Preparing for a trip can be quite stressful. For many people, that means the last-minute scramble to finish packing and then worrying about what you forgot. The Discoverer blog says the key to starting your vacation stress-free is to develop a pre-trip routine. They recommend you do the following five things the night before a trip.
- Charge Your Devices – Nowadays, you often need to use your smartphone when traveling. It holds airline boarding passes and hotel reservations. Not to mention, it’s probably your camera as well. Long travel days also mean using earphones, a tablet, an e-reader, and more. To make traveling as enjoyable as possible, make sure you charge all your devices the night before. And don’t forget to pack your charging cables in your carry-on just in case. It’s not a bad idea to bring along an external battery as well.
- Download or Print Maps – Don’t rely solely on your smartphone to navigate. You never know when you will have no cellular service, and data can be expensive if out of the country. This is the time to go “old-school” and bring along a map or download one and store it on your phone. Experts suggest you print a map showing the location of your hotel along with its address to show a taxi driver.
- Review Your Itinerary – Experienced travelers go through all their confirmations to ensure everything is in order; this includes transportation, accommodations, and tours/attractions.
- Get Cash – Although it’s easy to rely on credit cards these days, you should always have some cash just in case. If traveling to a foreign country, you will need to exchange money. The article recommends you pre-order currency from your bank before you leave because airport exchange kiosks rarely offer competitive rates. And if you plan to use credit cards, you might want to let your bank know you will be traveling so they do not mistake your transaction for a fraud attempt.
- Pack Medications – Be sure to pack any prescription medication you take in your carry-on so you have it in case your luggage is lost. It’s also recommended that you keep pills in their original containers whenever possible. Besides prescriptions, you might want to pack some over-the-counter medicines to treat headaches, sore throats, and indigestion.
Lastly, try to get a good night’s sleep. That’s often easier said than done. You might be excited or nervous or a combination, but one of the best ways to set yourself up for a calm travel day is to be well-rested.
Do you have a pre-trip routine? Message The Seniors Trust on Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter) and let us know what you typically do the night before a trip.
