Travel can be an incredibly stressful time whether it is for business or for pleasure. If you are on the hunt for tips and tricks to make any trip a little bit easier, you are in the right place. Let’s take a look at some of the little things you can do to make a trip all the more zen.
Email Your Documents to Yourself
When you head abroad there are a few things you should always do, one of those being to make multiple copies of your documents and your itineraries. Carry one set with you in your bag at all times and hide the other in your checked luggage. There is no point in making copies if you are going to keep them in the same place as your actual documents.
You should then also email electronic copies of the documents to yourself and a trusted friend or family member. Therefore, if something does happen to go awfully wrong, you are always going to have your documents close at hand. You never know when you are going to need them and it always helps to be prepared.
Learn How to Pack
Everyone knows how to throw some things in a suitcase and call it a day. Can you actually, hand over heart, claim that you truly know how to pack a bag well? Now is the perfect time to learn.
Since a bag is only a finite area of space, you need to learn how to pack it as efficiently as possible. Put together your perfect capsule wardrobe and mix it up a little depending on the temperature and climate of where you are headed. Remember that there is always somewhere you can do laundry; a two-week vacation doesn’t need two weeks’ worth of clothes accompanying it.
Shoes are negative space which can be packed with socks and other small trinkets like jewellery. Roll up your clothing instead of packing in layers and remember to leave a little room for anything you want to buy when you are abroad.
Pack a Scarf
A long, wide scarf may turn into one of the best things you pack while you are away. It has some great uses and you will never regret bringing it with you. It doesn’t even need to take up room in your bags as it can be worn around your neck when travelling!
The scarf will have a number of uses. It can be used as a modesty cover if you happen to visit any religious sites which require you to cover your head or shoulders. It can be a much-needed divider for a bunk if you want a little more privacy in a hostel or train cabin. It can even become a shopping bag to help you carry some emergency purchases. These are just some of the uses you may find for your scarf. Make sure you never forget to pack one, even if you are travelling within your own country.
Dress for the Airport
When it comes to dressing for the airport, there is a code which – when followed – will result in a comfy and pleasant travel experience nearly every time. That code is slip-on shoes with breathable, comfortable layers. Loose trousers and soft linen or cotton tops will be your best friends here.
The layers make it super-easy to adjust your temperature for both the chill of the aircraft and the hopefully warm weather of your destination. Slip-on shoes are great for quickly making your way through security with minimal fuss. You can still choose high-quality, statement pieces if you cannot go without your fashion fix while travelling.
Pack a Sneaky Spa Bag
If you have checked luggage, you have plenty of room in your liquids allowance for your hand luggage. Why not pack a few goodies to help you feel refreshed for when you step off the plane?
A few hours in the dry, sterile air of an aircraft is enough to disrupt anyone’s hair and skin routine. Either pack or pick up a miniature dry shampoo airside to refresh your locks and give some volume back to your do.
Face wipes are a must for removing any makeup you applied for the airport. They are also great for just feeling a little bit refreshed and more humane, especially after several hours on a long flight. You can then use a sheet mask to rehydrate your skin with minimal mess and finish everything off with some of your favourite moisturiser and a touch of freshly applied makeup. Focus on concealer with maybe a hint of blush or bronzer and a nude lipstick to give you a natural glow.
Think About Both Ends of the Trip
Most people only think about their holiday from the moment they enter the airport to when they arrive back, missing out the crucial question of how they intend to get to and from the airport. While you could mess about trying to organise a taxi or a bus, it is sometimes easier to just take your own car.
If departing from Bristol, parking at Bristol Airport could not be easier. You can pre-book everything online so all you need to do is show up on the day ready to go. You can even drive straight up to the terminal and hand your car over. It will be well-looked after and then returned to you as soon as you step out of the Arrivals terminal. Everything is that easy and stress-free! For more details, head to bristolparking.com.
Take Care of the Bank
If you are going to a foreign country, make sure you phone your bank and tell them the dates you expect to be travelling on. You don’t want to get locked out of your account for “suspicious activity”. Depending on where you are going to be, it might be incredibly difficult for you to get in touch with them and let them know that everything is all right. Whether it is poor signal or high international calling charges, it is better if you do everything in your power to ensure you won’t get cut off.
You should also find out if your cards have any international charges on them. It might be more cost-effective if you just take money out of an ATM instead of going through an exchange broker. To do so, you want to be sure you have a card that has next-to-no fees on it to avoid running up a high cost just for you trying to access your money. You should also find a credit card which doesn’t have any international charges. If you have another credit card which you used to book rooms or journeys with, make sure you bring it with you. You may have to present it as proof of booking, along with your passport.
Stress-free travel is easier than you might think. With the right planning behind it, any trip can be as stress-free as possible; allowing for unseen disasters of course. Take control back today and start to think about your next trip away. What can you do to make it as smooth and as stress-free as you can? The answer might be a little closer than you think!
