I’ve been thinking about things that happen when you travel. My conclusions are geared more to vacation travel than business travel but maybe not. You decide.
#1. Don’t Sweat it!
Be mentally prepared for Murphy’s Law. Whatever can go wrong will, and at the worst possible time. If you travel much it will happen to you. Your flight will be delayed, you’ll miss a connection or maybe your flight will be canceled altogether. (Bad weather or other unforeseen problem).
If you are traveling for vacation that can be annoying but it’s not the end of the world. Sit back and relax and go with the flow. Your gate attendant or other representative will be working as fast as possible to reroute you or assist you. (Business travelers may have a bit more of a problem but a few phone calls should set the record straight so you can take the delay in stride.)
#2. Your flight is grounded /delayed due to mechanical problems.
Yay! Be happy they found the problem on the ground and not at 30,000 ft. Rest assured they have mechanics crawling all over that plane to solve the problem. The crew isn’t any more anxious to fly on a broken plane than you are.
#3. Your flight is over booked.
This can be a great opportunity. Are the gate attendants begging for someone to give up their seat? If you are flexible and don’t mind the delay, talk to them. I’ve seen vouchers for future travel that came close to $1000. I’ve personally received overnight accommodations and an upgrade to a direct flight for giving up my seat. I just had to be willing to travel the next day. I’ve also received an upgrade to first class just by giving up the seat in economy on that flight and taking a later flight that the attendant booked for me.
#4 Don’t Sleep in
This may be counter intuitive but I strongly suggest rising early. I know you are on vacation. Time to kick back and relax, right. Well, yes and no. Wherever you’ve gone you’ve traveled a long way to get there. Do you really want to waste time in bed? By getting out and about early you’ll avoid the crowds and have the best attractions to yourself. As any photographer will tell you, the light in the morning is fantastic for photos so even if you are just taking selfie’s they will be better. Your friends will be so envious!
#5 Keep your sense of humor in your carry on!
In other words don’t get embarrassed and flustered. You’re traveling and probably in a new place. You will make mistakes. So laugh at yourself. You’ll feel better and diffuse any tense moments that way.
#6. Cash is King
I know. Everyone says to leave cash home because it can be stolen but I always travel with a few hundred dollars tucked away. I don’t mean in my purse either. If your bag is stolen you won’t have credit cards or ATM cards, at least not right away. If you lose your wallet or your card stops working (it’s happened to me) or ATMs run out of money you’ll be glad you did. Some spots I use to hide cash: in a makeup bag, in my carry on in the pages of a book, tucked in a pocket of my backpack. A side benefit, I sometimes forget I’ve stashed the money and find it days or weeks later. What a nice surprise!
#7. Take Lots of Photos
Yes, I am a photo nut but even if you are not as obsessive as I am, take pictures. Since I started taking lots of photos I have saved myself a ton of money on souvenirs. Photos are the ultimate souvenir! You may only visit this place once in your lifetime and even if you make multiple trips each experience will be unique. Capture them on film so you always have the memories. Once you have the shot, relax and look around. Be sure to enjoy the view without the viewfinder too.
#8. Don’t Give up.
Is there something you want to see or do but you are having trouble arranging it? Nothing is impossible. Talk to the locals. Go on about your other business but mention what you want whenever you have a chance. You never know when someone will know someone else who can connect you to the one you need. It happens to me all the time.
#9. Get Lost
I learned this early in my travel experience while exploring with my sister. I’d get very nervous because I had no idea where we were or how to get back to our hotel. My sister was calm and relaxed. Her attitude was, “we’re not lost, we’re sightseeing.” Easy for her to say, she wasn’t driving but that attitude as done wonders to help me enjoy those times when I was all turned around. With that in mind I sometimes just start driving in the direction I know I want to go instead of hopping on the nearest highway. We’ve seen some great sights that we would never have known about if we’d taken the most direct route.
#10. Keep Good Notes
Even with a camera full of photos, you will forget details so take notes, keep a journal. Maybe you like to blog or keep a scrapbook you’ll be happy you have your notes once you get back home. The few times I haven’t jotted down my impressions I have kicked myself later. I like to get my thoughts on paper (or the computer) every day while I’m away. It’s a nice way to relive the experiences right before I go to bed.
One last tip before I wrap up this list (there are plenty more tips but I’ll save them for another day)
Remember I said my card stopped working? Many banks and credit cards monitor your usage for fraud. If you do not let them know you are traveling they may shut off your card when a charge form a strange place comes in. That’s how I found myself stuck in Florida and not able to pay my hotel bill! (Yes it got straightened out but not without a lot of time on hold and numerous calls) Both my bank and my credit cards want to be notified of my travel plans. Be sure you check with yours too so you don’t find yourself stranded with no financial resources.
Happy Travels!