Most people prefer to have plenty of time to plan for travel. This allows us to hold out for the best prices on airline tickets and lodgings, take advantage of special deals , set dates that coincide with local events (fairs, festivals, and so on), and of course, get everything done without the stress of a time crunch. However, we don't always have a say in how fast a trip comes together. There will be times when your work asks that you jet off post haste, a family emergency requires you to get home in a hurry, or you simply want to get away for a weekend with no real plan besides escaping the demands of your daily life. In these instances it helps to have a plan in place to ensure that nothing is forgotten in your frenzied preparations for departure. So here are just a few tips to help you reach your destination with everything you'll need.

1. Make a list - check it twice. In truth, you might want to make a couple of lists. You should definitely have one for your general travel plans (book flight, book hotel, arrange for car, etc.), as well as one for packing (pants, shirts, bathing suit, and so on). And you might want to include one for electronics and one for toiletries or other extras (sunblock, glasses, and flip-flops, for example). This will not only help to ensure that everything gets packed; it will also give you peace of mind so that you're not constantly wondering what you forgot.

2. Pack light. If you insist on packing everything but the kitchen sink, the odds that you will forget something important are much higher than if you have a small carry-on. Plus, if you don't end up having enough clothing or toiletries to see you through your trip, you can always purchase additional pieces as you go (including another piece of luggage to bring back extra stuff when you return). Or if you're not too keen to add to your collection of clothing,
simply ask the hotel concierge about laundry service to extend the life of your limited wardrobe (and save a few bucks).

3. Check prescriptions. You might not have time to refill an essential prescription when you take a trip last minute, but you should have time to Google a pharmacy in the area you're going to and then call your doctor's office to phone in a prescription so that it's ready for pickup by the time you reach your destination.

4. Keep traveler's checks on hand. If you have to make frequent, unexpected trips, it helps to have some of the legwork out of the way. Purchasing traveler's checks ahead of time means that you don't have to rely on credit cards when you travel (some are not accepted by hotels, restaurants, cabs, and other vendors) and you don't have to add the worry that comes with carrying cash. If you already have some traveler's checks at home you'll have one less errand to run before you hit the road.

5. Set an alarm. What could be worse than running around like a crazy person to prepare for your trip in record time, only to oversleep and miss your flight? Since you don't want worry to give you a restless night of sleep, simply set a loud alarm or go to http://www.onlineclock.net to find one that suits you. This will ensure that your last minute trip doesn't start on a sour note.

photo by: o5com