Planning a trip is hard work, but if you do it right, it makes the vacation so much better. Follow Bigelow Travel's top three travel planning tips for a smooth and stress-free vacation:

1. Figure out where you want to go. Don't try to cram too many cities in when you only have a few days or a week. After all, it's a vacation! You should have time to relax.
2. Pack like a pro. Consolidate everything you want to bring into as few bags as possible. Trust us, you'll want to save room to bring souvenirs home.
3. Hire a professional travel planner to plan your big vacation. We've been doing this for years, so there's no one better for the job than the team at Bigelow Travel.

Bigelow Travel offers travelers a few invaluable resources to use before they jet off to new, exotic locations. Check them out:

• This government website gives you information about your host country's requirements for entry.
• The Transportation Security Administration travel website gives you answers to several commonly-asked travel questions.
• This list provides helpful travel tips from TSA.
• The CheckMyTrip app gives Bigelow Travel clients direct access to reservation information.