BE FLEXIBLE Delays, long lines, cancellations, bad weather, lost items, and many other things can go wrong when traveling. sometimes getting lost turns into the most fascinating discoveries. It can be disappointing and difficult to let go of plans, especially if you have traveled a long way or spent a lot of money or dreamed of this trip for a very long time and worry that you may not have the chance to get there again. But if you take a deep breath, consider your options, wonderful opportunities can come your way, new travel memories can be created and you’ll always have a great story to tell!
FIRST AID I never travel without my basic first aid kit in a plastic bag. It includes Band-Aids, Neosporin, Hydrocortisone, Aspirin, Advil, Benadryl, Dramamine, Tagamet, eye drops, cough drops, lip moisturizer, sunscreen and tweezers. I use a little pill box that carries about 10 pills of each. You can find them at your pharmacy. This eliminates taking all the bottles with you. Also, purchase contact lens carriers, they are perfect for a small amount of creams, lotions and cleansers.
KEEP A JOURNAL
I love keeping track of the places we visited, where and what we ate,
who we met, the distances traveled or how far we walked in a day.
Documenting your day will help when you want to write reviews and
put together photo books.
SHOES
I used to go for cute over comfort but now it’s all about being
comfortable and being kind to my feet especially when traveling in
Europe and walking on cobblestones all day. I found some Skechers a few
years ago that are cute, light weight and easy to wash. I also have
some soft “ballet flats” that I fold up in my purse in case I need some
walking relief.
ID DOCUMENTS Take a photo of your ID/Passport and email it to yourself and a family member (not traveling with you) in case these are lost or stolen.
WET WIPES
I started carrying wet wipes after having kids and never stopped. They
come in handy for cleaning hands anywhere, wiping tables at restaurants,
for a quick facial refresher, cleaning rental car steering wheels, and
for a million other things.
TALK TO LOCALS
Some of our best travel stories began with meeting a local. Ask locals
where they like to eat or where they like to go. Most of the time, their
recommendations are better than the touristy spots.
BACK-UP BATTERY / CHARGER
Carry a back-up battery for your phone or camera. Using GPS and taking
photos/video can drain a device quickly. You don’t want to miss that
priceless shot because you don’t have enough juice.
CREDIT CARDS
Travel with 2 or 3 different credit cards (VISA and AMEX) in case there
is a problem with one. Never carry all of your credit cards at the same
time. When traveling internationally, put travel alerts on your credit
cards and use cards that offer “no international fees”.
PLASTIC BAGS & ZIPLOCS
I place at least one trash bag in each of our luggage. They’re great
for wet clothes, dirty clothes or dirty shoes. Different size Zip-Locs
are great for placing liquids in, keeping snacks fresh and keeping
cameras/phones dry when around water. I use the mini plastic bags found
at craft stores for my daily vitamins. Before traveling, I separate my
daily vitamins into bags so all my vitamins are together for each day.
I hope you found these tips helpful. Preparation and packing varies by your destination and when traveling with kids. Do your research and be prepared as best you can. And most importantly....
BE SAFE Always be aware of your surroundings. Don't travel with jewelry. Keep valuables out of sight. Wear a sling backpack or purse that is secure and close to the body. Don't leave valuables unattended. Make sure a family or friend has your travel itinerary. Place an ID card on your young children with your contact information.
