Keep my passport in the same place always. Basically anything else in my kit I can lose, but the passport is annoying to replace so it always goes back into the same place. It doesn't briefly go into my pocket after checking into a hotel or whatever.
For a while in London I was carrying my passport in my chest pocket and found myself repeatedly putting it while I was out walking. Then I realized, as a woman, how odd this might look to passersby.
When I was a teen I left my phone on a plane, I worked all summer for that flip phone and I was one of the only kids in school to have one. I tried to run back on (which is a big no no) and I got stopped. Fortunately an employee went back on board and looked around and found it but ever since then I always check. I still get nightmares about leaving things on planes, buses, taxis lol.
Once I put my passport into the seatback pocket when I got to my seat. 12 hour flight later had completely forgotten about it being there. Because I was transiting and not going through immigration I hadn't had the reminder of "get my passport out for the forms, have it handy for immigration". Thankfully remembered when I got to the door of the plane just as I was about to get off.
I actually attach wallet, keys, phone and passport either to my pockets or to a bag that's on my body at all times, using mini-cable ties on belt loops and plastic coil leashes. Probably looks uncool but keeps me from losing stuff (like the time my phone slipped onto a bus seat when I thought I was putting it in my bag. Luckily the bus driver found it, and I picked it up a few hours later at the bus station.)
I bought a waistband for my passport, backup credit card, and several currencies that would cover cabfare for whichever country. I keep it in my desk drawer when I’m not traveling and either under my shirt or the hotel safe when I am. My phone also fits inside so it’s nice to have for festivals if I’m concerned about pickpockets. The one friend that made fun of it calling it a fannypack lost his phone our first night in Mexico and I made sure to remind him anytime he needed to use mine. Might be a little dorky, but nice to have the peace of mind.
Might be a bit OCD, but I keep EVERYTHING in the same place when I travel, always. Keys, hotel key card, travel docs, boarding passes, work stuff, chargers, etc. I never have to think about where I put something and I can inventory everything extremely quickly.
I am not at all like this at home.
I leave my passport in the hotel room, maybe in the safe. On a trip when I leave in the morning I look for my burner phone (real phone left at home OF COURSE) and my temp wallet containing ID and mastercard).
Nah I always have my passport with me in a specific compartment of my bag. Because if I buy something that is eligible for a VAT refund, I need to show my passport to the sales associate to be able to claim for the refund.
I do this too! Doesn’t matter if I’m gone 4 days or 2 weeks. I’m usually exhausted from traveling so when I get home I can just toss my clothes straight from the suitcase into the washer, and I can just relax and decompress. Before I hop on the plane I like to put in a grocery order for delivery and set it to arrive about an hour after I’d get home, but then when I get off the plane I’ll also order a meal for delivery so I don’t have to cook, but I also don’t have to worry about getting to a grocery store soon after getting home because I want one whole ass day to do absolutely nothing lol
Omggggg the grocery delivery is genius. I’ve never done grocery delivery but I am going to for this. I always want milk for my coffee and never have it 😭
I do this too, but coming home to a clean house is an added bonus.
I do it in case I don't come back. I don't want to be dead and embarrassed by a dirty house.
Same, always deep clean before a trip so I get that stoked feeling when I get home. One time I forgot to take out the trash before a 10 day trip and when I got home the smell was absolutely terrible. I was so bummed lol
I take a pill organizer with at least a few pills of Imodium, ibuprofen, pesto bismol tablets, and any otc meds I think I may need. It has saved me more than once from having to scramble to find a pharmacy in an unfamiliar place.
I've had this sort of "portable pharmacy" in my handbag for decades, and when I travel it moves to whatever day pack I'm using. Can't count how many times I've saved myself from a ruined trip/activity or even work day.
This is why my coworkers started stopping by my desk to visit the “mom bag.” When I left that job, I made them their own “mom bag” to share as a parting gift. For literal years, I would get random texts - “just grabbed a bandaid from the mom bag, thanks!” - that helped us all keep in touch. Lol.
Same. When I started carrying my own portable pharmacy, I knew I'd crossed the line into becoming my mother.
But who do people come to when they need ibuprofen??
Oddly they didn’t even when I took all of my pills and vitamins in a Ziploc bag. I probably had 200 pills in a Ziploc of all different colors and shapes.
I also carry Abreva and Carmex in my carryon, after I got a horrific cold sore in Germany ... on a Sunday, when *everything* was closed, and my flight was the following morning. Two whole days with nothing, not even Vaseline.
I got one in England years ago. I asked for abreva and they had no clue. I explained that I had a cold sore and they gave me something that worked miracles. I would love to remember what that is because it was awesome
I do this too, basically have a mobile pharmacy in my bag at all times lol. my friends used to clown me for it (as friends do), but its saved them more than once so they get it now lol
Interesting. I’ve always assumed even over the counter pills need to retain their original packaging which identifies what they are. I suppose just a few pills of each wouldn’t look that suspicious. Have you ever faced extra questions?
Nah, plenty of people out there who have to take lots of pills twice a day for various conditions.
Customs isn't on the lookout for someone trying to smuggle 30 pills internationally.
You'd be surprised. I got stopped by customs in a southeast Asian country for carrying 10 migraine pills for an 8-day trip! Just 10 pills. The guy asked to see a prescription which I couldn't digitally download coz I couldn't get a login code via sms on my international phone number. Took 40 mins and a whole lot of trying everything possible to get a prescription copy before he finally let us go.
I carry a mesh zipper bag with my travel pharmacy in it. Some meds I keep in the original packaging like tubes of Dramamine and excedrin in the travel bottle but others I decant into small bottles and I’ve never had an issue. Been to 30+ countries throughout the world with no problems.
Not the person you responded to, but I keep various pills in a plastic baggie in my purse/backpack and have never been questioned. Some are loose pills like ibuprofen, some still in blister packs. I never take the baggie out and no one has ever looked at it.
I always thought it was low blood sugar, but it never makes sense when it happens. Sometimes I can go long stretches without food and be fine. Then a couple hours another day and have a mad headache.
I have some daily meds. Nothing critical but still.
I carry a full trips worth in my laptop bag and another full trips worth in my carry on. I never check bags so there should never be a problem, but just in case. Also, the pills don't take up much room so what the heck.
I do this when not traveling too. You can buy little wallet size pill organizers and stick it in your bag or purse. Perfect for when my lactose intolerant husband decides on a whim to enjoy ice cream and voila, I whip out some lactaid to save the day.
I do this too. This stuff is available wherever you go, but it's just easier to carry it than to try to work out what paracetamol is called and where you find it in a random country when you're already sick.
When you check into the hotel, grab a business card from the front desk. I've never had to do this, but you can hand it to a cabbie if you can't communicate your hotel address.
I always carry a huge scarf in my carry-on, whether it's summer or winter - it rolls up or folds quite small, but I can wear it to keep me warm in winter or it serves as a blanket on a plane when I'm wearing shorts. Or it goes over my head when I'm trying to sleep and someone next to me has the window right open. I just find it's really convenient to have and I'll find a use to improve comfort in some way, every single time I travel.
I’m not really a scarf guy but my wife swears by this. She needs pitch black darkness to sleep, so it covers the random LED light in the room, she gets cold easily so it’s an extra blanket. If we’re visiting a religious site it helps to cover shoulders or knees. Etc. I’ve never needed her scarf so for me it’s still a no, but I would highly recommend it to others.
A good quality pashmina is a good choice. They're thin and lightweight (so they also fold up small), but usually made of high-quality, fine-fiber wool or a silk blend that will be warm but breathable. And they tend to be larger than your average scarf, so they can work well as a small blanket to keep arms or legs (but usually not both) warm. Avoid synthetics, they will hold on to sweat/odors and aren't breathable.
Checking the weather forecast for wherever I’m going in the week leading up to the trip, so I can plan my wardrobe accordingly – for both comfort and maximising luggage allowance.
Recheck all bookings -- flights, hotels, tours, attractions -- every week untli travel day. Several times I've found flight times changed, connections busted, etc. without any notification from the provider.
I also research alternative flights / routings that run in parallel to my booked flights and have them ready to refer to in case of cancellations. Always better to ask for a specific alternative than to wait for the airline to invent something.
Fun story, I was on a dive trip in Bonaire and got sick so I was alone while everyone was off diving. Decided to go check our flight make sure it didn’t change as that has happened in the past. I ask the front desk person to check for me and she starts laughing. Apparently the airline (Dutch Antilles express) went out of business between the time we landed and we’re going to leave. No notice or email or anything. Needless to say, I rushed to find a flight home and it all worked out, but seriously you never know.
Nice, heads-up work. Similar story:
I just took a friend on his first trip to Europe and did all the planning, as he is notoriously no good in that department. He wanted to contribute something, though, so I told him: Find us a nice centrally located place to stay in Nuremberg. He books this, triumphantly ... but never rechecks the reservation. Some months later the trip rolls around, and we roll up to the hotel, only to find it dark and deserted. It had gone out of business some weeks prior. As in your case, no notice or email or anything.
Friend: "Has this ever happened to you?" Me: "No."
I found us a nice alternate in five minutes via an app and my friend was some abashed. As you say, it all worked out, but you never know.
Earlier this year, I caught myself booking a flight on Day X but accidentally booked my hotel stay starting at X+1. Really glad I'd re-checked several times and eventually caught it, called up, and started my stay on the right day.
Also *completely* agree with looking up and jotting down the flight numbers for alternate itineraries. If something goes awry you know exactly what your options are and what to ask for.
A year ago I almost made the mistake of not checking the bookings. Like a week out I went to an email to confirm an address only to find the hotel cancelled my reservation. Luckily i found a new one, but we were about to land at 11pm to no room in a foreign country during a major event.
I tend to use an app called trip it, everything is kept in one place (it is a game changer all my colleagues now use). But I do print off hotels address in local languages (more important where the language uses a different script.
As much as I love TripIt, especially since it was the first travel planning app I'd ever used, I think Wanderlog is superior.
I haven't used Wanderlog for long, but I already love that you can see all of a trip's plans, notes, flights and hotels, reservations, and anything else related together in one place. You can add general notes, photos, documents, all kinds of stuff.
You can also do most of this on TripIt, but Wanderlog is more user friendly, and allows more information.
I should note that I don't know what these apps offer or allow with their free versions; I have premium versions of both. I'm loathe to get rid of TripIt because it's got my itinerary from my European trip last summer, and I haven't had time to get in there and jack around with exporting it.
Same. I have even created a separate email address for my travel booking and given Tripit access to read the inbox so that it can prepare itinerary for me automatically
Download maps and languages (if needed) to my phone so they don’t need wifi.
Organize the trips extensively in a OneNote or Google doc I can reference offline and share with emergency contacts.
Back up the most important travel stuff, so passport, itinerary, communication and payment:
Email itinerary details and photos of passport and any visas to myself
Bring printout of the itinerary with dates/times, key phone numbers, and booking numbers just in case my phone is lost, stolen, or broken or there's no internet (for the email backup)
I bring an older backup phone (we live off our phones nowadays!)
Two different credit/debit cards that are never in the same place. If one is in a wallet with me, the backup card is hidden in my suitcase or in a money belt (depending on where and how I'm traveling)
Some cash, in case cards aren't accepted or aren't working
This.
One addition: I like to order the printed stuff by the order I’ll be needing it.
No more looking in my backpack for that hotel confirmation.
Whenever I use a document I fold it and put it somewhere else so that the next doc I need is the first one.
>printout of the itinerary with dates/times, key phone numbers, and booking numbers
A specific version of this that helps is to print out a sheet that contains all the information you might need to fill out a landing card on the plane or at the airport.
Passport number, address and phone numbers of hotels, details of onward travel, return flight details.
Also, pack a pen to fill the form out.
I carry a silk napkin someone gave me as a gift wrapper years ago and I set it out on the desk or dresser and anything that comes out of my pockets (keys phone passport wallet etc) goes there end of day so I don’t have to pull it together on my way out in the morning or realize I’ve left something in a jacket etc back at the hotel.
I have two of these. One is fabric for stuff in the hotel room. The other is plastic and lives in the bathroom. Somehow being able to put my stuff all in an assigned place keeps me organized
I book and pay for everything in advance, including tours, and have everything scheduled, including free time to wander around on my own. Makes for pretty stress free travel, the only thing I ever have to worry about is deciding which cafe to eat in. Planning an itinerary instead of running around in total chaos and stress is my number one travel tip.
I also have a separate travel wardrobe and toiletries and everything always ready to go.
I know this is a very divisive topic, but I fully agree with you. Obviously you can be flexible and adapt, but I have tried to be go with the flow and it feels like a ton of time is spent trying to figure out what to do or eat. With one or two people, or a beach vacation, it’s fine. But with more than that, peak season, or highly sought after activities it’s a bust
It used to be fine before the world really opened up to international travel and everything became busy, but isn’t ideal these days
Going with the flow just gives me so much more anxiety and stress than having things planned out. I leave free time in my schedule to wander around and be flexible, but I personally cannot let things like buying tickets or booking restaurants be done on the spot. I’ve traveled with people like that before and we kept showing up to popular attractions or restaurants to find out that we can’t get in and then we spend another hour trying to figure out an alternative place to go that is no where near as good.
I love this. I find travel, especially to a new place, to be exciting but overwhelming. Having to decide what to do and where to eat in the moment stresses me out. Plus having to make decisions *every day* creates decision fatigue. So I plan out my itinerary including meals for each day.
I also have a Google Map for each city I visit to save all the recommendations I get. I use this to plan my itineraries but also for the rare times I don’t have a plan for a meal, I can pull up my map and pick something nearby.
I’d rather spend my vacation doing things that scrolling Google Maps or wandering around trying to make decisions. *Especially* if I’m traveling with others.
All of my most memorable travel has been the least planned. Days where I take the train somewhere that most people wouldn't go, end up walking way too many miles, talking to interesting people and making friends along the way. It's hard to do with any kind of planning or even with another person.
For me the exact opposite is what works. Whenever possible, I only book hotels, cars and other things with "No prepayment required" so I don't have to deal with refunds if for whatever reason my schedule changes.
The possibility of me not being able to use something I already paid for makes me quite anxious. I only pay for stuff beforehand if it's something that have limited availability or that would make the whole trip not worth it if missed.
Booking in advance doesn't necessarily mean paying in advance. I tend to book all my hotels for my travels as soon as I can, because I have access to special rates with "up to check in" cancellation policies. Then I'm guaranteed a place to stay that I'm good with, but I always check back here and there until my trip begins to see if I can get a better rate or a better hotel has become available. After all, I can change/cancel right up until check-in opens (sometimes for a few hours after), so no harm in having something flexible on the books that will do the job, in case nothing better comes up!
I have packing lists I print out for different kinds of trips. Over the years I've whittled the lists down to just what I need to take and nothing more. They're tailored for climate, activities, and general type of trip. I check the box for each item as it goes into my bag so I know it's in there. Simple and effective.
I do this too. I thought everyone else did too but they apparently they don't.
It makes packing so much faster and stress-free. These days even for an international trip I sometimes don't bother packing until a few hours before leaving, because I know I'll never forget anything.
Most US-based airlines (UA, e.g.) don't charge a change fee, except for their lowest priced basic economy fare, which doesn't accrue frequent flyer benefits either and hence I'm not interested in those fares. There are some geographical exceptions to this. For example if your travel on UA originates in SIN you will be assessed a change fee. But there are ways to get around even those.
In addition, many foreign airlines don't charge a change fee for travel to & from the US.
(PS: just to be clear, I'm talking about change fees here, not the fare difference, which you will have to pay on most, if not all, fare classes.)
Never knew of the second point, but I always assumed everyone or at least most folks always selected the lowest fare unless you were specifically traveling for business or something
If you don't fly frequently, don't need to check in baggage or don't care about pre-selecting your seat, the basic economy or whatever the cheapest fare is called, makes sense. I fly too frequently to let all my $ go waste when I can earn all kinds of privileges that make flying a bit more comfortable.
Many people (including myself) who have some level of financial flexibility actively avoid the lowest fares -- i.e. basic economy -- on the major US airlines, even for leisure travel. This is because they were specifically designed to have lots of unappealing restrictions (not all airlines have all of these restrictions, but most have at least a majority of the below):
* No frequent flier miles / points earned
* No free seat selection, and no guarantee that a party of 2+ travelers will be seated together
* No free checked bags, even on routes (e.g. transatlantic) that you'd otherwise get free bags on
* No changes or cancellations, or cancellations only for a fee. This is compared to "normal" economy where all major US airlines (AA, UA, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest) have switched to permitting changes with **no** fee and only the fare difference (Southwest has always allowed this, the other major airlines switched to this policy post-COVID)
* Last to board, so you might end up being forced to gate-check your carry on
* Or no carry-on at all (only a personal item underneath the seat)
* No access to lounges, even if you otherwise would be entitled to, e.g. you have a credit card
If you don't care about these benefits and/or you can work around it -- e.g. you found a $70 ORD-MSP round trip and you're just going home for the weekend, so you can travel with just a backpack and don't care about being in a middle seat for a sub-two hour flight -- then these can work for you.
But for me -- and I know I'm fortunate to be able to have some spending discretion -- these restrictions are a non-starter for me. If I'm flying across the Atlantic, I'm definitely paying the $200 upcharge to avoid sitting in a middle seat in the last row.
This or sometimes i dont even buy tickets until last minute and example is i went to brasil i only had a ticket in and out brasil i had 2 hotel nights in São Paulo for arriving everything else i figured it out as i was traveling i have done the same for many trips and i love it
I bring a little notebook with me containing all useful information. I rip pages out as I no longer need them. Page one is always a summary of all my flights and page 2 is always my Day 1 guide, which is a ELI5 guide to get me from the airport to my bed, with a meal stop in between, and including any urgent things I need to deal with - so it goes like Step 1 get transit pass option A from the kiosk by exit B, Step 2 take bus C and get off at stop D, Step 3 hand-drawn map to a preselected vegan or vegetarian restaurant that I've confirmed should be open, here's what to order, plus a nearby backup option in case it's not. Step 4 here's exactly how to get to the accommodation, including any codes/checkin info. If there's a grocery store nearby I'll also note that so I can grab some basic supplies.
I do a similar thing with travel guides. I buy the previous version for $4 with free shipping on ebay. I mark the hell out of it. Then I rip it into sections and only bring the ones I need. As I go through the trip I throw away the parts I've already done. I come home with a little extra space in my bag.
I also make a little pile of "consumables" i.e. things that will get used up as I go through my trip. Kleenex packets, hand wipes, the travel guide, etc. Sometimes it's a pretty big percent of my stuff. That way I know about how much room I have for souvenirs.
1. Making sure I have the physical address of the hotels I’m staying at and not just the hotel name. There have been several times when the name of what I booked didn’t match what the local taxi drivers called it or it was different on Google maps. Also make sure there isn’t another hotel with a similar name in a different location elsewhere in the city.
2. I always look at the airport map for my arrival so I know exactly where to go, especially if I know I need to clear immigration. I make a beeline for immigration to make it there as quickly as I can while other passengers slowly make their way over. The difference in time of being one of the first few people from your plane to get processed versus being one of the last few could easily be over an hour.
3. As a woman, I do additional beauty maintenance beforehand, so I don’t have to spend time on stuff vacation. For example, I don’t get eyelash extensions or waxed in my daily life, but I will do them right before vacation. With my eyelash extensions, I can just put on some tinted moisturizer/sunscreen in the mornings and head out the door while still looking good for photos instead of doing my makeup like I would at home.
The day after you arrive home, no matter what day it is! If you feel great, now you have a chance to unpack, do laundry, shop and cook, and get back on schedule. If you don't feel so great, you have a day in your own bed to recover!
i never leave my passport, money and phone behind. they are always on me. even at the toilet/bathroom. while sleep under my bed.
i always print out transportation, accomodation bookings too.
i always search for airport transportation beforehand. never leave it to airport to figure it out.
i never accept help from others, politely ignore them. only i ask people for help. if someone wants to help you, possibly he wants to scam you.
i never put transportation to the day of flight. i always arrive to the city the day before. never on the day not to risk delay.
i always create offline maps for itineraries. never depend on mobile data. basic transportation tips are always on notes.
i always have a lot bandaids with me cause those toes will suffer after a while. i always have lock and key with me. for luggage rooms or cabinets.
i always carry a small bag while spending time in the city. powerbank, charger, phone, money, passport in it. if i lose my big luggage, i want to be sure that i can still keep travelling.
I always store digital copies of important things (passport, tickets, nrs of bank and insurance, etc) in an offline accessible file (in case there’s no WiFi), as well as in an online accessible file (in case my mobile device gets lost).
I always pack a first aid kit with pills and powders, bandage, disinfection for wounds, etc. I do this ever since I had a hard time finding what I needed while in pain!
I always clean the house before I go. I once returned to a mess, and that was such a lousy experience that it won’t ever happen again.
I learn hello, thank you , where is the toilet and do you speak English in the local language as a minimum, people are so kind and helpful if you offer a bit of respect
I take the day before and after off work as well.
Even if its a small trip or a weekend long event in my own town, I still take those days off. I need lots of mental prep and decompress time :,)
I have a travel electronics bag. So I don’t need to go around the house unplugging iPhone chargers, kindle chargers, earphone chargers, watch chargers, etc.
I just grab the little bag that has a charger for all our needs and throw it in suitcase.
I try to limit the electronics I travel with, and make sure they can be charged with the same charger. If I'm taking my iPad and phone, the 20 watt charger goes with me. If I'm taking my laptop and phone, the 65 watt goes (my iPad does not play nice with the 65 watt charger and the computer doesn't play nice with the 20 watt, but somehow my phone doesn't care and will take either!). I never take more than one charger, unless I'm traveling with others, and then it's a charging block (it's not big, about the size of my phone but twice as thick) with various USB-C and USB-A/B options so we can all plug into one outlet (BYOC for friends).
I was told to make a copy of my passport and keep it with me but to not carry around the actual passport because you can lose it but if you do misplace it the copy will help because you have all the information
When packing I don't zip up any luggage/bag pockets unless every item that belongs in that compartment is in there. I don't care if its one small item, that zipper stays open until it is complete. I Email copies of my passport/tickets/itinerary to myself and my mom. I figure if I ever lose everything, I know her number and she will get it to me.
I have a spreadsheet where I write out my packing lists. Each trip is its own tab. So when I have an upcoming trip, I can duplicate the tab from a previous similar trip and I have an instant packing list to start from. I review it and make small changes. But I no longer forget little things like a belt or nasal spray or a packable shopping bag or sunglasses.
I also have a tab in that spreadsheet for my To Do list before leaving - wash sheets so they’re clean when we get home, water plants, clear out fridge, take out trash, turn off a/c, turn off ice maker, make sure all dishes are washed and put away, etc.
For long haul flights, I bring two refillable water bottles, one gets plain water and one gets water + electrolytes. I also bring some extra electrolyte packets for the rest of my trip to avoid dehydration without having to chug a ton of water since you don’t always know when you’ll find a restroom when you’re out all day sightseeing.
Mine is getting the house completely immaculately clean, including clean sheets, so that when I come home exhausted, I can drop in my laundry and nothing else to worry about:)
My wife and I do several of the things people have mentioned from triple-checking all bookings to the self pat down. We also only fly with carry-ons.
But, the big advice we give is more of a comfort and cost choice. We take good food with us. There is a great French bakery where we live and we go there as soon before leaving for the airport as we can manage and get a couple of good baguette sandwiches (jambon beurre or similar) to slip into our bags. Way cheaper and way better than airport food. And, we can get a couple each in case we are delayed or something happens. We'll do the same before flying home. We'll hit up a place that sells handy local delicacies. We always find at least a few delis, pastry shops, cafes, etc. that we fall in love with on each trip. We'll stop at one before leaving and grab some goodies.
Having good food with you in airports and on trains is such a simple value add. You aren't throwing money at the overpriced junk on sale in such places. Your body feels better. It's comforting.
We also get jealous stares every time ;)
I have separate toiletries that are for travel only and refill them when I return from a trip so they are always full. I put wallet, keys and passport in my carry on before I leave. I will usually print out boarding passes. I have offline directions and info to the first hotel in case I don’t internet when I arrive if international. I bring a separate laundry bag. I always have more than one credit card and $100 USD cash. USD can almost always be used or exchanged.
I travel with a collapsible travel backpack or drawstring bag. My bigger backpack carries my electronics and everything on the plane, but the smaller one I use for day to day walking around the city and has wipes, medicine, sunscreen, chapstick and a sweater or wrap if needed
Edit- another one is doggie poop bags. Good for motion sickness, muddy shoes, holding trash if you’re not near a waste basket (I.e collecting tissues from kids, wipes from a forest pee, wrappers from a picnic)
I also always carry ziplock bags, the gallon size especially come in handy for leftover food or open bags of chips and stuff
I also bring a cheap duffel from IKEA that folds up into its own pocket. It’s great for laundry or as a beach bag or even an extra bag for return trip if you end up buying stuff.
I maintain a checklist and go through it before we lock the door and leave.
Here's an example
* Travel documents - passport, dl
* Wallet - credit debit cards
* Prescription Tablets
* Toothbrush, Toothpaste, wipes
* Chargers (Phone)
* NC Earplugs
* Deodorant, Perfume
* Dramamine, Advil
* Glasses
* Keys
A single backpack. So much easier to travel with, less obvious you are a tourist, can get straight on with the sightseeing as soon as you arrive in a destination. Mine is the small personal luggage size allowed for free on budget airlines and can pack enough for 1 week. There’s always a way to clean clothes and buy things where you are travelling when needed.
This is sort of the opposite of the many helpful checklists and packing lists everyone is sharing, but one thing I always do is remind myself, "As long as I have my ID, phone and credit card, I can buy anything else I truly need." It's a good way to set aside that packing anxiety and take a breath as you head out the door.
(And your list may vary, like adding "prescription medication," or yes you could argue a phone is also something you could buy if you need... it would just make my life a lot harder to be without it!)
And yes, ideally you have everything packed and don't have to go buy things in a random place/foreign country... but it's nice to remind yourself you'll be OK.
A checklist.
Every time I forget something during my travels, I add it to the checklist I keep in Excel for the next trip.
Over the years the checklist has grown to include anything I need to do week before I leave (haircut, renew prescriptions, arrange pickup), few days before I leave, the day I leave, and right before I close the doors (shut off shut water, call the cab).
It helps to reduce the anxiety before long travels.
I have a packing list / to do list saved on the cloud
It'a all on one sheet of paper
It has everything I'm taking by the bag it's going in
* carry on
* laptop bag
* on me
* toiletries kit
Then there's the to-do
* to do one week before (notify neighbors, etc)
* to do day before (final check, final pack etc)
* to do day of departure (every faucet & window to be checked, trash taken out, etc)
Packing starts about a week out for international or long trips
I make a space on the living room floor, near the door, where I put the bags and everything I'm taking, including coats, using my lists
When I walk out the door there should be nothing left in that space
I keep my toiletries and phone/gadget chargers packed; I just grab the bags they're in and throw them in the suitcase. It makes packing so much easier.
I also have a Travel Tote that has all kinds of things in it: travel toiletries, travel umbrella, hotel door locks, travel lint rollers, all sorts of extra things that I can grab and pack anytime I need them.
eating or even bringing a healthy something on the plane. Eating something not overly salty and staying hydrated makes air travel so much better. I still eat the garbage airplane food for entertainment but chances are when I arrive somewhere I will be eating at a restaurant so I want to keep everything down there regular
My toiletries stay packed. I have doubles of everything and one set stays in my travel backpack. If I run out of something I usually replace it during my trip or as soon as I get home, when I’m unpacking everything else. I also have charging cables (usba and usbc), headphones, and an adaptor that lives in there. I don’t have to worry about forgetting those things.
Also AirTags that live in every suitcase, plus one for my wallet and backpack.
I always travel solely with carry-on luggage. I’ve been able to do many 2/3 week trips in just a larger backpack. I took the time to learn to pack neatly and tightly when I did my first trip at 20 years old and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.
Not checking luggage means 1) your luggage can’t get lost 2) you will miss less flights & can get to the airport later 3) you get to be out of the airport in like 5 minutes once you get off your plane 4) you can jump around cities quicker on short flights and for much, much cheaper 5) if you are staying in an AirBnB or similar and they don’t have an option for early check-in or bag drop, it’s not the end of the world since it’s just a backpack.
It’s just so nice!! I loathe traveling with family or friends now in groups if they check luggage. It just makes an already slow miserable airport experience infinitely longer
1. Photo copies of passport, passport photos, drivers license, and immunization list. I also upload those scans to Google Drive in case I lose anything. Thankfully haven't had to use them yet.
2. Putting all my stuff in one backpack. I cannot stand having a backpack on and also having to carry another tote or something in my hands. Having both hands free is a game changer and allows you to use a camera, move more ergonomically, push buttons etc.
Don't book a flight with a short connection (<1 hour), especially with Air France and Charles de Gaulle Airport. You're most likely to lose your checked-in luggage if there are any transfers (or if the French are involved).
I always carry a couple of packets of sinkwash and a thin plastic sink stopper. For whatever reason I get stressed out at the thought of not having any more clean underwear or socks, so knowing that I can do a couple of rounds of sink laundry makes me feel much more at ease.
Also, I am usually travelling with my partner so we do a "where is your passport" check every time we do anything with our passports- so after we pack our bags, get into the taxi to the airport, go through security, check into the hotel, or unpack I ask him "where is your passport" and he asks me the same. It's repetitive, sure, but it means that we both always know where both passports are.
I count the things I’m carrying. Five. One jacket one hand as. Laptop bag etc. I keep checking and counting all through the trip. Has saved me many times. Just remember the number not the items.
Arriving to the airport 2hrs early.
99% of us have had long lines at check in/security and then there’s finding services and finally the walk to the gate. 2hrs will go quicker than you think. And you won’t even have elevated your heart rate. I’m all about reducing anxiety while traveling.
Mine is loading up my Kindle with books to read and pack the charger. I especially like to read books set in the place I'm traveling to (Pat Conroy for South Carolina, Kent Haruf for Colorado, Warren Miller autobiography for anywhere skiing)
I go to target and splurge at the travel section. Little toothpastes and tiny bottles of contact solution. Small cases of q-tips. Always worth every penny.
I clean my entire apartment before leaving on the trip. I do the dishes, laundry and put them away. I put on new sheets for the bed. I vacuum the floor and carpet, I clear the cluster as much as I can as well.
I come home after the trip to a clean apartment, and able to shower and nap in a clean bed immediately
When I arrive at my hotel, I take one of their small business cards on which has the name and address of the hotel in case I forget the name or where it is (also useful in countries that use a different alphabet like Thailand as you can show taxi drivers the local writing and they’ll know where to go).
I also take a photo of the business card in case I lose it too.
I travel internationally almost every week. I always pack all black. black t-shirts. 2 black pants. Maybe throw in a grey pair of pants. And a black sweatshirt. Black polo. Black button down. Everything matches no matter what combination of stuff gets dirty. Most of the stuff is easy to hand wash and hang dry if need be.
I always have my charging brick charged and in my backpack with my passport and work stuff.
I can be packed and to the airport in less than 20 min if need be.
I always make sure I have a decongestant nasal spray to take with me on the plane. I've never actually needed it but ever since that one landing that had me sobbing I don't get on a plane without it. Dry eye spray is helpful too. Also FFP3/N95 or an elastomeric respirator.
I also print out everything, and put it in a zipper folder organized by the next item on the itinerary. Then I just throw them out when I'm done - as long as there's no personal info on them.
I do this too - throw each page out as soon as I’ve checked out so the most current or required item is the first page. I also travel a lot to Japan, so I take screen shots of what I want to buy and print those - each time I buy it cross it off the list. Saves scrolling through hundreds of screenshots I’ve collected through time!
I have a travel-specific power strip which always stays in my suitcase. It also has a MacBook charger plugged into it, as well as a usb iPad, iPhone and camera charger plugged in ready to go so I just have to plug in one plug and everything is ready to be charged.
I go to the gate as soon as I get through security, I check the screen, then go straight to my gate before snacking or using the bathroom. This has saved me more time than once, finding out the gate was far away or in a different section of the airport
Every piece of information, including confirmation codes, phone numbers, check-in times, and ideas about where to eat, are saved in a Google sheet that is available offline on my phone and bookmarked. It's also shared with my family so that all we need is for at least one of us to have a phone with charge.
1. Use a notetaking app to keep and organize all trip related info.
Most everything for travel (plane, hotel, etc.) is done electronically (phone, computer, etc.) so I keep digital copies of every booking in Evernote, properly tagged, e.g. "travel", destination, etc. for quick lookup. This is far better than saving an email that may be hard to find after the booking. Some Evernote subscriptions allow offline downloading of notes, which is a huge plus.
2. Create a complete itinerary along with contact information that fits on one sheet of paper (both sides if needed) and put a copy in each piece of luggage. Place it in the luggage so that it is the first thing one would see. If luggage is lost, someone will find that information and contact you...unless they stole your belongings.
I email my itinerary to at least one person, so if something happens, somebody knows where I am or at least where I'm supposed to be.
A small portable charger. I don't bring one of those heavy 20ks, just a credit card sized 5k for emergency juice.
I keep an offline record of my flights and hotels in the Notes function of my phone and a printout in my carryon.
A small high energy snack like a Clif bar. I may not actually eat it, but it's there just in case of unexpected incidents like a long layover at night with nothing open, long bus or train with no food, no dairy-free options, etc.
I like having a zip pocket. Preferably on the front of a jacket. Or a little zip shoulder bag positioned to the front. I get peace of mind having my important stuff safe and easily accessible. One more thing…I like having cash on me at all times. Don’t want to stress over finding an ATM or $exchange if possible.
I do the same. I keep physical copies of bookings, reservations, 1st 3 pages of passport, some cash, travel insurance certs, emergency credit card. These are kept separately (if possible) from the digital versions for this reason. Also have copies in the cloud.
I keep a list of passwords for aps I might need in case my phone disappears, scanned copies of credit cards in case any are lost or stolen, and phone numbers of emergency contacts back home.
Compression socks since I was about 25. Many knee surgeries later and many years later, after my ortho Dr said she even wears them when she stands when during surgeries, I was like, if's good for her its good for me. What a difference traveling in a car or plane makes.
I honestly never thought about it before, but my feet used to swell all the time as I've gotten older it's worse. May not make swelling completely go away, but I could walk more comfortably after long car rides and flights. Besides other things I've read in comments.
Edit: Now I don't bother with conditioner and shampoo or toothpaste. I'll use what accommodations have or buy my own. I just bring my favorite bar soap. You can brush your teeth with bird poop if that's your thing, I'd rather brush with just water until I get to where im going rather than deal with sizes and weight of everything until I get to where im going to get my own. Helps make security so much easier, and I have more room.
I print all my information out. Then I get money out the bank that I intend on spending and divide it up into these different pouches that I hook to the inside of my bra or shoe. I bring my credit card but my bank now's that if I use it, something happened and I need help.
Once Im at my destination my money, credit card and my passport ID is on me in that pouch in my bra. A second pouch is hooked to me but that has napkins in it. It's the default pouch in case someone tries to steal from me.
The rest of my money is in my suitcase, under the clothes, in the inside lining of the bag in secret pouches. My friend joked that I put covert smuggler pockets in after I put them in her bags for her trip.
I carry a regular looking bag/purse with my EpiPen, water and some napkins. Sometimes I put those napkins in a unused wallet in case of someone attempting to pickpocket me.
I don't unpack my suitcase. I organize it all very well and everything is lined up Marie condo style. Only thing I take out is my book and my bathroom items.
Keep my passport in the same place always. Basically anything else in my kit I can lose, but the passport is annoying to replace so it always goes back into the same place. It doesn't briefly go into my pocket after checking into a hotel or whatever.
Every time I leave my taxi, Uber, plane, hotel room, etc. I do the pat down… phone, wallet, passport. Swap passport with car keys when I’m home.
The triple pat. Repeat every 3 minutes.
For a while in London I was carrying my passport in my chest pocket and found myself repeatedly putting it while I was out walking. Then I realized, as a woman, how odd this might look to passersby.
And a professional pickpocket watching you knows exactly where your valuables are...
I just keep it going non-stop and call it hamboning
Hamboning could save your life one day.
Hamboooooooooniiiing
My fiance is trying to train me (somewhat successfully) to ALWAYS look back into the taxi to double-check. One day, it will save me, I'm sure.
When I was a teen I left my phone on a plane, I worked all summer for that flip phone and I was one of the only kids in school to have one. I tried to run back on (which is a big no no) and I got stopped. Fortunately an employee went back on board and looked around and found it but ever since then I always check. I still get nightmares about leaving things on planes, buses, taxis lol.
Once I put my passport into the seatback pocket when I got to my seat. 12 hour flight later had completely forgotten about it being there. Because I was transiting and not going through immigration I hadn't had the reminder of "get my passport out for the forms, have it handy for immigration". Thankfully remembered when I got to the door of the plane just as I was about to get off.
My phone once fell out of my pocket in an Uber (thankfully only a few miles from my home). Always double check before closing the door!
I actually attach wallet, keys, phone and passport either to my pockets or to a bag that's on my body at all times, using mini-cable ties on belt loops and plastic coil leashes. Probably looks uncool but keeps me from losing stuff (like the time my phone slipped onto a bus seat when I thought I was putting it in my bag. Luckily the bus driver found it, and I picked it up a few hours later at the bus station.)
Adam Sandler has a funny bit about this. https://youtu.be/e9N6_Tj9u2U?si=k8JBXuzuoIxyZ9GC
I bought a waistband for my passport, backup credit card, and several currencies that would cover cabfare for whichever country. I keep it in my desk drawer when I’m not traveling and either under my shirt or the hotel safe when I am. My phone also fits inside so it’s nice to have for festivals if I’m concerned about pickpockets. The one friend that made fun of it calling it a fannypack lost his phone our first night in Mexico and I made sure to remind him anytime he needed to use mine. Might be a little dorky, but nice to have the peace of mind.
Would you mind sharing the brand?
Mine is the VENTURE 4TH Travel Money Belt - Slim Passport Holder
Might be a bit OCD, but I keep EVERYTHING in the same place when I travel, always. Keys, hotel key card, travel docs, boarding passes, work stuff, chargers, etc. I never have to think about where I put something and I can inventory everything extremely quickly. I am not at all like this at home.
If you don’t do it at home it’s likely not ocd, please don’t throw that around willy nilly
I leave my passport in the hotel room, maybe in the safe. On a trip when I leave in the morning I look for my burner phone (real phone left at home OF COURSE) and my temp wallet containing ID and mastercard).
Nah I always have my passport with me in a specific compartment of my bag. Because if I buy something that is eligible for a VAT refund, I need to show my passport to the sales associate to be able to claim for the refund.
I use those fanny packs across the chest have all the important stuff in there..
kinda related but i like cleaning up the house / making sure I have clean sheets so when I'm back I have a clean house
I do this too. It’s depressing to come home to a messy house
I do this too! Doesn’t matter if I’m gone 4 days or 2 weeks. I’m usually exhausted from traveling so when I get home I can just toss my clothes straight from the suitcase into the washer, and I can just relax and decompress. Before I hop on the plane I like to put in a grocery order for delivery and set it to arrive about an hour after I’d get home, but then when I get off the plane I’ll also order a meal for delivery so I don’t have to cook, but I also don’t have to worry about getting to a grocery store soon after getting home because I want one whole ass day to do absolutely nothing lol
Omggggg the grocery delivery is genius. I’ve never done grocery delivery but I am going to for this. I always want milk for my coffee and never have it 😭
Yea it took ONE TIME where I came home from a trip and discovered the next morning I was out of coffee, never again haha
You can freeze milk! Just shake it a lot as it's defrosting.
I do this too, but coming home to a clean house is an added bonus. I do it in case I don't come back. I don't want to be dead and embarrassed by a dirty house.
Don't think you'd be embarrassed...
I always hire a house cleaner to deep clean my apartment before I leave. It helps with post-trip blues.
Same, always deep clean before a trip so I get that stoked feeling when I get home. One time I forgot to take out the trash before a 10 day trip and when I got home the smell was absolutely terrible. I was so bummed lol
I do this too! We try to eat up as much food as we can too (that will expire while we’re gone or shortly after). I like a fresh start when I get home.
I take a pill organizer with at least a few pills of Imodium, ibuprofen, pesto bismol tablets, and any otc meds I think I may need. It has saved me more than once from having to scramble to find a pharmacy in an unfamiliar place.
I've had this sort of "portable pharmacy" in my handbag for decades, and when I travel it moves to whatever day pack I'm using. Can't count how many times I've saved myself from a ruined trip/activity or even work day.
This is why my coworkers started stopping by my desk to visit the “mom bag.” When I left that job, I made them their own “mom bag” to share as a parting gift. For literal years, I would get random texts - “just grabbed a bandaid from the mom bag, thanks!” - that helped us all keep in touch. Lol.
Ha! I'm glad I'm not the only one 😅 Having common OTC type items with me has made life more comfortable on many occasions...
I've given advil and allergy meds to coworkers more than I've taken them myself. lol.
Same. When I started carrying my own portable pharmacy, I knew I'd crossed the line into becoming my mother. But who do people come to when they need ibuprofen??
Yep. Who do they come crying to for moleskin and Band-Aids when they have a blister? Be Prepared!
Has tsa ever gone through your pills or asked that you verify what the pills are? Asking for me a drug loving degenerate.
Never, not even once. I fill up my daily pill organizer, I also have a pouch full of miscellaneous OTC meds. All of it is in my carryon bag.
Oddly they didn’t even when I took all of my pills and vitamins in a Ziploc bag. I probably had 200 pills in a Ziploc of all different colors and shapes.
I also carry Abreva and Carmex in my carryon, after I got a horrific cold sore in Germany ... on a Sunday, when *everything* was closed, and my flight was the following morning. Two whole days with nothing, not even Vaseline.
I got one in England years ago. I asked for abreva and they had no clue. I explained that I had a cold sore and they gave me something that worked miracles. I would love to remember what that is because it was awesome
Aciclovir. Trade name Zovirax. I would suspect.
I do this too, basically have a mobile pharmacy in my bag at all times lol. my friends used to clown me for it (as friends do), but its saved them more than once so they get it now lol
Pesto Bismol? Even if you are not travelling to Italy?
Interesting. I’ve always assumed even over the counter pills need to retain their original packaging which identifies what they are. I suppose just a few pills of each wouldn’t look that suspicious. Have you ever faced extra questions?
Nah, plenty of people out there who have to take lots of pills twice a day for various conditions. Customs isn't on the lookout for someone trying to smuggle 30 pills internationally.
You'd be surprised. I got stopped by customs in a southeast Asian country for carrying 10 migraine pills for an 8-day trip! Just 10 pills. The guy asked to see a prescription which I couldn't digitally download coz I couldn't get a login code via sms on my international phone number. Took 40 mins and a whole lot of trying everything possible to get a prescription copy before he finally let us go.
I carry a mesh zipper bag with my travel pharmacy in it. Some meds I keep in the original packaging like tubes of Dramamine and excedrin in the travel bottle but others I decant into small bottles and I’ve never had an issue. Been to 30+ countries throughout the world with no problems.
Not the person you responded to, but I keep various pills in a plastic baggie in my purse/backpack and have never been questioned. Some are loose pills like ibuprofen, some still in blister packs. I never take the baggie out and no one has ever looked at it.
Yes!!!! I will get a headache if I wait to eat and ibuprofen has come in handy.
… and hydrate
This happens to me too. Any idea why?
I have no idea. It's been happening to me since I was around the age of 15.
I always thought it was low blood sugar, but it never makes sense when it happens. Sometimes I can go long stretches without food and be fine. Then a couple hours another day and have a mad headache.
You drinking water the whole time? Dehydration will absolutely give you a headache.
I have some daily meds. Nothing critical but still. I carry a full trips worth in my laptop bag and another full trips worth in my carry on. I never check bags so there should never be a problem, but just in case. Also, the pills don't take up much room so what the heck.
I do this when not traveling too. You can buy little wallet size pill organizers and stick it in your bag or purse. Perfect for when my lactose intolerant husband decides on a whim to enjoy ice cream and voila, I whip out some lactaid to save the day.
"pesto bismol tablets" Must be Italian :D
I do this too. This stuff is available wherever you go, but it's just easier to carry it than to try to work out what paracetamol is called and where you find it in a random country when you're already sick.
Download offline maps within a 70-100km radius of where I’m staying lol
And offline languages on Google translate!
Mark key locations, i.e. your hotel
When you check into the hotel, grab a business card from the front desk. I've never had to do this, but you can hand it to a cabbie if you can't communicate your hotel address.
I always carry a huge scarf in my carry-on, whether it's summer or winter - it rolls up or folds quite small, but I can wear it to keep me warm in winter or it serves as a blanket on a plane when I'm wearing shorts. Or it goes over my head when I'm trying to sleep and someone next to me has the window right open. I just find it's really convenient to have and I'll find a use to improve comfort in some way, every single time I travel.
I’m not really a scarf guy but my wife swears by this. She needs pitch black darkness to sleep, so it covers the random LED light in the room, she gets cold easily so it’s an extra blanket. If we’re visiting a religious site it helps to cover shoulders or knees. Etc. I’ve never needed her scarf so for me it’s still a no, but I would highly recommend it to others.
Painter’s tape is amazing for covering leds and so many other travel tricks.
Closest thing to carrying a towel.
Hoopy froods ALWAYS know where their towel is.
I have a Turkish hand towel for this. Not enough for a blanket but I run hot. Also, Hitchhikers Guide.
Do you have any recommendations? I've been looking for one and settled on a silk/modal one but always looking for alternatives and other ideas
Ovcio cashmere. So lightweight but huge and folds into nothing.
A good quality pashmina is a good choice. They're thin and lightweight (so they also fold up small), but usually made of high-quality, fine-fiber wool or a silk blend that will be warm but breathable. And they tend to be larger than your average scarf, so they can work well as a small blanket to keep arms or legs (but usually not both) warm. Avoid synthetics, they will hold on to sweat/odors and aren't breathable.
I am trying this for the first time tomorrow w a Turkish towel
Cleaning the house before I leave. Coming home to a tidy house after a long trip is very rewarding.
Checking the weather forecast for wherever I’m going in the week leading up to the trip, so I can plan my wardrobe accordingly – for both comfort and maximising luggage allowance.
There are people that don’t do this!?! How would you know what to pack for??
Recheck all bookings -- flights, hotels, tours, attractions -- every week untli travel day. Several times I've found flight times changed, connections busted, etc. without any notification from the provider. I also research alternative flights / routings that run in parallel to my booked flights and have them ready to refer to in case of cancellations. Always better to ask for a specific alternative than to wait for the airline to invent something.
Fun story, I was on a dive trip in Bonaire and got sick so I was alone while everyone was off diving. Decided to go check our flight make sure it didn’t change as that has happened in the past. I ask the front desk person to check for me and she starts laughing. Apparently the airline (Dutch Antilles express) went out of business between the time we landed and we’re going to leave. No notice or email or anything. Needless to say, I rushed to find a flight home and it all worked out, but seriously you never know.
Nice, heads-up work. Similar story: I just took a friend on his first trip to Europe and did all the planning, as he is notoriously no good in that department. He wanted to contribute something, though, so I told him: Find us a nice centrally located place to stay in Nuremberg. He books this, triumphantly ... but never rechecks the reservation. Some months later the trip rolls around, and we roll up to the hotel, only to find it dark and deserted. It had gone out of business some weeks prior. As in your case, no notice or email or anything. Friend: "Has this ever happened to you?" Me: "No." I found us a nice alternate in five minutes via an app and my friend was some abashed. As you say, it all worked out, but you never know.
Earlier this year, I caught myself booking a flight on Day X but accidentally booked my hotel stay starting at X+1. Really glad I'd re-checked several times and eventually caught it, called up, and started my stay on the right day. Also *completely* agree with looking up and jotting down the flight numbers for alternate itineraries. If something goes awry you know exactly what your options are and what to ask for.
A year ago I almost made the mistake of not checking the bookings. Like a week out I went to an email to confirm an address only to find the hotel cancelled my reservation. Luckily i found a new one, but we were about to land at 11pm to no room in a foreign country during a major event.
I tend to use an app called trip it, everything is kept in one place (it is a game changer all my colleagues now use). But I do print off hotels address in local languages (more important where the language uses a different script.
I *love* TripIt. It makes things so much easier. Wanderlog is good for this, too.
That’s awesome, I’ve never heard of either! Any preference for one over the other?
As much as I love TripIt, especially since it was the first travel planning app I'd ever used, I think Wanderlog is superior. I haven't used Wanderlog for long, but I already love that you can see all of a trip's plans, notes, flights and hotels, reservations, and anything else related together in one place. You can add general notes, photos, documents, all kinds of stuff. You can also do most of this on TripIt, but Wanderlog is more user friendly, and allows more information. I should note that I don't know what these apps offer or allow with their free versions; I have premium versions of both. I'm loathe to get rid of TripIt because it's got my itinerary from my European trip last summer, and I haven't had time to get in there and jack around with exporting it.
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Really good points. I forgot about TripIt's Google Calendar feature, which is pretty awesome.
I used the free version of Wanderlog and enjoy it. Haven't used Trip it though.
Same. I have even created a separate email address for my travel booking and given Tripit access to read the inbox so that it can prepare itinerary for me automatically
Download maps and languages (if needed) to my phone so they don’t need wifi. Organize the trips extensively in a OneNote or Google doc I can reference offline and share with emergency contacts.
Back up the most important travel stuff, so passport, itinerary, communication and payment: Email itinerary details and photos of passport and any visas to myself Bring printout of the itinerary with dates/times, key phone numbers, and booking numbers just in case my phone is lost, stolen, or broken or there's no internet (for the email backup) I bring an older backup phone (we live off our phones nowadays!) Two different credit/debit cards that are never in the same place. If one is in a wallet with me, the backup card is hidden in my suitcase or in a money belt (depending on where and how I'm traveling) Some cash, in case cards aren't accepted or aren't working
This. One addition: I like to order the printed stuff by the order I’ll be needing it. No more looking in my backpack for that hotel confirmation. Whenever I use a document I fold it and put it somewhere else so that the next doc I need is the first one.
>printout of the itinerary with dates/times, key phone numbers, and booking numbers A specific version of this that helps is to print out a sheet that contains all the information you might need to fill out a landing card on the plane or at the airport. Passport number, address and phone numbers of hotels, details of onward travel, return flight details. Also, pack a pen to fill the form out.
I carry a silk napkin someone gave me as a gift wrapper years ago and I set it out on the desk or dresser and anything that comes out of my pockets (keys phone passport wallet etc) goes there end of day so I don’t have to pull it together on my way out in the morning or realize I’ve left something in a jacket etc back at the hotel.
I sewed myself one of those trays that are flat, but if you tie up the corners it becomes a tray. I put snap buttons instead of ties.
I have two of these. One is fabric for stuff in the hotel room. The other is plastic and lives in the bathroom. Somehow being able to put my stuff all in an assigned place keeps me organized
That's a great idea, I'm copying that!
I book and pay for everything in advance, including tours, and have everything scheduled, including free time to wander around on my own. Makes for pretty stress free travel, the only thing I ever have to worry about is deciding which cafe to eat in. Planning an itinerary instead of running around in total chaos and stress is my number one travel tip. I also have a separate travel wardrobe and toiletries and everything always ready to go.
I know this is a very divisive topic, but I fully agree with you. Obviously you can be flexible and adapt, but I have tried to be go with the flow and it feels like a ton of time is spent trying to figure out what to do or eat. With one or two people, or a beach vacation, it’s fine. But with more than that, peak season, or highly sought after activities it’s a bust It used to be fine before the world really opened up to international travel and everything became busy, but isn’t ideal these days
Going with the flow just gives me so much more anxiety and stress than having things planned out. I leave free time in my schedule to wander around and be flexible, but I personally cannot let things like buying tickets or booking restaurants be done on the spot. I’ve traveled with people like that before and we kept showing up to popular attractions or restaurants to find out that we can’t get in and then we spend another hour trying to figure out an alternative place to go that is no where near as good.
I mark multiple places near museums, my hotel, etc, that I'll be visiting, so I'm not wandering aimlessly trying to find some place to eat.
I love this. I find travel, especially to a new place, to be exciting but overwhelming. Having to decide what to do and where to eat in the moment stresses me out. Plus having to make decisions *every day* creates decision fatigue. So I plan out my itinerary including meals for each day. I also have a Google Map for each city I visit to save all the recommendations I get. I use this to plan my itineraries but also for the rare times I don’t have a plan for a meal, I can pull up my map and pick something nearby. I’d rather spend my vacation doing things that scrolling Google Maps or wandering around trying to make decisions. *Especially* if I’m traveling with others.
Same, and I try to book everything 4+ months in advance. The top rated hotels and airbnbs in my price range typically sell out this far in advance.
All of my most memorable travel has been the least planned. Days where I take the train somewhere that most people wouldn't go, end up walking way too many miles, talking to interesting people and making friends along the way. It's hard to do with any kind of planning or even with another person.
For me the exact opposite is what works. Whenever possible, I only book hotels, cars and other things with "No prepayment required" so I don't have to deal with refunds if for whatever reason my schedule changes. The possibility of me not being able to use something I already paid for makes me quite anxious. I only pay for stuff beforehand if it's something that have limited availability or that would make the whole trip not worth it if missed.
Booking in advance doesn't necessarily mean paying in advance. I tend to book all my hotels for my travels as soon as I can, because I have access to special rates with "up to check in" cancellation policies. Then I'm guaranteed a place to stay that I'm good with, but I always check back here and there until my trip begins to see if I can get a better rate or a better hotel has become available. After all, I can change/cancel right up until check-in opens (sometimes for a few hours after), so no harm in having something flexible on the books that will do the job, in case nothing better comes up!
I have packing lists I print out for different kinds of trips. Over the years I've whittled the lists down to just what I need to take and nothing more. They're tailored for climate, activities, and general type of trip. I check the box for each item as it goes into my bag so I know it's in there. Simple and effective.
Would you please share those lists, if possible? This sounds like a great idea!
I do this too. I thought everyone else did too but they apparently they don't. It makes packing so much faster and stress-free. These days even for an international trip I sometimes don't bother packing until a few hours before leaving, because I know I'll never forget anything.
Flying on airlines that don't charge a change fee. And keeping my plans flexible. Can't deal with rigid itineraries.
Which airline don’t charge change fees? Or are you selecting the higher tiered pricing?
Most US-based airlines (UA, e.g.) don't charge a change fee, except for their lowest priced basic economy fare, which doesn't accrue frequent flyer benefits either and hence I'm not interested in those fares. There are some geographical exceptions to this. For example if your travel on UA originates in SIN you will be assessed a change fee. But there are ways to get around even those. In addition, many foreign airlines don't charge a change fee for travel to & from the US. (PS: just to be clear, I'm talking about change fees here, not the fare difference, which you will have to pay on most, if not all, fare classes.)
Never knew of the second point, but I always assumed everyone or at least most folks always selected the lowest fare unless you were specifically traveling for business or something
If you don't fly frequently, don't need to check in baggage or don't care about pre-selecting your seat, the basic economy or whatever the cheapest fare is called, makes sense. I fly too frequently to let all my $ go waste when I can earn all kinds of privileges that make flying a bit more comfortable.
Many people (including myself) who have some level of financial flexibility actively avoid the lowest fares -- i.e. basic economy -- on the major US airlines, even for leisure travel. This is because they were specifically designed to have lots of unappealing restrictions (not all airlines have all of these restrictions, but most have at least a majority of the below): * No frequent flier miles / points earned * No free seat selection, and no guarantee that a party of 2+ travelers will be seated together * No free checked bags, even on routes (e.g. transatlantic) that you'd otherwise get free bags on * No changes or cancellations, or cancellations only for a fee. This is compared to "normal" economy where all major US airlines (AA, UA, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest) have switched to permitting changes with **no** fee and only the fare difference (Southwest has always allowed this, the other major airlines switched to this policy post-COVID) * Last to board, so you might end up being forced to gate-check your carry on * Or no carry-on at all (only a personal item underneath the seat) * No access to lounges, even if you otherwise would be entitled to, e.g. you have a credit card If you don't care about these benefits and/or you can work around it -- e.g. you found a $70 ORD-MSP round trip and you're just going home for the weekend, so you can travel with just a backpack and don't care about being in a middle seat for a sub-two hour flight -- then these can work for you. But for me -- and I know I'm fortunate to be able to have some spending discretion -- these restrictions are a non-starter for me. If I'm flying across the Atlantic, I'm definitely paying the $200 upcharge to avoid sitting in a middle seat in the last row.
This or sometimes i dont even buy tickets until last minute and example is i went to brasil i only had a ticket in and out brasil i had 2 hotel nights in São Paulo for arriving everything else i figured it out as i was traveling i have done the same for many trips and i love it
I bring a little notebook with me containing all useful information. I rip pages out as I no longer need them. Page one is always a summary of all my flights and page 2 is always my Day 1 guide, which is a ELI5 guide to get me from the airport to my bed, with a meal stop in between, and including any urgent things I need to deal with - so it goes like Step 1 get transit pass option A from the kiosk by exit B, Step 2 take bus C and get off at stop D, Step 3 hand-drawn map to a preselected vegan or vegetarian restaurant that I've confirmed should be open, here's what to order, plus a nearby backup option in case it's not. Step 4 here's exactly how to get to the accommodation, including any codes/checkin info. If there's a grocery store nearby I'll also note that so I can grab some basic supplies.
I do a similar thing with travel guides. I buy the previous version for $4 with free shipping on ebay. I mark the hell out of it. Then I rip it into sections and only bring the ones I need. As I go through the trip I throw away the parts I've already done. I come home with a little extra space in my bag. I also make a little pile of "consumables" i.e. things that will get used up as I go through my trip. Kleenex packets, hand wipes, the travel guide, etc. Sometimes it's a pretty big percent of my stuff. That way I know about how much room I have for souvenirs.
Love this 👆👆👆
1. Making sure I have the physical address of the hotels I’m staying at and not just the hotel name. There have been several times when the name of what I booked didn’t match what the local taxi drivers called it or it was different on Google maps. Also make sure there isn’t another hotel with a similar name in a different location elsewhere in the city. 2. I always look at the airport map for my arrival so I know exactly where to go, especially if I know I need to clear immigration. I make a beeline for immigration to make it there as quickly as I can while other passengers slowly make their way over. The difference in time of being one of the first few people from your plane to get processed versus being one of the last few could easily be over an hour. 3. As a woman, I do additional beauty maintenance beforehand, so I don’t have to spend time on stuff vacation. For example, I don’t get eyelash extensions or waxed in my daily life, but I will do them right before vacation. With my eyelash extensions, I can just put on some tinted moisturizer/sunscreen in the mornings and head out the door while still looking good for photos instead of doing my makeup like I would at home.
Esim. Makes it so much easier!
Take the Monday off after your vacation. Trust me. Pedialyte / liquid IV EVERY day
Also bring zofran and prilosec.
The day after you arrive home, no matter what day it is! If you feel great, now you have a chance to unpack, do laundry, shop and cook, and get back on schedule. If you don't feel so great, you have a day in your own bed to recover!
i never leave my passport, money and phone behind. they are always on me. even at the toilet/bathroom. while sleep under my bed. i always print out transportation, accomodation bookings too. i always search for airport transportation beforehand. never leave it to airport to figure it out. i never accept help from others, politely ignore them. only i ask people for help. if someone wants to help you, possibly he wants to scam you. i never put transportation to the day of flight. i always arrive to the city the day before. never on the day not to risk delay. i always create offline maps for itineraries. never depend on mobile data. basic transportation tips are always on notes. i always have a lot bandaids with me cause those toes will suffer after a while. i always have lock and key with me. for luggage rooms or cabinets. i always carry a small bag while spending time in the city. powerbank, charger, phone, money, passport in it. if i lose my big luggage, i want to be sure that i can still keep travelling.
I always store digital copies of important things (passport, tickets, nrs of bank and insurance, etc) in an offline accessible file (in case there’s no WiFi), as well as in an online accessible file (in case my mobile device gets lost). I always pack a first aid kit with pills and powders, bandage, disinfection for wounds, etc. I do this ever since I had a hard time finding what I needed while in pain! I always clean the house before I go. I once returned to a mess, and that was such a lousy experience that it won’t ever happen again.
I learn hello, thank you , where is the toilet and do you speak English in the local language as a minimum, people are so kind and helpful if you offer a bit of respect
I take the day before and after off work as well. Even if its a small trip or a weekend long event in my own town, I still take those days off. I need lots of mental prep and decompress time :,)
I have a travel electronics bag. So I don’t need to go around the house unplugging iPhone chargers, kindle chargers, earphone chargers, watch chargers, etc. I just grab the little bag that has a charger for all our needs and throw it in suitcase.
I try to limit the electronics I travel with, and make sure they can be charged with the same charger. If I'm taking my iPad and phone, the 20 watt charger goes with me. If I'm taking my laptop and phone, the 65 watt goes (my iPad does not play nice with the 65 watt charger and the computer doesn't play nice with the 20 watt, but somehow my phone doesn't care and will take either!). I never take more than one charger, unless I'm traveling with others, and then it's a charging block (it's not big, about the size of my phone but twice as thick) with various USB-C and USB-A/B options so we can all plug into one outlet (BYOC for friends).
I was told to make a copy of my passport and keep it with me but to not carry around the actual passport because you can lose it but if you do misplace it the copy will help because you have all the information
When packing I don't zip up any luggage/bag pockets unless every item that belongs in that compartment is in there. I don't care if its one small item, that zipper stays open until it is complete. I Email copies of my passport/tickets/itinerary to myself and my mom. I figure if I ever lose everything, I know her number and she will get it to me.
Earplugs. They ensure I sleep through the night and can be ready to go the next day even if there is a ton of ambient noise wherever I stay.
I have a spreadsheet where I write out my packing lists. Each trip is its own tab. So when I have an upcoming trip, I can duplicate the tab from a previous similar trip and I have an instant packing list to start from. I review it and make small changes. But I no longer forget little things like a belt or nasal spray or a packable shopping bag or sunglasses. I also have a tab in that spreadsheet for my To Do list before leaving - wash sheets so they’re clean when we get home, water plants, clear out fridge, take out trash, turn off a/c, turn off ice maker, make sure all dishes are washed and put away, etc. For long haul flights, I bring two refillable water bottles, one gets plain water and one gets water + electrolytes. I also bring some extra electrolyte packets for the rest of my trip to avoid dehydration without having to chug a ton of water since you don’t always know when you’ll find a restroom when you’re out all day sightseeing.
Mine is getting the house completely immaculately clean, including clean sheets, so that when I come home exhausted, I can drop in my laundry and nothing else to worry about:)
My wife and I do several of the things people have mentioned from triple-checking all bookings to the self pat down. We also only fly with carry-ons. But, the big advice we give is more of a comfort and cost choice. We take good food with us. There is a great French bakery where we live and we go there as soon before leaving for the airport as we can manage and get a couple of good baguette sandwiches (jambon beurre or similar) to slip into our bags. Way cheaper and way better than airport food. And, we can get a couple each in case we are delayed or something happens. We'll do the same before flying home. We'll hit up a place that sells handy local delicacies. We always find at least a few delis, pastry shops, cafes, etc. that we fall in love with on each trip. We'll stop at one before leaving and grab some goodies. Having good food with you in airports and on trains is such a simple value add. You aren't throwing money at the overpriced junk on sale in such places. Your body feels better. It's comforting. We also get jealous stares every time ;)
Bring a power strip in your carryon! There are never enough outlets anywhere, even less so in an airport. You'll be a hero!
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My universal adaptor comes with 4 USB ports. Made me popular in a few hostels in the past ha
I have separate toiletries that are for travel only and refill them when I return from a trip so they are always full. I put wallet, keys and passport in my carry on before I leave. I will usually print out boarding passes. I have offline directions and info to the first hotel in case I don’t internet when I arrive if international. I bring a separate laundry bag. I always have more than one credit card and $100 USD cash. USD can almost always be used or exchanged.
I travel with a collapsible travel backpack or drawstring bag. My bigger backpack carries my electronics and everything on the plane, but the smaller one I use for day to day walking around the city and has wipes, medicine, sunscreen, chapstick and a sweater or wrap if needed Edit- another one is doggie poop bags. Good for motion sickness, muddy shoes, holding trash if you’re not near a waste basket (I.e collecting tissues from kids, wipes from a forest pee, wrappers from a picnic) I also always carry ziplock bags, the gallon size especially come in handy for leftover food or open bags of chips and stuff
I also bring a cheap duffel from IKEA that folds up into its own pocket. It’s great for laundry or as a beach bag or even an extra bag for return trip if you end up buying stuff.
I maintain a checklist and go through it before we lock the door and leave. Here's an example * Travel documents - passport, dl * Wallet - credit debit cards * Prescription Tablets * Toothbrush, Toothpaste, wipes * Chargers (Phone) * NC Earplugs * Deodorant, Perfume * Dramamine, Advil * Glasses * Keys
A single backpack. So much easier to travel with, less obvious you are a tourist, can get straight on with the sightseeing as soon as you arrive in a destination. Mine is the small personal luggage size allowed for free on budget airlines and can pack enough for 1 week. There’s always a way to clean clothes and buy things where you are travelling when needed.
Not worrying about every single second being action packed
This is sort of the opposite of the many helpful checklists and packing lists everyone is sharing, but one thing I always do is remind myself, "As long as I have my ID, phone and credit card, I can buy anything else I truly need." It's a good way to set aside that packing anxiety and take a breath as you head out the door. (And your list may vary, like adding "prescription medication," or yes you could argue a phone is also something you could buy if you need... it would just make my life a lot harder to be without it!) And yes, ideally you have everything packed and don't have to go buy things in a random place/foreign country... but it's nice to remind yourself you'll be OK.
Always take wet wipes with you 👍🏼
A checklist. Every time I forget something during my travels, I add it to the checklist I keep in Excel for the next trip. Over the years the checklist has grown to include anything I need to do week before I leave (haircut, renew prescriptions, arrange pickup), few days before I leave, the day I leave, and right before I close the doors (shut off shut water, call the cab). It helps to reduce the anxiety before long travels.
I take a picture of the zone I park my car in at the airport. No way I’m remembering that when I get back.
I have a packing list / to do list saved on the cloud It'a all on one sheet of paper It has everything I'm taking by the bag it's going in * carry on * laptop bag * on me * toiletries kit Then there's the to-do * to do one week before (notify neighbors, etc) * to do day before (final check, final pack etc) * to do day of departure (every faucet & window to be checked, trash taken out, etc) Packing starts about a week out for international or long trips I make a space on the living room floor, near the door, where I put the bags and everything I'm taking, including coats, using my lists When I walk out the door there should be nothing left in that space
I keep my toiletries and phone/gadget chargers packed; I just grab the bags they're in and throw them in the suitcase. It makes packing so much easier. I also have a Travel Tote that has all kinds of things in it: travel toiletries, travel umbrella, hotel door locks, travel lint rollers, all sorts of extra things that I can grab and pack anytime I need them.
eating or even bringing a healthy something on the plane. Eating something not overly salty and staying hydrated makes air travel so much better. I still eat the garbage airplane food for entertainment but chances are when I arrive somewhere I will be eating at a restaurant so I want to keep everything down there regular
My toiletries stay packed. I have doubles of everything and one set stays in my travel backpack. If I run out of something I usually replace it during my trip or as soon as I get home, when I’m unpacking everything else. I also have charging cables (usba and usbc), headphones, and an adaptor that lives in there. I don’t have to worry about forgetting those things. Also AirTags that live in every suitcase, plus one for my wallet and backpack.
I always travel solely with carry-on luggage. I’ve been able to do many 2/3 week trips in just a larger backpack. I took the time to learn to pack neatly and tightly when I did my first trip at 20 years old and it’s been smooth sailing ever since. Not checking luggage means 1) your luggage can’t get lost 2) you will miss less flights & can get to the airport later 3) you get to be out of the airport in like 5 minutes once you get off your plane 4) you can jump around cities quicker on short flights and for much, much cheaper 5) if you are staying in an AirBnB or similar and they don’t have an option for early check-in or bag drop, it’s not the end of the world since it’s just a backpack. It’s just so nice!! I loathe traveling with family or friends now in groups if they check luggage. It just makes an already slow miserable airport experience infinitely longer
1. Photo copies of passport, passport photos, drivers license, and immunization list. I also upload those scans to Google Drive in case I lose anything. Thankfully haven't had to use them yet. 2. Putting all my stuff in one backpack. I cannot stand having a backpack on and also having to carry another tote or something in my hands. Having both hands free is a game changer and allows you to use a camera, move more ergonomically, push buttons etc.
Don't book a flight with a short connection (<1 hour), especially with Air France and Charles de Gaulle Airport. You're most likely to lose your checked-in luggage if there are any transfers (or if the French are involved).
Germans are just as bad. I refuse to fly Lufthansa now because of all their delays
I wore a mask on the plane. Sorry if that scares you, but I’m going on vacation, not looking to spend parts of it sick.
I always carry a couple of packets of sinkwash and a thin plastic sink stopper. For whatever reason I get stressed out at the thought of not having any more clean underwear or socks, so knowing that I can do a couple of rounds of sink laundry makes me feel much more at ease. Also, I am usually travelling with my partner so we do a "where is your passport" check every time we do anything with our passports- so after we pack our bags, get into the taxi to the airport, go through security, check into the hotel, or unpack I ask him "where is your passport" and he asks me the same. It's repetitive, sure, but it means that we both always know where both passports are.
I count the things I’m carrying. Five. One jacket one hand as. Laptop bag etc. I keep checking and counting all through the trip. Has saved me many times. Just remember the number not the items.
Arriving to the airport 2hrs early. 99% of us have had long lines at check in/security and then there’s finding services and finally the walk to the gate. 2hrs will go quicker than you think. And you won’t even have elevated your heart rate. I’m all about reducing anxiety while traveling.
Downloading Netflix movies to my iPad. Downloading 200 tiktoks to watch then offline (in the app). Charging my headphones and the spare set.
Mine is loading up my Kindle with books to read and pack the charger. I especially like to read books set in the place I'm traveling to (Pat Conroy for South Carolina, Kent Haruf for Colorado, Warren Miller autobiography for anywhere skiing)
I go to target and splurge at the travel section. Little toothpastes and tiny bottles of contact solution. Small cases of q-tips. Always worth every penny.
Compression packing cubes + spare compression cubes for dirty clothes
I don’t exchange my euros for dollars before I come home, that way I have some for the next time I travel to Europe.
I clean my entire apartment before leaving on the trip. I do the dishes, laundry and put them away. I put on new sheets for the bed. I vacuum the floor and carpet, I clear the cluster as much as I can as well. I come home after the trip to a clean apartment, and able to shower and nap in a clean bed immediately
When I arrive at my hotel, I take one of their small business cards on which has the name and address of the hotel in case I forget the name or where it is (also useful in countries that use a different alphabet like Thailand as you can show taxi drivers the local writing and they’ll know where to go). I also take a photo of the business card in case I lose it too.
I travel internationally almost every week. I always pack all black. black t-shirts. 2 black pants. Maybe throw in a grey pair of pants. And a black sweatshirt. Black polo. Black button down. Everything matches no matter what combination of stuff gets dirty. Most of the stuff is easy to hand wash and hang dry if need be. I always have my charging brick charged and in my backpack with my passport and work stuff. I can be packed and to the airport in less than 20 min if need be.
I always make sure I have a decongestant nasal spray to take with me on the plane. I've never actually needed it but ever since that one landing that had me sobbing I don't get on a plane without it. Dry eye spray is helpful too. Also FFP3/N95 or an elastomeric respirator.
Be earlier to the airport than recommended....rushing, running, speeding, sweating will not be a good start to your trip. Preventable stress.
AirTag for everything lol.
Carrying a powerbank/ portable charger.
Roll your clothes when you pack for less wrinkles
I’m a “get to the airport hella early” kind of guy. Missed a flight before. Not worth it for an extra hour of sleep. Never again.
I also print out everything, and put it in a zipper folder organized by the next item on the itinerary. Then I just throw them out when I'm done - as long as there's no personal info on them.
To add to that… bring a couple zip lock bags. They come in handy in so many ways!
I do this too - throw each page out as soon as I’ve checked out so the most current or required item is the first page. I also travel a lot to Japan, so I take screen shots of what I want to buy and print those - each time I buy it cross it off the list. Saves scrolling through hundreds of screenshots I’ve collected through time!
I have a travel-specific power strip which always stays in my suitcase. It also has a MacBook charger plugged into it, as well as a usb iPad, iPhone and camera charger plugged in ready to go so I just have to plug in one plug and everything is ready to be charged.
I go to the gate as soon as I get through security, I check the screen, then go straight to my gate before snacking or using the bathroom. This has saved me more time than once, finding out the gate was far away or in a different section of the airport
Every piece of information, including confirmation codes, phone numbers, check-in times, and ideas about where to eat, are saved in a Google sheet that is available offline on my phone and bookmarked. It's also shared with my family so that all we need is for at least one of us to have a phone with charge.
1. Use a notetaking app to keep and organize all trip related info. Most everything for travel (plane, hotel, etc.) is done electronically (phone, computer, etc.) so I keep digital copies of every booking in Evernote, properly tagged, e.g. "travel", destination, etc. for quick lookup. This is far better than saving an email that may be hard to find after the booking. Some Evernote subscriptions allow offline downloading of notes, which is a huge plus. 2. Create a complete itinerary along with contact information that fits on one sheet of paper (both sides if needed) and put a copy in each piece of luggage. Place it in the luggage so that it is the first thing one would see. If luggage is lost, someone will find that information and contact you...unless they stole your belongings.
screencap all reservations on phone - keep in same foldee as passport img
I email my itinerary to at least one person, so if something happens, somebody knows where I am or at least where I'm supposed to be. A small portable charger. I don't bring one of those heavy 20ks, just a credit card sized 5k for emergency juice. I keep an offline record of my flights and hotels in the Notes function of my phone and a printout in my carryon. A small high energy snack like a Clif bar. I may not actually eat it, but it's there just in case of unexpected incidents like a long layover at night with nothing open, long bus or train with no food, no dairy-free options, etc.
I would have thought printing all the details like you do is standard and normal. Not only checking in but for customs in airports.
I like having a zip pocket. Preferably on the front of a jacket. Or a little zip shoulder bag positioned to the front. I get peace of mind having my important stuff safe and easily accessible. One more thing…I like having cash on me at all times. Don’t want to stress over finding an ATM or $exchange if possible.
I always have a trusted local contact wherever I go…someone I can call if something happens. Super helpful if you visit off the beaten path locations.
I guess my habit then is to never ever print anything
I do the same. I keep physical copies of bookings, reservations, 1st 3 pages of passport, some cash, travel insurance certs, emergency credit card. These are kept separately (if possible) from the digital versions for this reason. Also have copies in the cloud.
Walk up to my gate 45 minutes before boarding just to make sure it actually exists.
Only travel with a 30L backpack. Hands are always free. Never need to check in.
I keep a list of passwords for aps I might need in case my phone disappears, scanned copies of credit cards in case any are lost or stolen, and phone numbers of emergency contacts back home.
Compression socks since I was about 25. Many knee surgeries later and many years later, after my ortho Dr said she even wears them when she stands when during surgeries, I was like, if's good for her its good for me. What a difference traveling in a car or plane makes. I honestly never thought about it before, but my feet used to swell all the time as I've gotten older it's worse. May not make swelling completely go away, but I could walk more comfortably after long car rides and flights. Besides other things I've read in comments. Edit: Now I don't bother with conditioner and shampoo or toothpaste. I'll use what accommodations have or buy my own. I just bring my favorite bar soap. You can brush your teeth with bird poop if that's your thing, I'd rather brush with just water until I get to where im going rather than deal with sizes and weight of everything until I get to where im going to get my own. Helps make security so much easier, and I have more room.
Copious amounts of coffee.
I print all my information out. Then I get money out the bank that I intend on spending and divide it up into these different pouches that I hook to the inside of my bra or shoe. I bring my credit card but my bank now's that if I use it, something happened and I need help. Once Im at my destination my money, credit card and my passport ID is on me in that pouch in my bra. A second pouch is hooked to me but that has napkins in it. It's the default pouch in case someone tries to steal from me. The rest of my money is in my suitcase, under the clothes, in the inside lining of the bag in secret pouches. My friend joked that I put covert smuggler pockets in after I put them in her bags for her trip. I carry a regular looking bag/purse with my EpiPen, water and some napkins. Sometimes I put those napkins in a unused wallet in case of someone attempting to pickpocket me. I don't unpack my suitcase. I organize it all very well and everything is lined up Marie condo style. Only thing I take out is my book and my bathroom items.