Productive and Low-Stress Travel – TPW467

A little planning goes a long way when it comes to travel I used to have to travel a lot for work, so I had packing, planning, and getting where I needed to go down to a science. Since COVID-19 arrived in 2020, I'd virtually stopped traveling, so I'd forgotten my best travel routines. Then suddenly this summer I found myself taking several trips within just a couple of months--for a reunion, to visit our kids and grandkids who live in other states, and on business. This recent travel has made me reconsider the steps I took in the past.  Planning productively Gather all the info in one place We get email confirmations for most things, and electronic boarding passes, etc. Of course we could look at our email inbox to find that information, but to be most efficient, create a single place where all those can be gathered.  I use, and recommend, TripIt Pro. You simply forward your confirmation emails for flights, lodging, rental cars, etc., and it creates a consolidated itinerary that you can review in the app on your phone. TripIt can even be set to find those emails and import them automatically. In addition to storying and sorting all that information, it sends alerts about check-in availability, delays, gate changes, etc.  If you prefer to go analog, you can use a notebook or folder to gather all confirmation info, boarding passes, etc. In fact, even if you rely on digital devices for collecting and consulting your travel information, consider printing copies anyway. Batteries can die; cell signal can dissipate or even disappear, and websites can crash, so having a hard copy of the crucial travel info can be a lifesaver. If you’re traveling internationally, be sure to research entry requirements for your destination. Scheduling Before you make reservations for your travel, think about the best times to fly. By that I mean not only the best times at the airport or train station, but also the traffic en route. For example, we travel from DFW airport, which is on the opposite side of Dallas from where we live. We try hard to schedule flights at times that will let us avoid going through Dallas during the morning or evening rush hour. Aside from that, according to some sources, Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to have the lowest flight prices, so consider flights at the beginning of the week rather than on the weekends.  If you don’t have someone to drop you off and pick you up for air travel, use airport valet parking if it’s available. This avoids the time and aggravation of cruising through the parking garage looking for an open spot and having to travel from the arrival terminal to the departure terminal to get your car when you get home. Airport valets meet you near the terminal entrance at a prearranged time and take your keys, and then you can walk right into the terminal. When you return, they monitor your flight so they know if you’re delayed or the gate changes and meet you at the terminal entrance with your car. I've found that valet parking at the airport usually doesn’t cost much more than self-parking, and is worth every penny. The service I use will even wash and vacuum my car while I’m gone if I elect that option, so my car is shiny and clean when I return. Safety Familiarize yourself with the safety situation of your destination. Some apps and websites provide woman-centric safety ratings for cities and countries. For American travelers, the U.S. State Department’s travel website publishes travel advisories for all countries, along with other useful information, including how to get a U.S. passport or Visa and numbers to call if you’re in an emergency while traveling...