Five Tips For Hassle-Free Travel
When I was a kid, my parents took me everywhere and did all the planning and thinking for me, from the flight bookings to getting insurance. Now that I have sadly grown up and moreover, have to play Guardian Angel to my own child, I’m taking extra care to cross the travel t’s and dot the i’s. After 9/11, I would venture to say that travel has become quite painful—almost as bad as going to the dentist’s office. Indeed, travel these days does merit the term “hassle.”
Jeanine Barone has written a simple, clutter-free e-book that is filled with tips for hassle-free travel, which can be purchased for only $2.99 on her site. I found every chapter filled with sound information and solid tips, including these:
1. Don’t ever rely on just one credit/debit card because certain ATMs or merchants may not accept it. If you prefer to use American Express, it’s a good idea to carry another card hooked up to both the Visa and Mastercard networks just in case.
2. Scan your passport and carry the file with you on a thumb drive, email the file to yourself or upload it to Apple’s iCloud or Google docs. This assures that you have your passport information in case your documents are lost or stolen.
3. Bring along Shoe Goo (if you’re checking luggage since it most likely will not be allowed in a carry on). It can be used for a variety of shoe repairs.
4. Try to board the plane early so that there’s room in the overhead above your seat for your bag. Having to deposit your carry-on many rows behind your seat makes for difficulty when deplaning.
5. A way to deter thieves (in your hotel room) is to put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door and leave the TV on.
The e-book is filled with cute illustrations and neatly divided into seven sections focusing on tips for your travel documents, luggage and clothing to hotel accommodations. And the tips are not of the frilly variety either: they demonstrate a solid understanding of the needs travelers currently have, and smart ways to address them.
The e-book is extremely reasonably priced too: it’s less than a cup of your favorite Starbucks Latte and is a no brainer. Barone also recommends products and apps whenever possible, and these reviews are completely unsolicited. For example, there’s a Versalette dress that can be worn 20 different ways, and are a great find for female travelers who dislike packing too many items. The book is not dry as Moet but rich with fun tips too (there are a few creative ideas for the fashion conscious, for both men and women).
If you know someone who travels a lot, I think this an ideal gift idea too. Download it to your e-reader and travel smart.
Great tips and some new ideas for me; that dress sounds like a great idea for a female traveler!
Great tips! I’ve never heard of Shoe Goo but we use #5 a lot, especially to manage when the housekeepers come.