Guest Blog Written By: Clara Power of Clara Power TPI
As a Family travel Specialist I am often asked by my clients to provide them with some travel tips. Over the years, I’ve started to collect some of the important lessons that I’ve learned both from traveling myself and from some of the mishaps some of my clients have had. When traveling, I find it’s always best to be prepared so here are a few tried and true tips to get you where you are going without any added stress.
Packing Tips:
- Remember nothing sharp and only very limited liquids in your carry on bags
- What is your luggage allowance and how much do your bags weigh? Don’t get caught with overweight luggage and excess charges at check in. If you are connecting with a different airline confirm the allowance on both airlines. Discount carriers often allow less luggage
- Tie a ribbon, bandana or something unique to your bags so they stand out at the luggage carousel. It will make your bags easier to find and less likely that someone will take your bag by accident
- When traveling with kids, always pack double the diapers you think you will need in your carry on. You never know when you can be unexpectedly delayed.
- Keep all medications in their original containers and pack them in your carry-on bag
- Roll your clothes to avoid wrinkles and pack any liquids in a double zip lock bag in case they leak
- Pack an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses and for long durations trips bring your prescription with you
- Do you need adapters or converters for any electrical items you are bringing?
- Leave the expensive jewellery and valuables at home if they are not needed. Don’t walk around a foreign country looking like a flashy target to be robbed
- Pack your MITs — Money, Identification and Tickets
- Bring a pen with you to complete customs forms
Trip Preparation:
- Leave a copy of all important documents with someone at home. If you are travelling with your smart phone, you can also scan them and save them so you have a copy available at any time.
- Documents to copy include – passport, travel insurance, credit & debit card details, tickets and travel documents, important prescriptions etc.
- Learn as much as you can about a country’s history, culture, traditions, flora and fauna. The more you know, the more you will enjoy your vacation
- Familiarize yourself with any local customs or laws so you don’t offend anyone or get into legal trouble (Did you know it is illegal to wear camouflage clothing in Barbados?)
- Do you have a current passport? When does it expire and how many pages are remaining in it? Is it in good condition? Many countries require a passport to be valid for 6 months after you arrive in their country and some need a minimum of 2 or 3 blank pages in your passport.
- Do you need any vaccinations before you go? Speak to your family doctor or paediatrician.
- If you have an early morning flight to a warm destination, pack a change of clothes in your carry-on bag as your room may not be ready when you arrive
- Keep your luggage fresh by tossing in one or two Bounce sheets – great for storing your suit cases after you have travelled too!
While Away:
- Lock up any valuables in your in room safe or the hotel safe
- Watch what you buy and bring back. Are you allowed to bring the items back to Canada and have you exceeded your allowances?
- Carry your out of country medical and travel insurance company, emergency phone number and policy number with you at all times. Make sure your travel companions also know where you have this information
- Don’t leave your bags unattended and never carry anything for someone else across a border crossing. Watch your children’s toys and backpacks too so nothing is placed in them and you act as an unsuspecting ‘taxi’
Most of all, have a safe, fun and enjoyable trip!
Clara
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