Did you know the word "travel" comes from the old French word "travail," which means to work?

That word is thought to have come from "tripullare," which is the three-sectioned whip Roman soldiers used to strongly encourage productivity out of the laborers in their expanded empire.

They associated the act of moving from one place to another with hellish torture (www.startbackpacking.com). To prevent making travel torturous, here are six tips to help even the most frequent of travelers.

1. When It Comes to Packing, Less is More. Instead of carrying entire pill bottles and entire bottles of toiletry items like hair gel, use travel bottles. Whittle down the weight of what you're carrying on a business trip. Instead of bringing a huge bottle of hand lotion for a 2-day business trip, carry only a small amount of the lotion in a small bottle. Search Amazon.com for "Travel Kit by Nalgene" for some durable, travel-friendly containers. If you're worried about something breaking open or leaking, place the item in a separate plastic container (snack size bags work well for this).

2. Early-Bird Gets the Worm (or the Better Seat). The longer you wait to choose a seat increases the odds of it being a seat you don't want (one near the lavatory, for example). You can always use the six-digit confirmation code (provided on your travel itinerary) to review the seating assignment (the exception, of course, is on Southwest Airlines, as they do not assign seats). Exit-row and bulk-head seating sometimes opens up 24 hours before the flight, offering those quick on the draw the ability to choose a better seat. Additionally, for those concerned about not being able to check in for a Southwest flight at the crucial 24-hours-in-advance mark, the airline now offers "Early Bird" check-in for $10 per flight. A great site for reviewing seats is www.seatguru.com.

3. Don't Forget Where You Parked. As soon as you park, write down where or program it into your cell phone. If you're really forgetful, call a friend to tell them where you parked. Try to park at the same place if you're a frequent traveler.

4. Breeze Through Security. A few quick reminders about security: All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Remove your shoes, belt and jacket before passing through the security checkpoint. Finally, an organized bag is less likely to get selected for additional screening. To learn more about the security screening process, visit www.tsa.gov. 

5. Drink Water, Eat Healthy. It's tempting to enjoy a glass or two of wine to relax on a flight, but your best bet is to drink only water while flying. Flying dehydrates the body because of high elevations, and drinking alcohol only worsens the situation. Additionally, instead of spending $7 or more on a calorie or carb-loaded airline snack box, pack a healthy variety of foods. Almonds, dried fruit, bananas and apples are much healthier options than chips and salsa, and cookies.

6. Wash Your Hands. Always wash your hands and use soap and water immediately after coughing or sneezing, or after touching anything or anyone suspect. CDC recommends washing with soap and warm water for up to 20 seconds (many people recommend singing "Happy Birthday" twice). Carry hand sanitizer.

These tips represent just a few items to make travel less burdensome. However, every trip is unique and sometimes presents challenging situations "on the ground." If you're lucky enough to evade those challenges, sit back, relax and enjoy your travel.

Matthew T. Patton (mpatton@advanceweb.com) is editor of ADVANCE.