Traveling can be stressful, especially if you’re not an expert or a frequent traveler.
Well, the truth is, making things more comfortable is not as hard as it sounds, and here are some tricks to do that:
RESEARCH! RESEARCH!
Nothing will ever beat research. With the Internet, we now have access to any information that we need, including essential things you need to know when you travel:
- The best tourist spots
- Local foods to try
- Standard prices
- Where to stay
And that’s only to name a few.
Once you figure out all the information you need, you’ll be able to finalize where you want to go, what you want to eat, where you’re staying, and how much budget to set.
If you want to give yourself a trip worth remembering, do your research and plan out your itinerary.
PLAN IT LESS
Planning is always nice, but we also recommend not put your heart out in making what you think is the “perfect” itinerary.
Sometimes, having a detailed plan can cause more of a hassle than enjoyment. The goal of traveling is to relax and enjoy, and if you have a schedule that you follow strictly, it loses that purpose.
Don’t create an hourly type schedule that explicitly details where you’ll be on a particular day and at a specific time. You should give yourself a chance to be spontaneous.
Yes, you can create an itinerary, but we recommend that you only list down which places you want to visit. Then, list down which local restaurants and food you want to try.
Remember, your mood changes frequently, and where you want to go is sometimes influenced by that. So, you hold that list, and when you wake up in the morning, ask yourself, “What do I want to do today?” and take a look at your list.
If you do this, your whole trip will be more relaxed and worthwhile.
PACK LIGHT AND SMART
Don’t bring your whole wardrobe with you. You don’t need that many things with you, especially if you’re only leaving for a few days. A few sets of clothes, essential toiletries, and a few must-have gadgets will do.
For clothes, we recommend bringing only 4-5 sets that match well with each other even if you interchange them. Choose a color palette that you can go along with, and it’s best if you choose clothes that you can wear on any occasion.
This way, even if you’ve only brought a few clothes, you seem to have a dozen matching sets brought with you.
For the shoes, choose one that can also match for any occasion. And for the toiletries, it is highly advisable not to bring big bottles of those but only the travel-sized ones.
Don’t forget to bring at least one formal clothing and one swimwear, just in case there will be changes to your plans.
Take note also about the weather conditions in the area you’re going so you can prepare the essentials you need. The lighter you pack, the less hassle it is for yourself. Plus, you won’t have to worry about losing checked-in baggage.
But, if in some cases that you need to bring more, then you should purchase only the best luggage sets that you can trust. If you’re a frequent traveler, then this is a great idea too.
PACKING LIST
Now, to pack light, we recommend having a packing list. This also comes handy, especially if you tend to forget things.
Your list is also dependent on the country you’re going to, the season, and how long you’ll be staying there. So, if you want to prepare the best packing list, researching about the place would certainly help.
BE AWARE OF BAGGAGE POLICY
Baggage weight limit, what to bring, and what not to bring are essential things to take note when you travel. Air flights always place limits on baggage weight for everyone’s safety, so make sure that you won’t go over that limit when packing.
There is also a carry-on policy about the sizes of bottles that you can bring. One thing that you should remember is that large bottles of any liquid aren’t allowed in carry-ons. This is why we advise bringing travel-sized packs only.
You can check out your airline’s website regarding this policy so you can note these things. Save yourself the hassle of having to leave some of your stuff at the airport that isn’t allowed.
CHECKING-IN ONLINE
The Internet has given us a wonderful gift of convenience, especially that now, you can finally check-in online.
You can smoothly go to your airline’s website, enter your flight details, check-in, and download and print your boarding pass. It’s that easy and won’t even take more than 5 minutes.
Imagine saving yourself from the hassle of falling in line in the check-in counter or the need to get to the airport 3 hours early so that you can check-in. It’s truly a life-saver.
LUGGAGE FOR EVERYONE
Don’t use one luggage to carry the clothes of each person with you. This would be a big hassle, especially when you reach your destination and have to rummage through the stuff to find clothes for every person.
If you have kids, purchase a small luggage bag for them. This way, they can easily roll it behind them, and they won’t complain about the weight. The best part is, your kids will start to learn about responsibility and independence.
DRESS COMFORTABLY
An airport is a hectic place, and you wouldn’t want to wear expensive jewelry there. It’s best if you wear the most comfortable outfit you have.
As much as possible, wear minimal layers or accessories, so you don’t have to take off a lot during the security check.
No need for those OOTDs yet. Your priority is to save yourself from stress, the hassle, and that you reach your travel destination safely.
BRING EMERGENCY CASH
This is really important. Bring emergency cash that you should keep separated from your daily travel allowance.
Any amount will do, and you should keep this in a separate bag, purse, in a notebook, or just anywhere that you think is safe.
When you travel, things can get unpredictable, and it’s always best if you keep extra cash at hand. This way, if you lose some money or went over your budget for the day, you have something to use to pay for your food, transport, or other expenses.
Remember, use this for emergencies only. Don’t go spending too much just because you have emergency cash with you. It’s still better to stick to the budget.
With these travel tips we hope that not only will your trip go smoother, but you’ll be able to enjoy it once you get to your final destination.
