I had a completely different post drafted out for my March entry, but it focused entirely too much on ME. And I’d much rather give more advice on ways I can help YOU when it comes to travel and creating your own blog-producing memories! When I reached out for some entry ideas again, ya’ll had some great questions and suggestions! I also realized that not everyone is as much of an eager, Type-A planner as I am (cue letting me do the grunt work for you haha), so I’ll start my next Travel series with ways to prepare before, and even how to pivot during, your trip.
Tip #1: What to Wear, What to Wear?!
Unless you’re heading to a nude beach, at some point you’ll have to figure out what to wear haha. And, especially after May, your airline will likely not provide you with free checked bags (#sadfacesouthwest). So the sky is certainly not the limit in this case. There are so many sub-tips I could delve into on this one, but the most important one I can think of is to know your destination. For example, preparing for a 7-day Jackson Hole winter adventure, flying with our own ski/snowboard equipment, was very different from packing for 10-days of Seattle sights and an Alaskan cruise with a road race in one port!
- Check the average temperatures of your destination as you’re planning, and have at least a rough plan of what it is you plan on doing while you’re there. Does it tend to get chilly at night? Will you be getting in a pool or hot tub? Will you be indulging in a fancy dinner? Doing a lot of walking? When we took our trip to the big island of Hawaii, watching the sunrise on Mauna Kea typically had temps below freezing, but at sea level it was in the 80s! So even though that particular excursion was unfortunately cancelled due to snow, we had to pack clothing to accommodate just in case and that took up a bit of suitcase real estate.
- Consider your transportation options wherever you’re going. Are you renting a car, getting an Uber/Lyft, or will you be expected to shlep 6 blocks and take public transportation to your destination? While your biggest suitcase might fit the most stuff, think about navigating unfamiliar airports and cities with it. Also keep in mind, some forms of transportation have luggage limits (trains, especially) and traveling with a larger party can affect some things, too. For example, an 8-passenger van seems like a big enough space for 6 people until you’re Tetris-ing 3 checked-size bags, 5 carry-ons, and multiple personal items inside 😛
- Think about your essentials and make a list! It doesn’t have to be a nicely typed one like I show here, but just jotting down some ideas as you’re planning will help a lot when you are standing in front of your empty suitcase. I suggest selecting pieces of clothing that you can pair together differently to make new outfits. I even reminded myself with this list in particular to do that so I didn’t overpack haha. I try to have a plan of what to wear each day, with a few alternates in case weather/plans/things change. And always comfort, comfort, comfort. Whether your trip is for relaxation or to fulfill a bucket list item, you don’t want to spend any extra time recovering from shoes that weren’t previously broken in or unexpected chafing (ouch).
So unless you’re okay with some extra, likely expensive, souvenirs for your trip home, just do a little research first! Yes, you can usually buy anything you need anywhere you end up…but after what you paid for the trip in the first place, do you want/need those added expenses?
Tip #2: Adventure Awaits
If you’ve done a cruise or traveled with a guided tour/sightseeing company, excursion planning is typically pretty easy, since half of the work is done for you. They either offer specific add-ons that you can experience, covering a variety of options for all ages, or your choices are already included (or suggested) as you book. But, how do you choose activities that aren’t provided by your cruise ship, tour company, or resort? Or what if you heard about this crazy expedition your co-worker’s sister’s bestie did and it was the best thing EVER?
- First… Do. Your. Research. Even for those excursions that are recommended or even provided! Not only should you think about your own personal interests and the wants/needs of the party you are traveling with (if applicable), but pay attention to how you’ll get there, what might affect your experience both positively and negatively, and cancellation policies. Seek out honest reviews and compare/contrast to other offerings that might provide the same or similar experience (especially if there is a drastic price difference). Also, just because it’s something your cruise line or tour company offers, you are not bound to those options! (And this is something I can definitely save you time with as your travel advisor…I love doing the research and building itineraries!)
- Then… Find a reputable company. Even before I started working in the travel industry, I booked multiple experiences through Viator. Again, this is something I can do for you, but all you have to provide is where/when you’re going, and the party of people that will be joining in. The results tell you who is providing the experience/excursion, gives real traveler reviews, and provides 24/7 support. Many of the offerings also have great cancellation/change policies, so you can book with confidence rather than doubt. If you have a travel credit card, they may offer excursions/experiences, too!
So, probably no major words of wisdom or tidbits of knowledge you didn’t already know, but reminders never hurt. It’s easy to get caught up in the planning phase and not step away and live in the now when the time comes. But if you’ve done the research (or let me or someone else do it for you), then you can relax and focus on making memories rather than growing the worry lines on your forehead.
Tip #3: Embrace the Unexpected
Gotta channel my inner Sophia Petrillo to start this one… “Picture it. Honolulu, 2012.” I had booked a highly recommended catamaran sunset sail on the island of Oahu to surprise Ricky for our 10th anniversary (the whole reason we were in Hawaii in the first place). I followed all the advice I gave above…looked at reviews and did thorough research. I made sure to schedule the experience hours after our flight was scheduled to land because there were no cancellations or changes available. I was prepared, damn it haha. We were supposed to land at 2:20 p.m., were only about 15 minutes from the hotel, and then like a 10 minute walk to the boat. Plenty of time to make our 5 p.m. sunset sail, right? 🙄 Well, flights are sometimes delayed. Shared shuttles tend to make multiple stops rather than going directly from where you were picked up to where you want to be dropped off. Rush hour traffic is widely unpredictable. And, of course, the sunset waits for no one.
- Always have a backup plan. Though our story ended up okay after a lot of unnecessary tears and strife…I learned a valuable lesson that day. Even if having alternatives in mind is something you are used to doing in everyday life, for some reason it isn’t always in the forefront when we are planning travel. We just expect that everything will be okay… all others will arrive in a timely fashion, the weather gods will bless forecasts for us, and the description will always match the experience. And a large percentage of the time, that will be the case. But there’s always Murphy’s Law…”Anything that CAN go wrong WILL go wrong.” We can only control so much, so we have to remember what we’ve left to chance or fate.
- Be willing to go with the flow. Some of the coolest experiences we’ve had while traveling happened as a result of something else not going the way we planned. Even the best research can’t identify all the opportunities that can arise when you least expect it. Lodging and airfare are the biggies to have a solid plan for, but allow a little spontaneity for side-quests (or a quick nap if you just need to crash haha).
You’ve likely heard the beginning of the famous line – ”best laid plans…” So yes, plan away, and be prepared for adventures of a lifetime because most of the time everything goes the way you expected. But anticipating some of the possibilities never hurts, and having a willingness to be flexible (even when you’re highly emotional) can really go a long way as well haha. Because, even if something goes wrong…YOU’RE STILL ON VACATION!! 🎉