Tips for Travelers
As you’ll see when you read The Path and The Unimaginable in “Jack in the Box,” I’ve spent most of my life traveling, personally and professionally. Along the way, I’ve developed some guidelines that I follow when heading out, and I recommend them to anyone who travels, especially in today’s tourist landscape.
Tip 1: If you can’t carry it, don’t bring it!
Unless you have a personal assistant to carry your bags, all you need is one large suitcase to check through, plus a smaller bag to carry on the plane and a personal item (purse or backpack). If you carry a laptop, take that with you. It’s easy to get through security.
Follow the 3-1-1 TSA rule: all liquids, gels, and aerosols brought on a plane must be in 3.4- ounce bottles or smaller and placed inside a single, clear, quart-size zip-top bag.
When packing your main suitcase, put your shoes in first, then roll up socks, underwear, and accessories. Place these items inside the shoes. Next, roll up shirts, tops, and pants, utilizing all the space available. Place belts around the edges of the suitcase. Next, layer dresses, nice blouses, slacks, dress shirts, suit jacket, and sweaters. Place any liquids, gels, or creams in a secure, sealed plastic zipper bag; the pressure of an airplane can cause these items to explode, creating a big mess. Place it on top for easy access for security checks or carry it on the plane in your carry-on bag like I do.
Check to see if you need a converter and travel plug adapters to change the voltage at your destination to avoid damaging whatever you plug in.
Tip 2: Keep your wardrobe simple.
Stick with black or navy blue; it never looks like you’re wearing the same thing twice. Use these colors as your base color to mix and match all shirts, tops, and shoes. Dark colors tend not to show dirt easily.
You’ll wear the same clothes, several times over, if you’re traveling for any length of time.
• Keep clothes casual and comfortable. Denim is great, but some places require a particular dress code. Know before you go. (For example, in some places, women are required to cover their heads. A large scarf will suffice.)
• Just in case, consider packing a black dress or a dark suit with dress shirt and tie for special occasions.
• Don’t overpack shoes; they take up lots of suitcase space. For most vacations, you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes daily, like tennis shoes or walking/running shoes. Sandals are fine for the beach or warm weather (and fit well in a suitcase). For that special occasion, bring dress shoes.
• Traveling in cold weather? Plan to layer with long sleeve shirts and sweaters or turtlenecks. Wear heavy coats and jackets on the plane; they take too much room in your suitcase. Don’t forget accessories like scarves, gloves/mittens, and hats. Even in summer, some places get chilly at night. You’ll probably need a light jacket or sweater for the evenings.
• Don’t bring expensive jewelry, especially overseas. If you do, make sure your jewelry is insured. Jewelry makes you a potential robbery target.
• Consider packing a compact iron if your destination isn’t likely to have one to borrow.
Tip 3: Pick a practical personal carry-on.
I recommend bringing a backpack or a shoulder purse that zips, with a secure zippered compartment inside. This bag can go with you everywhere, especially on the plane. Store all your personal items and important documents, including:
• passport/license/ID
• money and credit cards: Notify your bank you’ll be traveling overseas and using your credit and/or debit card to prevent them from possibly blocking purchases if they suspect fraud. Also check your card’s credit limit.
• travel documents (e.g., itinerary, vouchers, boarding passes)
• medications
• cell phone and charger
• a few official passport photos of you and travel companions for weekly transportation passes (subway, buses, other public transportation), which is the cheaper way to go – but usually requires official passport photos.