Tips for Professional Travellers

          Here are a few specialized tips for travelers who operate with a “home-base,” for the professional nomad/human turtle who carries home wherever she goes. You'll find tips for packing, advice on what souvenirs to purchase (or not), and how to make the best of both the journey and the destination.

1. TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR SUITCASE

          If you lose your luggage, a picture is worth a thousand words. Patches, decals, stickers, ribbon or string can also make your suitcase instantly recognizable on the carousel, as well as providing airport security with something distinctive to look for.

2. TRANSLATION SCREENSHOTS

          If you're heading to a country like Thailand or Japan that has a very different alphabet from yours and you haven't yet mastered the language, prepare beforehand. Use Google translate for short phrases or words that you think are going to be essential. I find that the longer the sentence is, the worse the translation. Translate short phrases instead such as, "where is the hotel" or "I need a taxi". Screenshot the phrases for later use in case you run out of mobile data or can't find wifi. That way, you already have the necessary words to get where you need to go. I recommend screenshotting all the question words individually: who, what, where, why, why and how. Combine the word for 'where' with showing your hotel card and you should be fine.

3. FRESHEN YOUR LUGGAGE WITH DRYER SHEETS

          Throw some unused dryer sheets in with your luggage to enjoy the smell of freshly laundered clothes whenever you unpack. You can also use the dryer sheets later for cleaning purposes.

RELATED: Tips to Beat the Heat: Advice for Travelling in a Hot Country

4. BED-SHEET PACKAGES MAKE GREAT ORGANIZERS

         The plastic packages that bed-sheets and some blankets come in make great compartmentalizers for your suitcase. They're light-weight, zippered, practically water-proof, re-purposed and disposable if necessary. If you already own these and you don't use them to store your spare linens (also another valid use), you can organize your suitcase by separating your undergarments, tops, bottoms, etc. Or just throw all your miscellaneous items like scarves, bathing suits, tights and suspenders into one!

Bed-sheet package repurposed as a clothing organizer.

5. DITTO THROW-PILLOW CASES

          You can also apply the same principle to throw-pillow cases, using them to organize your clothes for packing, with the added bonus that you can use the pillow-cases during extended stays in one destination. For anyone who travels semi-indefinitely, sometimes the creature comforts of a 'real' home, like throw pillows, plants, wall-decorations and the like can do wonders to combat homesickness, listlessness and feelings of unbelonging. You can fill your throw-pillow case with a sweater or two and simply give your room, whether a hotel, hostel, airbnb or short-term rental a touch of home decor aesthetic.

A throw-pillow case I picked up at the dollar store.

6. ROCK A FANNY PACK

So many compartments! :)

          I know it sounds full-on crazy, but hear me out. Fanny packs come in a variety of styles, from the one above, which has many pockets and compartments reminiscent of a carpenter's tool-belt, to steampunk designs that channel a gun-holster aesthetic, to designer Gucci and Louis Vuitton fannies.  Check out W's Trend Watch to see more: https://www.wmagazine.com/story/fanny-pack-fashion-trend

A veritable cornucopia of fanny-packs

          Another pro of fanny packs is that unlike a purse, they won't put a strain on one of your shoulders. You can also wear the fanny pack in the front, back or off to the sides, or even strap is across one shoulder. It's much more versatile in that sense than a purse, which most people tend to wear to one side more that the other. It's also easier to remove and replace the fanny pack while wearing a backpack because unlike wearing a purse, you don't have to choose whether to place the strap under or over the backpack as there is no overlap. Since most fanny packs have a plastic buckle, it's easier to remove than a purse with the strap caught under the weight of a heavy backpack.

7. A ZIPLOCK FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IN ITS ZIPLOCK

http://www.officespotashburton.co.nz

          

          I love sealing things away in various-sized ziplocks because it helps organize things, especially small easily-lost items such as earrings; it protects your luggage when you seal off things like sunscreen and conditioner; and it prevents wear and tear on delicate items like headphones, USB cables, hair clips, and whatnot.

8. BUY A PORTABLE LUGGAGE SCALE

          Shout-out to my Mom for buying me this! If you plan to travel even semi-regularly, save yourself a lot of hassle and last-minute stress at the airport by weighing your luggage in advance. I always carry a portable luggage scale with me. Despite the fact that it requires a small space in your luggage, it's worth it to be able to ensure that your carry-on and checked bags aren't over the weight limit. You can also lend it to your travel companions to make packing easier for everyone on the trip. If you somehow always end up with excess souvenirs despite your best intentions, this gadget can help you avoid airport fees for overweight luggage. Here's one by Samsonite for $10 (but any brand will do).

9. WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

          Whether you're staying in your new location for 3 weeks, 3 months or 3 years, take the time to make it nice. Think "Operation Decorator Storm" in the movie, To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEN2tvg6hO4

          Scarves, clothes and jewellery can double as decorations for your new room; just don't overdo it and keep it tasteful. 

10. BUY PRACTICAL SOUVENIRS

          The souvenirs I buy for myself all serve some practical purpose, whether clothing, accessories, jewellery or otherwise. I never buy nick-knacks. Why buy a trinket that will sit on a shelf, when you can buy one that can hang from a necklace instead? Even better than jewellery are practical everyday items such as versatile, easy-to-match articles of clothing.

          Avoid book ends, fridge magnets, and brick-a-brack, in favour of more practical items like clothing, accessories and jewellery. Clothes that work in professional and casual settings are the best investment. 

11. THINK OF YOUR WARDROBE AS A COLLECTION

          Before you splurge on a new article of clothing, ask yourself four questions: 

(1) If I had to pack in a week, would this item make the cut and how long will I own said garment (LONGEVITY); 

(2) Does it go with my overall aesthetic and match what I already own - i.e. what outfits will I wear it with? (OUTFITTABILITY); 

(3) How often will I wear it & therefore what is the cost per use? (VALUE); 

(4) Does the piece add sentiment or style to your wardrobe and is it a conversation starter? (EVOCATION). 

Only if you LOVE the garment should you consider buying it. You want clothes that you'll wear for years to come, that won't clash with the rest of your wardrobe, that won't break the bank and that will inspire envy and raaaaage!

RELATED: What Not to Wear in Thailand

12. 'TIS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE

          If you CANNOT resist the lure of a cheap bargain or the quintessential souvenir, consider sending your treasures to friends and family back home. Everyone loves to receive a package in the mail! Plus, you can enjoy the rush of shopping without the buyer's remorse. 

13. ESSENTIAL KITCHENWARE FOR TRAVELLERS

          

          Firstly, get thee an aeropress, my child. Secondly, just ditch all the plastic junk that comes with it. Let's be real here, you don't need the special coffee scoop, filter caddy, funnel and tamping stick. Just eyeball it and use a spoon. But do bring this bad boy with you. If you drink a cup every morning, brewing your own at home is inevitably going to save you money. Once again, this post is specifically for long-term and/or frequent travellers, not just for your two-week family vacay to Hawaii.

14. INTERNATIONAL POWER ADAPTER

          An international power adapter or voltage converter is essential for any well-seasoned traveller who carries electronic devices. If, like me, you don't know the first thing about adapters, here's some expert advice on which converter to use.

15. COLOURING BOOKS AREN'T JUST FOR KIDS ANYMORE.

          Adult colouring books aren't a new trend, but I'd like to elaborate a bit on why they're especially great for long-term travelling. Aside from the obvious points about reducing stress, entertaining you during those long layovers, and just being quite fun, you can also benefit from your hand-coloured pages after the plane lands.

          As I mentioned before, sometimes a quaint homey touch can really brighten up your living space and your mood. Whenever I'm staying somewhere for at least a few months, I have to decorate. Call it what you will, some kind of nesting instinct or territoriality, or just a quirk, but I feel the need to make my living space my own, to personalize it. What better way to stylize your room than with bright, colourful images that showcase your aesthetic tastes.

My boyfriend Ken, featured with Snapchat stickers and in the background, some colouring pages.

          This photo was taken in Vancouver, where my boyfriend and I stayed for about 4 months. We were both pretty happy with the result of hanging the coloured pages up on the wall, as it added an instant colour-boost to the space. It also made me feel at home and gave the space a sense of being grounded, despite knowing that it was an impermanent visit.

16. PRE-MOVING PREP

          One month before you move: 

-start planning on using the condiments and specialty foods in your cupboards and refrigerator: cocoa, tea, popcorn, spices, salad dressing, salsa, sauces, dips, oil, vinegar, Parmesan, and other items that are infrequently used tend to get forgotten until it's too late

-do a dry-run of packing your suitcase(s) to get an idea of how much stuff you can fit and how much you'll have to get rid of

-drop off the first round of clothing donations to your local charity

          3 weeks before:

-throw out any worn-out clothing items

-do a second clothing donation and a household items donation if necessary

-do a full clean-up of your living space

-test-pack your luggage a second time to make sure everything fits

         1 week before:

-plan your travel-day outfit and what you'll wear the next day; separate these clothes out to ensure they are ready on the day (pack the second outfit in your carry-on)

-change the majority of your currency at the bank; save enough to get you through your last week

- spend or donate your loose change

          3 days before:

-have a dinner-party, picnic or casual social gathering where you can say goodbye to friends while you also finish off any leftover food and drinks that you can't handle by yourself before moving day

-pack a new toothbrush and a travel-size toothpaste in your carry-on; if you're like me, you forget your toothbrush anyway, so you can just use the new one you've already packed

NEXT: Travel

Just a few of my travel credentials! ;)

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