Exploring new cities, laying on beautiful beaches and experiencing new cultures–all wonderful things! The not-so-wonderful part is getting there. I love to travel but the prep and transportation part isn’t always great. It can be full of stress, discomfort (hellooo middle seats), and a break from your tried and true routine.
We’ve been traveling a ton while in Europe and I’m learning a lot along the way. While travel can include some stressful moments, the more prepared you are, the better equipped you’ll be to deal with those moments. Here’s what you need to make future travels easier.
The Right Luggage
Depending on the type of trip, I switch between my Away Carry-On and my camper backpack. Backpack if I’ll be walking a lot with my luggage, taking public transportation or am doing a multi-city trip. It’s not as chic as my Away suitcase, but it’s so easy to travel with. I went for this inexpensive option from Amazon, only $26 (since I’m not actually backpacking/camping with it). It’s amazing how great this bag is for the price. I’ve packed for an entire week in this backpack. On the flip side, if I’m not taking a lot of public transportation during my travels, I’ll use my Away. I have the small carry-on (most suitable for European travel). This was a splurge at $225 and it was worth every penny. If fits a ton, keeps me organized, is lightweight and comfortable to travel with. Side note, I always travel with a carry-on. I avoid checked baggage whenever possible!
Organized Travel Agenda
The planning and travel process can get confusing. My worst fear is thinking I booked a flight or hotel and realizing at the last minute I didn’t. To keep all your details in one place, you can use the TripIt app, it will import travel details from your inbox. I prefer my own method, which is THIS google doc that I created. It has tabs for all the important travel info and allows me to keep track of everything from flight times to restaurant recommendations.
Ready-To-Go Toiletries
If you travel often, create a bag of your toiletries and keep it packed, ready to grab when you’re going on vacation. Never again will you forget your razor or toothbrush at home. My philosophy is just buy double of everything that you love. You’ll end up using it eventually anyways, so spend the money up front to help create your travel bag. Another tip, if you travel often, make sure you pack the products you typically use. If there’s a face wash you swear by (for me it’s the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser) buy the travel size and bring it. Don’t pack some crappy other face wash just because you’re traveling (I too can get sucked into the travel section at Bed Bath & Beyond). Stick to your beauty routines, even when not at home.
Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check
Unfortunately this doesn’t do much for me while traveling Europe, but if you’re in the US, get this! It’s a pain to get an appointment, but it’s 100% worth it. It makes traveling so much smoother with shorter lines, plus you get to keep your shoes on (seems small but it’s really nice). I had to wait months for my appointment, so I recommend scheduling one ASAP.
Lounge Access
I used to think lounges were only for really fancy people. Nah. My credit card (the Chase Sapphire Reserve–a great card for frequent travelers. You also get the fee covered for the above Global Entry pass btw), comes with a Priority Pass, allowing you and a guest entrance into tons of lounges. I like to get to the airport on the earlier side to avoid rushing and added stress, so having lounge access is key. You get a comfortable place to sit, clean bathrooms, and loads of snacks and beverages. Flying dehydrates you, so I always drink a ton of water in the lounge and take a few bottles to-go.
The more I travel, the better I get at it. Any travel tips you swear by?
