Planning ahead for stress-free travel
“He who fails to plan, plans to fail.” Not the most upbeat travel quote, right? But it’s true. It might not be as fun or carefree as just throwing your belongings into a bag and just going, but making responsible decisions before you leave will make travel a lot less stressful and that much more fun. Make your trip a breeze with these helpful, tried-and-true tips, all of which can be put into place before you even go to the airport.
Starting a travel folder: Once I start planning a trip, I pull out a manila folder to store related papers. Accommodation confirmations, boarding passes, routes, an interesting newspaper article about the destination–anything and everything that has to do with the trip. While I still have a hard copy folder, I also have my email appropriately tagged. This makes it much easier when I’m searching a flight confirmation number lost in my email, or the directions to a hostel.
Mapping the route from where you arrive and where you’re staying: A good hostel/hotel/apartment will send you this with the confirmation. But, let’s be serious, not everyone is that considerate. Save yourself the time and stress by mapping your route ahead of time. I try to have a hard copy, as well as a copy downloaded and saved in my iPhone email for easy access.
Keeping hard and digital copies of your passport: I’ve lost a passport abroad before–the day before I flew home, just to make it more exciting. While it’s not an experience I care to repeat (I was 18 and alone in Paris: there was a very expensive, very tearful call to my parents at 2 a.m. California time), I am incredibly grateful for one thing: the copy of my passport my mom insisted I stick in my suitcase. Showing that to the French guards outside the American embassy meant I was let in immediately–and I had an emergency passport within a couple of hours. Now I keep a paper copy in my suitcase and a photo of the first page in my iPhone and my email.
Buying travel insurance: After I left my job (and all its benefits), my dad asked me what I was doing about insurance. Umm…not getting sick? Then I flashed back to the guy who broke his leg on the second day we were in Prague, spending a night in a Czech hospital and the rest of the trip miserable, on crutches and painkillers. Even though I haven’t had to use my travel insurance (knock on wood!), it’s still worth it just for the peace of mind.
Alerting your credit cards: I’ve had my card cancelled while I was abroad. Not being able to access your funds in a foreign country is a stressful experience that can be easily avoided. It only takes a few minutes to call your credit card company before you leave and let them know where you’ll be–and be specific!
Getting a credit card that doesn’t charge overseas fees: I love my Capital One card because it doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees. Ever. Thus, it’s the only credit card I use overseas.
Minimizing ATM fees: I have a great community bank that never charges me for ATM fees (and reimburses ones incurred by another bank’s ATM). Even so, I usually order a stock of currency before I leave the country. It’s so much easier to have some cash on hand as soon as I arrive for public transportation, a snack, a accommodation payment. If I need more cash, I pull out in fairly large denominations to minimize fees. However, I try to use my card when possible so that I’m not carrying around large amounts of cash.
Packing extra ziplock bags & bandaids: They’re one of those things that you can never have too many of–and that you’ll always need when you don’t have.
What’s your favorite before-departure travel tip?
