By Jim Hunt
As I am preparing for an upcoming trip to Tacoma, Washington, I thought it might be interesting to talk about some of the little things that have made my life much easier as I travel around the country. I see so many people struggling through airports and navigating the changing rules and I often think, if they only adjusted a few little things, they might have a better travel experience. Make no mistake, travel can still be a challenge and no amount of preparation or planning can avoid all problems, but here are a few that I’ve used to great success.
The first “hack” is proper packing. Too many times I see travelers struggling with multiple bags and overstuffed suitcases. I’ve streamlined my packing by choosing clothes that can be worn with one color of shoes and pants. My go to color is black shoes and black pants and a variety of shirts and pullovers of complimentary colors. This allows me to only pack one belt and one color of socks. My shaving kit has travel sizes of toothpaste, shaving cream and other needs. I generally try to pack a couple days of pills in my shaving kit and carry important pills in my briefcase or backpack if I carry one.
It might seem unimportant, but having a good quality suitcase is also a needed accessory. I’ve had the same Samsonite suitcase for over twenty years. It has taken me around the world, and I’ve gotten used to having it by my side. It rolls on four wheels and can stand by itself. It also fits in almost all the overhead spaces in modern aircraft. It is the typical black suitcase, but I buy a bright color tape and put it on the handle, to make it stand out. I also attach a sturdy identification tag that covers the name and address under a tab. Too many times, I have seen travelers not be able to identify their cases and those who use flimsy tags, often find they have been torn off in transit. The idea of covering your name and home address is useful because of the ease of criminals finding out you are out of town or convincing you that they “know” you and ask for money or other nefarious purposes.
Many travelers don’t use rideshare services like UBER or LYFT on a regular basis and it can be disarming to be getting into a strange car without the traditional markings of a taxi or limo service. I always check the model of car and the drivers name when they confirm the ride. If there is any discrepancy, I will not get in the car without some explanation of the issue. I alsosnap a picture of the car as it is pulling up, including the license plate. It can also be helpful to put your destination into Waze or Google maps, to make sure you on the right route. Generally, the UBER or LYFT driver is using the same app and it just reassures you that you are not being diverted. While this is not a huge problem, it always pays to be careful. Be sure to let someone know before you get in a car and if you feel in danger, alert your contact.
When you get to your hotel, it is a good practice to request any things you need, when you first arrive. While people used to request to be far away from the elevator, as I get older, I request a room near the elevator. This avoids going down a dim hallway, late at night and gets you to your meeting or event on time. I also request two keycards, even when I am by myself. I keep one card in my wallet and one in my pocket. Some cards are still susceptible to magnetic interference, and you don’t want to get to your door after a long night and find out your keycard doesn’t work.
These are just a few things that I have found that makes my travel less stressful. I think I may do another column on these “hacks”, as I’ve thought of a few more that I think are helpful.
Safe travels!!!