The worst thing that can happen while you are trying to soak up the sun in Cabo San Lucas is having a disaster you are unprepared for. You lose your passport, cannot find the hotel, or forget your purse on the counter at home. Any and all of these make a well-perceived vacation no fun. Here are some tips to make you as ready as can be for a little rest and relaxation:

1.Start Early. It is important to start planning your trip at least 6 months in advance. Although a last minute cruise seems like an adventure, you will not be saying the same thing if you are unprepared. In fact, downloading a countdown to your desktop not only excites you, but reminds you there is still work to be done before the big day.

2.List, list, list. Make lists for everything. What to bring, what to do, and what to wear. If you have a list of everything you need, it is less likely you will forget the essentials.

3.Use and abuse the photocopier. It is important to make copies of EVERYTHING. Your driver’s license, passport, and hotel reservations. Having an extra copy of anything that can identify you and where you are going is a necessity, especially in a foreign country.

4.Less is not always more. When it comes to packing, when in doubt, the answer is always less. It is better to have too many t-shirts than not enough. And always pack a spare change of clothes and your valuables in your carry-on. You never know if your clothes will end up in Tokyo, while you are going to Moscow.

5.The Early Bird gets the worm. Yes, the 4:00 am flight seems annoying, but the security lines are about ten times shorter. If you have to go through something like customs or security, the early flights are the best. If for some reason a midday flight is unavoidable, make sure to arrive 2-3 hours early to give plenty of time for any scope of a TSA search. This also goes for lay-overs. The last thing you want to be doing on your vacation is sprinting across LAX trying to find Terminal C.

6.Have a good attitude. Nothing is worse than sitting next to the person who clearly does not want to be wherever they are. Have a positive outlook on everything, and your trip will be more enjoyable.

7.Do not plan a vacation with people you haven’t seen for years. Yes, it seems like a good idea to go see your best friend from camp when you were 10. However, once you are stuck somewhere with them, you will remember how they snored like a bear with a sinus infection and drove you insane. Same goes for people you see all the time. If you don’t like them on a normal day, what makes you think you will like them in the middle of Mexico?

8.Be flexible. Yes, a well-planned itinerary is important, but life always has its surprises. Having the ability to go with the flow when an unexplained natural disaster ruins your plans of zip-lining may save your vacation.

Although there is not a money-back guarantee with these guidelines, they are sure to improve your vacation at least a little. Being prepared can only help your trip to Europe, the Bahamas, or even the campsite down the street. Whether you are travelling international, or to a friend’s house, these tips will come in handy in the least likely situations.