Top Travel Tips
Tip 1: When you are packing your toiletries, unscrew the lids and cover each opening with a small piece of cling film before screwing the lid back on to prevent spillages.
Tip 2: Always pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage in case your checked luggage goes missing you have something to change into so you can wash the ones you were wearing. Some other handy items to pack in your hand luggage are: toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, moisturiser, lip balm and hand cream. You may only have liquids and gels in containers of less than 100ml and a max of 10 in total. You should keep them together in a zip lock bag max 1 litre capacity. Then about an hour before landing you can go and freshen up and feel a lot more human on arrival.
Tip 3: When visiting a theme park, walk around the park in an anti-clockwise direction. Most people naturally walk clockwise - so you'll reach the rides before everyone else and avoid some long queues.
Tip 4: Take a photo of your bag with your phone so you can easily give a description if lost and it shows what it looked like before the trip in case there is damage caused by the airline. If tampered with immediately advise the airline before leaving the airport.
Tip 5 Keep valuables as close to you as possible while on the plane. Money/passport/tech gadgets should rather be in your handbag near your feet rather than the overhead locker, especially when the cabin is darkened for sleep. Take your handbag to bathroom with you so you do not leave it unattended at any time. Put a padlock on your hand luggage whilst on the plane. Only lock it once you are on the plane so that it is not a hassle while you go through security. Make sure all your electronic devices fully charged as you can be asked to switch them on by security. Keep your chronic medication in your hand luggage and take copies of your prescription with you.
Tip 6: All passengers under 18 years of age are required to travel internationally with an unabridged birth certificate, in addition to a valid passport. If travelling with only one parent or with no parents there are further requirement.
Tip 7: Don’t forget to check the validity of your visa and passport well in advance of your travels. Make sure that your passport is valid. Many countries require six months validity from your date of return. As South Africans we need visas in order to travel to most destinations abroad. If you are in any doubt, or if you require a visa then please speak to me, your trusted Travel Counsellor.
Tip 8: Keep your wits about you when travelling. People from SA think crime only happens here and so many people drop their guards when they leave the country. Go with your gut. If you feel like someone is suspicious, then move away from them if possible.
I hope these tips will come in handy when you are next travelling.