{"id":11534,"date":"2018-08-07T14:49:09","date_gmt":"2018-08-07T13:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tourradar.com\/days-to-come\/?page_id=11534"},"modified":"2018-08-08T16:37:25","modified_gmt":"2018-08-08T15:37:25","slug":"packing-airports-flying","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tourradar.com\/days-to-come\/packing-airports-flying\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 4: Packing, Airports, and Flying, Oh My!"},"content":{"rendered":"

First things first: pack early! You’ll want to start packing at least a few days before you leave. This way, if you\u2019ve forgotten anything, you still have time to include it. Also, you will have time to weigh your luggage, make sure it’s within the limits, and make changes and adjustments as necessary.<\/p>\n

Clothes<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 When packing, depending on where you\u2019re going and for how long, rolling clothes generally works out better than folding them flat.<\/p>\n

Electronics<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 You may not have even considered this, but your chargers contain a lot of metal, and metal often equals weight. For your own peace of mind, and to save on your weight allowance, put all electronics in your hand luggage.<\/p>\n

Pockets<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 If you are really struggling with weight, pack your pockets with the heaviest stuff. Spare batteries, camera lenses, etc. As soon as your bags are weighed, you can put this stuff back in your hand luggage. Some airlines will weigh hand luggage, but we\u2019ve never heard of them asking anyone to empty their pockets (not for weight purposes anyway).<\/p>\n

Essentials<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 You will want all your essential travel documents, like your passport and tickets or confirmation, in an easily-accessible pocket. You will need access to these a few times throughout your journey, so having them easily accessible will make life a world easier.<\/p>\n

Carry on luggage<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Many airlines have different rules regarding what is and isn’t allowed in carry-on luggage. Things like weapons and drugs are of course out of the question, but there are also rules around liquids and gels. It is best to check with your airline to make sure you are not carrying anything that will be confiscated from you at the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Travel Hack<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
While traveling, hostels and hotels will often have scales. Use these to check your luggage weight, then pack your pockets as effectively as you can!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

How to store your passport and money<\/h2>\n

Money belts<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Money belts may not feel like the coolest thing to wear on your trip, but they can be lifesavers.\u00a0On the plus side, if you’re using your money belt properly, no one is going to know you’re wearing one. Just remember: money “necklaces” are a different story, and can be easily seen and taken.<\/p>\n

Money belts are a great idea to store large amounts of money, a spare credit card,\u00a0and your passport. They’re best used for long-term storage \u2013 that is, you will generally only need to go to it once a day maximum. Keep a regular wallet, and then the money belt for when you need a \u201ctop-up\u201d.<\/p>\n

Some situations will not lend themselves to money belts \u2013 for\u00a0example, if you are going swimming. This is where common sense will come into play, and you will want to figure out the way to keep your passport (and money) safe. You can read more about how famous traveller Rick Steves uses a money belt here:\u00a0https:\/\/www.ricksteves.com\/travel-tips\/theft-scams\/travel-moneybelt<\/a><\/p>\n

Everyday spending<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 For everyday spending, keep a regular wallet in your pocket — just make sure that’s your front pocket, and never your back one! A pickpocket’s favourite source of income is a wallet in a back pocket.<\/p>\n

Keep the contents of your wallet to a minimum: money for the day, and one credit or debit card. That way, if it does end up getting lost or stolen, it’s not the end of the world.<\/p>\n

Hotel\/hostel safes<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Generally these are fine \u2013 generally. You may feel safer keeping your valuables (especially documents like your passport) somewhere on your person, as you’ll always be able to keep an eye on it. Use your best judgement, and know that, though it’s rare, items have been stolen from hotel and hostel safes in the past.<\/p>\n

Emergency money<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 It can be a good idea to stash an amount of money somewhere other than your wallet or money belt — perhaps a shoe, or even a bra! This is the emergency stash in the worst-case scenario occurs, and everything else is gone.<\/p>\n

How to enjoy a stress-free airport experience<\/h2>\n

Arrive early<\/strong>
\nAs a general rule, you will want to arrive at the airport three hours prior to your flight’s departure time. This obviously depends on your airport of departure, your airline, and the country of departure, but it’s better to be too early than too late! If you’re being dropped off at the airport by friends or family, make sure to allow time for those occasionally-emotional goodbyes.<\/p>\n

Airline check-in<\/strong>
\nDepending on who you fly with, check in times can vary, so you should always check with the airline or your travel agent who booked the flight on your behalf. At check-in, they will provide you with your boarding pass, baggage receipts for luggage you check in, departure forms (if required), and your seat for the flight.<\/p>\n

You will want to check the departure boards regularly to see what time your flight is expected to leave, what gate it is leaving from, and any delays or gate changes that may come up.<\/p>\n

Immigration and customs<\/strong>
\nIf you are flying internationally, you will be going through immigration, customs,\u00a0and security, and will have to show your boarding pass and passport. These procedures can take quite some time, so being early is important. When dealing with these officials, the trick is to answer their questions honestly, without joking around, and stick to the point. They will scan\/stamp your passport, and then you are ready to rock!<\/p>\n

Security procedures<\/strong>
\nBoth domestic and international air travel can involve metal detectors, baggage inspection x-ray machines, and individual bag searches.<\/p>\n

Generally, you will be asked to remove laptops\/tablets from your bag as it goes through the scanner. You will also need to empty your pockets of everything \u2013 phone, keys, wallet, coins, medicines, etc.<\/p>\n

Duty-free\u00a0shopping<\/strong>
\nDuty-free shopping is available for international customers at most airports \u2013 usually located both before and after immigration. You will need to check the regulations for your destination on how much you’re allowed to enter the country with (amounts may vary depending on the duration of your trip).<\/p>\n

Time to relax<\/strong>
\nOnce past security, immigration, and customs, you are (hopefully) going to have a fair bit of time to relax before your flight. There will normally be food outlets, shops, and some airports even have executive lounges that you can relax in for a fee. If you are flying business or first class, however, you will often have access to the private lounges for free.<\/p>\n