Thousands, if not millions, of people, travel every day. Some travel by air, some by boat, while some prefer to travel on land. Anyone who’s experienced traveling understands how it can either be the most exciting and fun moment in your life, or the absolute worst one. Professionals with the need to travel consistently often end up disliking traveling itself, due to the enormous hassles they encounter. The long preparation, potentially missing the schedule, the energy-consuming switching of vehicles are usually the things travelers dislike. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do and just accept it.
Whether you simply like to travel for leisure or you’re a licensed private pilot or even a professional trucker, traveling requires a lot of prep work. Here’s a couple of things to remember to make sure your journey is always comfortable.
Keep a Checklist
Of course, the first trip would be to always keep a checklist. Think of all the things you’ll be needing when traveling, from your professional equipment to your daily necessities. Keeping a checklist is such a piece of simple advice, but because it is simple that many fail to actually do it. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can keep everything on top of your head, only find out that you left some clothes or your paperwork back at home.
Have a Prep Ritual
This one is particularly useful if you’re traveling for your profession. A preparation ritual is a pre-traveling activity many pros do to make sure that everything is prepped and ready. If you’re wondering how a checklist and a prepping ritual differ, think of it like this: a checklist is a list of things you need to prepare. A prep ritual is the actual motions or routine you incorporate into how you travel. By making it part of your travel routine, you’re less likely to forget things or miss out on some important details.
Always Bring Spare Clothing
It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling for a day or two weeks. Bring spare clothing! Emergencies happen when we least expect it and having extra clothing always helps. Of course, if you’re traveling for more than a few days, you need to bring spare clothing but even if it’s just for a day, keeping extra dress shirts in your suitcase can save you in a pinch. If you really don’t have space in your bag, at the very least, bring extra socks and fresh towels. Those are two things you always want to have when you need them.
Keep Spares of Spares
We already established that you need to carry spare clothing. But if you’re carrying important tools or items with you, it’s ideal to bring extras for those as well. Any seasoned photographer will always carry more than two packs of batteries, and that’s actually good advice to go by. This doesn’t just apply with replenishable items, but also to non-tangible must-haves. Have more than one way to contact family members, extra means to get cash, or back up hotels or lodging in the event your original one isn’t available.
Book Ahead
The number one way to guarantee that your trip is hassle and worry-free is to book as much as you can in advance. Call hotels in the location you’re going to to make reservations, if you’re going to be having lunch somewhere, it’s ideal to have a seat saved too. Even parking can be booked in advance, and that’s something you should do if you want to avoid losing 45 minutes just trying to find a place to park.
Carry Snacks and Refreshments
You never know when you’re going to feel hungry or thirsty. And it’s hard to rely on vendors or shops as well, especially if you’re traveling overseas. You might not be acquainted with the cuisine yet, and might suffer stomach aches. Whenever you’re traveling, especially for longer trips, it’s ideal to carry your snacks and drinks. If you’re feeling peckish before arriving at your destination, you’ll have something to drink or munch on, and you’re sure about its quality.
Always Bring a First Aid Kit
Here’s something that many travelers don’t realize is important: your own first aid kit. It can be as simple as having the pain reliever medicines in case you feel a migraine on the road, or it can even contain alcohol and adhesive plasters in case you get a cut. A first aid kit is something you want to have should any emergency arise, and it can be as small as big as you need.
The key to a fun and enjoyable trip is to prepare as much as you can beforehand. Hopefully, the tips provided here can help you on your next journey.
