Recommendations for safer, hassle-free travel

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arbitron

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Not all of this applies to everyone in every situation but some general points from far too many hours spent on planes.

Before you go:
  • Do not tell the whole world you are going away. If you post on Facebook "Can't wait for 2 weeks in Tenerife with the kids!" you are advertising to burglars.
  • Make sure everyone has travel insurance and for European trips a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/E111). Do not skimp on health insurance, it is never worth it.
  • If you are a VHI customer or Revolut Premium/Metal customer you can register your flights for free lounge access which kicks in if your flights are delayed by an hour or more. Some other companies offer this also.
  • Take photos/screenshots of important documents and share them with at least 1 other person in the group so that you have back-ups in case of loss/theft.
  • Download the map of your destination for offline use, e.g. with Google Maps, so you can navigate without internet access
  • Write up a checklist of everything you may need and share it with at least 1 other person, ideally on Google Drive or a similar app. I have a master list that I use for every trip to prompt me for any item I might forget. I don't always take everything but it's reassuring to be able to zip through it in 60 seconds and make sure I haven't missed anything in the scramble.
  • If you are unwell, do not travel until you have seen a doctor. You do not want to risk being ill abroad, it is no fun. You also do not want to be unwell on a flight and disrupt travel for 150-500 people.
While travelling/abroad:
  • Keep hydrated, go easy on the alcohol, avoid sleeping tablets/sedatives, and make sure to take your regular medication.
  • Bring your inhaler and epipens everywhere.
  • When flying, keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, change of underwear/t-shirt/socks in your carry-on. 100% worth it in case of delays or lost luggage.
  • Know your rights re: delay/cancellation/overbooking and ask for what you are due. Do not expect the airlines to be proactive.
  • If you are delayed for a few hours, ask if there is anywhere you can take a shower. Many airports have paid shower areas which have towels, etc. Some lounges also have free showers. A warm shower can refresh and reset you when stressed and bring you back into holiday mode.
Worthwhile purchases:
  • Good quality, hard-bodied cases, with 4 multidirectional wheels. Material luggage can get soaked with rain on the tarmac and can be relatively easily damaged.
  • A backpack of Ryanair dimension for underneath the seat in front of you:
  • A memory foam back pillow
  • Rechargeable power bank plus cables
  • Apple AirTags or similar tracker for keys, purse/bag, suitcases
  • Portable rechargeable fan for warm destinations - cannot exaggerate how good these are:
  • A door jammer like this makes hotel rooms much safer:

Please add other tips!
 
The door jammer is an excellent suggestion, especially if you are a woman travelling alone or anyone staying in a grotty hotel. A copy of your prescription, if any. A descent torch. A Swiss Army knife, to fix broken toilets, etc.
 
A few washing tablets. If you are away camping or in an Airbnb they are very handy.

Water bottles.

Water wipes.

Hand sanitizer
 
I always travel with a red suitcase. It makes my life easier who I go to the carousel to collect my luggage. It is instantly recognisable.
 
Great post!

Edit your emergency contacts (if you have that set up on your phone, and if you dont.. please do it!) to have the international dialing code. If overseas, 087.. could be anywhere, whereas +35387.. will be clear.

Small emergency sewing kit.

Small first aid kit, even if just a few plasters and a small tube of antiseptic.

Length of cord/ string for emergency washing line or temporary fixes to things that get broken.

Spare glasses/contact lenses if applicable.
 
Probably not as relevant today as it was for me twenty odd years ago but always travel with a few different ways/methods to pay for things

I once found my self in New York on a shopping trip with Mrs C and on day one my credit card snapped in half and as far as I can remember we didn't have Debit cards back then and even though Mastercard couriered me a CC within 24 hours, my bank due to the time of year and a systems failure on their side couldn't activate the card before I returned home

So moral of the story is to always have a couple of ways to pay for things and at least a couple of days expenditure in cash
The cash is just as important as the other payment methods simply because nowadays if the internet goes down, cash is your only option

One other thing, get familiar with Google translate because if you even find yourself in a situation where you cant understand what is been said to you or cant get your point across to them, Google translate can and does help
 
This very important: in recent trips to the US, Revolut froze my card due to an Uber deposit attempt and my credit card was 'hacked' and bank cancelled the card. Fortunately, I had a second card.
 
PMU said:
A Swiss Army knife, to fix broken toilets, etc.
Click to expand...
Just be aware that in many countries, including Ireland, it is illegal to carry such a knife with you in public unless you can prove reasonable cause such as work requirement. Victorinox recently announced they are to produce blade free options as a result of increasing prohibition.
 
I didn’t recommend carrying it in public, but in one’s check-in baggage e.g. to fix the flush handle on a cistern as I had to do in a hotel in Rome a month ago and similar. A basic bladeless multi-tool would work as well.
 
PMU said:
I didn’t recommend carrying it in public, but in one’s check-in baggage e.g. to fix the flush handle on a cistern as I had to do in a hotel in Rome a month ago and similar. A basic bladeless multi-tool would work as well.
Click to expand...
The Irish legislation doesn't require carrying it on your person for it to be an offence, just having it with you in a public place, though you are very unlikely to be prosecuted provided you don't draw attention to yourself.
 
PMU said:
A Swiss Army knife, to fix broken toilets, etc.
Click to expand...
Always carry one with me when traveling, goes in the wash bag and surprisingly get used quite often for so many little jobs
Especially the little flat head screwdriver for glasses repair and scissors for a the jobs that a blade won't do
 
  1. Always have some cash.
  2. Check your phone plan before you leave to see if you are covered to roam. Don't assume you are.
  3. Check any prescriptions well before you leave in case.
  4. If you are using an Air BnB or something similar, take some of the clothes out of your case and leave then behind and use the washing machine/Dryer when you are there(check they have one first)
  5. Check when public holidays are where you are going, that can impact travel and plans
  6. Have your embassy or consuls number in your phone in case you lose your passport or have issues.
  7. Don't leave your passport in a coat pocket at a cloakroom in a venue (I learnt that the hard way)
  8. comfy shoes, comfy shoes, comfy shoes, possibly the most important thing of all
  9. if you are staying in a hotel, throw a packet of biscuits in the bag
 
Put a copy of your prescription on your phone.
I needed it last week in Spain while visiting a doctor.
First question, what meds ?
 
In all fairness if I was stumping up for a hotel the last thing I'd expect to have to do is diy on the toilet or be preparing for it by bringing tools.
 
Black Sheep said:
Put a copy of your prescription on your phone.
I needed it last week in Spain while visiting a doctor.
First question, what meds ?
Click to expand...
Agree about copy of prescription, just if someone is querying why I've prescription medication. But I also keep my medication listed in my phone under Emergency Info + Medical conditions, incase I'm in an accident, regardless of where I am. This can be accessed even if the phone is locked, but I'm happy to have this shared. On an Android, its in settings \ Safety and emergency \ Medical Info.
 
If you have a Bank of Ireland Business credit card you can get free access to Aer Lingus lounges and associate lounges anywhere in the world as long as you are flying with Aer Lingus. There should be a Aer Lingus symbol on the card. If there isn't ask them for a card with one on it. You may need an upgrade to a gold card (or whatever they are called now) but there's no extra cost so just get one.


In Notes on your phone type your name and address and the name and contact number of your next of kin. Then take a screen shot and use it as your wallpaper. If your phone is lost or you are incapacitated it is a fast and easy way to get your phone back or you identified and your loved ones contacted.

If you're parking in the Airport take a photo of your cars location. More than once I've spend ages looking for my car in the spot it was in last week rather than this week.

Don't be that person who doesn't take their belt off or the stuff out of their pockets until they are right at the security scanner.

When flying:
Take off your shoes on the plane. It is remarkable how much better you'll feel.

Get a good set of over ear noise cancelling headphones. I'd rather be in economy with a set than in business class without them.

Don't drink alcohol or caffeine before your flight or alcohol during your flight. Don't eat too much. Drink lots of water. (covered above)

When travelling with others I always get everyone to WhatsApp photos of passports, driving licences and boarding passes to the group. (covered above) Hotel booking info, keypad numbers etc should also be shared.

When on the plane stay relaxed and be tolerant of people, especially those travelling with kids. If they are annoying you it's because you forgot your headphones.



When you get to your hotel room fill and boil the kettle. It will do as drinking water the next morning/ that evening if you are stuck.

Always, absolutely always, have enough cash for at least one day.
 
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