Seasoned travelers have developed strategies and adopted habits after years of travel to make their journeys easier. This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details. Planning & Packing Make a calendar of your travel days. I find this very useful when planning any trip. Make sure to note the dates and times of each reservation. I also include prices and locations of hotels, ports, car rentals and/or train schedules. After the trip is over, I keep this calendar in a file with receipts and tourist information I gathered during our vacation. I can’t tell you how many times I have referred back to my files when planning future trips….or just to remember what we did! Make a checklist. This will make packing soooo much easier. Don’t forget items like sunglasses, passports, sunscreen, any medications you may need, or special items you want to take. Start brain storming as early as possible prior to departing…think about the activities you are planning, possible weather and what types of clothing you will need. Check off the items as you pack them. Nothing is more frustrating than arriving at your destination and realizing you have forgotten something! Tip: A good packing list is essential: Caribbean, Norway, British Isles, Alaska and Cruise Packing 101 Take a photo of your passport and email it to yourself. Even if something happens to your phone, you will be able to access your email on a public computer. Use a travel wallet/passport holder. I have found this to be one of the most useful items in my carryon. I keep boarding passes, passports, money, pen and my credit cards here. Travel wallet Contact your financial institutions and inform them you are traveling. If you are planning to use your ATM and/or credit cards, your bank needs to know you will be making purchases outside your home area. If you don’t, they may put a “hold” on your account and you will not be able to access your funds until you contact them. If you are traveling out of the country, this can be difficult and expensive….not to mention frustrating. Use credit cards for purchases. Many countries are becoming cashless societies since Covid. Even small purchases like an ice cream in the park can only be done with a credit card….we experienced this in London’s Hyde Park. When using a credit card, always let your bank handle the conversion by purchasing in the local currency. If you feel the need for actual cash, use your debit card at a local ATM. You can withdraw smaller amounts and get a better exchange rate. Protect your credit cards and passport from thieves. Simply place your credit/debit cards or any other RFID-enabled contactless Smart Cards near a RFID Blocking Card and you’re safe and ready to go. Use packing cubes. We started using these a few years ago and boy….we are so much more organized. If staying in one place for several days, it is easy to unpack…just place the packing cube in a drawer! Get travel insurance. Travel is expensive. Protect your investment with a good travel plan. Make sure it covers medical, loss of use, hospital stays and travel home if your trip is cut short. Flying Carry on luggage. Having a good carry on bag with plenty of storage is a game changer. I like to use one that fits into the overhead bin and also a tote bag that fits over the handle. That way, I can keep items I want/need during the flight under the seat in front of me. Tag your bags. There are many fun, easily recognizable luggage tags available. When it’s time to purchase new luggage, find suitcases that are not just black or blue….find some that are a little different….maybe a bright color or a fun pattern. Even then….attach something to your luggage that helps you locate them easily. Use Air Tags. We always put an AirTag in our carry on and in our checked bags. If something happens and it gets lost or stolen, you can quickly locate it and retrieve if possible (if stolen, get police assistant to retrieve). Luggage gets delayed or put on the wrong plane all the time. These will assist in tracking your bags. I use a fun, colorful AirTag holder and attach them to the inside of my bags. Bring Air Pods . Air travel is noisy. If you are trying to watch a movie, read or sleep, Air Pods are invaluable. It will also help to discourage a talkative neighbor! Get access to an airport lounge. If you have a long layover, this is a quiet place to wait and they offer complimentary food, beverages, magazines, newspapers and Wi-Fi. Some even have showers or rooms where you can catch a few ZZZs. Check out https://thepointsguy.com for excellent information on credit cards that offer lounge access. And remember, if you are flying first or business class overseas, you automatically get free access! Another option is to join Priority Pass. With over 1,700+ airport lounges and experiences, it will help make your airport time more enjoyable. Use locks for your luggage! We always lock ours when flying or boarding a ship. These luggage locks are designed to keep thieves out but still allow TSA or other airport security to check bags. And because the TSA can’t take their key out without relocking, you can be assured your luggage will stay locked . Weigh your luggage! Overweight luggage can be very expensive. Make sure your bags are under the weight limit of your airline. This luggage scale is easy to use. Just hook your suitcase for instant weight. Cruising Don’t overpack. Make your packing checklist….and then cut it in half! Well….maybe not in half, but don’t take ALL of it. 🙂 I have found that I NEVER wear all the clothes I take. One or two nice dresses, skirts or slacks are fine for evenings. Dress up your outfits with jewelry, shoes or sweaters/wraps for more formal evenings. Same with shoes….a good pair for walking,ContinueContinue reading “Top Packing and Planning Hacks for Travelers”
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Essential Travel Items for Your Carry-On Bag
Packing for a trip is exciting….but it can also be overwhelming. With a little planning and a good list of what to pack in a carry-on bag, you can maximize space in your bag of choice and still stay within airline requirements when flying. What’s more, you’ll have all your travel essentials close by and accessible, as well as some extras to make the journey more enjoyable. Utilizing your carry-on bag and personal item capacity can even reduce baggage fees and decrease lost baggage incidents, which is a bonus these days! This post contains affiliate links, if you click and buy a product, I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details. Travel wallet (with travel documents and credit cards) A good travel wallet is essential. It is a easy way to make sure you have credit cards, identification and any travel documents close to you at all times. If you’re planning to keep your bag under the seat in front of you, a zip closure RFID wallet is keeps cards and documents organized and safe. If you prefer to put your bag in one of the overhead bins, a travel neck wallet is a great way to keep your cards and documents on your body. Whichever option you choose, you want a wallet that is easy to find during check-in, security screenings, boarding and customs, along with RFID security to avoid having your personal information stolen while traveling. Neck Wallet Passport holder If you’re traveling internationally, a passport holder can secure your passport and make it easy to find in your carry-on bag. You’ll need access to your passport when you board your flight and when you’re filling out entry forms, so keep the passport holder and a pen within reach. Many styles include room for credit cards, boarding passes, and customs documents to keep all the necessary items organized for customs and boarding your flight. Once you arrive at your destination, put the passport wallet in your crossbody or travel belt to ensure the essentials are safe while you explore and/or get to your hotel. RFID Blocking Card Thieves are everywhere. Simply place your credit/debit cards or any other RFID-enabled contactless Smart Cards near a RFID Blocking Card and you’re safe and ready to go. Phone Holder 360° Versatility Flexible Viewing: This airplane travel essentials phone holder offers 360° rotation and multi-angle adjustment, perfect for in-flight use. Enhance your in-flight experience by effortlessly tailoring the position for movies, reading, or checking flight information.Experience the freedom of capturing high-quality videos and photos effortlessly, wherever your adventures take you This is another great option for both your phone and a tablet. The FLIGHT FLAP mobile phone holder for desk and travel folds and bends to adjust to your device but retains its shape and secures your device at any angle, anywhere. Jet Lag Remedy Magnesium won’t cure jet lag—but it can help you fall asleep faster and feel more relaxed while your body adjusts, which makes a big difference when traveling. The Boiron Jet Lag Relief Kit is a homeopathic travel remedy designed to ease common symptoms of jet lag Travel size toiletries TSA is a real stickler for this. They will search your bag (delaying you getting to your plane) and remove anything that does not meet the requirements. REMEMBER….no liquid over 3oz! I like to use TSA approved containers. There are many to choose from, I find these useful. Plus….they come in a plastic bag that will protect against any leaks that might happen. (Click on the picture for a direct link to the product.) I have just started using this pocket-sized toothbrush with toothpaste in the bristles. It is specifically designed to provide quick and easy oral care on the go. Each toothbrush is individually wrapped, so no need to worry about it getting dirty. Tech cord organizer Keep your charging cords organized and easy to find. Nothing worse than have your phone or tablet die and not charger! This organizer is two sided and holders a LOT of cords and plugs. Portable Phone Charger Nothing is worse than having your phone die while traveling. I use this portable charger with a build in foldable USB-C connector . Pop Socket Card Wallet This pop socket wallet is a sleek and secure way to carry your credit cards and ID along with your phone. Magnetically attaches to your phone. It has an attached phone grip, so you can avoid phone drops and kickstand your phone. Holds up to 3 cards and is RFID protected. Wireless AirFly Connector Wirelessly transmit audio from in-flight entertainment while traveling. Use your AirPods, earbuds or wireless headphones anywhere with no more cords in the way. AirFly Prescription medications Always keep your prescription medicines with you….do not put in checked luggage. I love to use a pill organizer. Traveling for a longer time and need more storage? These color-coded pouches make it easy to organize medication by day, time, or family member. Travel Jewelry Case Along the same lines, DO NOT PACK YOUR JEWELRY IN CHECKED LUGGAGE! I always keep all my jewelry in my carryon bag, so that I know where it is at all times. I have found this jewelry case works really well. Another great option for jewelry is this grain leather jewelry storage box that includes 12 velvet transparent storage bags. It can be carried separately or placed inside the jewelry box to prevent jewelry oxidation affect the use. Sea Pass Card Holder What do you use to carry your sea pass card? Many people use a lanyard to keep it easily accessible. I like to use a smaller crossbody bag to hold my sea pass, phone, chapstick and hand sanitzer. You will want to have something in your carry on, since you will be receiving your card as soon as you board. Sea Sick Patches Do you suffer from motion sickness? These sea sick patches will make your travel experience more enjoyable. AND….they are Capt Kate and crew member approved! These are the exact sameContinueContinue reading “Essential Travel Items for Your Carry-On Bag”