 Travelling
tips
Getting stressed out when
traveling? Could be time for an attitude check!
Some things will undoubtedly not go the way
you planned – but if you pay attention,
it’s easy to enjoy things you didn’t
even plan for. Efficient planning is the one
way to minimize the frustration and maximize
the pleasure of traveling.
Packing:
choose your luggage carefully. Some is heavy
before you even start packing. Lifting a roller
bag over your head after you’ve packed
it can require a weight lifter. (Consider putting
your laptop or heavy books in an outside pocket
that you can take out before you put it in the
overhead.) Essential items: tickets, medications,
camera & film, itinerary, extra glasses,
sunglasses, address book, valuable jewelry,
snacks, change of underwear, reading material,
basic toiletries/make-up, wallet with cash &
minimum number of credit/ATM cards. We often
hear “less is more” – and
certainly that is the case when you’re
on the road. According to Consumer Reports 8%
of passengers who check luggage report something
lost or stolen, so if you can’t afford
to lose it, don’t check it..
Clothing:
If you’re going to be in the same hotel
for several days, consider sending ahead bulky
items, such as exercise clothes or reading material,
to arrive before you do. (If you require a signature
on the recipient end, you can easily trace the
package when you arrive if necessary.) Choose
clothes with lots of flexibility – for
example: slacks to wear with a casual sweater
during the day or a dressy jacket for evening.
Clothing that can be layered for warmth. Dark
clothing won’t show spots and can be worn
longer - pick one basic color and choose everything
else to match. Best to put clothes in dry-cleaning
bag to minimize wrinkles, hang in hotel show
room to steam out wrinkles. Roll up socks and
underwear and tuck into corners or in shoes.
Get travel sizes of toiletry items. Carry them
in a hanging bag with clear plastic dividers
so you can see in a moment’s notice what’s
missing. If you travel frequently, always keep
this bag packed and ready to go.
The most important thing to take
when you travel is a good attitude. Spend less
time fretting about the frustrations, and more
time enjoying the opportunities, such as a time
to read without interruption or a fabulous meal
at a local restaurant. Keep your sense of humor
and happy traveling!
When renting cars, it’s
best to rent the same color everytime (white
is easy to see) – put something in rear
window for identification, such as one of your
business brochures)
Go to the rental car counter before picking
up bags (consider frequent traveler rental programs).
Find a type of car you like and
stick with it. Innocuous looking – less
likely to attrack attention of theves; on the
other hand, a sporty convertible may make life
more fun.
For foreign traveling, have your passport, extra
film, traveler’s checks, a little local
currency (make copies of your tickets, passport
- ID page & visa pages, credit cards, itinerary,
prescriptions. Pack one in your suitcase and
leave one with a friend.)
Jetlag must also be considered. Abstain from
alcohol and drink lots of water instead. When
you buckle up, set watch to local time at arrival
destination. Stretch frequently to increase
circulation and reduce muscle stiffness. Maintain
a good diet and Relax!
Items you may want to take are a First Aid guide,
spot remover – white soap/toothbrush,
dental floss – good for tieing! Twisty
tie for replacing buttons, scotch tape –
hem, lint remover. If you like to sleep in dark
room, take a clip (potato chip or binder clip)
for holding curtains together. Water bottle
for flight (trade-off: weight versus comfort).
When at the Airline, getting the seat you want:
no window or aisle seats open, ask the ticket
agent for a middle seat between two passengers
with the same last name. Couples often book
aisle and window, hopin that center will go
unclaims, and they’ll trade. Any flight
delay entitles you to a refund, even on a nonrefundable
ticket. Airline won’t provide hotel –
ask hotel for “distressed traveler rate.”
No room at the inn? Ask gate agent for airline
pillows and blankets. (Join frequent traveler
club – charged it to my client as hotel
room!) According to latest statistics, 99.5)
of checked bags get to right airport at right
time. Of the .5 percent classified as “mishandled”,
8 out of 10 are returned to their owners within
24 hours. (Always put identification INSIDE
bag in case outside tags are torn off).
Traveling with your PC? Hide
your PC in a bag that doesn’t resemble
a laptop carrying case. Never keep passwords
or access phone number on the machine or in
the case. In hotel rooms, use cable locks to
attach to stationery furniture, or store in
safe – be sure to log off! Don’t
check your laptop or store in overhead luggage
compartment. Back up your data frequently, and
store separately from your laptop. Keep your
laptop in view at all times when going through
security. Security always involves a trade-off
between protection and convenience – how
valuable is your information?
In all, taking these points into consideration
will no doubt allow you for a better trip, weather
business or vacation, and improve your travel
awareness.
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