Freestyle Friday: Travel Tips

I was once dropped off at the wrong hotel, by a London Taxi driver. London Taxi drivers are world famous for their knowledge of the city. They have pass a detailed test to become licensed to drive in the city, and there I was at the wrong hotel, actually on the wrong side of the River. And it was at least in part, my fault. The hotel I was going to was relatively new, and I didn't have the address handy when I got into the taxi. I have struggled several times with take me to Hilton, only to be asked which Hilton, there are three of them downtown? 

The solution is simple, before I leave home, no matter how simple or complex the trip, I find the address of the hotel(s), copy and paste them into a google doc, increase the font size to about 14, and print the address(s) out.  When I get in the taxi, I hand the driver the address of the hotel.  Even if I am renting a car, I do the same, then I have the address easy to find to program the GPS or satnav.  

I print out copies of all of the travel details and put them in order in a file folder before I leave home. Phones can fail, you can't always get a signal, but printed reservations don't require power or a signal.  I put everything on my calendar, this provides a cross check for dates.  

Especially with carry on bags, if I can't heft it in and out overhead bins, I don't pack it. It seems like everytime I fly, there is a small person overwhelmed trying to lift a bag into the overhead bins. If you can't lift it, don't pack it. 

On this topic, check a bag when flying.  I have traveled a lot, hundreds of flights, and I can count on my fingers the number of times I have flown without checking a bag. I have had bags delayed a few times, only three times on outbound flights, and two of those were delivered to the hotel later the same day.  I loathe that airlines have made checked bags an extra on most domestic flights. I get free checked bags as a credit card perk on the two airlines I fly most often.  Well worth the small annual fee. 

I avoid overnight flights when possible. If there is no way around an overnight flight, I book a hotel to check into as soon as I arrive. Even if it means paying for an extra night. In dozens of overnight flights, I have slept on just a few of them. 

What is your best travel tip?