Last week I shared several "travel tips" to help you be more organized when you leave town. Here are a few more:
If you have access to refrigeration at your hotel, cabin, etc. you'll be able to save leftovers, purchase inexpensive items such as cheese or milk and save leftovers (i.e. from KFC) that can stretch to another meal.
Bring something small but comfy and familiar, such as a favorite pillow, stuffed animal, etc.
Keep tote bags prepared for local getaways, stocked with non-perishable items you will need for a day at the park, the beach, the community pool or the Y, etc. You may want to get several of the same size totes but in different colors or designs corresponding to their use. Then you can grab and go!
Mark on your calendar six to nine months before your passport expires so you have time to renew it.
If you have a smart phone such as an iPhone or Blackberry, there are several ways to consolidate things you will need in one place. i.e. a Bible app can help you keep up with daily reading. Fitness tracking apps that sync with websites (such as My Fitness Pal) can help you keep tracking goals even while you are away. Kindle app can allow you to bring several books on your phone. There are even apps to suggest games to play on long car rides!
Always expect to wait or be delayed in travel. You'll be less stressed if you expect it, and if you have a book or other project ready to work on, you can consider it an enforced rest period!
Pray for open eyes and ears. Often, God has a plan for us that may differ a bit from our plans for vacation. Is there a person He wants you to encourage? Does He want you to notice something special? Do you have opportunity to work through something challenging (i.e. a delay, breakdown, extra expense) with those you love and later can look back on it as a bonding experience?
Realize that extended time together with friends or family may end up feeling different than you may expect. Most of us see our family or friends in pockets of time, rarely spending entire days together. Be aware of needed space for everyone to have some personal time, and be sure your friendship is solid enough to share the same living quarters for extended days! Families especially are often running in different directions, and too much "together time" at once can lead to frustration or some tension.
Journal and take pictures, but not at the expense of being "fully present." I spent the day at Disney alone one time, and the first ride I went on was a safari in Animal Kingdom. I took a couple of pictures, but was amazed at the people behind me that were working so hard to capture every shot they could that I wondered if they were really enjoying the experience itself. You'll never capture (with a camera) every image from a vacation. Just try to get a highlight or two, and enjoy what you are doing and who you are with.
Be careful about social media updates. We have a policy in our home not to give specific info about travels until after we return home. Much as I would love to post updates while I am experiencing the trip, I don't because 1) I don't think it is wise to give one's specific location out to a large network often, and 2) it puts me in a mind frame of "how can I write about this" rather than fully experiencing it and 3) it can cause me to be a little too self important, as if people need to know my experiences as they occur. Maybe not. It can be a challenge to fully unplug but it can be very healthy to do so.
What tips would you add to this list?
Facebook Blogger Plugin: Bloggerized by AllBlogTools.com Enhanced by MyBloggerTricks.com
No comments:
Post a Comment