3 Things You Can Do Right Now for A Better Travel Experience

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Travel is one of the most exciting things you can do. It’s a great way to broaden your mind, deepen your understanding, and expand your horizons. 

But the time between trips is important, too. So often, travelers fail to take advantage of this time to reflect and assess what they can be doing better. Now–while most travel is on hold–is an ideal time to rethinking some travel essentials. Doing so will help position you for your next trip.

Here are three things you can do right now for a better travel experience.

woman in italy with hat | Enjoy Travel Life

CONTENTS: In this article, you will learn about three things you can do right now to improve your future travel, including:

1. Re-Assess Your Packing System

woman with suitcase | Enjoy Travel Life

No matter where your next trip will be, it’s important to develop some kind of strong packing system. You want to give this some real thought to come up with the best ways to pack correctly and more efficiently. 

Start by answer the following.

What kind of suitcase will you use?

You have a couple of options for the kind of suitcase or hand baggage you will use when packing for your vacation. 

If you are flying, you’ll want to be certain of the specific airline’s requirements when it comes to the size, weight, and the cost of checked bags and carry on alike.

If you are planning a road trip or using public transportation, you’ll still want to evaluate the best type of bags to pack. 

Whether you go with an oversized checked bag, carry-on luggage, or a backpack will determine how much you bring with you.

Have a good look at it, now.

Is it beat up?

Does it need an upgrade?

Are there more convenient options? Now is a great time to buy a new suitcase or backpack, so you’re ready to take off when the time comes. 

Investigate Ways to Pack Your Suitcase Efficiently

Another important step in assessing your packing system is finding ways to pack your suitcase efficiently. There are several trains of thought about that, including these popular packing techniques. Some travelers swear by them.

  • Roll your clothes so they don’t wrinkle.
  • Invest in packing cubes to keep clothes organized.
  • Use compression sacks to maximize space.

Having a plan for efficient packing can make a stressful task much less stressful. 

Learn How to Organize Your Suitcase

In evaluating your packing system, you also want to think about how you organize the clothes you pack. 

For instance, in addition to rolling your clothes, will you roll entire outfits together?

Or will you stack all the shirts together on one side and all the slacks together?

Think about what will make outfits easy to retrieve without messing up the whole contents when you need something. 

And what about shoes? Some people pack their shoes in plastic bags and place them so they are at the bottom of the suitcase when it’s upright. That way, they’re not getting your clothes dirty or crumpling them in transit.

It’s also a good idea to leave any valuables at home.

Often, a lot of thought is given to effectively packing to go on vacation, but packing for the return trip is overlooked.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind: 

  • You’ll want to leave some space for any souvenirs.
  • Don’t forget to pack a bag for your dirty laundry. 
  • Alternatively, you might do laundry on the last day you’re away so you bring home clean clothes, making the transition home easier.

Learning to pack in a more effective and practical way is time well spent.

2. Learn How to Choose the Right Travel Wardrobe

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This might sound odd, but your outfits and attire play a big part in maximizing your travel fun.

Maybe you’re stepping into a new role, have the perfect Instagram photo opp planned out, or simply want to be comfortable for the whole trip. In short, wardrobe matters.

Here are a few of the most important wardrobe tips for your trip.

Dress Comfortably on Your Travel Days

First of all, you want to plan your travel outfit so your comfortable, whether you’re flying, driving, or taking some other form of transportation. There’s nothing worse than a long car or plane ride with too-tight pants and an itchy shirt.

Comfort is king. 

  • Still, go for a look that is both comfortable and smart.
  • Opt for an outfit that won’t get all wrinkled after a few hours of sitting.
  • Layers make good sense, too. Since you may not have climate control, if you layer your outfit, you can effectively add and strip layers to adjust.

Remember to plan comfortable outfits for the trip there and the return trip.

And if you’ll be on long car rides and tours while on vacation, you can still plan a fashionable outfit.

Just be sure it’s comfy.

Because no-one wears “cranky” well.

Have the Right Outfits Packed for Your Destination

Another consideration when planning your wardrobe is where you’re going. Your outfit will be dictated in part by your vacation destination (and in part, by the season). 

For instance, if you’re heading to fashionable Florence Italy, you’ll probably want to look the part. 

Likewise, for your next seaside vacation, you can head over to Myra Swim to pick out some excellent swimwear.

You might even want to look into building capsule wardrobes where you mix and match a few interchangeable outfits for the most efficient combination.

You have seasonal wardrobes for home, so is it so far-fetched to have travel wardrobes suited to your favorite destinations?

I say no.

Skip the Fancy Footwear

Your footwear will be of the utmost importance while traveling. So much so that you might want to choose form over fashion–because there is nothing pretty about blisters.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to bring your ugliest shoes…Just opt for the most comfortable.

That might mean you have your go-to comfort shoes for hiking, city-breaks, and of course, lounging at the beach at the ready.

Now can you see how choosing the right wardrobe can make all the difference on how you look and feel?

That’s why it’s all important to take time now to plan it out so when it comes to improving the way you experience your vacation, you’re ready.

3. Discover How You Can Book the Best Flights 

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You want to make sure you focus on doing as much as possible in advance to book the best flights for your travel adventure. Even if you don’t plan on traveling until well into the new year, there are things that you can do now that will prepare you for a successful trip. 

That means getting familiar with:

  • The different airlines that fly to your destination
  • Average flight costs for both round trip and those with layovers
  • Best times to visit your destination. (Think: shoulder season)

You will also want to familiarize yourself with credit cards that offer travel points.

Perhaps now is a good time to enroll in flight deal newsletters and discount booking engines. 

Really take the time now to think about how you can go about booking the best value flights with a reliable and trustworthy airline or agency.

Once you’re ready to travel, try to book flights as soon as you can—or when you know you’ll get the best price.

Why Travel Insurance is a Must

Also imperative is making sure that you can cancel your commitment should something come up–especially these days.

Most airlines right now are making it easy to move travel dates or get your money refunded.

But it probably makes good sense to have some travel insurance lined up for the unexpected.

Final Thoughts 

So, even though you may be between trips, you can make these choices and investments that will help you improve your travel adventure in the long run.

With some quiet reflection, thoughtful consideration, and minor adjustments, you can easily move things ahead in the right direction.

Soon enough, you’ll be more ready for takeoff than you’ve ever been.

Planning on being away for a long time? Then read this article about how to prepare your home for an extended trip, next.


This article is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links. As always, all opinions expressed are my own. For more information, please see the following Disclosure.

Photo credits: woman with suitcase – MorningbirdPhoto (Pixabay), woman with hat (Pixabay), woman at airport –  Atoms (Unsplash), woman typing – Christin Hume (Unsplash)