11 travel hacks to keep you organised and stress-free on vacation
Make your holiday a breeze with these tips and tricks so you can focus on exploring new places and making unforgettable memories
Holidays are a reason to celebrate, especially when they involve bonding with loved ones, exploring new places, seeing the world's sights, and making memories.
But travelling can also come with a lot of stress and opportunities for things to go wrong.
To make sure your next trip is as stress-free and enjoyable as possible, here are 11 tips every savvy traveller should know:
1. Copy that!
When you're abroad, you have to carry your passport with you wherever you go, but that means risking losing it or having it stolen. So, make photocopies of your passport (the page with your photo and information on it and the page your visa is on), any other ID you carry (driver's licence, national ID card) and your flight and hotel booking information and carry those around with you instead. Store your photocopies in your carry-on, but not in the same place as your real documents. And lock the real things in the hotel safe when you arrive.
2. Just how we roll
Rolled-up clothes take up less room in your suitcase than folded, and rolling also prevents creasing. If something gets dirty while you're away, hand-wash it and hang it overnight where the air con is the strongest; it should dry by morning.
3. Zip it up
Pack plenty of big Ziploc bags. They're great for holding wires, chargers - anything you want to stop tangling. Also useful for clothing that isn't quite dry, or your dirty laundry!
They can also help streamline the process of getting on board a flight. Put all your inflight essentials - passport, book, headphones, etc - into a giant Ziploc bag, and pack it last so it's at the top of your carry-on bag. Once you've boarded, pull the Ziploc bag out and slip it straight into the seat pocket, and pop your bag in the overhead locker, no more panic trying to find your lip salve or headphones when someone's waiting for you to move in to your middle seat.
4. Started at the bottom
Pack your shoes in a small bag at the bottom of your suitcase near the wheels. That way they won't squish anything, and your other things won't get dirty.
5. Fully supportive
Get a good neck pillow for the flight. You don't want to wake up with a stiff neck from sleeping in an awkward position. They're also great to have around in case the pillows at your hotel aren't plump enough.
