Practical Traveling Tips When in Vacation
Aug 13th
It’s summer and one’s mind is set on that one essential thing: Travel—as in vacation and relaxation. But do not let the hassles of traveling to your paradise bog you down and take the fun out of your vacation.
Here are practical traveling tips:
• On a roll - The best space-saving way to pack your clothes is to roll them. This way there will also be fewer creases than when you fold them. Lay them like on a bed in your bag or suitcase and then stuff “dead” spaces with socks, stockings, underwear, etc.
• Less is more - Bring clothes that can be mixed and matched easily so you can bring fewer clothes for maximum wear. For business suits and gowns, it is best to have a garment bag to keep them in good shape.
* Never leave home without it-Bring your own pair of slippers, for sanitation purposes.
• Lightweight champ - Have a lightweight hand-carry to contain traveling kit, which holds your essentials like medicines, hygiene and grooming aids, jacket or sweater, spare clothes (in case of unforeseen emergencies), reading glasses, sunglasses and umbrella for places with unpredictable weather.
• Brief interludes – Have a handy duffle bag for overnight trips, land tours, or short trips to the beach or to the gym.
• Don’t miss the flight - Always confirm and reconfirm flight time and boarding gate number even after going through immigration.
• Set the pace - Stretch, get up and pace the aisles every two hours or so to prevent numbing of legs and feet, and promote better blood circulation.
• Do or diet - If you’re a vegetarian, or you have allergies to certain food, request special diet in advance. On the plane, watch what you eat or drink. Observe moderation. Too much alcohol on board can cause dehydration of the skin. Stick to lots of water instead.
• Mental exercises – In your mind walk through every step you’ll need to do in case of plane emergencies. Do the same in your hotel room; note fire exits and floor plan.
• Keep your identity – Always have your ID on your body at all times in case of accident or unexpected situations that call for you to identify. It is also wise to have your ID indicate your blood type and any medical condition doctors should be aware of, like allergy to certain medicine.
• Cash flow - Always have a loose change ready for tips at the airport, taxis, hotel and restaurants. Bring US dollars with you at, all times for emergencies. When departing from a country which you plan to visit again, don’t exchange all its currency; leave some for future trips.
• Homesickness - Keep two sets of watches, one set in the country you’re in, the other to your home so you don’t always have to convert the time when calling home. Purchase an international phone card which you can use both on public and private phones. It makes calling much more convenient and less expensive.
How to Pack Your Cosmetics When Traveling
Aug 11th
• Collect sample sizes of your favorite skin care and makeup products (fragrance, too) before your trip. When you buy a beauty product, ask for samples for your travel kit. Check out drugstores for inexpensive, trial size beauty aides, such as toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant.
• To keep luggage as lightweight as possible, carry pills and creams in plastic containers. Count out the number of pills or capsules you will need for the days you will be away and put them in labeled containers.
• Carry your cosmetics on with you. They will keep better at board temperature than in the cargo hold where extreme cold or heat can ruin formulations. And they will be handy when you want to reapply them.
• Streamline your makeup choices with double-duty products, such as cream-to-powder base, eye shadow that pinch-hits as a liner, lip pencil that fills in like lipstick, blush that highlights eyes, too. A suntan product with aloe Vera also makes an excellent body moisturizer.
• Make sure cosmetics are “cushioned” (those plastic bags create protective pockets of air) to prevent breakage and leakage. To further safeguard against spillage from plastic bottles (shampoo, moisturizer, etc.), compress the open bottle, cover the Opening with plastic wrap and then close the top while continuing to squeeze the bottle.
• Keep sharp-edged beauty aides (razors, scissors, etc.) encased.
• For easiest access, pack all-of-a-kind essentials together, in separate bags — toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash; feminine hygiene products; shampoo, conditioner, hair spray.
Packing Tips on Choosing Your Wardrobe for Your Trip
Aug 9th
In today’s modern world, a heavy travel schedule is a routine for many. The basis of any successful travel wardrobe — business or pleasure — is in the organization. It’s the key in helping to reduce the stress of travel.
The pleasure of any trip at all is traveling light. You are always under much less pressure if you do not have a lot of things to worry about, including what you are going to wear that evening or the next day.
The secret is to list down every function and meeting you will have to attend. Then work out the minimum number of items needed to dress appropriately for each one. Always remember too many clothes will confuse you when you are tired and busy. Your suitcase will be heavier than it has to be, and you’ll waste time packing and unpacking.
The type of wardrobe you take depends on the nature of your trip. You’ll need more outfits for six days in one city than for three days each in two cities. (Take note that different people would see you in the two places so you could wear exactly the same things twice.)
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