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It is always better to be safe than sorry. Thus, these travel tips you should not overlook will help make your own journey better by carefully planning ahead. Furthermore, each tip will include an example from recent travel experiences that led to this important list.
To avoid additional charges on your phone bill, keeping your phone on airplane mode is the safest bet. While many phone companies offer usage abroad, sometimes the travel expense is not worth it. Now you may think that turning your data off is good enough. Let me tell you what happened when I thought that too.
When I started to travel full time, I decided to only use my phone when absolutely needed. The result? A $411 phone bill. At that point, I decided to turn off my data and only use my phone in a wifi zone. Even though I was confident this would work, my next few bills still had additional charges ranging from $100-200. For this reason, I switched to airplane mode 24/7, and my bill went back to normal.
Unfortunately, even with cellular data turned off, it could still be in use. You do not want to come back home from your vacation to discover a ridiculously high phone bill. Also note that in airplane mode, you can still use your phone in wifi zones.
If you are like me, you might underestimate how long it takes to pack and go. On the other hand, never assume the journey to the airport will take exactly how ever long you think. Undoubtedly, there will be delays, especially if you need to get somewhere. That is just how life seems to work.
Recently I had a flight at 12:30 p.m. from Paris to Toronto. Moreover, I had to get a covid test at the airport. Based on google maps, it would take 1 hour 30 minutes to get there. Therefore, I leave my airbnb at 7:30a.m., walk to the metro, and buy my ticket. After which I find out I must walk another block to the stop. Upon arrival, I have to wait 20 minutes for the shuttle. Of course, once we get to the 5 minute mark, it changes to 25 minutes.
What followed was a series of chaotic events from the covid testing centre at one end of the airport and my check-in counter at the other end. Indeed, I made it on the flight, but it was pure panic. Which leads me to the main point, always leave extra early for the airport.
This travel tip you should not overlook is one you do not want to learn until it is too late. If you are travelling with a checked bag and a carry-on, be sure to keep essential items with you. For example, clothes for a few days, toothbrush, and chargers, for instance.
I encountered this lesson on a flight from Rome to Prague recently. While waiting for my suitcase to show up on the baggage carousel, the carousel stopped and my luggage was no where to be found. At this point, I had to report my luggage as missing. You can imagine my frustration leaving the airport with only a laptop, a book, and face masks.
Luckily, I got a call the next day saying my luggage was found, and to expect delivery that evening. Without a doubt, that situation is certainly not something you want to deal with ever. As a result, I later switched to a carry-on size luggage so I never have to go through that again. However, if you must bring a checked bag, be sure to pack essentials in your carry-on/personal items.
Travel tip #4 is incredibly helpful if you already know the restaurants and attractions you want to visit. If you open maps, find all the places you want to go and hit save to mark with a green flag. Additionally, those flags will stay visible outside a wifi zone.
Before I started doing this, I would map directions and follow the path until I arrived at whichever place. However, sometimes when you open other apps on your phone, for example, if you want to take a picture, the directions disappear. Consequently, you are stuck trying to remember which streets it told you to take. Despite it not being that big a deal, it is handy to have each place saved and flagged for your own convenience. Also, always make sure to flag your accommodation.
My final travel tip is more important now than ever. With the pandemic still carrying on and travel restrictions changing frequently, it is necessary to find out all information you need before flying anywhere.
When I was flying from Toronto to Rome last year, I had a stopover in Lisbon. Italy’s rules on travel at the time was to show proof of vaccination. Whereas Portugal’s rules stated that you must take a covid test before boarding a flight entering Portugal. Regardless of vaccination status, or if your flight is a layover. Thus, I made sure to bring proof of a negative test to the airport. When I got to the check-in line, I noticed people had been told to step aside. Consequently, the airline was turning people away because they did not get a covid test.
With this in mind, make sure to check with both your destination(s) and your chosen airline about rules of entry. It will save you a lot of trouble and probably a lot of money too.
I hope these travel tips come in handy and that you only have smooth sailing travels in the future! Just know that things happen and it is always better to be prepared. Additionally, be extra prepared with this detailed pre-travel checklist!
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