I didn’t grow up traveling a lot, but my kids are a different story. My little lady has already been to 8 countries and flown over 100,000 miles. The littlest one is catching up though he didn’t go to Finland or the Maldives (yet!) We’re in the midst of planning travel for the year and I’m excited to show them more of the world. Of course, traveling with them can be pretty stressful. They’re always at risk of being hungry/cranky/tired or way too full of bodily fluids (things parents must monitor!) While I can’t control everything and there may be meltdowns, I an at least make a few more aspects of the trip less stressful. I’ve used these practical tips for all of our trips and it has enabled us to travel with more peace of mind. So I wanted to share my 5 practical tips for a smoother trip.
5 Practical Tips for a smoother trip
1.Open up/use premium credit cards
Some things are worth the price and premium cards are definitely worth it when you’re making a trip and for every phase of your trip. Some cards may include baggage insurance to cover lost/stolen luggage to lounge access so you can rest up before boarding a plane. Other aspects such as car rental damage insurance (please check if this is primary or secondary) and travel accident insurance can be standard. I always look for a card that has no foreign transaction fees as well. American Express (various ones, but I am upgrading to a Hilton Aspire) has excellent benefits and service as does Chase Sapphire Reserve. Trust me, the seamless service, travel benefits, and of course rewards are worth the annual fee.
2. Keep a copy of your passport
Passports are one of your most precious possessions when you’re traveling. Keep it safe – we actually keep it in our hotel safes when we’re traveling. If it is missing for some reason, it will be of course be a pain in the behind for you to return home. We keep scans of everyone’s passports to remember the details and for safekeeping (hopefully you won’t need to show it to the local consulate). It’s also easier to refer to our scan or password manager while filling out immigration forms.
3. Get a local SIM card/wi-fi connection
Who doesn’t have a smart phone these days right? It’s our connection to the internet, social media, and also our personal handheld camera. We usually pay for a local SIM when travel so we are always to be in contact with each other if something happens. If you don’t get a sim, you could also try bringing or renting a wi-fi hotspot. But note you have to keep it charged and you will need to be by your travel companions. It’s just useful to be connected, even when you’re abroad.
4. Travel light or consolidate
I used to be one of those people who never checked in anything and was proud of it too! I still prefer to carry on if possible, but that’s much harder with kids. So now I try to consolidate 4 people’s possessions into as few bags as possible. I may have one large check-in bag and one carry on bag with snacks/, emergency outfits, and other essentials. Or you may choose to put everything into your check-in bags and only carry essentials (this should always include an emergency outfit!) If you have a few bags, remember to count them as you leave each location. Definitely consolidate if you can and have one less thing to worry about!
5. Keep ATM cards or multi-currency cards handy
Are you always hunting for an ATM or foreign currency exchange when you travel? You will usually get the best foreign currency conversion rate through a bank so bring your ATM card and withdraw directly from your account. If I use my credit card, I also usually ask for it to be charged in local currency which typically is a better rate. However, there are also good multi-currency card options available now. They allow you to put a set amount of money on your card and spend in over a hundred currencies. Revolut and Transferwise are just two companies offering multi-currency wallets and cards.
What are some of your practical tips for travel?
We always travel with copies of our passports but I should also keep an electronic scan of them as well. Yes to traveling as light as possible. My husband and I usually share one pice of luggage when we can.
Great tips, and I Couldn’t agree more with the first one! We’re huge fans of the chase sapphire reserve (and the preferred before that) for their great perks and no foreign transaction fees! I’m actually the opposite though in that I love to check my bags, I hate dealing with luggage on the plane and I need the extra suitcase space for my shopping trips, haha!
♥︎ Geeky Posh
Actually I’ll admit that we check bags now with kids but still try to consolidate! I’ll edit the post with that info!
Great tips! i use a travel wifi when i travel and it is a life saver to be sure!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com