Traveling is universally stressful. Missing flights and lengthy layovers have long plagued the world since the invention of air travel. Sometimes a bit of planning ahead is the key to avoiding all of the unnecessary stress caused by upcoming travel days.
In this article, I’ll be talking about ways to make traveling a bit less of a hassle. We’ll be discussing both domestic and international itineraries, making this post a one-stop shop for most of your travel questions and concerns.
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By using the discussed tips, I hope to make the thought of traveling a bit less daunting for those who are new to it. Whether you’re traveling as a family or traveling alone, traveling domestically or internationally, you should find something here to make your travel day a bit less stressful.
Making the Most Out of Your Suitcase Space
The first mistake new travelers make is packing unnecessary items in the limited amount of space in their suitcases. Also, new travelers may pack in the wrong suitcase, causing issues when they go to check in. By knowing ahead of time how much your bag can weigh, you avoid having to pay fees for bags that exceed the weight limit.
In most cases, you can find bag weight limits by simply searching the company you are planning on flying with. For example, you can find the weight limits for Delta Airlines (AKA my favorite airline) checked-in bags here and the size limit for carry-on bags here.
In general, my rule of thumb when packing for travel is to pack all toiletries in your check-in bag. This is because there are strict requirements for liquids when going through TSA or other international security checkpoints. You can find more information on liquid guidelines here, but keep in mind that this site is for TSA and American security checkpoints. You will most likely need to research additional international guidelines if you are planning on leaving the US.
By doing this, you eliminate all possibilities of having to throw away your expensive perfumes or other liquid necessities. If it is bigger than a bottle of hand sanitizer or a bottle of nail polish, you should probably check it! Also, make sure to wrap all liquid items in any throw-away bags you may have. There is nothing worse than making it to your destination and realizing you now have to throw away all your clothes.
Another important factor is making sure you are making the most of your suitcase space. There are plenty of methods for organizing your suitcase, but I prefer the rolling method for your clothes. You will often find ads for “organizing blocks” claiming that it helps you save space.
Take it from someone who took a trip to Asia for more than three months in a row. These so-called “space savers” are a huge waste of time, money, and space. The best way to pack is known as the army roll method. It seeks to minimize space by rolling your clothes into tight and compact rolls. This makes your clothes much easier to manage and ends up in a tidy suitcase. Check out this quick video from Travel Hacks for more info:
Also, when planning to pack your suitcase, make sure to pack by outfit. For example, if you are planning to travel for seven days, make sure you have at least seven (or eight for an emergency outfit) sets of underwear, shirts, and pants. You shouldn’t need more than that, but if you have extra room you can snazz it up as you see fit.
As an extra tip, I find it best if you pack all of your electronics in your carry-on bag. It helps to streamline the security process and decrease the likelihood of these items being stolen. And if you’re like me, you’d like to get through security within the least amount of time. Also, you worry if some TSA agents are willing to steal your items (unfortunately this is a real-life problem).
Planning and Booking Your Trip
The first step in planning an efficient travel day(s) is to research the place and accommodations you are going to book (...obviously). When traveling domestically, this includes simply checking the prices of your bags and the weather in the area you are traveling to.
When traveling internationally, you need to research all of those things including the required documents needed to enter the country. Typical documents include your passport and driver’s license. You may also need to obtain a travel visa for wherever you are going.
In my experience, you should be given a 30-to 90-day visa at immigration. This has only happened to me in Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand though, so your experience may be different based on where you are going and when.
The second step to creating an efficient travel plan is to factor in possible layovers. It is a good idea to make sure your layover will give you enough time to go through immigration if that is required. Take this situation for example:
There are also some cases (in which you’ve booked your layover flights with different airlines) where you have to obtain your baggage and check it in again. If this is the case, definitely make sure your layover is at least two hours.
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The third step is to make sure your accommodations make sense. It is a real bummer to have landed at your destination after a long travel day only to find out that your hotel is two hours away. If you are planning on renting a car, you want to make sure the area you have to pick up said car is near the airport.
The fourth step includes all the emergency tips your dad annoys you with (Fun fact: My dad actually helped me come up with these ideas). Here’s a list of all of the advice:
1. Emergency Numbers
It is important to include these when booking your trip. Anything can happen when you are traveling. Make sure your loved ones are the first ones to know if you need help.
2. Know Where the Hospitals Are
In case of an emergency, it is good to know where you can receive medical help. Researching where the nearest hospital is to your accommodation may be time-consuming, but you will be grateful to know exactly where to go in case you get something like Bali-Belly (Look it up on your own, I don’t want to talk about it…).
3. Save Offline Maps
Running into internet issues seems to be an inevitability when I travel. This can easily happen when you are going from one destination to the next. A great way to plan for this is to download the offline maps of the country you are in. Google and Apple Maps are great for this.
4. Locate the Embassy
No one wants to lose their passport in the country they are visiting, but it happens sometimes. Knowing where your local embassy is beforehand is a lifesaver because you literally would not be able to get back home without your passport.
5. Obtain Local Money
It may be surprising to you, but not every country takes USD. You may need to exchange your currency for that of the country you are traveling to. Usually, you can find places to do this in the airport.
And last but not least, the fifth step is to breathe. Travel days have long been daunting for me, so I completely understand the fear that comes with it. It is important to remember that traveling is just like going in for a business appointment. You get there, you talk (AKA travel), and then you leave (AKA make it safely to your destination). It is nothing more than that.
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What To Do At the Airport
Before you arrive at the airport, make sure you are able to get there at least 2 hours before your flight departs. Remember, 2 hours is PUSHING IT! If you can get to the airport 3+ hours before your flight departs then do it. You will have to check your bags in, go through security, and get yourself a “light” snack (if you have a big back like me) before your flight.
During your flight, it is a good idea to make sure you stay hydrated. Once you arrive at your destination there is no telling how long it will take for you to be able to eat or drink again. This is because you are now focused on finally getting to your accommodation or rental car. It is sometimes hard for people to take care of their bodies when faced with other important tasks such as those.
As I mentioned before, it is a good idea to pack all of your electronics in your carry-on bag. Along with that, though, I recommend that you pack a spare change of clothes along with wet wipes just in case there is a last-minute delay in your flight or layover.
In most airports, you can pack pre-packaged (non-liquid) snacks in your carry-on, so you may want to bring some of those. It’s a good idea if you’re greedy like me, but an especially good idea if you want to save yourself from paying an absurd amount of money for snacks at the airport.
Tips for Booking Accommodations
While it is important to make sure your hotel and rental car pick-up are nearby, it is just as important to make sure you are getting what you want. Checking the reviews for possible bookings is always a good idea. It helps you get an idea of customer service, cleanliness, and just plain reliability of the company you are planning on booking with.
When looking for accommodations, don’t just trust the first Google result you encounter. They are often there because a company paid Google to put it in the first couple of results. Also, make sure you have multiple options. That way you can compare prices and make sure you aren’t missing out on any extra goodies companies may be offering.
By extra goodies I mean amenities. For example, lots of hotels do not include microwaves. As someone who loves a good cup of noodles, this is extremely disheartening. By widening your search to more options, you have a good chance of finding the accommodation that has just what you need!
What are some tips you would recommend for your fellow travelers? Make use of the comment section down below to share some of your ideas. And remember, everybody may not like me, but they have no choice but to love me because I will always be there for them and accept them for who they are. Safe travels!