1. Travel light. Take only carry-on luggage.  Pack carefully, thinking about what you will be doing on your trip, and take clothing & accessories that can mix and match easily.  (Mark your calendar for our upcoming free e-book on “Traveling with Only a Carry-On”.)
2. Double Bag it. I place my largest purse inside my “Personal Item” carry-on.  I then fill up the inside of my large purse with my items, and I tuck a smaller, flat purse inside the outer pocket of my “Personal Item”.  When I get to my hotel, I now have two purses – one large and one small, on top of my two travel pieces.
3. Backups. No laptop – Make copies of all your essential documents:  Passport, Hotel & Flight Confirmation Numbers, Travel Insurance Documents, Health Care Cards, Essential Phone Numbers, Prescription Drug information).  Store the copies in a sealed zip-lock bag, in a separate carry-on from the originals. Bringing a Laptop? Store back ups on a flash drive with password protection.
4. Be prepared. If you are prone to any sort of tummy-issues, I recommend you do the following:  Place a Gravol, Pepto-Bismol or Imodium, Tums, and one or two Tylenol or Ibuprofen in the pocket of your pants or jacket.  If nausea, headaches or tummy issues arise, you are ready at a moment’s notice without having to wait for the captain to turn off the seatbelt sign.
5. De-liquefy yourself. Carry a minimum amount of liquids.  Buy one medium-size Ziploc bag and make sure all your bottles do not exceed 3.4 ounces, ( 3.0 ounces in the USA is the latest) and that the bag is not overly full. This will help you avoid any delay at airport security. Remember, most nonessentials can be purchased when you arrive.
6. Simplify. Be TSA friendly. Try not to wear jewelry, belts, watches and metal hair accessories on travel day. If you must accessorize, keep them in your carry-on until you are through Security. Remember to wear slip on shoes and take a light sweater or wrap/scarf. You never know what temperature zone awaits you on the flight.
7. Consolidate. Place your prescription drugs in a medium zip-lock bag.  If I am traveling 7 days or less, I fill up a 7-day pill dispenser which keeps all of my essential pills in one spot.  I then place photocopies of all the prescriptions for these drugs in the inside pocket of my roller bag in case I need them.
8. Stock-up. Once you’re through security, buy a small bottle of water and some snacks for the plane ride, if you have the room, buy a sandwich or something more substantial for longer flights.  Airplane snacks are extremely expensive and usually taste like cardboard.  Having to wait for the service cart to come around can also be stressful if you haven’t eaten or had a drink with all the rushing around.  Be prepared to look after your own needs and stay hydrated.

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About Deborah Thompson

Deborah Thompson is Co-Founder of New Jetsetters with over 20 years experience writing about luxury travel. The first time Deb saw the turquoise blue waters surrounding Bermuda from the air as a child, she was smitten. Already in love with the written word and writing itself, a black leather-bound diary was soon filled with treasured memories of the charming island and her stay at the luxurious Elbow Beach Hotel. Since then she has travelled far and wide, and written dozens of stories and reviews on exotic locations from around the globe. Find out more about Deborah below:

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