9.21.2018

going on a trip — 6 ideas to make travel easier




Packing is the least fun part of traveling. I'm leaving for England in just three days — I'm literally  counting down the days — and I've had stuff sitting on our guestroom bed for a week or so. But putting it all into a suitcase? That feels like work.

Here's how I get ready for a trip — six things you might do (or bring) to make your travels as easy and pleasurable as possible:

#1 — create a laminated packing list. Before I had a packing list, I had to re-invent the wheel each time I travelled. I had to remember all the clothes to bring, all the toiletries I'd need, and all the various gadgets I'd want. How many times have you forgotten a belt, a tie, a hat, a tube of toothpaste, or forgotten to cancel the newspaper?

So I created my own customized packing list, printed it in a column on both sides of a sheet of paper, and had the friendly folks at Staples laminate it (about $5). Every time I get ready to travel, I consult my check list. It reminds me of all the things I need to do: fully charge my electronics; put my passport and foreign currency into my carryon; pack power adapters if I'm visiting Europe or Asia; etc.

#2 — save your business class amenity kits. They are the perfect size to store electronics items you always need. One for my MacBook holds the computer's power plug and cord, a multiport adapter, and a USB-to-lightening cable. Another for my various iDevices always has a Dual USB wall charger and two USB-to-lightening cables.

#3 — Bose noise-cancelling airbuds; click here to see the item. I find in-ear headphones preferable to over-the-ear when traveling because they take up so much less space in a carryon. Expensive but worth it if you fly a lot, my Bose eliminates most jet noise. With my earbuds, I can hear clearly the audio from the flight's entertainment system or my iPad. They also serve as headphones for my iPhone.

#4 — Cree LED mini flashlightclick here for a photo. Light and tiny, this item takes up no space in my toiletries bag. A flashlight on your side table is very handy if you need to use the WC in the middle of the night — no need to turn on the room lights which tends to wake you up ... or stumble your way into the bathroom in the darkness. A flashlight also comes in handy when you need to get ready while your partner is still sleeping.

#5 — LL Bean travel pillow; click here to see the item. This isn't for the plane; it's for my hotel bed. I'm very picky about pillows. I prefer soft, thin feather pillows, cushy with just enough support for my neck. If a pillow is too thick, it pushes my neck and head forward all night and I wake up with a neck ache. When packing, the pillow compresses and takes virtually no space — and I only use it if the hotel pillows are too thick.

#6 — check in online 24 hours in advance, print your boarding pass, confirm your limo, and track your flight on the morning of your departure. If you're flying over the pond (as I'm doing on Monday on British Airways), I'll also check the incoming flight. If you know ahead of time if an incoming flight is going to be very late, you'll be able to make alternate plans.

copyright (c) 2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

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