SEVENTEEN TRAVEL TIPS FOR 2017:

Some quick tips to help you travel better, faster, farther, cheaper. See some of our best travel tips below! (Note: We updated the list to 17 tips since it was 2017 after all! And frankly, who doesn’t want two more great travel tips?!)

1.) Save money by scouring online flight discounters as well as signing up for Secret Flying and The Flight Deal!
• www.secretflying.com
• www.theflightdeal.com

2.) Always carry a good quality black wool blazer/jacket – It always looks good for dinner at a restaurant, is soft and can be rolled into a pillow on long flights, won’t easily wrinkle, and will stay warm in the rain/when wet.

3.) Pack a good attitude and realistic expectations: Be grateful, be happy, be willing to be flexible. Have fun. – Unlike luggage, a great attitude is one possession that cannot be lost by anyone but yourself!

4.) If you haven’t already: Create a toiletries bag with all your essentials that you can grab and go!

5.) While abroad, keep receipts of purchased items in case of lost bags or damage. Travel insurance will not cover items unless you can prove your ownership. (Taking pictures with your phone is a good idea as well.)

6.) Do you know if your flight/seat has charging capability? Are your charging wires in your carry on or packed in your luggage/inaccessible?

7.) Learn a few phrases (or more) in the language, and some cultural do’s and don’ts, before you get there!

8.) Prepare for long flights/jet lag by getting “The Definitive Guide to Jet Lag” free!
– https://www.gninsurance.com/resources/guides/beating-jet-lag/

9.) Take an extension cord, adapters and a multi-plug power strip – Frequent fliers know that most places are going to have limited power outlets or they will be in all the wrong places, not to mention the airport. Make sure the ends accept three prong plugs, not just two prong plugs or else your laptop charger isn’t going to work.

10.) Keep your extension cord in your carry-on for airport charging. Most power-hungry travelers won’t mind if you ask to replace their charging cord with a multi prong adapter as long as you ask first and plug them right back in! (They may even smile or compliment your ingenuity!)

11.) We always, always, always recommend gallon ziplock bags. Throw your wallet and phone and loose change in one for the TSA line (they are clear!), organize without buying packing cubes, keep your cables all together, or you can even wash clothes in them! (See video at bottom of this article.)

12.) Shelby Dillion gave us/you a great travel tip (besides agreeing with us regarding ziplock bags!) – Use those hotel shower caps to cover your shoes when packing extra pairs in your luggage! They are thin, light, disposable and you were never going to wear it in the shower anyway!

13.) You already know this, but it’s a good reminder: If it’s too heavy, you are going to regret taking it/dragging it through airports, in and out of elevators or up steps.

14.) Empty your pockets and put items like wallet, keys, phone, watch, and your belt into your bag or purse before getting to airport security scanners to save time/stress.
I toss it all in a ziplock in the top of my bag and re-load my pockets once I’m at the gate. You can also shove your shoes in a gallon ziplock bag as well as putting wallet, keys, phone in the tops of your shoes (in the bag), so that it is all together to quickly grab on the other side of the TSA line. This tip makes you look like such a pro to all those other people in the line!

15.) Take a screenshot of your boarding pass as well as having it in email on your phone. Sometimes trying to load an email attachment can be frustrating/embarrassing as you struggle while holding up the line!

16.) Never buy designer bags – Baggage handlers don’t treat expensive bags any differently. Don’t complain if they get dirty/scuffed.

17.) Travel Insurance. (Did we need to remind you?!) For a dollar or two a day you need not worry about tens of thousands of dollars in foreign hospital or specialists bills and they’ll help with translation and medical advice when you are not sure the foreign clinic is giving you the best advice. – www.gninsurance.com for specific plans for expats, holiday travel, volunteering overseas, even groups traveling together or needing good international health insurance for their workers around the globe.

More thoughtful items can be found in our free Travel Safety 101 guide which has pages of useful tips to help you travel smarter, travel safer! – https://www.gninsurance.com/resources/guides/travel-safety-overseas/.

See our top 17 “must-have” travel item recommendations at https://www.gninsurance.com/blog/news-and-helpful-links/travel-items-for-2017/ and leave your best travel tips in the comments below the video. I’m sure others would like to know what you do to make travel cheaper and better!