What are you up to this weekend? I’m heading to Pittsburgh to visit my good friends Sarah & Benson (they recently got engaged!) and to teach at Los Sabrosos Dance Company’s 8th-anniversary celebration.
This weekend marks the end of a rare six straight weeks at home in New York City and the beginning of a few months of heavy travel. After years of traveling at least once or twice a month––for dance, other work, or to visit friends and family––I’ve learned a thing or two about how to make traveling (and packing!) easier and less stressful.
Below are the six tips that have changed the way I travel. Do you have other travel tips? I’d love to know about them in the comments below.
Six Tips That Will Change the Way You Travel
1. Invest in TSA PreCheck (or Global Entry if you travel internationally at least once a year).
If you watch my Instagram story you already know how much I LOVE Global Entry and TSA Pre-Check because every time I travel I post something about how easy and smooth these programs make the airport process. I can’t think of a time I’ve waited in an airport security line for more than 10 minutes since I enrolled in Global Entry (which includes all the benefits of TSA PreCheck) back in 2016.
Both programs are valid for five years and require an in-person interview as well as an online application. Enrollment is well worth the investment, even if you travel just once or twice a year. TSA PreCheck is designed for domestic travelers within the United States and allows you to go through airport security without taking off your shoes, removing electronics or liquids from your bag, or taking off your jacket. Global Entry allows you to skip all the processing lines and paperwork at passport control when you re-enter the United States. Instead, you re-enter via a kiosk and the entire experience only takes about five minutes!
If you are planning on traveling internationally at least once in the next five years, I highly suggest getting Global Entry. The enrollment fee of $100 is just $15 more than PreCheck’s $85.
Check to make sure you’re eligible for the programs, then apply here.
2. Keep a small bag packed with your favorite toiletry and beauty products at all times. Refill it as soon as you get home from a trip.
This was a game-changer for me! Instead of rummaging around my bathroom the night before an early morning flight and realizing I’m out of the purple shampoo I use or don’t have any more travel-size toothpaste, I just grab my toiletry bag and throw it into my suitcase. I never worry about not having a beauty product I need, because I know I already packed it –– as soon as I came home from my last trip.
To make this travel tip work for you, invest in a spill-proof toiletry bag with a clear quart-size pouch. That way you’ll know exactly how many liquids you can pack if you’re headed to the airport and don’t want to check a bag. When you run out of something, commit to refilling or replacing it as soon as you get home from your trip. Then rest assured you’ll be ready for a spontaneous weekend getaway in minutes.
3. Add your travel plans into your calendar immediately after you book them.
When it comes to staying organized, managing your time, and balancing any kind of side-hustle or passion project with other kinds of work, I’m a big fan of keeping a detailed electronic calendar. But like refilling your toiletry bag as soon as you get home from a trip, the important thing here is to add your travel plans into your calendar as soon as you book them. That way you don’t forget about them weeks or months from now. And when you open up your calendar to schedule something on that date, you’ll notice that time is already blocked out.
Any kind of calendar system will work, but if you use Google Calendar’s desktop or mobile app, most bookings will automatically add themselves to your calendar when the confirmation hits your inbox.
Another thing I like to do is add the time it will take me to get to and from the airport (or train terminal) into my calendar, which ends up being very helpful later on when I’m planning my schedule.
4. Use an app like Trip-It to keep track of travel reservations.
This travel tip was another game-changer for me. The Trip-It App stores all your plane, train, bus, and accommodation tickets and reservations in one place, so you never have to desperately search through your inbox looking for the right booking number at an airline kiosk or in an Amtrak boarding line.
Sync the app with your Gmail account, and Trip-It will automatically grab the ticket information from the confirmation message in your email inbox. You can also adjust the app settings so Trip-It sends you a reminder of an upcoming trip or reservation a few days or weeks out.
5. Find a travel outfit you love.
Mine includes these super soft pocket leggings, comfortable shoes, and lots of layers (because I’m always cold!). Having a go-to travel outfit means I don’t have to devote any extra time and energy to planning what I’m going to wear in transit, making packing faster and less stressful. Moreover, I’m no longer cold or uncomfortable on a long flight or bus ride. This has made getting from one destination to another more enjoyable, and I find that I’m happier when I arrive.
6. Always make your bed before you leave.
This is the one thing I always make time to do before I leave for a trip! Every time I’m always so glad I did. There’s nothing more relaxing or comforting than walking into my bedroom after an exhausting travel day, peeling back the covers, and crawling into bed for a good night of sleep. It feels so relaxing and luxurious.
On the other hand, there’s nothing more stressful than walking into a disorganized, messy bedroom after a long day of travel. Trust me. I’ve done it enough times to know.
So even if you have to leave your house at 4:15 in the morning to make a 6 am flight, even if the rest of your apartment is a mess, take five minutes to pull up the covers and arrange the pillows on your bed before you leave. It will make a huge difference.
with love,
Brielle
P.S. A random thing NOT to do on an airplane.