Road Warrior travel tips
June 22, 2017The writing of this article was commenced in a hotel room, continued in an airport lounge and completed at 39,000 feet on a trans-Pacific flight.
It contains tips for combatting jet-lag, stress and DVT. There are hacks for getting thru immigration, airports and cities faster. There are clues on what to pack and how to pack it. There are insights into options for payments with cards or cash; what to wear and drink inflight; and how to maximise the benefits of your loyalty to an airline or hotel chain.
We all have priorities when travelling. It may be luxury (or even extravagance), as an antidote to the mundane, or simply as an expectation in a life well lived.
For others it is frugality; in order to spend more time travelling and absorbing memorable experiences.
For those of us for whom travel in an aluminium tube is a professional and frequent necessity, the highest priorities may be comfort and speed.
For me, flexibility is critical; but reduced stress and increased time are my highest priorities.
Recently, I travelled through four countries in one week. However, over several weeks in Aug-Sep 2016, my itinerary comprised:
18 flights
14 hotel rooms
12 airport terminals
6 intercontinental flights
4 hemispheres (North, South, East and West!)
3 continents (2 visits each)
2 carry on bags
1 international driver’s permit
travelling through a literal A-Z of airports:
- Auckland
- Brisbane
- Hong Kong
- Los Angeles
- Melbourne
- Reno
- San Francisco
- Shanghai
- Sydney
- Xi’an
- Yinchuan
- Zhuhai
In order to minimise stress and maximise safety and efficiency, I have developed procedures and practices, which I share in the following six part series.
Most of these ‘Road Warrior’ tips are simple. Many will be familiar. All are practical and valuable in saving time, stress and (often) money.
The six segments are:
“The Itinerant Itinerary”
(Frequent Flyer, part 1 of 6. Logistics)
“The Vacuum Pack”
(Frequent Flyer, part 2 of 6. In preparation)
“The Nearly Terminal”
(Frequent Flyer, part 3 of 6. Before departure)
“The Forty Hour Wednesday”
(Frequent Flyer, part 4 of 6. In the air)
“A Degree in Airports”
(Frequent Flyer, part 5 of 6. Upon arrival)
“The Dust of Two Deserts”
(Frequent Flyer, part 6 of 6. In transit)
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