Seven Travel Tips For Hassle Free Trips

I don’t know about you, but in my book air travel just ain’t what it used to be! Back in my OLDEN DAYS as a travel agent (wow…I sound ancient), I used to wear a business suit and high heels whenever I flew. In fact, most women did. And nobody in First Class would think of wearing jeans! It was a fashion show on every flight. But I’ll admit I felt totally overdressed in my suit and heels when my flight was cancelled and I was forced to spend a stormy night sleeping on the floor behind the ticket counter at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. (For the record, my briefcase did NOT make a very comfortable pillow!)

We all know air travel today has definitely become more casual, but it has also gotten even more challenging and expensive! So today, Peepaw and I prefer to make most of our trips ROAD Trips, especially since we’re retired and we have no deadlines on when and where we have to be somewhere. But when we do fly, we use every trick in the book to avoid checking a bag. And here are a few tips to help you pack like a pro, or in my case, an OLD pro!

Roll, Roll, Roll Your Clothes  

You can fit MUCH MORE into a tight space if you roll your clothes tightly.

This carry on bag and my purse contained all of my belongings when we headed to Pasadena for a five day Rose Bowl trip. (Notice all of the black and gold attire?!)

Carry A Purse IN A Purse  

If you’re like me, you don’t want to lug around a huge bag when you go out for the evening, so I always stash a small purse inside my BIG purse on a trip. And don’t waste the space in that small purse! It’s the perfect size for your extra earrings, jewelry, or other small items that might get “lost the shuffle” in that big bag! 

Keep Jewelry Untangled

Here is an easy way to transport those tiny earrings. Put them in a small pill container! 

And thread your thin necklaces through a drinking straw and refasten. That will keep them from becoming tangled in your cosmetic bag or purse.

Invest in a Shawl  

Yes, I KNOW it’s really wrinkled! But as my dear old Dad used to say…”It’s not a dress parade.” I stuff a shawl or large scarf in my bag and pull it out when I board the plane. Or I wrap it around my shoulders when I get to the airport. We all know planes are notoriously drafty, cold, and loud…not to mention less than sanitary. So after I board the plane I simply wrap myself up like a mummy and lean back for the ride. I’m not sure if it keeps germs away, but it always makes me feel better about the whole adventure. (Ha!) And sometimes I can even doze off for a nap. Just think of it as swaddling clothes for adults! (Calms ME right down, anyway.)

Copy Your Credit Cards And Drivers License

First of all, remove ALL unnecessary credit cards from your wallet or purse and leave them in a safe place at home. Then head to your nearest copy machine. Next, lay all your remaining cards face down and make two copies. Leave one copy at home and place the other in your purse or in a secure pocket in your carry on. In the unfortunate event your wallet is stolen, you will know exactly which cards you need to cancel immediately. (Be sure you have the Customer Service numbers for those cards with you…and NOT in your purse!)

Arrive Early At The Airport 

This is my number one rule. Don’t cut it close since you have no idea how much time the security checks will take. We arrive early…usually at least two hours before departure, and we make our way through that chaotic maze otherwise known as the checkpoint. THEN we can RELAX…and sit down to enjoy a leisurely meal before our flight. (Thank heaven the restaurant selections have improved at most airports!)

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff!

I am always shocked by the number of people who make a scene because of their seat assignments, or the wait time to board a flight, or for a million other different reasons. Always remember the number one goal of an airline is to get you to your destination in one piece! So PLEASE…just try to relax and go with the flow. (The older I get, the easier that is for me when I travel.) So if Peepaw and I are not seated together on a flight…who cares? We’ve been together for ALMOST 50 YEARS, so sitting several rows apart for a few hours is NOT worth a scene!

The next time you head to the airport, think Roll…Stuff…and Swaddle. And when it comes to the “small stuff,” it’s like our grandkids say, “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit!”

So follow my travel tips and maybe those friendly skies will seem just a little bit friendlier the next time you fly!