The big day is finally here. With the referral or hospital address in hand, you're ready to meet your child. But before you board that plane, learn how to make your adoption trip the journey of a lifetime.

1. Approach the trip with a flexible attitude. Be prepared to travel on short notice, because the call often comes with only days or hours to plan. Ask your travel agent about waiving airfare restrictions or fees for last-minute flights.

2. Prepare for post-adoption life before you leave. Don't limit your preparation to stocking a nursery. Take a baby-care class, read adoption literature and study your child's culture of origin. "Prepare yourself by reading about adjustment issues," suggests adoptive mom Elizabeth Bell-Perkins. "If you don't need to use what you learned ‑- great. If you do, you'll be prepared." And accept all offers of help. "Line up folks to help with cleaning, pet care, shopping, whatever," says Bell-Perkins, "You'll be glad you did!"

3. Learn from those who've gone before. Families cite email listservs and message boards as good sources for information about adoption destinations. Sandy Horner, who traveled to Chicago to adopt her newborn son, Ty, says, "An adoptive mom I met online sent me all of her notes. I knew exactly what to do, so my trip went smoothly." Just remember that there's a ton of contradictory advice out there, so assess the tips you find carefully.