10 Traveling tips that can save your life (or at least time and money or even humiliation) when traveling abroad.

Posted by louison on Thursday, 07.30.2009 05:12 AM

Tags: travel, abroad, tips

 10 If you can’t pack them wear them.

Imagine going overboard on your clothes shopping and exceeding the maximum allowed weight. Here’s one trick that has been tried and tested on how to sneak in the excess – WEAR IT!

This trick saved me last year when I exceeded 10 lbs and I refused to pay the 100$ excess baggage fee. I just told the check in counter that I’ll be back to clear out some stuff but instead I just put on everything that I can possibly fit into. The trick is put the lighter materials first: Sweaters over shirts, jeans over slacks over pajamas over boxers. I ended up wearing 4 boxers, slacks, jeans, 2 shirts, a polo shirt, a long sleeve polo, a sweater and a coat. It will not end there though; I was also able to fit some stuff into my pockets (this is where carpenter pants come very handy). When I came back I can tell that the check in lady knew what I did (I actually looked like marshmallow man) and I just couldn’t hide the smirk off my face. She must be really pissed how I get to rob them 100$ this time around.

After checking in, just have a paper/plastic bag ready and you may remove your “outfit”, unless you want to fly thick for hours.

9 Utilize your personal item carry-on

We all know that we are only allowed ONE carry on bag inside the plane. But we often neglect the Personal Item freebie that the airport allows us to have apart from the carry-on luggage. Instead of carrying a small body bag as your personal item, carry a bigger laptop bag and put everything in there. You may be able to utilize the extra pockets and space that the bigger bag provides. You may even put extra clothes and food inside for the longer trips.

8 Prepare a medicine kit

Under medication? Don’t forget to pack your medicine as well. You have no idea how expensive medicine is abroad or worse, it may not even be available. But unless you want to risk drinking cough syrup with only Chinese characters written on its label, you’ll be fine. Pack in some vitamins as well, you would want to build up your immune system to avoid being sick and ruin your much awaited vacation.

7 Know the colloquial

Who told you that English is universal? Swagger actually means so much different in two different continents. It is also nice to know some basic phrases of a foreign language (like Thank you, please, how much, you’re welcome, Nice rack etc)

6 Google is your best friend

With our technology so advanced it is a mortal sin to get lost nowadays. Google map your way and research the ways to go to your destination. The worst thing that could happen is ending up in the middle of nowhere with having no one around you speak your language (but if you follow number 7 and can say Nice Rack in perfect Russian, you’ll definitelyl get there guaranteed).

5 Avoid packing white garments

This is very applicable to longer trips where you have to do your laundry along the way. And these include TIGHT WHITIES! Imagine how embarrassing trying to dry those things on a clothes line. Plus it’s much harder to do separate washing every time as compared to just doing it all at once.

4 Charge all your gadgets

Before leaving the house make sure that your camera, iPod, laptop, cellphone, are fully charged. Moreover make sure that you also bring the chargers with you and check if you have the applicable socket converter for them. Remember that some countries have some weird ass sockets that require special converters so research on it before hand.

3 Super Glue is a Traveler’s Best Friend

May it be a shoe sole, a broken stuff or you just want to hang upside down with your feet glued to a wooden plank suspended mid air, this little piece of wonder can definitely be a life saver.

2 Water makes up 80% of your body

As much as possible, you should try to carry water with you wherever you go. Price of this basic necessity can be insanely high (Evian is cheap in UK though). I once paid 3$ for a bottled water that I know back in Manila would only cost me 10 pesos!

1 Photocopy your passport, visas and ID’s then email to self and to a relative/friend

This may be very useful when you lose your belongings and need to access vital information. You may be able to access them online, print it and use it a back up in case you need to replace it afterwards. You wouldn’t want to be stuck in Guatemala because you cannot remember your passport number nor your date of birth.

Tags: travel, abroad, tips

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