Travel - How to do away with your travel agent

What is it about travelling to another country (or continent) which makes most people run to their nearest travel agent and beg them to sort it out? In this day and age, there really is no need.  "But why, when they can do it and save me the hassle?" I hear you ask.  For starters, it will save you.  A lot.  I remember the first time we were looking to travel - I had already done a bit of research on the cost of flights, but popped in to my local agent to find out what they could organise.  "$3,000 return" she said.  That's not bad, I thought, about what I was looking at for both of us.  Then came the kicker "Each".  From that day, I have not set foot in a travel agency.

 

So - where to start?  First things first, work out your budget.  You need to have a rough idea as to how much your trip is going to cost before you book anything.  You don't want to get there and have to spend most of your time in your hotel room because you didn't budget enough on spending money.  I like to break everything down into two categories - must haves and luxuries.  Your must haves are things you are not willing to move on.  This could be a preferred airline, minimum four start hotels or activities you aren't prepared to not do.  Your luxuries are things you will do if you have the money for them - hotel and airline upgrades, helicopter tours etc.  Your dates should also fall into this category.  If you have to travel on certain dates because you are attending an event or that's the only time you can get off work, then this is a must have.  If you have flexibility, don't lock your dates in just yet.  The next step is to work out the must have costs - remember you aren't booking anything yet, just getting an idea of the cost.  Start an excel spreadsheet and make a note of the rough cost.  Use comparative sites, such as Webjet, Hotels.com or Agoda.  If your dates aren't locked in, check out the difference in cost - you'd be surprised how much you can save by travelling in the 'shoulder' seasons.  This step can seem tedious, but it will save you nasty surprises and going over your budget.  Even if you use a travel agent, you should establish your budget first.  Next - check the Visa requirements of the country you are travelling to.  If you have any sort of criminal history, you should sort out your Visa before you book, in case you get rejected.  Many countries offer Visa waiver programs, but these don't apply if you have a criminal record.

 

Once you've got your budget and dates worked out, you can start the fun stuff - actually booking! First things first - your flights too and from.  A couple of pointers - sign up to multiple airlines to receive their specials (unless you have a preferred airline).  It is good planning rather than luck that sees you bag a good flight sale.  Have the money ready to go and be ready to book if a good sale comes up.  How to spot a sale?  Ask any friends or family who have travelled to your destination.  Next, ask your friend Google.  This will give you an idea what the average price of a return airfare is.  If you are booking connecting flights at either end, you should leave at least three hours between (four if you're travelling through another country).  Remember, you have to go through customs and check in.  If you can book your fare with the same airline, you may be able to reduce your time between flights, but the last thing you want is to miss your flight.  Some other things to consider - are you travelling with children (or really hate flying)?  If so, you might want to stay overnight between flights.  Make this part of your holiday and do some sightseeing! Does the airline offer a rewards program?  It could be worth signing up (see my previous post about baggage limits too).

 

 

Once your flights are booked, you need to consider your accommodation.  Part of this is working out your itinerary and how long you want to stay in each place.  I have a rule of thumb here - if you have to catch another plan, or drive or train for more than four hours, you want no less than three days at each destination, preferably four.  Otherwise you spend your entire trip in transit. You also want to consider what you want to do at each destination.  Tripadvisor will become your best friend here (actually, Tripadvisor will be your best friend throughout the booking process).  Make a list of sights you want to see, activities you want to do etc and make sure you have enough time.  This will also help in working out what neighbourhood you want to stay in.  I like to be close to the CBD as public transport is generally more accessible and it is usually close to most of the things I want to do.  Of course, there are exceptions to this (if you like to be away from the hustle and bustle, if you are travelling to LA, if you want to be on the water).  When booking accommodation use a comparison website (I use Hotels.com as it has an awesome rewards program) and use the 'map' feature to determine the location of your accommodation.  Once you have a few options, check the reviews on Tripadvisor - here's my list of tips for looking at Tripadvisor reviews:

 

• Look at the overall rating, not just the most recent reviews.  Some people are overly fussy, or unrealistic in their expectations.
• 
  Read the reviews and see where the hotel lost points - sometimes it's because the staff aren't overly helpful, or the lifts are too slow (yes, I have seen that one).  If it's because the room was unclean or the location poor, cross it off your list (make sure it is more than one review though, some people's opinion of unclean is ridiculous).
• Work out whether you are prepared to walk 10 minutes to the local train or subway station - many people mark down on Tripadvisor because of this.
• Look at the traveller photos to get a good idea of what the hotel actually looks like - much more realistic than the hotel website!!
• Read the forum on the best neighbourhoods - most major destinations have a bit of info and it can be worth its weight in gold.

Before deciding on a hotel, check what extras are included in the price.  Breakfast, free wifi and parking can all save you a lot if they are included in the price.  This is also where your 'luxuries' might come into play - if you want to upgrade, and it fits in your budget, now is the time! Once you have decided on your hotel, check the hotel website - you might be pleasantly surprised and find it is cheaper then on the comparison website.  This is the exception, not the rule, but it has saved me a fair bit in the past.  A couple of other things to note - if you are travelling with a family, or in a group, self contained accommodation may work out cheaper than hotels, especially as it will include cooking and laundry facilities.  Be aware though, it can be hard to get self contained places close to the CBD, and what you save in accommodation could be eaten up in cab fares.  Also, remember you do get what you pay for.  Awesome sales aside, if that five star 30th floor room seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Apart from your flights and accommodation, the main things to consider are:

• Internal flights/trains/buses (again, use a comparative website for flights).  Check your times, and work out how far your accommodation is from the transit centre. 
• Car rental - again, use a comparative site, but make sure you check the insurance provisions (and minimum age requirements).  Also, be aware of one way fees and deposit requirements.  These are often in the fine print, and can be hefty when you arrive to pick the car up.  Also, most places require you to be in the country for at least 24 hours if you have travelled on a long haul flight.
• Attractions - many places offer a discount for booking tickets online, but be careful of 'bundle' tickets - these can be scams - check Tripadvisor first.
• Airport transfers - find out what options are available.  If there is an airtrain, this could be a great option.  Check if your hotel offers transfers to and from.  Be aware of the shuttles that stop at multiple hotels - it may seem like a cheaper option, but could take you a long time to stop at the various hotels on the way.  Many cab companies (and Uber) offer flat fares to and from hotels.
• Read (and ask) the Tripadvisor forums - these contain a wealth of knowledge, and the answers are almost always super helpful.

Remember - booking your holiday is part of your trip!  Make it fun, not a chore.  It will help build the excitement, and you will likely learn a lot more about your destination than you read in a travel brochure!

Travel - Packing like a pro (with a difference)

Before I travel, I spend weeks reading blogs and travel websites, looking to pick up travel tips, particularly about packing.  Most posts share a common theme - don't overpack!  For me, this is almost impossible.  It doesn't matter if I am going away for five days or five weeks, I want to take everything.  Just in case. So - this post does not focus on packing lightly, instead, it's about how to pack everything, but the kitchen sink, and get away with it.

 

Tip 1 - Know your limits

Whether you are flying with one airline, or multiple, (or travelling by bus or rail) it is really important to know what the baggage limits are, for both checked luggage and carry-on.  Also check what the costs are for extra baggage and whether you can pre-pay (as it is often cheaper).  Some airlines offer 'first bag flies free' for their members (United in the USA is one example).  Signing up for airline membership before you get to the airport can save you lots in luggage costs - depending on how many flights you have with that particular airline, membership costs can work out cheaper.  Also, check what your carry on includes.  For some airlines, this is one bag and one 'personal item' (eg handbag, large coat etc).  You don't want to be caught out and have to check bags at the gate, which is even more expensive.

Another important thing - know what your case weighs.  Some cases weigh 4-5kgs, others as little as 1kg.  This makes a big difference to what you can actually pack.  If you are going on a big trip (or travel regularly) it may be worth investing in a superlight suitcase.  This goes for your laptop too - a lightweight laptop or tablet can make a big difference to your overall weight limits.

Before you travel, buy a small travel scale (you can get them for a couple of bucks at dollar stores), and take it with you.  Check your bags before you get to the airport, so you can rearrange (and not be that person repacking your case at the check in desk).

Tip 2 - Fitting the most in

There is an ongoing debate about whether rolling or folding your clothing fits more in.  Personally I roll; my partner folds.  Either way, there are a few little tips to make the most of your room.  Shoes go on the bottom of the bag, with socks and other small items (gloves, scarves, singlets) stuffed inside the shoes.  You can also use small items (rolled) around the outside of shoes to make the most of your space.  Pack small items (t-shirts, nail polish, hand cream) inside your clutches to make the most of space, and pack these things on the bottom layer with your shoes.  If you fold, you can place folded items on top of the bottom layer of shoes.  Next, heavier items such as jeans, jumpers and coats.  Delicate items should be placed on top at one end of the case, and your toiletries at the other.  I always pack toiletries last; firstly because these are the last things I use, and secondly, because if security check anything in your bag, its likely to be your toiletries and this saves them digging through the entire case.

Remember to use the outer pockets of your case - these can provide that extra space that you need to pack all your bits and pieces.  They are also handy for packing flat shoes, chargers or other items you might want to get to easily.

Tip 3 - Carry on

 If I am worried about weight, I wear my heaviest items - jeans, boots, shirt, light jacket and (if it's cold) I carry my heavier jacket.  Most flights I get really cold, and if I don't wear it on the plane, it makes a comfy pillow.  Even on long haul flights, I wear my heavy items, and change into my 'comfy' clothes on the plane.  It can be a little annoying, but my travel clothes (tights and a big t-shirt) are really light, so I prefer to have them in my suitcase.

I always pack heavier items in my carry on - some airlines weigh them, but all airlines weigh your checked luggage.  If you are only over by a couple of kgs, they will probably let you slide.  So, apart from toiletries (remember liquid restrictions on international flights) my heavy stuff goes in carry on.  I also carry my book, iPad and other various heavy personal items in my hand bag (again, less likely to be weighed).

Tip 4 - Be organised

Have the things you need at the airport or before take off at the top of your carry on.  You don't want to be that person in the security line or on the plane digging around in your bag for your liquids or the book you want to read during take off.  Your passport and boarding pass should be handy.  Place your liquids in a clear bag before you get to the airport for easy removal at security.  The same goes for your checked luggage.  If you know what you will be wearing in the first day or so, try and pack this towards the top of your case, to save having to rustle through the entire bag. 

I always take a spare change of clothes in my carry on, in case my checked luggage goes missing.  Usually this consists of jeans (heavy item) and a nice shirt, which canbe dressy if need be.  Important paperwork also makes it into my carry on, as does a certified copy of my passport and other ID.  Don't worry too much about mini toiletries - you can always buy these at your destination.  In fact, if you are travelling for a lengthy time (three weeks or more) don't bother packing shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, hairspray etc - all of this can be purchased at your destination.  Remember, these things weigh A LOT, and the cost to buy them will be less than the cost of extra luggage.

Before you leave, work out what you actually need.  I don't mean clothes (I'll talk about this below).  That hair dryer you think you need - probably not.  Yes, hotel hair dryers can take longer to use, but it saves weight and space.  And do you really need three black singlets when your accommodation has a washing machine? 

Tip 5 - Work out your outfits

Ok - I know I said I wasn't focusing on packing lightly, but there are a few things here to consider.  Know your climate (seems obvious, but I have made this mistake before).  If you are going to a tropical, or reasonably warm, climate, one pair of jeans will probably do, but you might want to pack multiple sun dresses, shorts and t-shirts.  If you are travelling to a cold climate, it is a little tricker.  Winter clothes are so much heavier and bulkier.  Try to choose versatile items - neutral colours for your tops and bottoms, jeans, and a black jacket.  You can accessorise (scarves and jewellery are generally lighter than that bright pink jacket) to keep outfits looking fresh.  Also, choose comfy, practical yet nice shoes, particularly if you are going to be doing a lot of walking.  I learnt the hard way that heeled boots are not the best option for walking around NYC.

Being a little bit shoe obsessed, I generally take way too many heels and end up wearing the same pair over again.  I now take one pair of black heels and one other pair of heels (or heeled boots, depending on the climate), one pair of flats and flat boots.  I always end up buying shoes, even when I say I won't, and then I wear my new shoes.  This goes for other items too - if you know you are going to buy something, don't pack it unless you absolutely need too.  One black clutch will generally suffice.  And, as hard as it is to not take my nicest pieces of jewellery, I leave anything with sentimental (or actual) value at home.  Luggage does go missing, pick pocketing does happen, and hotel maids are notoriously light fingered.  If you forget to put your jewellery in your room safe, and it grows legs, your travel insurance probably won't cover it.

Tip 6 - Pack the night before

 Packing can be the start of an exciting trip, but when you are heading home (or packing for the tenth time in two weeks) it starts to get pretty old. Sometimes you just want to leave it until the morning you leave, but trust me, this is a recipe for leaving items behind, or running late for your flight.  Even if you only pack half of your bag the night before, it will save you time in the morning.  It will also give you another opportunity to do one more check of the hotel room before you leave.  Make sure you shake out the sheets and look under the bed (and in the washer/dyer if you used them).  Socks and undies love hiding!  And don't forget your phone/laptop chargers!!