Arrive refreshed and ready to explore your destination.
It goes without saying that I am well-versed in the inner workings of an airport. My preoccupation with swift, flawless travel stems from my prior career as a flight attendant. You’ll see me rushing around like a madman if you run into me at the airport. I’m on a mission to beat the huge lines at check-in, customs, and those awful people who stand 1 inch from the baggage carousel (really?). Anyway, the key to traveling intelligently is preparation, and who doesn’t enjoy a nice-to-do list? If you have a passion for saving time and arriving at your destination feeling less worried and most importantly organized, you should read this post by Royalty Travel+ expert.
Prepare Before You Go: If you are traveling from the United States, the United Kingdom, or Europe to Australia, you should be aware that you will be traveling for at least 14 to 24 hours and entering an entirely new time zone. I started adjusting my internal clock a few days ago by waking up and going to bed earlier. I progressively adjust my eating schedule to suit my trip destination. This may sound irritating (and you don’t have to go crazy), but it makes the transition a little easier on the body if you want to make the most of every minute in a new and interesting nation.
Packing: First and foremost, why haven’t you bought new luggage last 5 years? Second, stop reading this right now and go online to purchase a four-wheeled lightweight suitcase! Why? Because I am trustworthy. Having your suitcase float with you like Nancy Kerrigan at the 1994 Olympics is considerably more glamourous than pulling one! The greatest lightweight luggage is made by Samsonite and American Tourist. This one (Elise’s Suitcase) is mine, and it’s a couple of kilos lighter than mine, which means I can store a lot more.
Roll instead of folding. This is a very simple way to increase your available space. If you’re anything like me and need clothes to choose from, you’ll need to start using this strategy right away.
Arriving at the airport: So now is the time to take things seriously. Put on your blinders and concentrate, or people will slow you down. I usually joke that some people seem to leave their common sense in the backseat of the taxi before entering an airport (when did wearing your neck pillow as a fashion accessory become acceptable?). Here are a few pointers to help you go through the airport faster.
Be Loyal! Being a loyal customer pays off. I usually travel with Virgin Australia (domestically and to the US). You can become a frequent flier and earn miles and eventually status credits if you travel frequently enough. Priority check-in, lounge access, priority boarding, extra baggage waiver, seat selection, and so on are all available if you have a high enough ranking. But all of these minor details add together to make your airport experience more bearable.
Upgrades. If you have a lot of points in your frequent flyer account, use them to upgrade your flight! It is considerably simpler to book your flight in the economy or premium class and then use your points to upgrade.
Forget About Home Time: This is one question I can’t answer while I’m traveling to another country: “What time is it at home right now?” Forget about it. Set your watch to the time zone you’ll be visiting as soon as you board the plane. Immediately.
On the plane, I take one prescribed Melatonin tablet two hours before bedtime. I don’t take sleeping drugs, and I never wake up feeling refreshed; it’s almost as bad as jet lag. Nature’s Care is the brand I use. Having said that, avoid napping at inappropriate times. You can now know if it’s the proper or wrong time because you set your watch to the time zone you’re visiting. For example, if it’s 5 p.m. in the time zone you’re visiting, work on your computer or iPad but don’t go to bed until your normal bedtime.
GET OUTSIDE WHEN YOU REACH YOUR DESTINATION: It’s critical that your body recognize what time it is, and being outside allows your body to automatically adjust to the local time. I enjoy taking a lengthy walk to familiarize myself with my new surroundings.
