“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustav Flaubert.
Always forgetting what to pack or bring during trips? Missing flight schedules or getting up too late? Ending up drained and exhausted on your supposedly summer get-away? Whether you’re about to travel for work or for leisure, Bahrain Confidential has got you covered with tips on how to make your travel itinerary and preparation as smooth and worry-free as it can get.
Necessities first
Always have your passport, work ID, government IDs, and credit or debit cards ready for you to freely get into airports, transportation hubs, and your accommodation. Having a valid ID and a credit or debit card guarantees transport to and from your destination and in finding accommodation.
Plan
Your day (or days)
Whether it be for work or for leisure, a good start to have a firm grasp on how your travels would go, is building an itinerary. Underestimating your free time and the choices to be made when stepping foot in your destination is disastrous. Typically, you would have too many options and too little time to decide what the best option would be, leading to either missing out on what you were better off enjoying or overspending to accommodate all your wants. Making an itinerary beforehand that involves carefully chosen tasks for the day assures you spend your time in the the most efficient and enjoyable way.
Your budget
Know beforehand how much you’re willing to spend and have a good amount as back-up. Depending on your destination, the cost of food, transportation, and accommodation would always vary from what you are expecting. It is best to have a little lee-way on computing your expected costs. Also keep in mind whether you are planning to buy items from your destination or not, and adjust accordingly to your projected budget.
Your clothes
Although having a good number of jeans, shorts, underwear, shirts, or any other article of clothing is fine, rummaging through your bag and trying to pair them up and decide what to wear will leave you frustrated most of the time. Plan an outfit for the day and pack it as such, this way you’ll have full attires, that fit the destination, on your luggage rather than a collection of clothes you realize you don’t end up using by the end of the trip.
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
Pack lightly
Deciding on a reasonably sized luggage or backpack is a good start in packing light, this puts a limit to what you will bring rather than picking clothes and finding a backpack to fit it into. Having luggage that you can freely carry reduces the stress of finding space for it, checking inventory, and having to carry it along your journey.
Wake up to alarms
Missing flights, accommodation check-ins, and tour meet-ups are the worst things that could happen when travelling. It brings up problems not only for you but also for the parties involved, wasting both time and resources. Putting an alarm and waking up early for your schedule is critical in achieving your desired itinerary and having a trouble-free trip.
Prepare for emergencies
Be it allergy medications, a small first-aid kid, extra cash in-hand, prescription scripts or any similar circumstances, have it ready and easy to grab or find. Having an allergy attack or getting hurt is much more common when you’re at a new place trying out new things, enjoy your trip but be prepared for unexpected slips.
Forget business
Not everything! But it’s good to keep in mind what your reason is for travelling. If it’s for work, forget the leisure until the tasks are done, and if it’s for leisure forget the work you left behind. Immersing one’s self in the place he/she visits makes travelling unforgettable. Taking pictures and souvenirs can be memorable but looking back and remembering locals you’ve met or how much at awe you were at the places you visited would be much more endearing to hold.