When I left the world of law firms and set up my own company, I had to obtain clients, which meant meeting them at their offices scattered across the country. This was before Zoom when a telephone call would not suffice, and expensive dinners out were the norm. Potential clients wish to be treated like royalty; face-to-face meetings were imperative. I had to learn how to fly.
Not a frequent traveler, I found flying terrifying and physically nauseating, given my ever-present motion sickness. My worst experience was discovering I feared heights while on top of the (now old) World Trade Center. It took many flights before I learned how to sleep on a plane or find something to do to keep me from thinking about dropping from thirty-thousand feet to the ground.
Yep, I was stressed out during the pandemic. We all were, weren’t we?
I’ve learned a few things about how to travel, and whether for business or personal, my travel habits make a difference. If you are the seat-of-the-pants type of person when you travel, you may find the information below too restrictive, but here is what I consider to be important:
My favorite way to fly overseas? Turkish Airlines. Flying in the U.S.? Jet Blue
Plan, Plan, and Plan Even More
Where are you going? Why are you going? Is this a solo trip? Or are you taking it with someone you love? Someone you don’t know very well? The answer to each question will make a difference in the trip. My favorite way to travel is solo. Alone, I don’t have to cater to anyone else’s need to walk fourteen miles in 96-degree heat rather than take a taxi when I’m tired. I can determine in advance the things I wish to see at a particular location—you get the point. Talk about these things with your travel partner before arriving at your destination.
Once you’ve determined the next location on your bucket list, go to YouTube to plan your trip. There are multiple videos for every place imaginable.
Visit the website for the master of travel: Rick Steves.
Travel Apps: Airplane, train, and public transportation apps have proved every time to be invaluable. I’m pretty good at directions, but unless I’m purposefully wandering, I do not enjoy being lost in a city where I’ve been for only an hour.
Self-walking tour suggestions — YouTube has a million of them.
Think about the weather. Given the increase in heat, if possible, avoid the summer.
Packing Light
Overpacking is the first thing I stopped after my first few trips. Lugging a heavy suitcase is ridiculous. You don’t need five pairs of shoes for a three-day trip. Select your clothes so that you only need one pair of shoes, maybe two. There are people much more talented than me to give you advice. Here they are:
For everything you could need regarding packing (ladies), watch Anna Bey. For minimalist packing: The Pack Hacker. My favorite suitcase of my life is the Topo Global Travel Bag Roller. My favorite backpack is a Cotopaxi. If I cannot fit my life on a solo trip into these two things, it doesn’t go.
Go to the Airport Early
My mother always told me to “bring a book.” That way, if you had extra time, you had something to do while you waited. Go to the airport, train station, bus depot, or ferry terminal early. You can always read. There is no reason to sprint to the finish line only to have your arm broken when you thrust it into the closing airplane door.
Follow the airport guidelines for when you need to be at the airport. Most U.S. airports have websites that tell you how long the security lines are. However, that check-in line could be long if you travel on a budget airline. Outside the U.S., many budget airlines do not have online check-in, and you must queue for tickets and check your bags. If you travel internationally, you will often be forced to go to the ticket counter, even if you think you’ve checked yourself in online.
Treat Yourself Like a Five-Year-Old on a Plane
I have my favorite bag that goes with me on the plane. After searching for years, I found it not at some expensive luggage store but at TJ Maxx (yeah, I know!) What goes in there?
Passport, ID, money, credit cards, printed itinerary.
Glasses and sunglasses. I always carry an extra pair. Just the way I am.
Medications and prescriptions.
Noise-cancelling earbuds from Bose (or over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones),
My iPhone with previously downloaded music, books, movies, games, or anything else I will need to keep me entertained the entire length of the trip, including the Endel app for stress or sleep. I’m five, remember?
Power cords and a fully charged power brick.
My Larq water bottle. I don’t want ever to have to worry about getting sick from the water again. (Looking at you, New Orleans.)
Chapstick. Face spritz if you want. Toothbrush and toothpaste. Something to make you instantly feel better. My husband takes Turkish lemon cologne towels to freshen up.
Food that is small and packable, like a protein bar, gummies, or an apple. Look at your airline details and see if they provide food. Several U.S. airlines do not.
Maybe an extra set of clothing or at least clean undies. When flying out of Newark years ago, I knew my luggage would arrive three days later. I planned accordingly because that was where I had to go for connecting flights.
If I need to work, my laptop comes along. If not, it stays home, as I can do almost everything now on my iPhone.
Compression socks on my feet. I’m looking at a new airplane neck pillow that folds up small.
Things others think are imperative: The Savvy Globetrotter
Relax, Don’t Stress, and Enjoy Your Trip
Traveling solo allows me to go early and eat something before I get on the plane, just in case the food could be better. (With Turkish Airlines, that is never an issue.) I get a coffee, relax, and open my book. My husband heads immediately for whatever lounge he has points or free access to, so traveling with him always has benefits.
The point of all this? Take away the stress. With proper thought and planning, your trip will be a breeze.
