Tips For Travel Success {Vol. 2}

As I have mentioned, I am taking two trips this fall, one to Dallas, TX and the other to Washington D.C. As excited as I am for both, I am especially nervous about the Dallas trip because I will be travelling by plane and BY MYSELF!! This may not seem like a big deal to most as I am sure others have been on a plane by themselves numerous times, however, I have not. I have traveled by plane twice ever once in 2007 and once in 2008, both times with my husband. He knows what to do, he knows how to navigate through a busy airport. Luckily enough for me, I got a direct flight so I won’t have to worry about any layovers and run the risk of missing a connecting flight. But as I plan for this trip I have come up with some things that I have found to be super helpful and even some answers to questions I have asked.

Tip#1: Download the App. As soon as I booked my flight, I downloaded the Delta app. It doesn’t give me a whole lot of info, I am sure it’s there if I need it, but all I had to do was log in and all of my flight info is right there. It’s nice when someone asks what time my flight leaves or lands, etc…it’s right there. It’s not one of those moments where I have to look it up when I get home or jump through a bunch of hoops. Also, download the app for the airport if it’s available. This will help you to know traffic getting in and out, if any of the parking lots are closed down, if there are any weather issues or flight delays. This may not be info that I need right now, but it’s good to know and have ahead of time.

Tip #2: Check Airline Rules. Most people probably already know the rules of airports and airlines. I feel like most of them are the same across the board. No liquid over 3 ounces, no weapons, only one carry on, etc. What I mean, is check the specifics of that airline. Delta charges for checked bags, so I am going to do a carry on. Being that it’s just a weekend away, I think I can make this happen. You might wonder why I picked Delta if they charge for baggage..well they had the best deal on a flight and I know that Delta has a reputable business so I’ll be in good hands. But not all airlines charge for baggage. This is good to know ahead of time so that you can plan accordingly financially. It may also help prepare you how to pack. If you’re travelling with a significant other or a family, $25 each adds up quickly. Another thing to check are the carry one rules. Delta, as I am sure, most other airlines, allow you one personal item such as a purse, or laptop bag, and a carry on. So I will have my purse with all my essentials and then my carry on. A larger purse or backpack can also help you pack more efficiently so you don’t have to check baggage. One thing I did not know is that a jacket or umbrella does not count as a carry one so it’s an added bonus. So if it’s raining or cold…go ahead and bring your jacket, you don’t need to worry about stuffing it into your bag. Also, my husband told me and I confirmed this on Delta’s website, that with carry on baggage, sometimes the plane may not be able to accommodate carry on baggage due to airline size, so they will give you something called priority checking. Where they give you a pink tag and you “check” your baggage with the flight attendants and they keep it up in a separate area of the plane. Before you get off the plane you hand them your ticket, they hand you your bag. Much like a coat check at a restaurant. It’s no charge but still allows you to carry on and not have to wait at baggage claim. All in all, just check your airline’s website or call them so that you can be as prepared as possible.

Tip#3: Ask questions of others. Like mentioned above, I’ve never flown alone, so I am quite nervous. I have been asking my husband every question under the sun. Even posing questions to the Facebook group I am in for this trip. But I think this helps you get prepared. I asked Rob about security and check in. He said to check in electronically if you can (I can through my Delta app!), and just have your ID out and ready with your electronic (or paper) boarding pass. He also said to don’t look nervous and just listen to what the TSA officers tell you to do. He said that most things are completely random, so don’t be surprised if you have extra security measure to go through. If I hadn’t asked, I would have not known that I could be chosen to do this and I would be a nervous wreck. So ask questions, even if they seem dumb. Better to know ahead of time ! Questions I’ve asked others: Do they allow snacks on the plane? If so, do they have to be in a ziploc bag like liquids? Can you take makeup on a plane? Does it have to be in my “liquids bag”. What if something doesn’t meet the proper guidelines? Do they make you throw it away? See dumb questions!

Tip#4: Be flexible. I am not one to be flexible. I like to control things and have a plan for everything. However, I am realizing after talking with Rob that I really do have to be flexible. You don’t know how long the TSA line will be. And even though I’m doing everything right, doesn’t mean that someone else is. Are they causing commotion, taking too long, do they have liquids and things have to be inspected? So that’s why they tell you to get there 2 hours before your flight. Also, if for some reason your seat gets switched or they switch you planes, just deal with it and move on. Don’t cause a scene and go ranting on social media. That doesn’t help. Just comply with them and all will be good.

You may be thinking, duh, Linds, I already knew all this. Well somebody may not and now I am hoping they do. So good luck in your travels. Enjoy it. Don’t stress. Use some of these tips to help you be better prepared and to enjoy every second of your trip!

(Stay tuned for future posts on carry on packing and travel by car for my D.C. trip! )

Tips For Travel Success {Vol. 1}

So, one thing that Rob and I have done a lot is travel. It’s usually to nearby cities and states and just for a weekend, but we’ve still done a lot. Most of it has been done by car as well. I feel like I am a pro at preparing, and packing, and making your travel successful. This year we haven’t done much except for maybe a trip or two to Indy for a wedding or the Indy 500, but coming up in the fall we, well I, have two trips. I’m sitting here thinking, today is almost exactly four months until my first trip. Some might think, oh 4 months? That’s plenty of time! I think, “what ONLY 4 months?! I better get moving!”

Let me first start by telling you a bit about my trips. One is a weekend trip for a conference for Moms in the Making, which is a faith-based infertility support group. This is in Dallas, TX, which means I will have to fly….by myself. Our next trip is to Washington, D.C. for Rob to run the Marine Corps Marathon. This is the very next weekend after Dallas and will be longer than just a weekend. So with two trips back-to-back, I better get my stuff in gear! So here I am, making lists and thinking of things I may need to do or get prior to the trips. Let me share some of my tips with you. And I labeled this as ‘Vol.1’ anticipating having other tips in the coming months!

Tip#1: BE ORGANIZED! This is very straight forward and may seem kind of obvious, but it’s so so important. Make a list of everything, I mean literally everything you want to take on the trip or what you might need. Just make the list. I start with my day, when I wake up I go to the restroom then I take my medications, so that’s a place to start. Write down “medication” and then list out all that you need to take, prescription, supplements, vitamins, etc. Then go down the list through bathroom stuff, clothing, cell phone charger, book, Bible, etc. After you’ve made the list then you can go through and mark off things you already have and maybe circle or highlight things you may want new of. For example, headphones are probably a good one. An 8+ hour car ride and a long plane ride, headphones for me will be imperative, so I’ll write that down and highlight it as something that I need to buy. And now I have several months to buy them. Even if it’s a cheapo pair, I know that I need them, so I’m not rushing out at the last minute. Making this list will also help you eliminate what you don’t need to take. You could scratch off some things. Or, can you borrow something from a friend. Maybe you need a new suitcase but it’s just not in the budget to buy a new one. Can you borrow one from a friend? That will help as well!

Tip#2: PACK EARLY. When I say early, I don’t mean like a month before, but I mean a few days before. My husband is a last minute packer. No matter how many times I bug him about it and say things like, “what do you need to have packed?”, he will always say “I’ll get it!” and that’s it. Then he’s up late finishing laundry and packing or throwing stuff in his suitcase as we’re walking out the door causing stress and you to forget something. So, if you’re planning to leave on a Friday, then start packing on Tuesday. This could mean, start doing laundry and make sure all vacation clothes are clean and make sure you don’t wear them that week. This will help you know what still needs to be washed. You can even just lay this stuff out or have a pile of stuff somewhere if you’re not ready to fully pack your bag. The goal of this is to have every last thing ready and packed so that you can walk out the door on time. Especially if you’re catching a flight, you’re at the mercy of the airport and airline, so you better be on time.

Tip#3: STAY CALM! Stuff IS going to come up last minute. No matter how many lists you make. This is why I suggested organization in tip one. Control what you can, because you never know when things will go awry. If you’re driving to your destination you may hit traffic or you all of a sudden need an oil change, or the person who was going to get your mail and feed your cat all of a sudden can’t. These are things that can be stressful to deal with right before you leave, so having everything else done ahead of time will make things so much easier. If your cat sitter bailed on you two days before, but everything else is pretty much done and you’ve delegated things on to others in your house, then finding a new sitter will be much easier.

Tip#4: SPEND WISELY! One thing that a vacation is is expensive. It does not matter how far in advance you plan, if you’ve been saving for years or it’s on a whim, it is costly. Unless you’re going home for the holidays and staying with family and eating your mom’s home cooking, chances are, you’ll have a lot to pay for. Hotel, gas, food, excursions, etc. It’s all so expensive and adds up quickly. If you’re like us…our money is our money, meaning, what we have is also meant to pay bills and live our lives before and after vacation. We don’t have a separate vacation fund, although we should! So, think of things like pre paying for a hotel room, of if that’s not feasible, just make sure the funds are available upon checkout. Look ahead at gas prices in the cities you’ll be driving through. Take drinks and snacks with you. If you get a drink/snack at every single place you stop along the way, you’ll go broke before you even get to your destination. Gas station and rest stop prices tend to be higher than regular stores. This will also help you avoid so many stops. Another thing to account for is toll roads. Look ahead at your route and account for tolls. If there is an activity you want to do while on vacation, can you buy the admission prior to going? Are there online coupons for the activity? Basically, have a plan of how much you want or can spend on vacation without hurting yourselves and stick to that. If you use a credit card, make sure you can pay it off in full when you get back!

Tip#5: PRAY! If you’re a believer, then pray! Pray for peace and calm and that all of the above tips come together smoothly. Pray for safe travels and desirable weather. Pray for financial support and not strain. Pray for a happy family and no stress or arguing. Pray through your trip that it continues to go as planned and that you enjoy it to your utmost abilities!

I hope this has helped a bit. Stay tuned as I am making this an all travel week, unless the Holy Spirit leads me to write about something else. I plan to talk more about packing and a timeline of travelling, etc. If you think of another tip, list it and I can add it to a future list!