If you travel fairly frequently, here are some tips to make the travel preparation process a lot smoother. This way, you can spend more time enjoying your trip rather than getting bogged down in the logistics of it all.
Keep a log of previous travel dates:
If you travel a lot internationally, and need to keep applying for visas, this one is a huge time saver! Visa applications tend to have an annoying habit of asking for details of everywhere you have been for the last 10 years. Instead of going through the stamps on my passport every single time, I keep a log of the date and country of travel on Evernote to pull up at a moments notice.
Scan your documents:
Keep a scanned copy of current and past passports and any valid visas on your computer. If you are studying/working in a country that you are not a citizen of, keep a copy of your immigration papers too. Email a copy to yourself/a family member so you can access it in the unfortunate event that you lose both your documents and laptop. Even if it seems a bit of an overkill, you’ll feel safer knowing you have backups. Remember to keep updating as you go along.
Pre-pack your stuff:
Keep all your travel accessories in one place, preferably in/next to your suitcase. That way, when you pack your belongings, you will have the things like a luggage scale, neck pillow and the keys to your suitcase(!!) readily accessible and less easily forgotten. I also keep a pre packed kit of travel sized toiletries on hand to grab and go.
Make the most of loyalty schemes:
If you are a frequent traveller, chances are you do this already. If not, it’s certainly worth looking into. Do your research and look at your past travel history. Do you go to one country/city a lot? Do you have a preferred airline? Sign up for a select few that you use often instead of all the loyalty programmes out there. Personally, my two most used ones are the Hotels.com and the British Airways/One World Alliance programmes. Those miles rack up quickly, especially if you travel long haul!
Check out my favourite travel resources here.
Expect Delays:
2 out of the last 10 flights I’ve been on have left/arrived on time. To save yourself the endless torture of “Will I make my connection?” , leave at least 2 hours between connecting flights when possible. Keep food/drink/entertainment with you at all times when delays inevitably occur (especially during peak travel seasons).
What are your tried and tested travel tips?
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