10 Essential Travel Tips for Summer Travel by a Jetsetter
As Lisa Ling said “The best education I have ever received was through travel.” Of course travel is only enjoyable if you can relax and aren’t stressed on logistics the entire trip. That being said, I’d like to share the 10 ways I make the most out of a trip: business, pleasure or in-between.
Morning Coffee Walk, NYC
A For Spirit Airlines Duffel Bag I have this one from Amazon and it’s the best $25 I’ve spent. It fits on top of a carry-on suitcase and perfectly under the seat. Since it’s not moved around much, there’s no need to splurge on more expensive options.
Google Maps Saved Lists Before a trip I start tagging places of interest, so I have a collection when I get there. For abroad travel, I download the maps and avoid paying for data. As I go to places I jot down quick notes, so I can share the maps with others and have if I visit again.
Fresh Fruit in a Hotel Room The majority of hotel rooms are dreary, and I love to feng shui with fresh fruit. Not only does it brighten the vibe, but now there is something fresh and healthy to eat that can be hard to come by in some locations. I try to get to a store as soon as I land and buy at least some bananas.
Stay Near the Things You Want to Do This is my favorite way to maximize business travel. Instead of staying near an office if it’s in a touristy part of town, I’ll stay in a neighborhood with restaurants, parks and activities I want to check out. I will commute into the office and enjoy my spare time versus being cooped up after work in a hotel room. This goes for personal travel as well, I love to walk around and it’s so much easier to walk to your destinations than having to take public transportation or uber.
One Planned Activity a Day I’ve found is the best ratio to accomplish what I want to do in a city while leaving space for spontaneity.
Morning Sun The best way to beat any jet lag. Get 15 minutes of unfiltered sun in the morning. I always try to do a coffee walk or see a park right after waking up.
Go for a Walk after Flying Get some fresh air and some fresh fruit by taking a walk after you land. Even if it’s just 10 minutes, I always feel better.
A No Equipment Workout Subscription I love The Sculpt Society which has workouts ranging from 10 - 50 minutes that are perfect to start the day. There are standing workouts as well to avoid the hotel room carpet.
Mobile Passport Control App I’m too lazy to apply for Global Entry, so this is my hack for skipping the customs line. It’s free and you can set it up on the plane right after you land. Sometimes it changes, but there is usually one operating.
Airline Consistency With less and less coming with an economy ticket, airline status is so valuable and not that unobtainable. If you fly ~8 times a year you can likely make status if you fly the same airline. In the past I’ve asked for mileage runs, called and asked for an extra bump up if I was close and have always gotten it.
Embrace these tips, and let your wanderlust take flight as you embark on unforgettable journeys around the globe
