How to: Pack Like A Pro, Every Time
The best thing that ever happens to any person is a vacation. After weeks or months on end sitting on a workstation in the office or at school, you obviously look forward to a break. Most people take this opportunity to visit loved ones in other cities or towns or even new destinations. It is important in this case to pack your travel kit adequately. After all, nothing beats preparedness.
It is a vacation alright, but who said it shouldn't be planned for?
Proper preparation prior to traveling is essential. It will help you avoid problematic situations and inconveniences such as buying items, which you may have forgotten. This may dampen your spirit and spoil the joy of traveling. It is recommendable that before you embark on any arrangements, come up with a packing list. This must include all items you would require while away from home.
The list typically has the following items, clothes, toiletries, travel documents, credit cards or cash, a first aid kit, and accessories. Pack the clothes keeping in mind the prevailing weather conditions of your destination and the duration of your stay. Do not forget also to include sandals, shoes, and slippers. Just in case you have planned to do some shopping on the latest fashion wear and shoes, then you might consider buying them at the next stop (destination). This way, your baggage becomes lighter and you can shop, shop and shop!
Be on the safe side.
Be on the safe side; carry your identification documents such as the national ID, passport or Visa. This is because authorities may confront you. If you intend to cross international boundaries, make sure to have your vaccination certificates within reach. Keep photocopies of these documents or better yet, scan and post them on your email to act as a backup. Get a leather case (to house these documents) with a strap to hang around your neck but inside your shirt or top. This way you can be guaranteed of their safety and accessibility.
Prepare your reservation documents and tech gizmos.
Other essential items to be included in your travel kit are hotel reservation documents and gadgets. These- plus a toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving kit, hair care products, deodorant, sunscreen lotion, phone, phone charger, dental floss, mosquito repellent, hand mirror, camera, an I-pod or MP3 player, sunglasses, road maps, diary, caps/ hats and the list goes on!
Enjoy your well-deserved vacation and remember to bring home one or two souvenirs. Plan well and prepare all you need.
Travelling Thailand in the Rainy Season: How to Prepare
Travel to Thailand during the rainy season can be fun and a very productive experience if planned. Before booking a flight for a vacation in Thailand in the months between May and October, it is essential to consider the state of the desired destinations and weather safety. This travel tip is a guide to keep you safe and dry in Thailand in this infamous season of the tourist calendar.
Prepare for Travel Delays
Flight scheduled to travel the various rain friendly destinations of Thailand can easily be interrupted due to unexpected torrential downpours. It is essential to prepare psychologically for delays in flights. Sometimes there are cancellations of trips. Park your favorite snacks and hot drinks to kick the boredom and discouragement at the airstrip.
Get in Touch with Weather Reports
Travel in rainy Thailand can be inconvenient and disastrous when conducted without knowledge of the expected weather patterns. There are instances of scary thunder and bad lighting. Sometimes the weather changes from torrential downpour to warm climate on the same day. Excellent knowledge of the weather for the different parts of the day can assist in clothing and stay safe from destinations that are dangerous during the rains.
Prepare for mosquitos
You may take mosquito tablets before traveling to Thailand in the rainy season. Malaria and other mosquito-related infections are synonymous with the rainy season. Mosquito net or repellants can offer a good night sleep for an enjoyable vacation.
Choose your Means of Transport Wisely
Moving around in vans and private motorbikes can be fun but very uncomfortable because of the unexpected rains sometimes. Muddy and slippery terrains may be dangerous and regrettable to use. Always get advice from travel agents who understand the destinations well.
Protect your Possessions
Items such as cameras and phones should be packed in plastic carriers or between the stuff in a backpack or carrier bag that is waterproof. You may opt to leave items that are not waterproof in the hotel room as well, but that may deny you from capturing some of the best moment of the vacation.
A holiday in Thailand is always enjoyable no matter the time of the year. Prepare well and get the best of every moment.
Tips for planning for a perfect vacation
What comes to your mind when you hear the word vacation? For most of us the word vacation sends shivers down our spines because it means an off from the tedious tasks of the office or school. You begin to think of those leisurely places you would love to visit and the things you would want to do, like going for those swimming lessons you have always yearned to attend. Talking of the travel destinations you would love to visit; some you have come across on a holiday destination magazine, watched on TV or perhaps heard from friends and family who recently came from a holiday visit and had an electrifying experience. All in all, before going on vacation, you have to adequately plan yourself to avoid disappointments. Below are four tips that will guide you through your planning.
1. Budget
This is the most important aspect of your planning. Budgeting will help you manage the amount of money that you anticipate to spend during the vacation as you would not like to spend your entire savings. You will have to sit down and draw a plan that will not stretch your financial ability. Whether you are going on vacation alone or with family will also affect how your budget will look like. While drawing your plan, you may look up on the various websites of the places you plan to visit, to get a glimpse of the available facilities such as hotels. You can then compare and choose those that are cheap or even offer discounts. If you are planning to use a flight, you can refer to the various airline websites for the cheapest rates; you can even do your booking online to cut on costs of traveling to their physical location. To draw a budget plan, you can develop a two-column table with the item on the left and the estimated expense on the right.
2. Companionship
Plan and decide whether you want to travel alone or with friends and family. There are two sides of the choice that you will pick; the negative and the positive. For example, when you go on holiday alone, you may tend to feel lonely and bored, while at the same time you may be looking forward to meeting and making new friends. When you choose to travel with friends or family, it will tend to stretch your budgetary allocation but the good about it is that you will have great company with you to enjoy the holiday and have fun.
3. Travel essentials
You may have to create a list of the items that you will need to be checked. These may include: a visa and other travel documents if you are going holidaying out of the country, a suitable travel bag and personal effects. Also, if you are traveling with kids, you can carry some of their favorite toys as well as enough of their extra clothing to avoid unnecessary spending. You should also ensure that the place you want to sojourn caters for children’s needs too.
4. Fun ideas
Before deciding to go on vacation, at the back of your mind you already have some ideas of the kind of activities you would like to engage in. Create a checklist then check whether the site you are going to visit offers room for such activities. This will ready you for the deeds you will most likely engage in, and at the same time save you the disappointments you would likely face once at the site, for the activities you thought would be available but are not. Fun ideas may include skating, hiking, fishing and sunbathing at the beach. You could also intentionally choose to forget your phone to increase the fun while having less to worry about from the numerous phone calls.
These are some of the tips to take you through the essentials for planning a vacation. Following them will help you remember everything you want done while at the same time giving you room to think of other great ideas to spice up your holiday.
Flying With Kids
Taking a flight whilst accompanied by a toddler is quite hectic for both the inexperienced and regular travellers. Nothing comes close to the trauma experienced by parents subjected to awful frowns by fellow passengers, as a result of an upset kid. Nevertheless, there are some vital tips one can undertake and ultimately have a trouble-free journey with these little angels.
One of the least exploited but most recommended tips is to schedule flight times to coincide with the kid's nap time. This is a sure way of affording the travelling parent(s) enough rest period mid-flight. Never mind that the kid is still awake during takeoff. At some point, he will definitely yield to the ambient noise and lull into slumber land.
Another essential point is to carry along an extra set of clothes for both the mum and the young one. Kids tend to get restless especially when their diapers are dirty and wet. Toddlers are even more erratic and love crawling all over the place. That said,change of clothes may become necessary in the course of the flight. In addition,leaky baby diapers may occasionally mess up your wardrobe compelling you to change into fresh clothing.
For a more jumpy and hyper kid, a couple of books, crayons,stickers and snacks should certainly be brought along with your hand luggage. Toys are known to tame even the most fitful variety of kids. Don't forget to stack in a few of them as you pack.
Finally, it is important to acquire an age specific baby carrier with comfortable strapping before you embark on your journey. Given the hectic movements at the airport, a free pair of hands is undoubtedly more than welcome. If able to shell out some more dollars for a spare seat on the plane, please do not forget to carry the car seat.
Bon Voyage!
Shop Like A Local
Shopping while your on holiday can be a highlight for some people, but sometimes it’s hard to break free from the touristy shops selling postcards and overpriced knick-knacks. Depending on where you’re traveling from, international shopping is often something to take advantage of, because you might be exposed to brands that you wouldn’t be able to get at home, or get your favourite brands at a cheaper pricepoint.
Outlets are great places to utilize while abroad and often times they’ll be featured in tourists brochures and advertised at hotels and hostels. They’re often easy to access, with bus companies and local public transport option being relatively easy to access and navigate your way through.
Department stores can be helpful because it’s likely a familiar format with brands that you might not be used to being able to shop with such ease. You’ll be able to get help from product specialists and see/try what you buy before you do.
Research where great shopping is! It’s often a little off the tourist beaten track, but the rewards for your efforts will be great!
How To Plan A Holiday
There’s more involved in planning a holiday than you think! Here are the first 5 things we do to get inspiration, and get started on the next adventure!
1. Budget. Figure out how much you’re willing to spend as this will be the starting point for everything else; how far you can travel, how long you can go for, and what style of holiday you’ll get
2. Time. How long do you have to play with? This will dictate how far you can afford to travel and how far your budget has to stretch each day.
3. Destination. Sort out places within the above parameters that you could/would go to. Once you’ve figured out a location …
4. Research. Read up on where you’re going. Figure out if you need Visas/shots or any kind of travel warnings that might be in place. Read reviews, work out the top things you want to see/experience.
5. Start booking. Start with travel and accommodation, and then see where your budget can take you in terms of activities and tours once you’re on the ground.
From here you’ll find things start falling into place and your excitement level will get you across the line in terms of having everything organised. Happy travels!
How To Travel With Just Carry On
It’s a real talent to travel with only a travel on suitcase.
It’s also sometimes a smart move, especially if cost is a factor to you—your flights will often be significantly cheaper if you don’t require checked in luggage. It also makes traveling more streamline and practically easier. It’s easier to move from place to place if you’re not lugging 30kg of your belongings around after you.
My first tip for packing just a carry-on case is be ruthless. Thing about what you really really need to take with you. I don’t take anything that I think I could buy if I was in a pinch and really needed it. Toiletries often take up so much space but really, where would you be going that you wouldn’t be able to buy a small tube for your time away once you arrived?
Edit your packing. Don’t pack the night before, if you pack a week before you leave, it gives you time to go over and revise what you’ll need. This means you have longer to remember to pack everything you need, and time to take out what, on second thought, you might not actually require.
Another thing to consider is obviously where you’re going and how long you’re going away for. You won’t necessarily need a whole weeks worth of different outfits, for instance, and if you’re going to be lying on a beach most days then the amount of space you’ll need for clothing will be greatly diminished.
The key thing when packing just a carry on is packing smart and really thinking about your travel context and what it calls for.
Surviving Long Haul Flights
Long haul flights are rough. They’re a virtual lottery in the sky and you’re not the one who rolls the dice. You won’t know until you’re there who your neighbours on the flight will be, but you can prepare yourself in other ways and here are our tips for surviving hours upon hours in the sky.
Maximise comfort by making sure that you’re dressed in something you know won’t irritate you. If you’re not into casual wear, bring something more comfortable to change into on the plane. Make it something breathable, stretchable and that you can sleep in if you want to.
Keep yourself entertained in whatever way you know will work best. Lots of people like watching films or television shows, others prefer to read while you may be more suited to working or getting creative with a personal project. (We use the time to write and edit video footage)
Break the flight up, this helps with boredom, productivity and keeping your mind off how much longer there is to go. Divide the flight into two or three hour blocks, and let your mind tick each off as they pass. This is also a good way to allocate time to different activities. Say you’ll do something for the first two hours and then switch to something else. This is a great way of getting sleep to, and making sure that you’re doing activities that will either keep you awake when you should be, or wind your brain down when you need to rest.
What are your survival techniques for long flights?
What To Pack In Carry On
Packing your carry on can feel very high pressure as you do it, the choices that you make at home can dictate how comfortable and enjoyable your flight is. We’ve all made errors of judgement and packed things we didn’t need or forgotten those we did.
I’ve got a few fail-safe ways of remembering what I’ll need during the flight and prioritising what will get a coveted spot in the few kgs of baggage allowance that walk onto the plane with me;
- Be ruthless. There’s no room for packing ‘maybe’ items. Make sure what you’re bringing with you is something that you’ll actually use. I’ve learned not to bring my laptop on the plane anymore – I can watch TV on the seat screen and any reading/work I tell myself I’ll do on a flight I very rarely actually will. It’s a waste of weight and a waste of worrying about it getting thrown around too much! Wrap it in a good case and a jumper and keep it in your checked in luggage.
- Don’t overshoot it. Sometimes I think I need a dozen different thing to do on a flight, I get caught up in thinking it’s a super long time. Often times a long flight isn’t as long as you think, it gets broken up by sleeping and meals getting served. Once you’ve watched movie you’ll find you don’t need three books to read. Be conservative in how entertained you think you will need to be.
- R E L A X. Seriously. You don’t need to be busy on a flight. Sometimes we’re on the way to a holiday, and sometimes it’s for business. But when in the air it’s a perfect opportunity to take to relax. You’re unplugged, and you have a chance to not be a slave to your phone or the constant pull that everything gives for your attention.
Getting The Most Out Of Your Economy Seat
Flying economy can be a smart way of traveling and getting the most of your money. Spending less on getting to your destination gives you more to play with when you arrive. Economy seats can be a tight squeeze though, and particularly on long haul flights they can be uncomfortable and arduous. We’ve perfected the art of economy travel though, and here are our top pieces of advice for surviving small spaces at 39,000 feet.
Giving yourself plenty to do on the plane is a must. If your mind is occupied then you’re less likely to sit there being annoyed that you don’t have very much personal space. I always make sure that I have back up films or television shows, because if you rely on the in-flight entertainment you might not always find something you’re particularly interested in. If you’re someone who can’t read with noise going on around you (as I am) then books usually aren’t a good option on a flight. Find something that will keep you engaged and pass the time faster for you.
Get up and move frequently. This can be easier or harder depending on whether you have an isle spot or not. If you keep your muscles and body comfortable and mobile, the jittery bored feelings will remain at bay for longer. Making sure that you’re moving around enough in a flight is an excellent way of breaking it down as well, if you set a goal to get up and move around at least once and hour they’ll tick down much faster!
Relax. Which can be hard when you feel like there are a hundred other people too close to you. But finding ways to tune out of the environment as best you can you’ll find is the only way to survive with your sanity in tact.
Remember that as soon as you arrive at your destination you will have forgotten about the discomfort of getting there very quickly.