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5) Budget your packing space- I know this seems like common sense, but with bags costing anywhere from $25-$50 a bag you have to budget your space! The more you know about your destination the easier this task will be!
- What's the weather like this time of the year where your going? At night? During the day?
- How many days are you traveling for? Do you need full size bottles of shampoo or will a travel size do?
- Are you staying at a hotel? Hotels offer a lot more than they use to; with guest satisfaction being so important and the market being so saturated with places to stay, most hotels will provide razors, tooth brush, shaving cream, blow dryers, and soap! Why pack it? It's free!
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4) Don't take things you can't afford to lose- For those of you that have traveled you know that if you travel enough, you will lose something, it's inevitable. So the best way I have found to not get upset about it, is to avoid taking things you cannot replace.
- If you have to take important documents, why not try calling and seeing if taking a COPY is acceptable?
- If you have to take your laptop or tablet, make sure all the data is backed up on your PC or external hard drive before your trip
- If/when you lose something, a phone is your best friend. Call the hotel, call the restaurant, call wherever you had the object last. And if they don't have it, leave a description and a phone number, you never know when things will turn up!
- Only carry credit cards and cash you know you will need on your trip. It might even be wise to write down your bank/credit card company phone numbers and slip it in your luggage. That way if your wallet gets stolen, you can get it taken care of quickly!
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3) Planes, trains, and automobiles- Are you flying in or driving? Either way you need to look into how you are going to get around the area you are in. Most tourist areas in any state or any country offer free or inexpensive public transportation! Getting to your destination is the easy part, but knowing how your going to get around while you are there BEFORE you get there will save you more headache than you can imagine! The easy way out is to rent a car, but so many places I have been have made renting a car seem so senseless! International travel especially!
- Don't even think of renting a car if I were going to Washington DC or New York City, they have subways!
- When you're out in California the bus routes run anywhere you want to go! Just think for a minute: it's $16-$30 bucks a day for a car in California, but on top of that it's $5-$10 to park and you almost have to have a law degree to determine when and where you can park! The bus is $1 and if you have to change buses it is an additional quarter!
- Progressive places like Portland, Oregon even have a Light Rail system making getting around a breeze! Know before you go!
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2) Make a list, check it twice- You gotta find out who is naughty or nice! Just kidding! But make yourself a packing list, and don't wait till the day of to make it! Start one week out from your trip, this gives you plenty of time to add things you forgot, and remove those impulse things you are so certain you need, that you get there and never use! Making the list the day of is bad news bears because one of two things will happen: you will either pack entirely too much or forget at least 1 important item!
The key with the list is execution. You spent a week adding and removing things, so when packing time comes make sure you double check that you put EVERYTHING on your list in your bag. Otherwise you will end up so sad thinking you packed your phone charger and very cranky when you have to go drop $20 (at least) on a new one!
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1) Don't worry, travel happy- The reason this is the NUMBER ONE travel tip is because it is the most easily overlooked, and can have the most effect on how your trip goes. No matter how much you plan, organize, build time tables, make packing lists, get to the airport 2 hours early, scream and yell at the ticket counter agent, or write letters to companies, something is going to go wrong on your vacation. You will miss a flight, your room won't be ready on time, you will forget your swimsuit, or your luggage will get lost, it's the nature of the beast. Travel is just like everything else; when you get mad at your computer for not working you don't punch it and scream at it (or maybe you do, who knows), because that isn't going to fix the problem!
- People in the hospitality industry get into the industry because they have an opportunity to make people happy. But I'd say 6/10 times they are dealing with someone belittling them because of something out of their control. Try this next time: Approach the ticket counter, hotel desk, luggage claim with a smile. Take 2 seconds to look at their name tag and use their name. Let them know you know it isn't there fault and you would appreciate anything they can do to help you. I guarantee you will be surprised at the response you get. No longer are you the person they get paid 8 dollars an hour to help. Your a nice person in a tough spot that they can fix! They want to be the hero! No one wants to help the person who says "If you don't take care of this immediately, I am taking my business elsewhere" they just do it because they don't want to get yelled at!
- Relax, take a deep breath, it will be ok. Sounds cliche right? Well lets say for example you get to your destination and you forgot something, or you lost something, or you broke something. Do you know how much stressing out and getting upset is going to help?.... anyone?.... anyone?..... CORRECT! It isn't going to help! Whether your trip is business or pleasure, don't let it get ruined by having a meltdown. There are ways to solve problems even in other countries! You just have to take a moment to relax and think it through. Did I forget my dress shirt? Look into shirt stores in the area, ask someone at the local market.
- OH NO my wallet was stolen/lost. This is probably one of the worst case travel scenarios I can think of (not involving abduction). The key to dealing with this is to get in contact with the correct people. First call all the places you visited recently and leave your name and number,and then contact your bank or credit card company and cancel your cards. The next step is tricky; if you are traveling abroad you need to get in contact with the US consult or embassy immediately. If you are in the states you need to file a police report, get all unofficial forms of ID, and make sure you get to the airport early. They have ways to confirm your identity without your drivers license, but it will take some time. So gather all of your things and make sure to arrive with plenty of time to explain your situation. I can't promise you that it still won't be stressful, but if you know what your in for, you can even make it through this situation with out losing your cool!
Travelin' Matt
