Travel has a way of teaching you things the hard way. After a few trips, most of us end up picking up little habits that make everything smoother without even thinking about it anymore. It might be something as simple as how you pack, how early you get to the airport, how you choose flights, or just a small routine that keeps things from getting chaotic. What’s one thing you always do now that helps you avoid stress on your trips?
I’d have to say getting eSims. This enables me to have instant local phone service when I land. A great convenience and HUGE stress reliever!
Smarter Packing: packing less and quick dry washable clothes to allow just carry on luggage and using packing cubes helps keep things organized.
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We are in retirement and travel 4-6 months out of the year, mostly to Europe. Here are some tips I have picked up:
- As @multimastery said, learn to use eSims. We use Saily but there are many choices.
- Pack carry-on only. We invested in a Merino wool wardrobe and that helps a lot.
- We carry a Firestick so we can watch our streaming services everywhere.
- Keep electronic versions of your travel documents in the cloud.
- Buy dual-voltage accessories (chargers, curling irons, hairdryer) if you need them
- Buy a luggage scale and keep in your suitcase. Very helpful for certain airlines.
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- Choose the earliest time of the day flights to minimize delays and cancellations. Have a flight tracking app to check on the status of “where is my plane” for early alerts about possible flight delays. In that situation search google flights for your alternative flight options including other airlines.
- Get bluetooth trackers for your items. We do carry on only but a tracker might have helped us find a CPAP machine that we left at a small aiport overseas.
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These have been such great tips, thanks, everyone! It’s interesting how the little things seem to make the biggest difference when you’re traveling. I really liked the idea of sticking to carry-on luggage whenever possible. It seems like it takes away a lot of the stress at the airport. The suggestions about using eSIMs, keeping digital copies of important documents, and using a luggage tracker are all things I’ll be keeping in mind for future trips.
One thing I’m taking away from this discussion is that being a little more prepared before leaving home can save a lot of headaches later. I appreciate everyone who has shared their experiences so far. If anyone has more travel habits or small tricks that make trips smoother, I’d love to hear them!
We keep a travel checklist in our Google docs. A couple of different versions depending on whether we’re taking a road trip or a flight trip either with kids or without. We just update the list as our needs change. Then just print it out or use check boxes on the digital version. The list is shared across all family members that way we can all work our respective parts but also help out the other family members and getting ready to go. Think with the brain, remember with the pen.
I guess it is not letting everything be a problem. Also have alternative plans.
While not what everyone else would do, after 9-11 I got stuck outside the Inter-island terminal early in the evening, when they closed for the night. I laid down on a concrete bench for hours until 5am when the terminal opened. No, even though the announcements said to hold on to belongings, I left then nearby unprotected by me. Why? There were National Guard guys patrolling with guns. My stuff was safe enough!
I have given up seats when asked and often put in a better seat. Just by offereing to get bumped got me a First Class seat when the plane was finally boarded.
I once ran across a large terminal when I realized that my gate-checked bags was taken off at an intermediate airport and I had to get to baggage claim. The airline determined the issue and assured me that they would re-route the bag and deliver it to me where I was staying. I didn’t holler. I didn’t threaten the airline (as some people do). I just re-boarded.
When there was a delay and everyone was running to the car rental counters, I called their line and booked a car. That allowed me to go directly to their counter while everyone else stood in line to get a car. The same thing has happened with a flight being cancelled and everyone queuing at the gate agent.
I booked a flight from Atlanta to Orlando and the flight was overbooked. I was first and standing at the gate I told the agent the flight was overbooked. She grabbed a bunch of peoples tickets, got the flight out and said that she would pay us extra because she would have to send us to a different Florida airport and bus us to Orlando. I told her that there was an available flight I was willing to take leaving soon to Daytona Beach and she agreed to put me on that one. That was the exact city I wanted to travel to but since DAB was so expensive I had chosen to go to Orlando and rent a car. I saved rental car cost, got to the town I wanted to and the extra money I got paid for my next Hawaii trip!
I think many people see an issue, have not looked to see if they can make lemonade from it and been better off.
What are your travel checklist categories?
Oh. It’s just a running checklist of everything I want to make sure I pack and do before a trip. So without getting too personal, clothing items, swimsuit, medications, hygiene items, check the house thermostat, take out the trash, leave the washing machine door open, and many other various strange eccentricities that I seem to wish I had done or brought on a trip. Everyone’s mileage will certainly vary.