First things first: pack early! You’ll want to start packing at least a few days before you leave. This way, if you’ve forgotten anything, you still have time to include it. Also, you will have time to weigh your luggage, make sure it’s within the limits, and make changes and adjustments as necessary.
Clothes – When packing, depending on where you’re going and for how long, rolling clothes generally works out better than folding them flat.
Electronics – You may not have even considered this, but your chargers contain a lot of metal, and metal often equals weight. For your own peace of mind, and to save on your weight allowance, put all electronics in your hand luggage.
Pockets – If you are really struggling with weight, pack your pockets with the heaviest stuff. Spare batteries, camera lenses, etc. As soon as your bags are weighed, you can put this stuff back in your hand luggage. Some airlines will weigh hand luggage, but we’ve never heard of them asking anyone to empty their pockets (not for weight purposes anyway).
Essentials – You will want all your essential travel documents, like your passport and tickets or confirmation, in an easily-accessible pocket. You will need access to these a few times throughout your journey, so having them easily accessible will make life a world easier.
Carry on luggage – Many airlines have different rules regarding what is and isn’t allowed in carry-on luggage. Things like weapons and drugs are of course out of the question, but there are also rules around liquids and gels. It is best to check with your airline to make sure you are not carrying anything that will be confiscated from you at the airport.
| Travel Hack |
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| While traveling, hostels and hotels will often have scales. Use these to check your luggage weight, then pack your pockets as effectively as you can! |
How to store your passport and money
Money belts – Money belts may not feel like the coolest thing to wear on your trip, but they can be lifesavers. On the plus side, if you’re using your money belt properly, no one is going to know you’re wearing one. Just remember: money “necklaces” are a different story, and can be easily seen and taken.
Money belts are a great idea to store large amounts of money, a spare credit card, and your passport. They’re best used for long-term storage – that is, you will generally only need to go to it once a day maximum. Keep a regular wallet, and then the money belt for when you need a “top-up”.
Some situations will not lend themselves to money belts – for example, if you are going swimming. This is where common sense will come into play, and you will want to figure out the way to keep your passport (and money) safe. You can read more about how famous traveller Rick Steves uses a money belt here: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/theft-scams/travel-moneybelt
Everyday spending – For everyday spending, keep a regular wallet in your pocket — just make sure that’s your front pocket, and never your back one! A pickpocket’s favourite source of income is a wallet in a back pocket.
Keep the contents of your wallet to a minimum: money for the day, and one credit or debit card. That way, if it does end up getting lost or stolen, it’s not the end of the world.
Hotel/hostel safes – Generally these are fine – generally. You may feel safer keeping your valuables (especially documents like your passport) somewhere on your person, as you’ll always be able to keep an eye on it. Use your best judgement, and know that, though it’s rare, items have been stolen from hotel and hostel safes in the past.
Emergency money – It can be a good idea to stash an amount of money somewhere other than your wallet or money belt — perhaps a shoe, or even a bra! This is the emergency stash in the worst-case scenario occurs, and everything else is gone.
How to enjoy a stress-free airport experience
Arrive early
As a general rule, you will want to arrive at the airport three hours prior to your flight’s departure time. This obviously depends on your airport of departure, your airline, and the country of departure, but it’s better to be too early than too late! If you’re being dropped off at the airport by friends or family, make sure to allow time for those occasionally-emotional goodbyes.
Airline check-in
Depending on who you fly with, check in times can vary, so you should always check with the airline or your travel agent who booked the flight on your behalf. At check-in, they will provide you with your boarding pass, baggage receipts for luggage you check in, departure forms (if required), and your seat for the flight.
You will want to check the departure boards regularly to see what time your flight is expected to leave, what gate it is leaving from, and any delays or gate changes that may come up.
Immigration and customs
If you are flying internationally, you will be going through immigration, customs, and security, and will have to show your boarding pass and passport. These procedures can take quite some time, so being early is important. When dealing with these officials, the trick is to answer their questions honestly, without joking around, and stick to the point. They will scan/stamp your passport, and then you are ready to rock!
Security procedures
Both domestic and international air travel can involve metal detectors, baggage inspection x-ray machines, and individual bag searches.
Generally, you will be asked to remove laptops/tablets from your bag as it goes through the scanner. You will also need to empty your pockets of everything – phone, keys, wallet, coins, medicines, etc.
Duty-free shopping
Duty-free shopping is available for international customers at most airports – usually located both before and after immigration. You will need to check the regulations for your destination on how much you’re allowed to enter the country with (amounts may vary depending on the duration of your trip).
Time to relax
Once past security, immigration, and customs, you are (hopefully) going to have a fair bit of time to relax before your flight. There will normally be food outlets, shops, and some airports even have executive lounges that you can relax in for a fee. If you are flying business or first class, however, you will often have access to the private lounges for free.
- How to Save Money on Food at the Airport
- How to Save Money on Flights to London
- The 20 Most Pre-Friendly International Airlines Ranked
- 7 Apps to Help You Conquer Your Fear of Flying
- Tips for Travelling with a Baby Under 1 Year Old on a Plane
| Travel Hack |
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| Some airports have free wifi, some don’t. If yours doesn’t, go and find the executive / first class / business lounges – often the free wifi from inside will reach just outside the lounge, so if you sit on a well positioned seat its all yours to use! |
How to manage during your flight and arrival
In the air
Many people dread long-haul flights, but they don’t need to be bad. If possible, try and sleep on the plane: not only will it make the time pass faster, it will be easier to adjust to any time changes. To assist with sleeping, get yourself some earplugs, eye mask, and a travel pillow. If you are able to take them, sleeping pills can assist in sleeping in an uncomfortable position. For the time when you are awake, you will want to keep yourself entertained. Most airlines offer in-flight entertainment, but taking your own book, laptop, tablet, or playing cards can make all the difference.
Getting up and going for a walk around can make you feel worlds better. Don’t worry about looking strange: it’s not uncommon to get up, go for a walk, and then even to stand somewhere out of the way (such as near the bathrooms) for a while. If you have a long flight with a layover in the middle, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a fresh t-shirt will make you feel great.
Layovers
Some destinations are simply too far away to reach in one flight, and layovers are included in your journey. A layover could be as short as a couple of hours, or as long as a whole day. If you have an extended period of time at an airport, do a bit of research and see if they have executive lounges that are open to the public, and what the cost is. Instead of sitting at your gate hours early, you could be getting a massage, having a shower, and lazing around enjoying free wifi. While not the cheapest option, treating yourself to a lounge visit can take a long trip from frustrating to relaxing.
Getting to your accommodation from airport
So you’ve been on two flights, crossed half the globe, have a cramp in your leg and your back, you’re jetlagged, and have finally arrived at your destination… now what?
It is highly recommended that before you even take off, you do your research about how you’ll get from the airport to your accommodation. Not everywhere will have reliable public transport/taxis/shuttles, so it is best to organise this before you get there. Many tours will arrange for airport transportation, but make sure you double-check beforehand.
Dealing with jetlag
When you arrive somewhere new, you want to try to get used to the time difference as quickly as possible; if you arrive in the morning, try to stay up for as long as possible and sleep at night.
A good way of doing this is to rehydrate, and then start to eat and sleep by local time. Getting outside and going for a walk is a great way to adjust your sleep patterns to what the sun is doing in that part of the world.