You booked your vacation, you’re excited to get away, and it’s now a week before and you haven’t even started packing yet. Well, don’t panic. Help is on the way, just follow these tips for stress-free travel!
Since most airlines charge for each checked suitcase, we tend to cram them as full as possible. Well, those fees for over-packing can cost up to $200 per bag. Spring for a $10 luggage scale and save yourself a ton of money – every time. Consider the following:
• Leave 1/3rd of your suitcase empty when going on a long trip, so you can still get it on the plane under the weight allowance (usually 50 lbs) once you buy those “must have” items on your trip
• Roll your clothes, instead of folding, for minimal wrinkling and maximum packing room
• Always pack a spare outfit in your carry-on luggage in case your baggage gets lost along the way. Couples can even cross-pack in case one of the bags gets lost – you still have things to wear.
Here’s some tips to keep costs down a bit:
• Bring your own snacks for the flight – some airlines charge as much as $5.29 for a bag of spiced nuts. The days of meals on flights are pretty much over – unless you are traveling overseas.
• Buy solid sunscreen at a drugstore before your trip, which may be carried onto a plane in any amount since it’s not a liquid. Bonus: It will never leak all over your stuff. Cheaper than buying at the resort for sure!
• Laundry/dry-cleaning charges on vacation can be steep. Pack travel detergent or stain remover to use in case of an emergency. Tide Stain Stick fits in a pocket or purse and, at less than 3.4 ounces, is carry-on compliant. Ditto – Travelon’s Laundry Soap Sheets are not a liquid.
Make a copy of your passport and keep it in a separate place from your actual passport. That way, in the unlikely but highly unfortunate event that your passport gets lost or stolen, you will be able to go to the local US embassy and your process for getting back home to the US will be greatly expedited. In fact, you could save many days of waiting around.
How do you deal with jetlag when you’re traveling abroad? Most people want to hit the sack the minute they get into their hotel – even if it’s “just for a little nap”. Don’t do it! You may arrive at 1pm and it will be 7pm your time, with little or no sleep on the flight on the way over. Have an early dinner, walk around a bit to get oriented. And then try to last until 9 or 10pm local time before you crash. That way you will wake up at a more “normal” time and be ready to go for the rest of your trip.
Now you know how to travel like a pro, you just need somewhere to go!
Karen Quinn-Panzer is the owner of Dream Vacations Quinn Panzer Travel. She can be reached at kpanzer@dreamvacations.com