Lesson 4: Tips, Tricks, and Things to Remember

In the previous lesson, we discussed things you should research before leaving for your trip and how to properly plan your itinerary. Leading up to this lesson, we have learned how to book, plan, research, and prepare for your trip. In this lesson, we will learn the last thing we should do before leaving for our trip. Within the days leading up to your departure, we need to learn a few helpful tips, tricks, and things to remember.

In this lesson, you will want to use these resources:

• Before Traveling To-do List – Click to Download
• Travel Budget – Click to Download
• Itinerary Planner – Click to Download
• Travel Packing Checklist – Click to Download: Use this to help pack for your trip.

Tips and Tricks

Planning your travels is the first thing we covered, however, the most important part is actually getting yourself to the airport. Will you drive to the airport and pay for the parking or hire a driver to take you there? Make sure to get there well in advance. Generally, for domestic flights, you want to arrive at the airport one or two hours before your flight. For international flights, you want to arrive two to three hours before your flight.

As for the flight portion of your journey, there are a few tips to make your flight as comfortable and stress free as possible.

1. Ask for an exit row seat. This will give you more leg room. The exchange is that you cannot put your carry-on luggage below the seat in front of you, but it is worth it for the extra leg room.
2. Bring slippers to put on after you get seated, if you have ethe room for the in your carry-on.
3. Get up and walk around. Even if you feel you do not need to, your knees and legs will thank you.
4. Are you not a good sleeper? Maybe you need to talk to your doctor before you depart for the right sleep aid for your flight.
5. On international flights, alcohol is free…but do not abuse that.

As for when you arrive at your destination, there are a few tips that will help you through your travels. When booking your accommodation, be sure to ask whether or not they provide free shuttle to their place from the airport. This can save a lot of hassle, especially after a long flight.

Dealing with jet lag can be difficult. Adjusting to a new time zone is not an easy thing to do, but to make the most out of your trip, you must find a way to deal with it. What we have found that works is to just push yourself to get into the proper rhythm of sleep. It is difficult, but you can usually find a cup of coffee or an energy drink to keep you going during the tough times.

Finally, have fun and be flexible. Do not forget why you are traveling. Accomplish what you want and do not waste time sulking if you missed something.

Things to Remember

We have all had that feeling every time before departing for your trip. That feeling that no matter how long you think about things you have packed, you still feel like you are forgetting something. Well, we have created a Packing Checklist that is downloadable. Use it when you pack, and do not forget the necessary things from it.

Things like your passport and wallet are things that you should not forget. If you lose your luggage or forget something like toothpaste, those can most likely be purchased where you are going and are replaceable. Use the checklist to your advantage when packing.

In addition to using the checklist, be sure to research your airline provider’s website. Make sure you understand their luggage policies so you know what you can bring aboard. Some airlines make you pay for your check-in luggage and they have specific dimension and weight requirements for both check-in and carry-on luggage. The standard is one check-in luggage weighing 22kg and two carry-on pieces. However, you will need to research this as it differs from airline to airline and the length of flight.

When getting your currency exchanged, plan ahead of time and watch the currency rate. Exchanging your money at the airport will be more expensive and will give you the worst rate. Doing it at your bank before you leave will be the best option. Use this currency calculator to see what the rate is between your currency and the currency of the country you will be visiting.

With this final lesson, you are now ready to depart for your destination! We have learned a lot, and you now have the knowledge to book your travels by yourself in a efficient way. If you need more help, we would be happy to provide you with personal guidance. You can contact us at anytime.

In the final unit, we will discuss how you can document your travels, as well as what to do during and after your travels to help you share your memories with others. Be sure to complete it and let us know more about how your travel experience was! We would love to hear from you!

Lesson Resources:

• Before Traveling To-do List – Click to Download
• Travel Budget – Click to Download
• Itinerary Planner – Click to Download
• Travel Packing Checklist – Click to Download

Additional Readings

• Travel Packing Checklist
• How to Survive a Long Haul Flight in Economy