MY TOP 12 PERPETUAL TRAVEL HABITS
Well, I’m not usually a creature of habits however when it comes to travelling coupled with the perpetual planner in me, it seems habits are quite the topic chez be-lavie!
Allow me to share some of my more useful travel habits with you below…
No. 1
CARRYING PHOTOCOPIES OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, NAMELY THE PASSPORT
You don’t want to be losing your passport, nor do you want to be lugging around this multi-page, work of international stamp-art! I always make a couple of photocopies of my passport and carry on a copy and leave all original documents in the safe back at base. This applies to travel itinerary’s too!
No. 2
USE PACKING CUBES TO SECTION OUT CLOTHING TO ALLOW A LEVEL OF WARDROBE ORGANISATION AT DESTINATION
These guys are literally my godsend. I discovered them back in my student budget travel days and are great for separating clothes out into sections. They come in all shapes and sizes for clothing, for shoes and some even have a split-level compartment for unwashed items too!
My personal favourites are Eagle Creek or ebags. Try them once and you will be hooked! Unpacking and packing when doing multi-stop trips will never have been easier!
No. 3
ADD ON EXTRA TIME TO ENSURE EARLY ARRIVAL
Personally, I find a lot of stress regarding where to park, drop off baggage, check-in, go through security stems from not leaving yourself enough time! Getting to the airport, or wherever you need to be travelling to early never hurt anyone (well maybe just your beauty sleep!) Grab a coffee, some snacks, champagne and chill out to alleviate any unnecessary stress levels! Fancy a read of my Premier Lounge experience at Birmingham Airport?
No. 4
PUT TOGETHER A FLIGHT PACK AND ADD TO HAND LUGGAGE
This is an absolute must in my opinion. I usually use one of my small packing cubes and fill with essentials such as electrical chargers or batteries or phones, cameras, etc. Some in-flight essentials, including socks, toiletries (I usually only take travel size products or decant large products for trips of up to two weeks!) undies, light change of clothes, yup my luggage has been lost several times and I definitely DO NOT go for turning them inside out!
NO. 5
CARRY ALL VALUABLE ON PERSON OR HAND LUGGAGE
This is common sense but I’ve seen it so many times. All currency and any money, should be on person. Find a suitable hiding place, remember the saying don’t carry all your eggs in one basket?! Same applies with cash! Jewellery-wise, wear the valuable items ie rings (as they’re insured when you’re wearing them!) and leave the rest behind!
No. 6
GET A FLIGHT ROUTINE GOING ESPECIALLY ON OVERNIGHT TRIPS
Overnight flights can sometimes be difficult but getting yourself into a night time routine can help if you’re sitting in economy and don’t have the luxuries of PJ’s and a reclining bed in First or Business class! Personally, loose fitting clothing, socks, blanket, brush teeth, hand and night cream, eye drops and an eye mask are on my checklist!
No. 7
PACK YOURSELF A MINI-PHARMACY, MAYBE NOT AS OBSESSIVELY AS ME THOUGH!!
No when you have Type 1 diabetes and love to travel, you literally are taking a mini-pharmacy concoction with you however even you regular condition-free travellers don’t want to be scouting around for a pharmacy at your destination! I always have a little first aid bag that contains mozzy/bug spray, plasters, pain killers, bandages, anti-histamine cream, etc in my checked-in bag.
NO. 8
PACK AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE, LAUNDRY EXISTS ABROAD!
I like to pack light where possible and therefore take advantage of local laundry services and stick to an almost capsule style wardrobe to similar colour palette. This is especially possible on short-haul trips or trips like my recent adventure to Central America where internal flight luggage restrictions limited us to 10 kg of checked-in baggage and 5 kg of hand! Small food or make-up stains can be dealt with by using an eraser pen such as Tide to Go!
No. 9
A SCARF IS YOUR ONE VERSATILE ITEM & SAVIOUR! KEEP IT ON YOU AT ALL TIMES!
I always pack or should I say wear a scarf! One of the most handiest items ever to keep you warm, accessorise, visit places of modesty or worship! I have a number that can double up as wraps or sarongs too!
No. 10
SPEND TIME AND APPRECIATE YOUR SURROUNDINGS
On my recent trip to Guatemala and Belize, I focused more on staying at remote lodges and really taking a slower pace of life by really appreciating and thinking about my surroundings. It’s a great way to unwind with such a busy lifestyle and this has now made it onto my travel habit list! Something I am definitely going to be doing more of! Read more on my relaxing stay at La Casa del Mundo on Lake Atitlàn.
NO.11
TALK TO AS MANY LOCALES AS POSSIBLE
Totally have to make it a habit to partake in local and authentic experiences to talk, eat and live a little like a local. One of the most rewarding things about travel is meeting the people of the land and hearing their stories.
No. 12
ALWAYS READ UP ON DESTINATIONS AND PLAN OUT AN ITINERARY OF YOUR OWN
Last but not least, the perpetual planner in me likes to do my research properly and for this it usually means adding to my collection of Lonely Planet guides! This is one habit that will never budge!
That’s your lot folks! I hope you find some of my perpetual travel habits useful! Now, the question is what habits are you going to share?
Á Bientôt…
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Travel Link-up
This month we would love to hear about your travel habits. Topics ideas could include: are you swayed by the seasons? Do you start new ones each spring? Have you ditched any old ones recently? Do you explore more locally?
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Just pop your post up over the first week of the month (the 1st – 7th April 2019), add it to the link up widget found on Silverspoon London, Adventures of a London Kiwi and Binny’s Food and Travel Diaries, or on the blog of our lovely co-host Kerry, Life and Loves.
There are no rules – all we ask is that you check out some of the other cool bloggers that are involved in that months travel link up; make a few comments here and there and tweet a few of the posts out to your followers that you think they will love. It’s a great way to meet some new travel bloggers and share some blogging joy!
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Kerry LifeandLoves
Oh I loved this! I was reading through nodding at a few, so it seems that I too have some regular travel habits that maybe I didnt realise I did! I feel the need to try packing cubes now Bejal. I have been told about them before, but not tried them yet. I need them in my life! Fab post, really enjoyed reading it xxx
Bejal
Kerry LifeandLovesThanks so much Kerry! Haha yes packing cubes are definitely a god send and thoroughly recommend them! Thanks for reading and glad I’m not the only one with these habits! xx
louiseloveslondon
OK – this might as well have been my post … Are we sisters from another mother (or something?) I absolutely LOVE how organised you are! I am exactly like you which is why I (almost) never forget anything, when travelling. I take pride in packing and Frenchie says, that i have a PhD in packing hahaha! And yes to the scarf! So important!
Louise x
Bejal
louiseloveslondonHaha! It does look like we’re sisters from another mother for sure!! Glad I’m not the only perpetual packer! Well I cannot claim to have a PhD but I can make a pretty darn fine attempt of it! B xxx
Scarlett Roitman
Some great tips and love your little packing tubes. But 10kg luggage? How do you do it? Pas possible for this Londoness!
Bejal
Scarlett RoitmanThanks Scarlett! I used to take everything with me but recently I’ve learnt the art of packing light and the capsule wardrobe!! x
Emma @ Adventures of a London Kiwi
TRAVEL CUUUUUUBES!!
Bejal
Emma @ Adventures of a London KiwiYes!!!! They are my saving grace!!
Binita Shah-Patel
Love this!! packing cubes are my fave! I love them!!
Bejal
Binita Shah-PatelThey are the best right?! My go to packing item!
Harpreet
Bejal, I think it is my life’s mission to meet you in person now because you may just be my kindred spirit! Yes to all of these…you will not believe this but the last pic you have shared with your itinerary….well, my husband and I do exactly that! I am so glad that I am not the only one…reading everyone’s posts has been most therapeutic and I can rest easy with my habits knowing that these are totally normal!!
Bejal
HarpreetYes that IS your mission, should you chose to accept it Harpreet! we will meet one day and discuss our travel habits for sure!
Cristina - Memories of the Pacific
These are some great tips, Bejal! I have some of the same habits but I had never heard of packing cubes before!
Bejal
Cristina – Memories of the PacificThanks Cristina! Oh packing cubes are the best! You really need them in your life and I assure you, you will wonder where they have been all your life!
Neha
Some brilliant tips that I can definitely relate to! Thanks for sharing. Being prepared is always so key and yes packing light- something I have had to learn with all the short haul flight and luggage charges recently.
Bejal
NehaThanks Neha! Yep travelling light is definitely the way forward! Just less stuff to look after and also no waiting around at luggage carousels at the other end!
Simply Rasha
I’m loving that first habit, I’ve never thought of doing that but I will remember to now! I never seem to be able to pack light though.
Now you have me thinking of my travel habits…the one thing I always do is make a list a few days before I travel of all the essentials I need to pack last minute (chargers, adaptors, toiletries…)
Bejal
Simply RashaGlad that it’s been useful Rasha! Lists are brilliant! The satisfaction of checking your holiday stuff on it is priceless.
thetravelsofmrsb
Oh yes, these are all some great tips!!!
Bejal
thetravelsofmrsbThanks Laura!
Emmalene aka A Brummie Home and Abroad
So many handy tips Bejal! I’m still working on the whole minimal packing thing but I’ve cracked some of your others! My Lonely Planet collection is similar too – can’t resist when they have a 3 for 2 offer on – even if it’s not somehwere we’re travelling just yet!
Bejal
Emmalene aka A Brummie Home and AbroadThanks for stopping by lovely! Lone;y Planet are just the best! Oh really?! I may just have to start buying to inspire future travels, whenever they may be!