Every time I leave Quebec to take a trip, I am always worried that I have forgotten something. Sometimes I make a mental list of things to do and once in a while I jot down items on a slip of paper. I never seem to remember everything. I sometimes wish I had a virtual data room for my brain so I can store information without forgetting it.
The best idea for me is to pack the afternoon before I leave. That way I can get all of my important papers into a side pouch of my carry-on bag so that I can get everything when I need it. I do not want to forget my passport, itinerary, and an address book of people both at home and abroad to contact in an emergency.
Not getting to the airport on time can cause me to miss my flight, especially with having to go through all the heightened security. I always tell the limo driver that my plane is departing at least thirty minutes before the actual time. That way, he shows up early, has time to get everything in the car, and we can both check to make sure that I have left nothing behind.
Everyone seems to forget items that they are going to need on the flight. That’s why I consult my checklist to make sure I have everything.
When I leave home, I have a wad of dollar bills in my pocket for tips and picking up a newspaper or magazine at the airport along with gum and a candy bar.
In my right pants pocket I carry a good motion-sickness drug. After takeoff, I pull a bottle of water out of my bag and swallow a pill and I do this again in the middle of the trip. The water keeps me from becoming dehydrated in the stale, dry cabin air.
Airplanes are notoriously cold. Cold air pumps out of every vent and shutting down the overhead duct offers little, if any, relief. While I’m packing my luggage for the clothes I’ll be using on the trip, I try to remember to pack a sweater and a jacket in my carry-on so that I can don something warm, especially while I’m sleeping on the plane.
How many times have I gotten off the plane with no idea of where I’m going and no directions on how to get there? Too many to count, I’m afraid.
That’s why I copy and print the directions off the computer and place them securely in my ever-ready hand-bag. All I have to do is head to the rental car counter or the bus or train terminal and I have a fairly good idea of where I’m going.
Sometimes, something terrible happens at the last minute and all this planning goes for naught. Death or the sickness of loved ones and family, or pressing business issues, can wipe out the best laid plans for a trip. It is very hard to cancel plane reservations and get a refund.
That’s why the very first thing I do once I decide to travel is to buy travel insurance. For twenty five or fifty dollars I have the peace of mind of knowing that if an emergency occurs, I will not lose hundreds and probably thousands of dollars for unusable airline tickets.
It’s easy to plan and avoid mistakes if I sit down and think about it. It can be easy for you too if you stay organized.
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