Simple Travel Tips
The one individual who prevents me from enjoying vacation the most is myself. Sure, other people play a role there, but more often than not, it’s me getting in my own way. The good news there is I have control over the person who can make or break my trip more than any other. Since so much is out there which we can’t control, it behooves us to improve what we can. Today, I’m describing five simple travel tips where I’ve done that and strive to further improve.
Effortless Packing
Over the years, I’ve streamlined the items I take and how I pack them. This makes the packing process itself and the related chores during the trip even easier. These are the initial areas that come to mind.
I pack the same type and color of socks for the entire trip. Also, I only take one pair of shoes, which must work for any occasion. All shirts and bottoms should be interchangeable. Everything goes with everything. With these moves, I minimize the amount of time and attention for any dressing decision. Rather than fussing with a higher-maintenance process, I spend that time enjoying my destination more.
On the gadget side, I minimize the number of cords I pack. I’ll take one cord, and maybe a backup depending on the situation, which can be used to charge several devices. I generally avoid multiples, as I rarely have a need to simultaneously charge items, and that’s just more junk to track. I will pack a backup battery for charging on the go, though. That way, I avoid the issue of running out of power without any way to replenish.
Leave the Laptop
Years ago, we had a spirited debate within the MtM Diamond Slack about whether members bring their laptops on vacation or leave them behind. Of course, either decision can make better sense depending on one’s situation. But I generally avoid taking my laptop on holidays. At the risk of stating the obvious, I can’t get on my laptop when it’s not available. If I bring it, I know I’ll get on it sooner or later, and, invariably, time will get away from me.
Of course, I know a smartphone comes with similar challenges, and these days, traveling without one is a practical impossibility. But I know my phone’s only user-friendly to a certain point. Many tasks just aren’t practical on a phone (for me, at least), and that’s one of many ways I catch myself and detach from the device.
Avoid the Rush
Some travelers love the juice of late airport arrivals and tight connections (hello, Shawn). That’s the exact opposite of who I am. I prefer to enjoy my travel from the moment it starts – when I leave my home, actually. Rushing around is vacation malpractice – in my situation, at least. I get to the airport early, and I book flights with long layovers. Even better, these moves are often compatible with one of my other favorite experiences – checking out airport lounges.
One Activity Daily
Whether on a family or solo trip, I try to stick to a one-big-experience-daily routine. I like to balance these activities with the freedom to fill in the other times with spontaneous opportunities. And by having a firm, advance plan for a single daily experience, I avoid any unnecessary stress from overbooking or rushing around (see above).
We may not “accomplish” as much as others might at the same destination, but that’s probably because we have different vacation goals. We’ll take the quality of a few unique, meaningful experiences over the quantity of many touch-and-go events.
Splurge
I’ve historically struggled with this one but have improved over the last several years. I no longer scrimp on experiences as much as I previously did. I’ll frequently pick higher-priced options if it means we’ll enjoy the experience more. This may seem antithetical to points and miles mantras about minimizing costs. But since my wife and I default to that in other life areas, we’re better equipped to splurge when it matters most.
These opportunities can be more fleeting and expensive to give up than one may initially calculate. Despite our general plans to return to particular destinations, we don’t truly know we’ll be in certain situations again. The cost of a missed opportunity is exponentially higher than the dollars and cents in the moment.
Thoughtfully decide what you do and do not take on and how such decisions relate to your personal financial situation. But if you know you can afford something and have a genuine interest in experiencing it, don’t let your thriftiness get in the way.
Simple Travel Tips – Conclusion
Of course, this isn’t an all-inclusive list of where I focus. But I’ve found these five moves have vastly improved our vacation experiences. Nonetheless, I know I can always improve. Speaking of, what simple travel tips do you follow for a better vacation?
From my days as a travel agent, I like to have all my trip details on a single piece of paper that I carry with me. I don’t like having to log into multiple sites to see details so I make an itinerary that I can give my P2 and then I don’t have to explain too much of the details. I will email it to myself and the rest of the family so they know where we will be.
You are on the money (no pun intended) about splurging. Years ago we were in Chile and had a chance to visit Easter Island. We debated whether to go because it was not cheap. In the end we decided the experience was more valuable than the cost. It was by far one of the best travel decisions we made.