Doodles & Kaboodles: TRAVEL TIPS & TRICKS

vodkalemonade:

Traveling, while fun, can be very overwhelming and stressful (planning your wardrobe, making your checklist, deciding how many shoes or jackets to bring…the list goes on and is sure to cause several anxiety attacks!) Wouldn’t it be great if there was just a button we can push to make travel easier, simpler and safer?!?

We all have our bag of travel tips and tricks and I would like to share a few of mine. Some of them you probably all know, some are absurd and some are seemingly silly…but one day I guarantee you, it will re-emerge from deep within your consciousness to save your day. (I promise not to gloat when that day comes!):

1: SCAN THEN SEND.

Instead of just scanning copies of passports, visas, tickets, send it to your email account where it can be accessible anywhere (instead of just saving it in your laptops or iPads…and oh, photocopies simply would not suffice!)

While traveling in Scandinavia, a group of friends got mugged —- their bags, luggages, laptops, wallets were all stolen! With their digital files gone, they had to make an overseas call so that copies of their travel documents can be faxed/emailed to their hotels!

2: ICE, ICE, BABY.

Put an ICE (In Case of Emergency) sticker - any plain label sticker will do- at the back of your mobile phone listing the name and number of the person you want to be contacted in case of emergency. While most of us have our ICE contacts stored in our address books, our phones usually have passwords and cannot be accessed. Don’t forget to spell out In Case of Emergency, as some countries might not be aware of this.

{Note: Actually, this is a survival tip}

3: THE EMBASSY ADDRESS.

I don’t mean the hip bar at The Fort. I mean the address of the Philippine Embassy or Consul in the country where you are visiting…just in case you lose your passport or it gets stolen. Even if you are able to retrieve a copies of your travel docs from your email account (see item #1), you will need to get temporary passport so you can travel back home.

4: LUGGAGE LABEL.

Do not put your home address on your luggage. It’s like advertising topotential thieves to go to your house while nobody’s home (or worse, while the kids are alone). Instead, just put your business card with your mobile number, specially if it’s a business trip. If it’s for leisure, your mobile should suffice.

5: PAC-A-PARKA.

Ladies, get one of these. Now! I find these parkas more practical than umbrellas since it leaves your hands free to carry or do other stuff. They fold up into a small little bag which can double as a pillow when you travel. I got mine from Topshop (but they also have it in Marks & Spencer) and they come in cool colors and prints! Cost of investment is about Php 2,500.

(Source: Topshop)

6: WATERPROOF YOUR PASSPORT!

Fine, we all have nice and colorful passport holders, but unless they are made of waterproof material, they’re useless! A few years ago, when I was in China, I bought strawberry-like fruits from a street vendor and placed them inside my bag. They unfortunately got squeezed and before I knew it, my bag, along with my passport turned into one big red blob and I had to explain what happened to the Immigration Officer! Good thing, red is a lucky color in China! =)

7: CHEAT SHEET

Unless you know your passport numbers and details by heart, I suggest you save the trouble of getting your passports from your bags whenever you fill out those immigration cards. Get a post-it-note and write your passport number, date of expiry, date of validity, flight number, etc. You can also add currency conversions for quick reference!

And oh, don’t forget to bring your own pens too! It’s so uncool not to have one in your bag. It costs less than 20 pesos, hello!

8: CHECK FOR BLANKS

Before leaving, make sure there are enough blank pages on your passports where Visas (if any) and immigration marks can be stamped.

{Note: Visas are usually stamped on the right pages.}

9: VALIDATE

In addition, make sure your passports are valid within six (6) months upon date of arrival.

10: USE VACUUM SEAL BAGS.

These bags come in handy specially when traveling to cold countries and jackets and woolies take so much space. You don’t even need to use a vacuum to let the air out (I sit on the bags to flatten it while watching TV). The bags will also waterproof your clothes and protect them from possible liquid leaks (i.e. shampoo or lotion, etc.).

11: TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR SUITCASE.

I meant the contents. This will save you the trouble of manually listing it. This will come in handy should something happens to your luggage (delayed or misplaced) and you have to claim it at the airport. At least you can give them visual proof!

{Note: This will also be handy should you need to claim insurance for lost or delayed luggages. I am assuming everyone gets travel insurance these days.}

12: ID YOUR LAPTOP.

Most of us don’t put labels on our laptops. But due to airport security rules requiring us to take out laptops and submit them for scanning, there’s been an increase in cases of laptops being left in the conveyor. And since there are no labels and laptops are usually password protected, airport authorities have no way of returning them.

{Note: See item #4 on how to label your laptop}

13: LESS IS MORE.

When traveling, leave home club membership cards, discount cards and loyalty cards that you will not use. Your wallets will be lighter and your worries fewer.

14: ROAD WARRIOR 1 - INSECT REPELLANT

What I love about this is that it’s dual purpose: insect repellant lotion and insect balm (in case you forgot to put the lotion). This is available in Rustan’s Department Store, Php 395.00

15: ROAD WARRIOR 2 - STAIN REMOVER

(Source: Tide.com)

16: ROAD WARRIOR 3 - LINT REMOVER

(Source: 3M.com)

17: ROAD WARRIOR 4 - SEW NO MORE

(Source: Bostik.com.ph)

18: ROAD WARRIOR 5 - WIPES

Ahhh, the great wipes hope! This is better than alcohol or alcogel since it does not get confiscated @ airports.

{Note: Some airports will confiscate alcohol/alcogels even if they are within 100ml and even if they are packed in a Ziplock because they have alcohol content and are flammable.}

19: A BRIGHT IDEA

These you have to pack in your check-in luggage. They come in handy when you have to go to the toilet and do your number 2. Just light a match and put it out - the smoke will act as a deodorizer.

20: A BRIGHTER IDEA

Flashlights come in handy when there are power outages or when your bag suddenly become this bottomless pit and you can’t seem to find what you’re looking for!

21: DON’T DRINK FROM THE GLASS.

In your hotel room I mean. C’mmon, there’s no guarantee that your room glasses and mugs aren’t simply rinsed off under the tap by the cleaning staff, right?! So, an easy way to deal with this problem is by running the glasses under hot water for a few minutes. Better safe than sorry!

22: MEETING PLACE

When traveling as a group, it is always best to assign a meeting place and time where everyone can meet up in case someone gets lost in the crowd. This will save time from looking for each other and save money for unnecessary calls/text messages.

23: TOILET RULE

I always tell my friends to use the toilet when you see one and not when you need one. This rule is useful specially in countries where public toilets are either scarce or dirty.

24: TIP ON DAY ONE

Instead of giving tips or gratuities to hotel staff on the last day, give it on the first day. I guarantee you, you’ll be treated like a king for the rest of your trip!

25: BOTTLED WATER

In other countries, bottled water is very expensive (Php 200/bottle vs Php 20 in Manila). My tip is to buy just one bottled water and just refill it (you can boil water using your electric kettle, let it cool overnight).Or you can go to the hotel gym and refill it from the gym water cooler. This will save you a lot of money!

I’m sure there are a thousand more travel tricks and tips that can be added to this list and I will most likely have an updated list. Do you have any to share?

(via chroniclesofhappiness)