when it comes to travelling, i like to keep things quite organized and get to wherever i’m going effortlessly. i try to minimize the stress of travelling as much as possible because there are times where nothing goes quite according to plan. these make such a huge difference to the start of my trip. i hope this can be useful to some of you next time you plan a vacation.

1. plan your itinerary once you choose your travel destination. everyone vacations differently, so this will depend on whether you like exploring and filling the days with activities or just relaxing on the beach.

2. check the weather forecast about a week before you pack and add the location to your weather app.

3. make a packing list and double check it. this could potentially save you some money on supplies.

4. have luggage tags on all of your bags. you’d be surprised to know that there are so many people with the exact same luggage.  

5. download the airline app and check in at home. it’s possible that if the flight is full and you’re running late and haven’t checked in by a certain time, the airline could give your seat to a standby passenger. this is also helpful for boarding passes and notifications if the plane is delayed.

6. arrange and confirm transportation to the airport ahead of time. 

7. arrive early especially if this is an international flight. i like to take my time and not be rushed, and it’s a terrible feeling to be running late. i always prepare for traffic getting to the airport and a long line at security, just in case. 

8. if you’re checking in a bag, a way to skip the line inside is to do a bag check outside, if it’s available at the time of your flight. it costs a little extra but the convenience is worth it.

9. apply for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. it allows you to shorten the time to get through airport security. 

in an upcoming blog post, i’ll be sharing on how to travel smart, internationally.