“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it’s lethal” -Paul Coelho
1. Be prepared to adapt to any situation or circumstance. Anything can happen at any moment especially while traveling so don’t panic, just pivot and keep moving.
2. Inside of your personal item or carryon bag, be sure to pack a few snacks to hold you over until landing because while it is true that most, if not all of international flights do provide meals. If you are anything like me, I am a semi-picky eater. I wasn’t too impressed with the airline food so I ate before I boarded and enjoyed my snacks throughout the flight.
3. Dress comfy but presentable. In the airport, you have access to thousands of people at once. You never know who you will be in the presence of or what type of opportunity you will run into. What’s for you will in fact pass you by if you aren’t presenting yourself like the person who should receive it.
4. Pack warm clothes despite where you may be traveling. The weather outside may be toasty but inside could be extremely cold due to air conditioning or if you just so happen to have a layover in a city with cold weather, you would want to have warmer options.
5. Don’t be afraid to explore the airport. Domestic airports are cool depending on the city and state that you’re leaving from or arriving to but international airports are like mini malls. I had an 8 hour layover in Italy that went by extremely fast after I began exploring their airport. They also offer short tours of the city in some airports. So if you have more than a 2 hour layover, it is something that you should consider.
6. Keep your passport close. When I travel, I keep my passport in a small fanny pack that I purchased from Marshalls. I keep it under my shirt or sweater and it is easily accessible to me for TSA and boarding the plane. This could totally just be me, but it puts my mind at ease when I am sleeping or in the restroom on my flight. My passport, license, money, bank cards and lip gloss are all close to me. In case someone gets sticky fingers and want to explore my personal item located under the seat. They will only have access to a bag of hot cheetos and a green juice.
7. If you are going somewhere with a shopping district, be sure to leave just a little room in your suitcase for souvenirs.
8. Purchasing a bag scale will help you out tremendously. Not just for international travel but for travel in general. Knowing how much your bag weighs before you get to the ticket counter could save you so much time and money. There’s nothing worst than having to take 6 pair of jeans out of your luggage at the last minute to stuff into your carryon.
9. Hand sanitizer, I had wipes and hand gel. While earlier in this post I explained that we come in contact with thousands of people in the airport. That is also true for their germs. The last thing you want to do is touch on all of the random trays going through TSA, hand rails, chairs, and money right before squeezing your fingers into a perfectly made sandwich. I can count the number of times I saw someone sneeze into the palm of their hand or leaving the restroom without washing their hands.
10. Portable batteries are tremendous lifesavers. Depending on the airline, you may or may not have access to a charging port on the plane. My portable battery saves my life so many times throughout my days, especially while traveling. They can be found almost anywhere but I got mine for $5 at Walmart.
Be sure to tell me if any of these tips help you out.
Safe Travels!
Xoxo,
Ri
