Taking a trip, whether for business or pleasure, requires a bit of work in order for the trip to be enjoyable or productive. I’m listing here some travel tips that I have found in my 15 years of being a Travel Agent that will help you to save time and frustration when you travel. Traveling should be an adventure that you truly enjoy, not something you dread because of all the preparations you need to make!
BUSINESS TRAVEL
When traveling for business, many times you will have someone in your office to make all the arrangements and take care of the small details for you. But when you own your own business and haven’t yet grown to the extent of hiring assistants, you must deal with this on your own. And one thing everyone who owns a business knows for sure……Time Is Money! So, wasting time by handling all the small details can truly be frustrating. That’s why organization is imperative! If you take the time to do this in advance, it will save you a Ton of time later!
First of all, start a file with all of the cities you will be traveling to. Then for each city, research and make a list of the hotels that fit into your budget and list their addresses and phone numbers. This file will prove to be essential as you make your travel plans each week and/or month.
YOUR ATTITUDE COUNTS!
Next, remember to be kind to others when traveling. I found this on another website referring to business travel. I felt it was definitely worth sharing here:
Traveling for business isn’t always easy. Sleeping on planes, packing constantly for trips and staying glued to your mobile device can derail your routine and make you grumpy.
Keeping a positive attitude is the first step to a stress-free travel experience. And acknowledge helpful staff. Travelers have a better chance at getting upgrades, itinerary changes and extraordinary service when they ask politely and maintain happy demeanors.
“When there are problems with the flight, most people start out annoyed or even hostile. If I tell the agents what a great job they’re doing and how I admire their patience, they’ll often go to extraordinary lengths for me,” says motivational speaker Barry Maher. “I once had a gate agent spend 45 minutes to get me rebooked on another airline. Then she called the gate, grabbed one of my carry-ons and ran with me to security. When I got to the gate, the agent bumped me into first class.”
Kindness isn’t the only way to minimize inconveniences and maximize your productivity while traveling. Here are more ways to make traveling for business easier:
PACK SMART
If at all possible, pack what you need in a bag that you can carry on the flight. This will save you so much time and aggravation before and after your flight! Not only will it save you money, because most airlines charge to check baggage now. But, after the flight, you can go directly to the taxi lane or rental car area and beat the crowd from your flight. You can be on your way to your hotel before the rest of the passengers get their luggage!
Save time packing by keeping a carry-on suitcase packed with the minimal amount of clothing, shoes and accessories you need, including 3-ounce toiletries in a Ziploc bag. Trade bulky laptops for thinner laptops and tablets such as a MacBook Air or an iPad. Replace hardcovers with eBooks. If you must bring a coat or bulky shoes, wear them on the plane to avoid taking up space in your luggage.
USE TECHNOLOGY TO GET AHEAD
Check out Seatguru.com to view your airplane’s seating plan in advance, including information about limited recline or legroom seats and in-seat power ports. Find out where galleys, lavatories and exit rows are, and request a seat change that makes working or relaxing easier.
Instead of calling around to restaurants at your destination, make reservations at OpenTable.com, of which 20,000 restaurants worldwide are members.
Keeping customer-service numbers handy offers quicker access to the right people if a flight is cancelled or you need to change a hotel or car reservation, rather than waiting in line once you’re there.
CHOOSE A LOYALTY PROGRAM
If staff notices you frequently patronize their airline, rental-car company or hotel, they are more likely to help you, says Maria Perez, marketing manager of airfare search engine Fly.com.
Members of rewards and loyalty programs often receive early boarding on flights, priority hotel room, first-class upgrades and “all-around better treatment,” Perez says.
Some rental-car companies deliver rental cars to rewards program members personally, while less frequent customers must shuttle to the company’s facility to retrieve their rental.
DRESS WELL
People get much better service when they dress well and appear wealthier. Wearing an outfit that doubles as presentation attire while traveling is also wise in case your baggage is lost or you are late. That way, you’re not stuck in jeans for a big meeting. I know it sounds kind of “snooty” to say that the better you dress, the better you will be treated. But, unfortunately, it’s the truth! It is human nature to respond to someone in a positive manner if they are dressed in a way that indicates importance or wealth. And if you have a meeting to attend the first day you arrive, then you definitely don’t want to take a chance that you won’t have time to change clothes.
RECREATIONAL TRAVEL
When taking a vacation, either with your family or a group of friends, there are still things you can do to ensure you have a great trip. I may be biased since I am a Travel Agent, but I also know that an experienced Travel Agent can help you plan your vacation and add so many benefits and activities that you might never find on your own. For example, I have many contacts in many countries with different people and businesses that offer specific activities for tourists. I know these people and I can assure you that you will be safe and have a great time! On your own, you would probably never find these contacts and you would be missing out on some great activities!
As for what you can do to help ensure you have a great time on your vacation, there are many ways that You can make a difference! First of all, Be Organized! When planning your vacation, start a folder or notebook to keep all of your notes, lists, etc. together in one place. Ask your family which activities they want to participate in while you are on vacation. That way you can know exactly what you want and by telling your Travel Agent ahead of time (or researching this for yourself) you will have everything planned before you ever leave your home.
IMAGINE YOUR GREAT TRIP!
When planning for your vacation, sit down and just close your eyes and imagine the place where you are going. Think about all the things you want to do while you are there. Have a pad and pen with you and jot down everything that goes through your mind. Think about the different places you want to see and also think about what you want to wear to those places. Write down All Of It! This is the beginning of your packing list! If you can imagine all of the things you want to do and what you are wearing while you are there, then you have begun your planning.
THE NEXT STEP
Then take the list of all the things you wrote down and break it down into your packing list and your “Things To Do on Vacation” list. This gives you a great starting point! Now take the Things To Do list and either contact your Travel Agent (or start your research) about the different places you want to visit. I know I have said this several times already and I know that I’m biased but, a Travel Agent will already have contacts, the best forms of transportation to and from the different activities, and very possibly, discounts for the different attractions!
PACKING TIPS
Packing can be a Major Job when it comes to travel. People who travel regularly for business have this down to a science. But traveling with your family or friends for vacation is an entirely different deal. As I mentioned earlier, there are many advantages to packing light and only using a carry on. An excerpt from the blog on the Ricardo Luggage website says the following about packing light:
Many light packers believe in traveling with one bag only. If you go this route, don’t pack for the worst case scenario. Pack for the best-case scenario and buy yourself out of any jams. An advantage to using a smaller suitcase is that there is no possible way to overpack. If you only carry on, you’ll be able to exit the airport quickly. You also avoid any risk of losing your luggage and steer clear of checked bag fees.
That being said, use your personal item wisely. Your personal items are subject to specific size requirements and can vary by airline. But, something like a purse, laptop bag, or backpack is generally acceptable. Don’t waste your personal item allowance with a tiny purse. Opt for one of our highly functional backpacks, totes or messenger bags.
PACKING SECRETS
The best way to pack light but still have everything you need is to Roll your clothes. I know this sounds crazy, but it is a practice I swear by. Rolling your clothes actually minimizes wrinkles and protects your clothes. Putting 2 items together, then rolling actually gives more cushion and protects from wrinkles even more. Also, by placing outfits together in a roll, you can easily find what you need. To properly roll your clothes, lay them out on the bed, then fold them in half. Then roll Tightly from the bottom up. By placing outfits together in a roll, you can easily find what you need while living out of a suitcase. Place heavy items, such as shoes, close to the wheels of your suitcase. This way the weight is distributed to the bottom. This makes it easier to control and also helps prevent it from toppling over when standing upright.
WHAT TO PACK
When you are selecting your clothing for a trip, take a look at each item’s fabric. Consider the following factors: quality, thickness, weight, wrinkles, transparency and texture.
Ideal travel clothing is durable and takes up minimal space and weight. It is wrinkle-free and opaque, and matches with the rest of your clothing in style and fit. Also choose items appropriate for cool or warm weather, depending on your destination, in colors that won’t show stains. Versatile, low-maintenance clothing is key to packing light. Pack dual-purpose garments to maximize the usage of each article of clothing you bring. Ultimately, this means you can bring less. For example, choose an item that is comfortable for touring around but can be dressed up for evening. A perfect option for the ladies would be a little black dress. It’s a good idea to pick two to three colors to plan your outfits around. That way you can mix, match and layer to create different looks rather than packing completely separate outfits.
When it comes to toiletries, don’t waste your packing space by bringing items you can purchase later. Items like shampoo, soap and sunblock are easy to find and usually cheap! Bottled liquids are heavy, bulky, prone to leakage and a security concern. It is suggested to not bring books on your vacations because they are heavy and take up a lot of space. BUT, I have to put in my opinion. If you are like me and Always Busy, vacation is one of the few times you can sink into a good book and not feel guilty! So, download your books to an e-reader or your iPad and read away guilt free!
I hope you have enjoyed reading this segment and that your next trip is a total success! Just for your information, if you love travel like I do, and you would like to work from home as a Travel Agent, please check out this page on my website by Clicking Here! Safe and Happy Travels to You!!
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