11 travel hacks to keep you organised and stress-free on vacation
Make your holiday a breeze with these tips and tricks so you can focus on exploring new places and making unforgettable memories
Holidays are a reason to celebrate, especially when they involve bonding with loved ones, exploring new places, seeing the world's sights, and making memories.
But travelling can also come with a lot of stress and opportunities for things to go wrong.
To make sure your next trip is as stress-free and enjoyable as possible, here are 11 tips every savvy traveller should know:
1. Copy that!
When you're abroad, you have to carry your passport with you wherever you go, but that means risking losing it or having it stolen. So, make photocopies of your passport (the page with your photo and information on it and the page your visa is on), any other ID you carry (driver's licence, national ID card) and your flight and hotel booking information and carry those around with you instead. Store your photocopies in your carry-on, but not in the same place as your real documents. And lock the real things in the hotel safe when you arrive.
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2. Just how we roll
Rolled-up clothes take up less room in your suitcase than folded, and rolling also prevents creasing. If something gets dirty while you're away, hand-wash it and hang it overnight where the air con is the strongest; it should dry by morning.
3. Zip it up
Pack plenty of big Ziploc bags. They're great for holding wires, chargers - anything you want to stop tangling. Also useful for clothing that isn't quite dry, or your dirty laundry!
They can also help streamline the process of getting on board a flight. Put all your inflight essentials - passport, book, headphones, etc - into a giant Ziploc bag, and pack it last so it's at the top of your carry-on bag. Once you've boarded, pull the Ziploc bag out and slip it straight into the seat pocket, and pop your bag in the overhead locker, no more panic trying to find your lip salve or headphones when someone's waiting for you to move in to your middle seat.
4. Started at the bottom
Pack your shoes in a small bag at the bottom of your suitcase near the wheels. That way they won't squish anything, and your other things won't get dirty.
5. Fully supportive
Get a good neck pillow for the flight. You don't want to wake up with a stiff neck from sleeping in an awkward position. They're also great to have around in case the pillows at your hotel aren't plump enough.
6. Don't run away from home
Don't accidentally use roaming data while you're away; set an alarm to switch off your data for when you land at your destination. Just make sure you remember to factor in any time difference so you don't miss it.
7. Refuel, refresh
Drink plenty of water on the plane. The dry air and cabin pressure quickly dehydrate you.
If you don't keep hydrated, you'll land feeling ill and groggy. And try a tomato juice with a touch of salt; you might not ever drink it on the ground, but it might be the tastiest thing you have all flight.
8. Old-school GPS
As soon as you get to your hotel room, grab a match box or anything with the hotel name and address on it, and keep it in the bag you'll be using while out and about. If you get lost, you can show the taxi driver that matchbox instead of trying to explain where you need to go.
9. So fresh and so clean
If you're staying at a hotel that still provides individual bottles of toiletries, put away all the little bottles, including anything you started using, before you leave your room for the day. Housekeeping will give you new ones, which come in really handy on trips when you're staying at a less comfortable hotel. And then just keep using the things you opened on your first day!
Holidays are also a great time to use up any toiletries at home that are almost finished. Put them in your toiletries bag for your trip, and finish them while you're away. Recycle them at the end of your trip so they won't take up space in your luggage on your flight home. Hey, that space is meant for souvenirs!
10. Truly universal
Forgot your phone charger plug? Charge your device through the USB port at the back of the TV. Simple.
11. Race to the base
Family members or friends will want to do different things at some point during your trip. When you arrive at a location, pick out a landmark and set a time for meeting back there so everyone can go off and do what they want.
Also, set that landmark as the spot to go if anyone gets lost, so you'll know where to check first if someone goes missing.
Bon voyage!
This article was curated in conjunction with Young Post.
