Must Know: Travel Hacks For Those Who Are Travelling Abroad This Year End

Lionel Lau

16 January 2019 at 9:22 pm

Travelling for most Singaporeans would bepredictable as compared to other countries due to the fact that Singaporeansonly travel during these periods.

School holidays – Month of June where theirkids get a month long break from school, parents would take their children fora vacation abroad
Year end holidays – School holidays wouldstart as early as mid or end November all the way till the end of the year,certain families would want to allow their kids to experience a differentculture during the festive seasons
Off peak seasons – January or February whenschool commences and it is back to office for working adults, it is the besttime to travel as flight tickets would be cheaper, airports and destinationswould not be that crowded

Let’s jump straight into these MUST KNOWTravel hacks that all travellers should educated and equip themselves with,during this festive season especially if you are travelling abroad.

TRAVELHACK #1 – Reduce Your Luggage Load & Travel Light

Most airlines would have a weight limit when it comes to luggages, furthermore, it would make your journey so much easier if you were to travel light and only bring the essentials with you. Travelling light would mean that you are able to buy more souvenirs and gifts home for your loved ones and friends instead of buying another luggage just to store these gifts, which you would ultimately give away. Essentials such as winter wear if you are travelling to a cold country, and enough undergarments. You are travelling to enjoy this whole new experience instead of going for a fashion runway where you need a change of multiple clothing per day.

TRAVELHACK #2 – Get A Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a MUST HAVE when anyone were to travel overseas. If you are not a frequent traveller, you can go ahead and get the single trip insurance which also provides decent coverages when it comes to loss of baggage or flight cancellations. Some airlines are also offering travel insurance at a discounted price if it is being purchased together with the flight tickets. Insure yourself even when you travel, make sure that everything is accounted for, in the event of uncertainties or predicaments, you know that you would be covered.

TRAVELHACK #3 – Minimize Your Valuables

In terms of security, not every country is as safe as Singapore where crime and theft rates are at its lowest and kept at bay by the vigilant police force. When you are travelling out of Singapore, you would be seen and considered as a foreigner. The level of respect and impressions that the natives would give you is naturally lowered. By minimizing the number of valuables you are bringing abroad, you are protecting yourself by not being an obvious target for a potential crime or theft to happen. Be alert at all times and the rule of thumb is to not flash your valuables or big stack of notes when you are making a payment for something, you never know that you would be the next target for these thieves who would mercilessly snatch or do what they can to get a hold of your valuables, you may be hurt in the process of tussling and brawling with the thief.

TRAVELHACK #4 – Stay Connected With Your Loved Ones

It is crucial to stay in touch with your family members especially if you are travelling together. If you are travelling to a new country you have not been to before, there should not be any sort of compromise when it comes to your family. When technology is advance enough for everyone to stay in contact simply by adding on a roaming service to your existing mobile plans or by purchasing a local prepaid card and swapping it out with yours, you are able to contact everyone if you were to stray away from the group. Every telco has their respective roaming plans to add on or subscribe to, along with their partner telco overseas for you to connect to. Make sure to find out more information from your individual telco before travelling.

TRAVELHACK #5 – Compare and Check between Budget, Economy or Business Flights

It is always good to save some money, and it would make more financial sense to book a cheaper flight tickets and spend the difference abroad or save it, instead of having it go to the flight tickets. But during these holiday or festive seasons, there might be lesser travellers booking business flights, where airlines would tend to drop the prices. Hence, make your comparison among several airlines before booking your flight tickets.

*BONUSTIP* : You can also try booking two “one-way” flight tickets, they might becheaper at times, in addition, you can mix and match with different airlines orroutes to transit to and fro if you are willing to go the extra mile for abetter deal.

TRAVELHACK #6 – Prep your Travel Details Ahead

Though yes, it may take out some time toprepare and consolidate all your travel details, it would be well worth yourtime and effort as soon the moment you step into the airport.

Your list should include:

Flight details (e.g. Boarding gate, check incounter, flight number)
Accommodation details (e.g. Hoteladdress/name, Airbnb address)
Itinerary for the next couple of days
Address of places of attraction or places thatyou would like to visit
A check if roaming services has been activatedon the day itself
And any other important details such as pointof contact in the event you were to get lost

These details that are being consolidated would fasten your process of transiting instead of having to rummage through your bag, searching for the printed flight details to tally with the display board, then proceeding to the check in and boarding gate, it would be a hassle there and then.

TRAVELHACK #7 – Relax, Enjoy, and Unwind

Travelling during the year end would mostprobably be a vacation or holidays. Do not bring work along with you or thecompany laptop or handphone, and if you happen to not be able to do so, youshould leave them in a safe in your hotel and only check in or reply emailsonce you are back from your day to day trips. Do not bring work along whereveryou go as this would only stress you out further knowing that you are not ableto do anything when you are physically overseas. Else, reply discreetly and asmuch as possible do not fiddle with your company phone at all. This is a tripto bond and spend quality time with your family.

(By Lionel Lau)