat on my bed and then roll them up together, like a flauta. Doing this saves space and prevents wrinkles. I also do the same with clothes that are similar in length.
  
• Moisturizing serum: When you're out in the sun or playing in the sand, your skin needs extra hydration. I really like the Isa Professional Xanadu Serum. This serum contain vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. It provides light moisture, which feels nice on a warm summer day. I also like how the serum smells. The gold flakes look nice, but I'm not really sure if they add anything to the product.

• Organize your jewelry. If you don’t have a jewelry roll for traveling, use a large pill holder instead. Each space has enough room for medium-sized earrings.

• Get a $1 shower caddy for road trips. Make eating in the car simpler and less messy by giving each person a shower caddy from a dollar store to use. It’s perfect for holding hamburgers, lidded drinks and snacks.
  

• Don’t leave maps visible in the car. If you’re going to a touristy town, don’t leave travel guides or maps out in the open in your car. It’ll make your car a target. Put them in the glove box or trunk.

• Bring an eye mask and ear plugs. I’ve had the good fortune to stay in hotel rooms whose windows were near a street lamp and had partiers downstairs. Instead of getting crabby and losing sleep, pack an eye pillow and ear plugs. I like the large Lavender Eye Pillow from Eye Pillow Vacation. I chose the black cotton pillow because satin ones tend to slip off my face. The eye pillow also doubles as a mini heating pad or cold pack if you have sore muscles at the end of the day. This pillow has a strong lavender scent, which I like, but others don’t.

What do you do to prepare for a trip? What travel hacks do you use?

I received the products mentioned in exchange for an unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on a product link and make a purchase through Amazon.com.