9 Practical Tips to Improve the Travel Experience Key points from the Hangout with Filipe Carrera, Peter Milligan, and Sofie Sandell on 4th March 2016. 1) Clear out bags first. Before each trip make sure you clean and tidy bags and handbags of old traveldust and items. Prepare by washing, having lists and stuff ready, but don't start packing days in advance. Pack too early and you are not in the present. Also, it is a good idea to pack your hand-luggage so you have the basics you’d need for a couple of days in case your luggage doesn't arrive with you. [SS] 2) Always check you’ve left nothing behind. When leaving a plane, train or taxi, always quickly check on and under the seat, table and storage pockets. When checking out of a hotel room, quickly check every drawer, cupboard, under the bed and bedding. Otherwise, small important items can be missed resulting in avoidable costs and stress. [PM] 3) Don't get fat. When travelling, you eat when you can what you can and, surprise, you get fat! Pack some sugar free cookies with fiber, have a bottle of water to refill and use meal bars that really can substitute a complete meal. They’re much better than expensive high calorie snack sold in airports. [FC] 4) Save your poor neck when sleeping on the plane. Your head weighs 4.5 - 5 kilos. You can strengthen your neck before travelling by doing the plank and situps. Use a 'mid-seat-pillow' to support your neck to prevent strange head-positions when sleeping. I've used a travel pillow from Ready.Set.Go. Also bring your own blanket for long-haul flights when you need to sleep. The blankets you get from the airlines are not always washed. [SS] 5) Choose to enjoy the travel! Travelling can be tiring and stressful but you can choose to make the best of it. Complaining about a long-haul flight? It beats walking! Ponder the miracle of modern travel. Use the time to get some reading done, catch a great movie, listen to some music or podcasts. Take your own quality headphones (with adapter plug), some good snacks and enjoy some “me time!” [PM] 6) Make a checklist of things you want to bring on your trips. Sometimes you have plenty of time to pack, other times only minutes. If you don't use a checklist you may forget important items which could create other problems. Make a list in your computer or use an app as checklist, but have it. [FC] 7) A trick to stop a child kicking the back of your seat. Having someone kicking your seat when can ruin your flight. Some parents seem unwilling or unable to solve this problem so you can bribe the kid. Show them a £5 note and explain that they will receive it if they promise to stop kicking your seat. [SS] 8) How to improve your adjustment to timezone changes. Set your watch to the destination time and start thinking of that as the “real” time. If flying east and arriving in the morning (when your body thinks it is bedtime), try to stay awake throughout the new day and then go to bed early that evening. You will be so tired that you should sleep well through the night. [PM] 9) Spend less staying in big cities. Don't book hotels in very touristy areas or near the convention center you are attending. You can pay up to 75% less for a better room if you choose an place that is only 2 to 5 subway stations away. You will get there fast and with more money in your pocket! [FC]
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