Smart travelling
20 tips to make your holiday smoother
1 Use flight comparison sites For the most options and often the best fares, use flight comparison websites, but also double-check fares directly with the airline. You can sometimes save on flights when you book directly and cut out the middleman.
2 Use a seat-guide app Not all plane seats are equal, but with a guide like seatguru.com you can find out all the pros and cons of each seat before you book. 3 Veer to the left It’s been shown that most people, being right handed, tend to turn to the right first, so do the opposite. Go to the left and you may be able to move faster through airport security and customs.
4 Save a few Google maps directly to your phone When you first arrive in a new country, you may not be able to connect to Wi-Fi or data right away. A few key maps downloaded to your phone can help you get to your hotel. 5 Bring a portable charger Arrive at the airport with a fully loaded portable charger and plug it in whenever possible. That way, you can easily resuscitate your phone when it runs out of power. 6 Tie a ribbon on it Make luggage identification easier by tying a bright ribbon or colourful luggage strap on your bags so you can spot them easily. 7 Bring an empty water bottle Instead of buying bottled water at the airport, bring your own reusable water bottle and fill it up after you pass through security.
8 Take photos of your luggage Take photos of your checked luggage before you leave. If you lose your luggage, you can show the pictures to airport staff. 9 Get fit to fly
Travelling can be stressful. Handle the stress better by exercising before you fly. The endorphins released can improve your mood. 10 Pack personal essentials in your cabin luggage Be prepared for the possibility you could be separated from your checked luggage by packing spare socks, underwear, essential medications and basic toiletries in your cabin bag. 11 Pack a sarong
It’s not just for the beach anymore. It can serve as a blanket at the airport or a way to cover your shoulders at a religious site. 12 Bag your shoes
Keep the rest of your packed items clean by putting your shoes in grocery bags before you pack them.
13 Pack heavy items close to the wheels Reduce wrinkles and keep your luggage from toppling over by packing your heaviest items close to the wheels. 14 Put all your tech stuff in one bag Cords, chargers, devices, camera accessories and external drives: all of them can create a mess. Tame them by storing in one zippable bag. 15 Download Google Translate With the Google Translate app, you can hold your phone’s camera up to any text, including street signs, and the app will translate it. 16 Change money ahead of time Avoid purchasing foreign currency at the airport. Order currency in advance to get the best deal. 17 Be aware of pickpocketing Carry a dummy wallet with you. Keep your real wallet close to your body (such as in an inside jacket pocket) and leave the dummy wallet in a back pocket. 18 Prepare to communicate Download Viber, WhatsApp and Skype before you depart. Between these three apps, you should be able to communicate over Wi-Fi with friends and family back home. 19 Split up your valuables
Don’t carry all your valuables, such as passport, phone, cash and credit cards, in one place. Split them between the safe at your accommodation and your day bag and leave some emergency cash hidden in your accommodation. 20 Email yourself copies of your documents Take photos of your passport, visa, itinerary, flight tickets, hotel confirmations, tour tickets and any other important documents, and email them to yourself. *Jo McCauley is chief customer officer of Southern Cross Travel Insurance.