The trick to successful and stress-free travel is planning ahead. Although it may seem challenging, your goal is to think about all possible contingencies that may arise and take action before they happen. What will you do if your luggage is lost? If you get sick? If you forget your blue bombs? Being PROACTIVE will reduce the chance of a serious crisis occurring during your trip.
BUDGET FOR YOUR TRIP
Traveling doesn’t have to break the bank, not if you’re willing to plan ahead for your vacation expenses. Decide how much you can afford first and then make your travel plans. Start looking for travel deals early – talk to your travel agent, look for special deals online, and check with travel clubs for discounts. You can find great bargains on packages that combine hotel and airfare at a discounted rate.
If vacations tend to get you in trouble with your credit cards, consider opening a travel-only savings account, where you save a small amount each month for your next trip. You should also plan to use traveler’s checks instead of credit cards to stay within your budget. It’s amazing how easy it is to go overboard when you start spreading the plastic! And be sure to keep track of how much you actually spend, compared to your budget, for the entire trip. You can carry a small paper notebook with you to record your expenses and add up the total for each day.
If you can’t seem to make this happen with your budget, consider COMMITTING to lower priority expenses in exchange for higher priority ones. When my husband and I travel, we are always willing to stay in a budget hotel so that we can afford to eat out and attend cultural events. We decide that expensive hotels are a waste on us because we spend so little time in our room and prefer to spend our money elsewhere. Where are you willing to negotiate?
EASY PACKAGING
Have you ever been away from home and suddenly realized that you forgot your toothbrush, your shoes, or your bathing suit? Having to rush to replace the items you left behind not only wastes time and money, but also reduces your enjoyment of the trip. And sometimes, you might forget an item that is not so easily replaced, like your checkbook or the report you were supposed to present at tomorrow’s meeting. But you can save yourself a lot of headaches by taking the guesswork out of packaging.
Start by developing PACKING LISTS for both short trips (one to three days) and longer trips. You can even create different lists for different types of trips: camping, business, overseas trips, beach trips, cold weather trips, etc. Try to include all the generic items you might need: clothing, toiletries, alarm clock, night light, whatever you want to bring. Then use these lists as reminders as you pack for each trip. You can also reduce the time you spend preparing for the trip by keeping a “prepackaged” toiletry bag with duplicates of the items you use at home. Fill your kit with samples of shampoo, soap, lotion, cosmetics, toothpaste, and shaving cream, even miniature toothbrushes and razors. These travel-sized items take up less space in your suitcase and you’ll be less likely to leave something important behind.
And don’t forget your important documents, especially if you are traveling abroad. You should plan to bring proof of citizenship, an official government photo ID (driver’s license or military ID is fine), a state-issued birth certificate with an embossed stamp, and a passport. Remember that children and infants must also have a state-issued birth certificate to travel.
LESS IS MORE
If you can get away with it, try not to search your luggage. I bought a very spacious carry-on with capacity for up to a week of clothes; That way, I never have to worry about losing my bags. If you pack “mix and match” suits and plan to do a little washing on the way, you don’t need 15 different suits for a week-long trip. And if you have to check a piece, be sure to store those items you couldn’t live without in your carry-on: toiletries, a change of clothes, clean underwear, medications, maps, travel confirmations, and whatever supplies you can. need. an upcoming business meeting. But try not to carry more than one medium suitcase and one carry-on per person. Remember, you can always remedy insufficient packaging, but not EXCESSIVE PACKAGING! As heavy as your suitcase is when you start, it will be double when you get home.
If you plan to make any purchases during your trip, you may decide to bring an extra bag to take your purchases home. Put your full suitcase inside a slightly larger empty one, or get a collapsible bag that will take up very little space in your bag. But the easiest option (although perhaps not the cheapest) is for each store to ship their treasures directly to your home. This is an especially good policy if you are bringing something large or bulky home on a plane, as airlines often charge more for oversized packages. And each suitcase you have to carry limits your transport options. Heavy suitcases mean taxis and trunks, annoyance and fatigue, while a light suitcase equates to travel freedom.
Protect yourself and your belongings
While no one wants to be paranoid about your safety when traveling, it is a good idea to err on the side of caution when planning your trip. So let’s start with your “stuff” – list the contents of each piece of luggage and keep your list handy whenever your bags are out of your sight. This will save you great frustration if you lose your bags and have to file a claim or replace your belongings. And don’t forget to mark your luggage for easy retrieval – all those black pullmans are starting to look alike and it’s easy for someone else to pick up your bag.
While making lists, create a WRITTEN RECORD of your credit card numbers, traveler’s checks, health insurance, emergency phone numbers, and other important information to take with you when you travel. And always keep this information hidden somewhere safe (a hotel safe is a good option) where you can easily access it if you need it. Do not keep, I repeat, do not keep this record in your purse or wallet. Think about it. Those are the first things a thief will take – if you keep your list of credit cards and traveler’s checks, it doesn’t help much when they are stolen. It’s best if you put it in your shoe (as long as your feet don’t sweat a lot!)
Lastly, make sure you have a POINT OF CONTACT at home, someone who knows where you are and how to reach you. Be sure to give this person any information that may be important in the event of an emergency: the phone number and address where you are staying, the code for your alarm system, the name of your doctor, etc. It will reassure you that you can be contacted if something goes wrong at home, and that you have someone who can act on your behalf if something does go wrong on your part.
KEEPING YOUR HOME SAFE
Nothing can ruin a great vacation more than worrying about your home while you’re away. But a few simple precautions can help you ease your mind and keep your home safe. Before leaving, inform the police or a trusted neighbor that you are leaving, especially if you are planning a long trip. Nothing says “not at home” more than a pile of newspapers in the driveway or magazines popping out of your mailbox, so stop delivering mail and newspapers or have a neighbor pick them up. Investing in timers for your lights, radios, etc., and setting them to turn on and off at random times during the day will make your home appear inhabited and keep burglars out. And if you’re still not comfortable leaving your home, hire a caregiver.
INSURE YOUR TRIP
One thing that very few people remember to do before leaving home is to review their insurance policies. This is particularly important if you are traveling abroad. First, make sure you have adequate personal liability coverage. This is meant to insure loss or theft of your personal belongings, injury (to yourself or someone else), your legal defense (other countries don’t operate like the US, remember that kid in Singapore who was spanked? ?), And the repatriation of his remains in case he dies abroad (not a pleasant thought, but it happens). Check with your insurance companies: Your homeowners policy may include coverage for your belongings while you’re away from home, and your credit card company probably offers affordable life insurance.
If you plan to operate a vehicle during your trip, check what your auto insurance covers. If you have an accident in a rental car, what do you pay? Are you covered if you have an accident abroad? Are there any hidden costs that you are expected to pay? You should also familiarize yourself with your MEDICAL insurance. What actions does your insurance company require if you get sick or injured while out of state? Outside the country?
If you are taking a package trip or an expensive trip, if you will visit dangerous or unpredictable parts of the world, or if you have a personal or medical situation that could interrupt your trips, you should also consider trip cancellation and interruption insurance. . This type of coverage can protect you in the event of bad weather (that is, a cruise canceled due to a hurricane), illness, a family emergency, and even the default or bankruptcy of your travel providers. But remember that certain situations, such as pre-existing medical conditions, terrorism, kidnapping, and war, can void your trip cancellation coverage. Make sure you clearly understand all the terms, requirements, and EXCLUSIONS before purchasing your insurance. Does it only cover situations when someone in your group gets sick or if someone at home gets sick too? When does your coverage begin and end? Does “medical evacuation” mean you are evacuated to the nearest medical facility or back home? You may want to contact the insurance company yourself, as many travel agents may not understand all the terms of your policy. Don’t assume nothing is covered until you see for yourself.
PROGRAM AS SCIENCE
Some of the biggest frustrations people face when traveling are disruptions to their SCHEDULE: flight delays, traffic jams, getting lost, long lines, you name it. But you can take a number of precautions to ensure that you can stick to your itinerary while traveling. Don’t wait until you reach your destination to see the terrain. Take the time to research your trip before you leave – develop at least a cursory knowledge of routes, directions, tourist attractions, transportation systems, and weather. Look at your options and pick a few important places that you really want to see during your trip, just remember that you can’t do everything! Then make as many advance reservations as possible once you’ve set your itinerary, and remember to include sight-by-sight travel time in your itinerary. Make sure to confirm any appointments and reservations before you leave, and then reconfirm everything when you arrive. There is no such thing as checking too much!
We’ve talked a lot about getting ready for your vacation, but preparing yourself mentally is just as important. Determine in advance what your EXPECTATIONS are for your trip. What needs to happen for this to be a successful trip? What activities or places of interest would you be disappointed to miss? What activities or places of interest would you not mind missing out on? And what problems have you had on other trips that you would like to avoid this time? Try to admit to yourself that things may not work out perfectly for the entire trip. Be FLEXIBLE and have other options ready (reading, other activities) if your schedule strays. Understand that you cannot control all (or any!) Aspects of travel. The more willing you are to accept difficulties and delays, the less disruptive they will be if they occur. Happy travels!
