10 Great Ideas for Your Next Trip
Traveling is a hassle, from planning and packing to security and safety. Here are a few tips that may make that trip just a bit easier.
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Scan your passport, passport photos and other documentation and store them in an email that you can retrieve with your cell phone. Other things to store can include numbers to call if your credit card gets lost or stolen, tickets and itineraries.
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When you are packing items into a backpack, place the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier ones on top. Your bag will feel lighter this way because the bag rests on your lower back.
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For those using suitcases without a divider, a piece of cardboard works well to keep your clothing organized.
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Do not wrap gifts. Either buy the gift when you get to your destination or ship it ahead of time.
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Coordinate your clothes around one or two basic colors. This cuts down on the number of shoes and accessories you’ll need to carry.
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Wear and carry washable silk clothing whenever possible. It is as warm and cool as cotton, it dries overnight and doesn’t take as much space as other fabrics.
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Take older clothes that can be discarded along the way, leaving more room for takeaway meeting materials.
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Use your room safe for valuables. If the safe is electronic, use a damp cloth to wipe the touch keys down before operating it and then dry it before entering your secret code. After you key in your code and lock the safe, press all the other keys that are not in your code. (Certain hotels have caught their own staff placing a light oil or powder on the touch keys that can show them what numbers were pressed.
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To minimize your chances of having to go through the dreaded TSA pat-down, don’t wear anything that could set off the screening device. This includes jewelry, hair decorations, underwire bras, body piercings or clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs.
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Pack all your coats and jackets in your baggage if you can. This will be one less item to worry about as you go through the security checkpoint.