Over the past couple of weeks, I've posted about how to maximize your stays by reaching out to the hotel prior to arrival and how to make the most of your flights by selecting seats and meals prior to departure. Today's post will focus on logistics. I've found that being prepared can really make a long haul trip much smoother so here are some of the things I do in the weeks leading up to the trip.
1) Build an Itinerary
When I was a kid and we would go on family vacations, my Mom would make these intense folders containing all the information about our destination. Maps, articles, restaurant reviews, etc...I think the internet has made things a lot easier where it's much more manageable to rely on your phone as both a guide book and a "trip folder." But I've found (especially in Asia) that having a printed copy of things is super helpful. You may be asked for a confirmation number, the address of your hotel, or the credit card in which you booked your flight.
So I always build an electronic (and then print several copies) itinerary containing our flights, hotels, lounge options, who we confirmed activities with, etc...it has really come in handy on more than a few occasions. Plus, it's an easy way to provide your friends and family with your trip plans and contact information. I actually put it in a folder (my Mom would be so proud) for each country I'm visiting and put it in my carry on bag.
2) Make a Budget
This probably applies more to couples or friends traveling together but it's important to be aligned on what you expect to spend on activities, transportation, meals, etc...going into the trip. Especially if you like to do different things.
3) Understand Your Payment Options
When traveling internationally, your payment options are typically going to differ from the US. Meaning you will have less/different options to pay. I've previously written about this a couple of times here and here. Many countries will ask to see the credit card (to be physically presented) used for pre-payment or to secure a reservation. So I look back at my receipts and make sure to bring those cards in my travel wallet just in case.
I have stopped informing my bank/credit card company that I'm leaving the country as fraud systems have advanced over the years, they typically tell me (when I previously called in) that letting them know isn't necessary. But I do bring credit cards and ATM cards from multiple issuers in case one of them gets eaten by a machine or put on hold.
4) Know Your Baggage Options
When traveling domestically, this is pretty easy. Checked or carry-on? When traveling internationally, it's a bit different since many carries dramatically reduce carry-on (often called hand luggage) weight limits to ~15 lbs. Because it's always possible to lose a bag on one of these trips, we always bring some clothes and toiletries in our carry-on bags. But since we'll be gone for 11 days, we'll be checking the rest.
5) "Hard" Logistics
I've found it's helpful to research public transportation (specifically trains) prior to departure so you know cost and options. I also arrange transportation from the airport to the hotel if it's cost effective. During our Bali trip, we arranged transportation from the airport to The Four Seasons and from there to the St. Regis prior to departure since it was relatively cheap. We've been to Singapore before so we'll take the subway and cabs around town.
Knowing your internet options can also be helpful. I know that I have free internet at all of the hotels I'm staying at but will also have my phone setup for global data should we need something when we're not in the hotel.
The next steps are to stop anticipating/preparing and start traveling! I just read an article in the NYT about how anticipating a trip can lead to more happiness than taking the actual trip. Anticipating flights, hotels, transportation, activities, meals, etc... prior to departure has made my recent trips really fun. So take some time prior to leaving to plan out your trip and see how that impacts your experience.
This might seem like a lot of preparation but by now, it's automatic for both of us. if you are spending five figures on a vacation (or redeeming ~700,000 hard earned miles/points) you want it to be great.
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