Your Airport Survival Guide

Being stuck in an airport is a part of travel.  It’s inevitable that you will face delays, flight changes, layovers or worst of all – cancellations, all whilst stuck in the same set of clothes and without being able to take a shower! 

It can be a serious ordeal if you are not prepared for it.  Stuck for hours in dirty clothes, with nothing to do, sitting on the floor or an uncomfortable seat at the terminal.  Combine this with some fatigue and it is a recipe to set anyone’s nerves on edge.

But it doesn’t have to be this way! 

Make sure you pack your carry-on bag with the following five things when you are taking a long air journey to survive a possible ordeal.

1.    Something Interesting to Read

This is time-honoured and fail-proof.  Make sure that you have an entertaining novel, magazine, journal or whatever will keep you interested for a number of hours (and not minutes).

It’s important that this is a physical copy, not an e-book or digital reader because you never know if your technology will break, if the batteries go flat or one of the hundreds of things that can go wrong, probably will – right when you need it!

You simply can’t beat a good book to keep yourself entertained and your mind busy.  It is a great way to relax and while away the hours until your plane is ready to depart.

2.    Toiletries

Long flights in pressurized and air-conditioned planes can leave you sweaty, smelly and feeling yuck.  Long international flights may mean that you won’t be able to shower for 20+ hours, especially if you hit a delay or cancellation.  So it’s important to make sure that you bring the basics to stay fresh.

Bring some travel-sized deodorant, moisturiser (the plane’s air conditioning will dry your skin out), toothpaste and brush as well as some wet wipes to freshen up.  You will also need to check with the plane’s security regulations to make sure you can take everything on the plane  without being confiscated.

A few minutes freshening up in the change rooms will make you feel human again and ready to face the rest of your delay.

3.    Fresh Socks and Clothes

A close third after toiletries is making sure to pack some fresh socks and maybe undergarments.  If you can’t shower or change clothes for hours, something as simple as clean socks and a fresh t-shirt will make you feel brand spanking new. 

4.    An Inflatable Neck Pillow

You might have to spend hours waiting in hard and uncomfortable seats (or maybe even on the floor) if your flight is delayed or cancelled.  To avoid getting a stiff neck and to sneak in some much-needed rest, a nice inflatable neck pillow is a must-have companion in your traveller’s kit.

As a plus you may like to use it on the plane as well.  They are cheap and you can even just pick them up at the airport.  You will be waiting for the next flight in comfort.

5.    Some Cash Money

The most important of all, cash and some credit cards.  Don’t land empty handed.  You will want some pocket money to buy food, hot drinks and maybe some meals if it’s a long delay.  You will also need to refresh yourself with some bottled water.  Cash is king anywhere in the world.

So if you follow these five simple tips you will be able to endure any airport ordeal whilst being comfortable, entertained, satisfied and refreshed.

Let us know if you have any other ‘airport ordeal’ tips, we would love to hear them!

Tips for Safe Travel to Foreign Countries

People have always taken the necessary precautions when traveling to foreign countries but after the devastating events of September 11, the level of concern increased dramatically. Some people became so worried about international travel they stopped taking trips altogether. Obviously, no one can be faulted for being afraid but it is important to know that in recent years, many new systems and technologies have been implemented to again make foreign travel safe.

However, safety while traveling could also be enhanced with a few smart decisions. While there has always been some degree of concern with international travel, there is no reason a person has to spend an entire trip worrying about safety issues. Whether traveling on business or for pleasure, there are specific steps to take during the planning phase but also while abroad to include the following recommendations.

In-Depth Research
Any current travel concerns or confirmed risks for a country being visited could be acquired from a local travel agent or through any number of reputable online travel websites. With the information gathered, an individual would have the opportunity to make an informed decision to continue with the trip or reschedule for a later date.

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
This United States government program is free and designed to assist US citizens traveling within foreign countries. By signing up for the program, someone on an overseas trip would be notified in case of a family emergency back home but also receive assistance if faced with some type of crisis.

Medical Coverage
Depending on the international destination, personal medical insurance might cover expenses incurred in case of emergency. However, if a policy does not offer medical coverage, it would be worth purchasing a special policy for travelers. Unfortunately, there are many reports of people who have been forced to pay a significant amount of money out-of-pocket or have received compromised care while in a foreign country by not having medical insurance.

Travel Information and Documentation
Someone on an international trip should carry important travel information and original documents such as passport, visa, and travel itinerary. In addition, a copy of everything should be kept in each piece of luggage and left with a family member of friend back home. Other information would include a list of people to contact in case of an emergency to include phone numbers and if a person has a major medical condition or depends on specific medication, the name and phone number of the doctor should be included along with prescription information.

United States Embassies and Consulates
These government agencies provide assistance to American citizens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. When planning an international trip, the phone numbers for both agencies should be obtained specific to the country traveling to and carried around securely.

Laws and Customs
Regardless of destination, the laws of the country a person plans to visit must be followed. Therefore, the most pertinent laws should be researched prior to travel. Keep in mind that knowing a country’s customs is not required but to avoid an uncomfortable or even potentially dangerous situation by unintentionally offending someone local, it would also be recommended to become familiar with customs for the country.

Crime Prevention
Even when going to a country deemed safe, an individual should always use common sense to avoid becoming the target of a crime. A few examples of things a person should NOT do include the following:
o    Wear expensive jewelry
o    Carry a significant amount of cash around
o    Be on the streets after dark
o    Dine, shop, or sightsee alone
o    Accept a package from an unknown party
o    Leave luggage unattended

Restrictions and RegulationsFor both the country being visited and home country, there are restrictions and regulations regarding things that can and cannot be brought in as a way of preventing a catastrophic environmental occurrence but also terrorist attack. There are a number of online resources a person should research prior to departure that provide a comprehensive list of acceptable and unacceptable items.

Five Uncommon (but very useful) International Travel Tips

Traveling around the world is simply one of the best things that you can do.  It is packed with excitement, adventure and new experiences whether you are traveling for business, education or pleasure.

But as many of you already know, international travel can be a stressful and harrowing experience if you are not prepared! 

So to make sure that you are a slick, savvy and satisfied traveler we have compiled list of some lesser-known tips and tracks for travel abroad. 

1.    Buy a SIM card for your cell phone when you land:

If you travel with your in-country SIM card when you travel overseas, most phone companies will charge you at expenses international rates.  This means that if anyone calls you, or if you call anyone from your regular cell phone, it will be very pricey.

However, almost all international airports have stores and vendors where you can buy local, pre-paid SIM card for as little as $5.  In fact, at places like Heathrow Airport in London, for just $15 you can pick up a local SIM card with unlimited data.

It’s a great way to save money and hassle.  It also means that for friends and colleagues in country with you, they will just be paying a local cell call to stay in touch with you.

2.    Scan all of your important documents and save them to a free e-mail account

When traveling things can go wrong, so you have to be prepared. 

And nothing is worse, or harder to sort out, than losing important official documents like your passport, visas, travel itinerary, plane tickets, travel insurance and important phone numbers. 

But one way that you can always have access to these important documents no matter what happens is to scan them into a digital file such as a .jpg, .pdf etc. and then send them to one of your free e-mail accounts.  Just make sure that you set up a free account that is accessible from anywhere like Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail.

3.    Take Melatonin to beat jet lag

Melatonin is a dietary supplement that you can buy at any drug store in the USA.  It helps you to naturally overcome jet lag and get your body clock in line with your new time zone, much faster than you could normally.

This is a must-have, especially if you are travelling into a major time difference.

4.    Don’t Keep All Of Your Eggs in One Basket

When you are travelling, you are cut off from everything except what you have on you, and what you have packed in your luggage.  So don’t  put all your eggs in one basket by keeping all of your cash, traveler’s cheques and credit cards in the one place like your wallet, because if you lose your wallet or are robbed, then you are in serious trouble and left begging for help.  Definitely not ideal!

The best technique is to divide everything into two or three and store it in separate locations.  Keep some money and cards on you, some in your luggage and some in your carry-on. 

That way, if anything is stolen or lost, you still have enough money to get a cab, get to a hotel and sort the whole darn thing out!

5.    Research Your Destination Airport

Don’t presume that the airport that you are traveling to has everything that you need or is the same as you have back home.  It’s best to check in advance so that you don’t get stuck in a difficult situation.

Some airports close much earlier than they do here, or you may have to book hire cars in advance so make sure you know what facilities are available before you depart.

You don’t want to arrive to find out that the money-changer is closed or that all the rental cars are booked out leaving you sleeping on a bench!

6.    Your international travel tip…

These were just some less-common travel tips that we have helped save us time, money and frustration.  Hopefully these little ideas will save you some time and hassle the next time you travel.

But what about your travel tips?   Comment here or tell us on FaceBook what your clever little tricks are to stay in control and happy when traveling.

Travel tip: Minimize regret

“I should have gone there” is a phrase you will invariably hear from travelers returning from their latest excursion. That special dish, historical site, or music festival was somehow forgotten, and a feeling of incompleteness plagues the memory of the trip. Excuse the melodrama, but the pain of travel regret should be vigorously avoided. Here’s how.

Play the ‘what if’ game

Before beginning a hypothetical trip to France you should ask yourself: What if we get back from Paris without ever seeing The Louvre? Imagine you miss every destination or activity that you hoped not to miss. Let the uneasiness set it, and then plan accordingly.

That is, instead of making a list of all things you would love to do, make a list of what you would hate to miss. The difference might seem insignificant, but planning from this perspective will sharpen your focus. Thinking about what you would love to do can lead to giddiness and the excited exclamation, “Everything! I want to see everything!” You will have plenty of time for unbridled excitement during your trip, but effective planning is how to maximize the experience.

This regret-minimizing perspective is not meant to rain on your touristy parade- quite the opposite. Traveling can lead to fulfilling and revelatory experiences, and the traveler is wise to provide him or herself with the best opportunity to have such experiences. Do not make the mistake of equating preparedness with rigidity.

Smart spontaneity

No traveler should strive to adhere to an itinerary of diplomatic proportions. That is, you are an ambassador of smart traveling and good times- not a foreign country. Always leave room on your regret-minimizing plan to get lost and discover that hole-in-the-wall restaurant or scenic trail that the guidebook doesn’t even know about it.

Veering off the indelibly beaten path of tourism can reveal hidden treasures with unlimited potential for producing great stories- and enviable Facebook albums. The special steps you take in planning for no regrets, along with a healthy does of spontaneity, makes for a wonderful mélange of travel experience.

Je me souviens

The official motto of Quebec (a great travel destination) is rich with historical context, but more superficially, its literal translation of “I remember” offers the traveler important insight. While photo albums and artsy trinkets will come home with us, memories prove to be the most valuable and endearing remnants from a successful trip. The goal of every traveler should be to make his or her trip an adventure worth remembering. Anything less is a waste of airfare.

So, think hard about regret, minimize it in your travel through smart planning, and most importantly have fun.

Bon voyage!