Three of My Top Travel Tips
If you travel with any frequency, you probably (like me) appreciate new tips and tricks that can make travel easier and more pleasant. It has taken me years and a lot of trial and error to have my own tips and I'm sharing three of them here:
Determine what you always need and ask for it while checking in at the hotel. I have learned that there are three things I need to know when I check into a hotel. First is wifi - do I need a code or is it last name plus room number? I also need to know where I can get coffee in the morning and what the hours are. Yes, I know there is usually a coffee maker in the room, but I will not use it. I don't trust that they are cleaned and have heard disturbing stories about how they have been used for other purposes (let's just say a pair of pantyhose was involved and leave it at that). And finally, I'd like to learn where the workout room is and during what hours I can access it. Sometimes I will go take a look at the room before I want to workout, just to see what type of equipment is in there and how it is set up. I hate running on a treadmill while looking at a blank wall. Boring! Knowing this might sway me towards finding a safe outside route to run or doing yoga in my room. Also, there is usually water in the exercise room so it is a good place to fill up a water bottle.
When packing, pick a base color of black, navy blue or even gray and then add only pieces that go with this color. I used to be horrible at packing. I packed way too much, and I packed any cute outfit and the shoes that went with it. I got tired of carrying all that stuff around. After I started traveling more, I decided to challenge myself and pack only a carry-on (roller board) and my backpack for the greater majority of my travel, which usually consisted of 2-4 day trips. Having a base color cuts down on different shoes needed and allows more items to mix and match.
Opt for a backpack over a tote bag. I was a tote bag gal for a long time and the bigger the tote, the more stuff I would bring to the point where it was overflowing. The bag was so heavy and uncomfortable to carry. In addition, having an open tote is risky, as items can fall out going through security. I searched around for a backpack and made an investment in a black Tumi backpack that has worked out so well. It has pockets for many smaller items that I need frequently, like earbuds and lip gloss, a laptop sleeve, and holds up to wear well. It fits perfectly under the seat in front of me and is fully zipped up so nothing slides out. Another major plus to a backpack is that if worn like a backpack is supposed to be worn, it evenly distributes the weight. I had major shoulder and neck issues from carrying a tote on one side, and the backpack has made me feel much better!
I hope these tips help in your future travels!