Travel Ladybugs: 5 Must-haves For Traveling Efficiently

If you’re the type of person who holds up the line because you’re either a) a clumsy soul like me b) always searching for things in your bag or c) having trouble explaining situations coherently, then these tips will be a lifesaver. Whether you are naturally awkward or find it difficult to travel without some sort of mishap, having experience in efficient packing and planning is key to combatting this obstacle. And honestly? These pro-skills make traveling so much more enjoyable once you get into the routine of traveling effectively.  

Pack minimalistic.

It’s really easy to pack your entire closet for a five day trip; You think you’ll need different outfits for different days or even overpack for the slight possibility that all your clothes will somehow get ruined. But here’s the real answer: you don’t need all those clothes or unnecessary gadgets. Whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, a three-day trip or for an entire month, packing minimalistic items are essential to traveling efficiently. For clothing, pack a mixture of neutrals and basic attire that can switched around to create multiple outfits. This way, you do have different outfits for different days while minimizing the heaviness of your luggage (since baggage fees can skyrocket). It’s a win-win situation. Pro-tip: bring one bag to not only save time and money, but efficiency since you won’t need to go through the entire process of checking in baggage.

Have your passport (if you’re traveling internationally) and boarding ticket ready. 

Being able to smoothly stride through airport security takes some serious skill. If you’re a natural and somehow don’t have anxiety over travel stress, then kudos to you. But for everyone else, here’s a big helper: keep your passport and boarding ticket in hand or easily accessible before you reach security. Also, a good thing to remember is to also mentally check off what items you need to take off to go through security. These include anything metal, shoes, and electronics. With these mini rituals, you won’t need to be that person who holds up the line with annoyed people waiting behind you.

Learn the basics of the local language. 

If you’re traveling internationally, this is extremely helpful. You don’t need to be fluent in the language of the region you’re visiting or even need perfect pronunciation, but knowing the basic words and phrases will help make communication easier and less time consuming. Plus, you’re learning something entirely new!

Skyscanner will be your best friend. 

For those of you who don’t know what Skyscanner is, it’s an app that lets you compare flights, car rentals, and hotels for traveling. Not only does this help cover three main features of your trip all in one place, it’ll also save you a lot of money. This search engine allows you to compare flight prices according to each days, so matching up a low-cost departing flight and a low-cost returning flight will ultimately give you a cheap round-trip flight.

Airbnb will be your other best friend. 

Traveling can easily eat up your savings, so having affordable flights as well as accommodation is the perfect scenario. Airbnb, which is a “trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world” is a cheap alternative to booking a hotel room. Actually, it can be a better alternative in non-financial benefits as well. Staying in an Airbnb home or apartment can really let you experience local life and what it’s like to live in the city you’re visiting. And to be honest, many of the accommodations are much more unique and exciting than some of the hotels as well.

Happy traveling!