Travel hacks & tips

Check to see if

basic documentslike your license, road tax and othermotor documents are with you andthat they are valid. Also make sure thatyour insurance card is ready and with you.

#1 Pack your car with an

emergency kitthat has distilled water,a battery charger, a first-aid kit,jumper cables, and flares or reflectors.

#2

Head to a mechanic and

service the car at least a weekin advance. Have the engine oil andtire pressure checked and ensure the battery,brakes and engine are all working properly.

#3 Bring an

extrabatteryfor your key fob.

#4

Contact your insuranceagent to review your insurance coverage.You might consider increasing your liabilitylimits for better protection should you beinvolved in an accident.

#5 Don’t forget

drinking waterHave a reusable glass or stainless-steelwater bottle for each person in the carand refill it along the way. Dehydrationcan lead to headaches and crankiness.

#6

Pack a bag with

other essentialslike wet wipes, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and trash bagsto deal with accidents or messes.

#7 Check your

windshield wipersand carry extra wiper fluid. It may evenbe a good idea to review your insurancepolicy and consider add-ons such aswindshield coverage.

#8

Travel hacks & tips

Travel hacks & tips

Make sure your

lightsfunction well.

#9 Always wear

corrective eyewearand keep sunglasses handy for overlybright road conditions.

#10

#11 Service airconditioner and check for leaks in the system

because if the A/C is still working,

that may go unnoticed.

Pack a cooler of non-messy,

healthy snackssuch as baby carrots, apples, grapes,boiled eggs, and nuts. The protein andfiber in foods like these help stabilizeblood-sugar levels and digestion,which can be thrown off during travel.

#12

#13 Passengers should

take turnsdriving.Drivers can use neck pillowsto nap between shifts.

Hang a

shoe organiseron the back of the seat to helpkeep things tidy in the car yeteasily accessible.

#14

Use

cling wrap as a make-shift top to avoidmessy spillage.

#15 Use

an emptycereal box as a trash can.

#16

Travel hacks & tips

#17 Buy a

5-port chargerto make sure everyone in the familyis able to charge up simultaneously.

Know how to

jump starta car.

#18

#19 Know how to

changea tire.

#20 Keep your insuranceon-the-road-assistancenumber handy.

#21 Divide and conquer.Know who does what well, and what reallymatters to you and your travel companionsand assign tasks accordingly. It will makefor a more efficient trip for all.

#22 For those with kids, bring a blanket, toys and / or a pillowfor when the kids start to nod off. Stuffed animals and pillows can helpprop little heads and help them dealwith head nodding.

#23 Preload your phonewith entertainment options. If the radiois not entertaining enough, you may wantto include your own collection of music,or streaming apps for your journey.Pre-loading videos and music can also comein handy for those with children. Don’t forgetto bring a USB charger.

#24 Make a deodorant safe. Simply open your existing deodorant, twistit up to remove the top portion, place yourvaluables (credit card, cash, etc) inside,and replace the top. You can do this witha new deodorant and still have room formost things, but a nearly empty stick hasa bit more space.

Travel hacks & tips

#29 Roll up your clothes. Rather than folding your clothes, roll themup into little tubes. This will save a lot ofspace and stop creases and wrinkles.

#30 Lots of short tripsare better than 1 or 2 big trips.Fill your year with lots of short trips soyou’ve always got something to lookforward to and constant breaks fromeveryday stresses.

#31 Charge your electronicsthrough the hotel TV. Forgotten your wall plug for your charger?No worries, most modern TVs havea USB connector on the back or side.Simply plug in your electrical device andwatch that little battery icon charge.

For longer lasting power,

throw your batteriesin the hotel fridge. It sounds bizarre, but most rechargeablebatteries retain 90% of their full chargewhen kept in cold temperatures, meaningyou don’t need to charge them as often.

#32

#27 Waterproof your bag with a bin liner. Line your backpack witha plastic bag and it’s instantly waterproofand ready to use in all conditions.

#28 Put your shoes in anold shower cap so they don't get your clothes dirty.

#26 Email yourself a scanof your passport. Also take screenshots of any online bookingconfirmations concerning your journey. So much easier than lugging around printouts.

#25 Snap your bag. Use your phone to take a picture of anybaggage you take. In the event that yourluggage gets lost in transit, this will speedup any retrieval processes or paperwork.

Travel hacks & tips

#35 Create a

packing list so you stay organised and don'tforget anything at home.

#36 Zip lock it. Double-bag products like makeup, medication,sunscreen, insect repellent and hair productsin a zip lock bag in case of leakage.

When you’re driving in a new city andneed to remember where you parked,

drop a pin onGoogle Maps.This will spare you hours of searching in crowded, unfamiliar parking lots.

#40Make sure your important traveldocuments are stored using an

online service so that if you lose your physical copies,you'll still have a way to access theinformation.

#39

#33 Put all your cables andcharges in an

old eyeglasscasing.

If the back of your plane seat doesn’thave personal entertainment, put your

phone in a clear bag and hook it to the back of the tray table.

#34

#37 Keep a

spare smartphonecharging cord and wall cube in your carry-on.

Make a

make-shift jewelry box.Pill containers make great organizersfor jewelry.

#38