Traveling 101

Here are some tips and things to consider when planning your next trip:

*Passport 

If you are traveling internationally, you will need a passport. It usually takes up to 6 weeks to get it by  mail but it can take longer if they are backed  up. So if you are even thinking of traveling internationally, apply for your passport now. 

If you have a passport, check the expiration date. They are good for ten years. Most countries will not let you in if you have less than six months left on your passport. So plan to renew your passport accordingly.

*Destination Entry Requirements 

Check what the entry requirements are for your destination country as soon as you start planning your trip. Some countries require visas. Some countries requirement certain vaccines. Some countries now require an arrival registration. This was previously done on the plane before arrival but now some countries want you to do it online before you even get on the plane. 

Countries will list required and recommended vaccines. I would get all of them. You don't want a disease that is preventable with a vaccine. Most doctors' offices will not have these special vaccines. Your best bet is your local health district or a traveling clinic.

*Make Reservations 

If there are restaurants you want to eat at, make a reservation (if they accept them). If there are attractions you want to visit, buy tickets ahead of time. This will guarantee that you will get in. Nothing is worse than having your heart set on doing something and then not being able to do it.

*Length of Trip 

I read a really interesting study a few years ago about the stress and happiness levels as correlated with the length of a trip. In the beginning of a trip, the happiness level is high and the stress level is low. As the days go on, the happiness level drops and the stress level goes up. This makes sense. In the beginning, you're happy to be traveling. Everything is fun and exciting. As the days go, you are fatigued because you don't sleep as well in a hotel, your meals are irregular, you're tired from extra physical activity. You also start worrying about all the things you have to do at home and your inbox at work. 

According to the study, day 10 is when the happiness level plateaus and the stress level starts to climb. So the takeaway from the study is to take shorter trips more frequently versus longer trips less frequently.

*Packing Tips

Most people tend to over pack. I think people are unsure what they are going to do so they want to pack extra things in case. A few extra things may be okay but if your itinerary is mostly planned out, you probably know what clothes you need. You also don't need multiples of the same thing. 

A good tip is pack layers. T shirts and sweaters can be worn together or separately. This works with well with changing weather. 

Pack comfortable clothes. Especially shoes. I'm not a fashionista by any means. I don't think I look like a slob when traveling but I do prioritize comfort. 

Roll your clothes in your suitcase. This decreases creases and wrinkles. You can also squeeze in more clothes by stuffing things in corners. 

I can go anywhere for a week in a carry on. You can too. Lost luggage is supper annoying and while it will not ruin your trip, it will damage it for sure. I also hate waiting for luggage at the airport. With my carry on, I just grab it and go. 

*When Should I travel? 

Now. People put traveling off thinking they will travel when the kids are bigger, when they retire, when they save up enough money. I have traveled my whole life. My parents like traveling so I was a lucky kid who travel internationally. I backed packed through Europe in college. I even squeezed in trips during medical school and residency. I have noticed I traveled differently at different stages of my life. I would never back pack again but I'm glad I did it then. So travel now. And travel later.