The 12 Posts of Christmas: #1 Travel Tips
Happy holidays life lovers! As we approach the holiday, Yagoli.com is going to be putting out a post for each of the 12 days of Christmas. Kicking off our countdown for the 1st day of Christmas, I've compiled a list of some of the coolest and most innovative travel tips that I picked up over the years.
Fly Like A Pro
Traveling during the holiday season can be one of the most stressful ordeals you'll go through while trying to enjoy your holiday. As such I wanted to share a few tricks of the travel trade that may help you out during your trip.
If your heading out of town for a week or two and have to use the long term parking lot, its a good idea to take a photo of where you parked to help alleviate that the stress of having to play Marco Polo with your car after a long flight.
If you have a bag or suitcase you think my be pushing the weight limit at the airline, put the heaviest item in the bag on top. This way if you end up over the limit you can take that item out and throw it on while checking your bags.
Plan on putting the things that you'll need in easy access areas. Passports, ID's and tickets should be placed in an external pocket on your carry on bag to avoid having to hunt for them or having them get damaged in your pants pockets. To go along with that, prior to going through security, you should place everything that's in your pockets like your phone, wallet, watch and anything else that might set off the metal detector in your bag to expedite the process. It also wouldn't hurt to invest in a "travel belt' that has a non-metallic buckle.
Speaking of security, when picking a lane for the security line you should look to your left. The majority of the human race is right-handed and as such they tend to be biased to going in that direction as well. Going left when others go right could shave a few minutes off your time in line.
Got a long layover? Do a little research on your connecting airports and see what there is to do in and around the airport Keep in mind how long you have and be mindful of whether or not you are good at keeping time.
Wear semi-formal or business attire when traveling solo. Dressing neatly for a flight can open the doors to a free upgrade in seating. Now keep in mind that you have to still be comfortable for your travels, but the chance to evade the dreaded security line maybe worth dressing up for.
Where to Rest Your Head
When looking for a good hotel to stay in the first thing to consider is what is most important. Price, location, amenities, luxury and family accommodations are all significant factors to look at when choosing a place to stay while your in town. When researching hotel rates, its always best to find the deals through booking sites and then book through the hotel's site directly to get the best deal. It's also a good idea to research hotel ratings before you book a room to make sure that you're getting your money's worth.
So what do you want to eat
Moving on to my favorite part of traveling, here's a few tips to find good eats. Unless your staying at boutique hotel or a 5-star resort, your hotel should be a last resort when picking a spot to eat. Not to say the food will be bad, but if you want to have an exceptional experience you'll want to venture out. Consult with the front desk, a local cabbie/ Uber drivers, even the local police should be able to point you in the right direction for some good eats. I talk about this a bit more in depth in my Foodies' Wonderland post "A Foodies Guide to Finding Hidden Gems"
These tips and hacks have made my vacations and travel less stressful and I hope they can do the same for you. Know of any good travel tips that I missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments and don't forget to like and subscribe to Yagoli.
