* We’re sending lots of love to everyone in Boston (our cousins were at the marathon but are thankfully safe).
Back in October we hardly would have called ourselves traveling experts. Honestly we only took a flight once every few years (we went to Alaska for our honeymoon in 2007 and didn’t get back on a plane for a family vacation again until 2012 when we went to Hawaii for our five year anniversary). But thanks to our book tour, we’ve been on lots of flights. 29 of them in four months to be exact. So while we still can’t quite claim expert traveler status yet, here are a few things we learned about planes and hotels along the way…
#1. If your airline is gate-checking bags, get on the plane towards the end of boarding (even if you’re invited to board earlier). On small planes where rolling suitcases & duffel bags are tagged at the gate and stowed underneath the plane, we found that often the last bags to go on were the first to come off. So if you’ve got a tight connection or just generally don’t like waiting for your bag, don’t be in a rush to board because your bag may end up at the bottom of the pile. Don’t be dead last and get left behind or anything, but try going on with Zone 4-5 people instead of Zone 1-2. Note: this works best if after you gate-check your bag, the only other carry-ons that you have can slip under the seat in front of you since overhead bin storage fills up while you wait to board.
#2. If you’re arriving to town before hotel check-in, just call ahead. Our flights often got us into town before noon – a few hours before the standard hotel check-in time of 3 pm. We used to think this required us to kill some major time, but usually all it takes is a call to get into your room early at no extra charge. We often called before getting on the plane (to let them know we were interested in an early check-in) and then again when we landed in that city (to hopefully secure something that was ready). This method only failed us once, but in about a dozen other circumstances when we arrived early, there was a room waiting for us.
#3. Be the bright spot in the front desk clerk’s day. Hotel employees deal with plenty of jerks each day (we witnessed more than a couple), so by being the friendly / smiley / not-engrossed-in-your-phone guests can sometimes earn you more than good karma points – we even scored a couple of random room upgrades.
#4. If you can’t reserve plane seats together, book seats that would be next to each other, even if they’re in different rows. All of our tour flights were booked by our publisher (many of them last minute). So on the few occasions where we couldn’t get seats together, we’d ask the desk agent, which worked in most cases. But for two instances it didn’t. So as a last ditch effort, we chose an aisle seat in one row and a window seat in another – even if it was a row up. Then we’d get on the plane and before the person in the seat we wished to switch with sat down and got settled we asked if they minded sitting one row up in the same exact seat that they booked. In those two cases, the person didn’t seem to mind at all (of course nothing’s guaranteed, but we thought it was worth a shot).
#5. Whenever possible, pack light and carry on. In all of our 29 flights, we never lost a single bag. This is because we packed light and carried on every single time. I just carried my purse (which also had our camera, our phones, our tickets, some snacks, and our itinerary) and John carried the backpack (with our books for reading on the plane, our computer, and signing stuff in it) along with dragging the carry-on-sized rolling suitcase along (full of clothes, shoes, etc). This is all that we brought with us, even when we were gone for nearly a week:
It might seem hard to get all of your stuff down to just a few bags, but our advice is to pack a few wardrobe staples that can all be interchanged (ex: don’t pack any tops that need specific shoes or pants that don’t go with anything else). In our case, a few pairs of jeans and tops along with one extra pair of shoes each, and some obvious things like underwear was all that we needed in our suitcase. When we travel with Clara we use one more rolling suitcase for her clothes, sound machine, blanket, and a few other comfort items, but since each person is allowed one suitcase and one carry on, we’re still good to go in that scenario without any bag checking.
6. Keep toiletries easily accessible in a plastic bag that you can pull out in two seconds at security. Many of the airports we traveled through were extremely strict about removing our liquid toiletries from our luggage when going through security (and it can really slow you down if you have to dig through your suitcase to grab them) so we learned to keep our plastic bag of contact solution and other small liquids more easily accessible. Rather than burying it with the rest of our toiletries in our suitcase, sticking it into the front pocket of the backpack made for easier grabbing.
Oh but they’ll take any and all fancy sodas away from you as you go through security 100% of the time.
#7. Make a travel document to use as a quick-reference itinerary for every trip. We put all of our hotel accommodations, flight confirmation numbers, and scheduled dates for departures & check-ins on one sheet of paper that we printed out before we left for the airport. It’s also a nice simple sheet to copy for a family member so they know where to find you in an emergency.
#8. Do a night-before-check on your flight, print tickets at home, and double check your hotel reservation. This is another one of those prepping-beforehand-is-much-easier-than-panicking-later things. We liked to check on our flight the night before, just to be sure it wasn’t delayed or canceled and, if possible, even print tickets at home to save time at the airport. We also learned the hard way to check our hotel reservations – on one of our first tour stops, we arrived to find that our hotel was booked for the following night instead of that night and we had to kill a few hours while everything was straightened out.
And if you’re lucky, your room looks like this…
#9. Everything takes longer than you think. Always give yourself a lot more time to do basic things like fly somewhere, catch a cab, check into your hotel, etc. In the beginning of our tour we tried to squeeze in a lot of things that we soon learned we’re close to impossible (ex: a house crashing after a delayed flight meant shooting a house in the dark and then eating a crazy-late dinner and collapsing into bed at 1am, which didn’t set us up well for our morning signing the next day). So it was a lot less stressful once we stopped underestimating the time it would take to do things and started being realistic about how much “fuzzy” time there is in there. You know, all those moments spent deplaning, waiting for a cab, or sitting in a restaurant waiting for the food can really add up.
#10. Hotel TV can stink. I know, this isn’t a huge deal for most people (us included) when you’re going to be staying somewhere for a few days, but when you’re traveling on and off for four months you definitely start to miss the simple comforts of home that help you unwind (your own couch, your own bed, and even your DVR). So we wised up in the last month of travel and got a free one month trial of Amazon Prime, which allowed us to watch Downton Abbey on our computer in any hotel. It sounds odd, but having this simple luxury really helped us relax and it made those random hotels feel a little more homey (instead of sitting on the bed watching Cops and missing “real life” like crazy).
So there you have it. Ten things that made all that traveling a little easier, more fun, tastier, and more comfy. Do you guys have other tips out there! I’m sure there are some we have yet to discover and a few that we’re forgetting thanks to scrambled travel brain. That’s a real thing, right?
Psst- Here’s a post about toddler travel that we did a while back, just in case that’s on the agenda for you.
Meghan says
Which airports were strict about taking your toiletries out of your suitcase? I haven’t bothered to put them in a Ziploc in probably five years and have never had a problem – and I fly a lot. Things do need to be the right size, though.
If you’re flying out of an international airport, you can usually keep your shoes on. Looking for shoeless people in security is a really easy way to spot fellow Americans!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man our minds are a blur (so many airports, so little time!) but maybe Houston? And Minneapolis? And Richmond definitely (which we went in and out of every time)!
xo
s
Katherine says
Sherry, thanks so much for your quick reply and solution to setting the site to desktop on a mobile–much appreciated!
YoungHouseLove says
Happy to help :)
xo
s
Nikki says
My husband is an airline pilot and so we do quite a bit of traveling. I would like to second or third Netflix. We have the netflix app on our Ipad and my husband watches it where ever he goes. We also have roku at home which I always watch.
I also think an empty water bottle, snacks from home, and a light sweater are necessities for traveling. Way cheaper, you gotta stay hydrated, and the plane temperature is so unpredictable!
This is a personal thing, but I always wait to put my jewelry on till after I go through security and I limit the number of bobby pins I put in my hair. I know that seems silly, but any more than about three usually makes the body scanner go off.
Erica says
Awesome tips! I travel every week for work and have definitely learned some of those (like always carrying on) along the way. I have three more things that make travel more enjoyable for me since it is such a big part of my life:
1. I wear Ugg slippers when I’m travelling. I usually travel in business clothes and keep my heels/work flats in the outside pocket of my suitcase, so when I am heading out of the airport it’s easy to switch shoes. When I’m flying home, I switch them out as I’m going through security. I can walk through the airport much faster in my slippers and my feet stay warm on the plane.
2. I always bring a scarf with me when I’m flying. I just stick it in my bag and if I get cold on the plane, I have a blanket that doesn’t take up very much room in my suitcase.
3. If you can afford it… get a membership to your preferred airline’s airport lounge. It took me two years of travelling every week to make the investment, but it is so worth it! Now if my flight gets delayed, it’s not the end of the world. It just means I have time for another beer or a latte (depending on the time of day). I never have to worry about finding outlets or comfortable space to sit and there are snacks available if I get delayed for an extended period–including healthy options!
Katie R says
you didn’t have a Kentucky stop?! Where was John drinking Ale8?! :)
YoungHouseLove says
That was from someone at the Cincinnati stop, although they might have driven from Kentucky (we were leaving out of the Kentucky airport)!
xo
s
SarahN says
Gate checking bags is SUCH an American thing – I’d not experienced it til I was in the US (and I’m a very seasoned traveler, cause I went to boarding school). I love tip 7 – I live by that, cause tripit is good til your phone dies, or doesn’t work (Australian phones have issues in the US). Can’t fail with paper – and paper can be whipped out on the plane should you need it when phones must be off. I’m inspired to do a similar post I think!! Like ‘don’t wear a metal belt on travel day – try a ribbon… or other pants!’
Pam says
My best advice is keep the Amazon Prime. Just this week we ordered some OVTC meds, a hair trimmer, and new car mats. Love the “free” shipping plus the convenience is amazing.
Talla says
I travel a lot and would ditto all of your tips.
To add to #5 – For longer trips I pack clothes that dry quickly. I wash them in the hotel sink, hang them up to dry, and then have clean clothes in the morning.
And for #7 – The TripIt app has made my life significantly easier. I don’t have to spend any time adding things to my calendar or creating an itinerary – it just all magically appears.
Kathy S says
Some additional tips:
* if you travel a lot try to stay at the same hotel chain for each trip — some chains count nights, others count “stays,” so book with whatever works for you and you’ll soon enjoy extra perks from being one of their “special” members. Same with car rentals
* carry a water bottle, or even an empty plastic one, through security — you can fill it up at a fountain on the other side and avoid shelling out $ for one in the airport shop
* airports interpret DHS travel rules differently, so if an item could be iffy — pack it in a checked luggage or don’t bring it!
* sleep flying east, stay up going west
Mary | lemongroveblog says
Traveling light is totally key. I weaned the hubby off of is heavy packing days, and we always fly with only carry-ons. It totally stinks that some airlines are now charging you to bring the bags on for carry-on. Uggh. Hate that.
Mary says
My 2 tips are gleaned from a family trip to Germany with my husband and 2 daughters 12 and 18. Do not travel when all the women are on their cycle. You constantly have to find a bathroom not to mention don’t feel your best. Also carry non-drowsy dramamine in case of motion sickness. Who knows you may save someone ( like my youngest) from absolute misery.
mp says
My favorite photo in your Instagram feed is the one where John is glowering at you and the caption is “So we meet again, security” (or something to that effect — can’t recall the exact wording).
And #3 is good for every situation. I used to be a hotheaded flamethrower when I was younger, but as age has crept up on me, I’ve learned the value of polite calm. It’s made SO many difficult situations much better.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love that picture too! It was so early in the morning and John had the perfect grumpy face.
xo
s
Susan says
Hey John! A ginger ale? Looks like a Dos XXX to me! hahaha!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, it’s actually some sort of soda from Kentucky (others in the comments have identified it!) – it was a gift from a reader at our Cincinnati signing :)
xo
s
David Allanson says
Carry on your luggage, makes it easier!
Dani says
We had our first big trip last year (from Australia to Italy – thats 24hrs on a plane, doesnt get much bigger lol!) and the best thing I think we did was take a screen dump on my ipad of google maps, with the route from our train station to the hotel marked out on it (x4, for each of the cities we went to). It meant that when we got there we didnt have to stand outside the station with one of those giant free tourist maps to work out where we were going, and we didnt have to spend a fortune to use our phones GPS (and wifi can be really hard to find over there!)
GreenInOC says
The hotel tv is totally a perspective thing. I’m too cheap for cable so I only get over the air programs so for me hotel tv is a luxury!
When you run out of your Amazon Prime trial (for me, Prime is a necessity – go figure!), if you have Netflix you can watch it on your computer as well as regular (free!) Hulu. Also a lot of stations will air their shows free on their website – Downton Abbey was (perhaps still is) available on PBS.com.
My biggest travel tips:
1. Explore your location as much as possible
2. When you are out walking around stand up straight, make eye contact, smile and nod hello – I used to travel a lot and that was my Dad’s advice to both be friendly and keep safe. The theory being that you are less likely to be a victim if you are friendly and confident.
3. Have Fun!
4. Don’t take any wooden nickels
(3 & 4 were also daily advice from Dad!)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, love the dad advice!
xo
s
Amy says
Lots of good tips! I actually always looked forward to hotel TV! We didn’t have cable for about 4 years so staying in a hotel was a treat because it meant I got to watch cable, especially HGTV!
I just got back from a quick weekend trip and just did a carry on packed with as little as possible and it felt more freeing than overpacking for any “just in case” scenarios! The best thing I remind myself is that I can always buy something if I get to my destination and really need it!
Autumn Beach says
Maybe it’s because I’ve totally been there, but the line about sitting on the bed watching Cops cracked me UP!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I think hotels have it on repeat 24/7! It’s amazing.
xo
s
Rachel says
Tip #10 made me laugh – I don’t even have basic cable at home, and now that we’ve gone digital I don’t get anything with my antenna, so hotel TV is a total treat for me!
Tasneem says
This may have been already mentioned ….
But the new mobile version of your site needs a full introduction in a post or something. I was caught off gaurd by it! ; )
Usually, when there is any makeover you guys seem to mention it formally on the blog. Did I just miss something?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, the trouble is that to launch a new site you have to have it up for a little while to work out the kinks, but we actually took it down due to complaints, so if you clear your cache or cookies it’ll be back to the old version. Maybe once we work things out it’ll be back up and of course we’ll post about it (it was on the agenda for this afternoon before we removed it due to complaints).
xo
s
Patti Petkosek says
Great travel tips but I was a bit surprised you have a photo of the TSA ~ for security reasons photography is not allowed (and if it is allowed at that airport, it shouldn’t be).
YoungHouseLove says
Good point. That particular agent didn’t seem to mind!
-John
Bobbi says
John drinks Ale8- COOL –
That’s KY’s soft drink!!
Gina says
LOVE the picture of the Ale-8 bottle! A true sign of evolved soda tastes that you try to get that through the TSA checkpoint.
Cathy says
Great tips. We also have scanned our passports, drivers licenses, all our confirmations, and our itinerary into a google doc. Has come in handy more than once!!
Pbkmaine says
4 things to carry for travel:
1) an empty water bottle to fill once thru security
2) an energy bar that tastes good but not so good you will eat it before you are hungry
3) a physical book or magazine to read when you are stuck on the runway with “no portable electronic devices”
4) a tablet or smart phone loaded with books, music, videos and (if you are so inclined) games
Krystle @ Color Transformed Family says
I envy your compact packing skills. The girl scout in me always comes out when I am packing and for some reason I think I need to take everything imaginable. Hopefully, I can condense it down when we travel to Hong Kong later this year to adopt our little girl!
Megan says
I second Lindsay’s recommendation for TripIt. My husband travels frequently for business and it makes it so easy to know when his flight is coming in without having to ask numerous times or keep multiple-leg flight times straight. Makes life so easy when you are juggling kids’ schedules and jobs. You can share the trips with family so they can have access too. Also good for emergencies if I ever needed to call his hotel as I’m sure many were trying to do for loved ones in Boston this week.
Amber says
Oh, John. I’m still so sad you had to leave your Ale-8 behind. I had one sitting for you in my kitchen to give to you in Charlotte, but my 2-year-old got sick with a fever that night, and I didn’t figure you wanted me to share that, too. Somehow I will figure out a way to get one to you. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I was sad to lose it too!
-John
Holly mccormick says
Do you do any traveling with your daughter? Wondering if you have travel trips for traveling with kids, thanks
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, here you go: http://life.younghouselove.com/2012/03/toddler-travel/
xo
s
Kate says
I agree, I do not like the mobile site!
YoungHouseLove says
Wait, but it’s gone! Just clear your cache. We removed it yesterday afternoon until we can fix the bugs :)
xo
s
Lisa @ On Manor Drive says
ALE-8!!!!! I live in the small town where Ale-8 was created and is still manufactured!
Abbie says
I got a cable so I can connect my computer to the TV at hotels. That way I can watch Netflix or something that’s on my computer and it’s just like I’m at home! You can get a cable for the iPad too.
Nancy says
Wow. I’ve never heard anyone call Ale8one a fancy soda before. :) Maybe we can get you a tshirt since you didn’t get to try it. You know, Orlando Bloom wears one in Elizabethtown. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahah!
xo
s
Louise says
John and Sherry, you should do another post of the best reader suggestions too!
Sorry if this has been mentioned somewhere else.
If travelling on an flight where there is expected to be a lot of people carrying hand luggage only, do not board the plane towards the end of boarding. On several occasions I have done this, and then been made to put my trolley bag in the hold as there was no more space in the cabin. For some reason this only applied to trolley bags (wheelie suitcases) and not other types of bags, as my boyfriend was allowed to take his soft sided bag on with him.
YoungHouseLove says
That would be fun! Love all the ideas!
xo
s
Jennifer says
Thanks guys, I love the single itinerary tip and Cathy’s google docs comment! I appreciated the toddler travelling tips as well. In a family of 6 (kids age 4-7), preparation is key. I don’t travel often, but when I do, I prepare #mostinterestingwoman.
Kirsten says
My travel has been a different “style”, more the backpack and see the world… but with babies and toddlers in tow. My best tip is to pack light, pack a lot of patience for dealing with the rough travel days, and good snacks. (Nobody likes a grumpy-hungry pants)
Also, sign up for frequent flyer programs. We have earned so many trips, especially after two trans-Atlantic flights, and then two trans-Pacific flights in the same month. And the premier status is the only way to travel. ;)
Kate @ This Wandering Life says
Oh! I just remembered this cool tip. I admit I have not had the opportunity to try it out for myself yet, but it might help someone! If you are flying somewhere that will give you metal because of the time difference, there IS something you can do about it! Turns out your body’s natural sleep rhythm is not only infuenced by the sun and when you go to bed, but also when you eat! The study I read said that if you fasted 16 hours, and then ate whatever meal was current at your place of destination, then you’d overcome jet lag completely or at least very quickly. But 16 hours is a long time… Hope this helps someone! Well be trying it out this summer as my hubby, then-15 month old and I will be flying from France to Florida. (Obviously baby girls not be fasting.;)
Yvonne says
We traveled to Europe for three weeks with our two sons with only carry on luggage. We used public transport part of the time and a small rental car the rest, so minimal luggage was a lifesaver. We stayed at a”campground” (cottages, not tents) in the middle which had washers and dryers. These are fantastic home bases, btw, from which to explore an area. Each person was allowed one carry- on which they had to schlep them selves and one small ” personal item” (back pack or purse). Worked great.
Jill says
I like to check in to flights ahead of time and send an e-ticket to my iphone. It saves time and paper.
Ellen says
When I travel, I bring those wet wipes and clean my space: the fold-down tray, the arm rests, seatbelt buckles, anything that everyone else has touched. Who knows if the passenger before you had a nasty cold or worse.
I bring my empty LARGE water bottle through security and then fill it before getting on the plane. Dehydration is seriously not fun. I have never had anyone refuse my request to fill my water bottle and now some airports have “filling stations” for water bottles at the water fountains.
I bring along a pair of socks since I’m always freezing on planes. I use them again in the hotel room because walking barefoot on those carpets is gross. You don’t even want to know what’s in those carpets. Ugh.
When booking early and traveling with my husband, we opt for a window and aisle seat – then – in the rare case of a flight not being full to the brim – sometimes we get lucky and have an empty seat to stretch out a bit. If someone does claim the middle seat, they are often happy to switch to the window and I take the middle cause I’m pretty little and fit perfectly there, too.
Lastly, when you are in the hotel – and you don’t have little children with you – fill the tub with water and leave the water over night. This will add humidity to your room. Hotel rooms can be SO DRY!
Some frequent hotel users say to heat the room up before going out for dinner and then turn the heat off for the night when you go to bed. This will help with the dry air problem, too.
Skyler says
OMG guys! The worst part of this story is the fact that TSA (a.k.a. Mr. Grumpy-Pantses) took away only the MOST fabulous soft drink ever invented. As a Kentucky Lexingtonian, I order you to scrounge around VA for a bottle! You have to avenge your loss. On a lighter note: all of your updates are looking fabulous!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we hear it’s awesome! Can’t wait to try it!
xo
s
Sacha (@zigged) says
Re: #3, a tip never hurts.
Julie says
I also travel a lot for work (both internationally and domestically). If you wear contacts, know that your contact lens solution counts as medicine and is not subject to the 3 oz. rule, and I’ve heard security guys say the same for pro-activ and other acne-related medicated face products. I would recommend not overpacking your carry on, if you’re only bringing a carry on. No point in attracting an argument with the airline staff about whether your suitcase is going to fit in the overhead.
Jon says
Being nice to the hotel clerk can do wonders. Not only do you liven their day, but they’ll go out of their way to ensure you have a pleasant stay.
Jessica says
I am a very frequent business traveler. I have a better suggestion for Tip #7.
Get Tripit mobile app. Better yet, if you are a frequent traveler, pay $45 and upgrade Tripit Pro. When you receive your email confirmations, Tripit will download all of them to the iphone app, and everything is organized in 1 place, by trip. If you have the Tripit Pro, they will send you check-in notifications, flight delays, you can check alternate flights, etc. Tripit is the way to go!!
YoungHouseLove says
Cool tip Jessica! Thanks!
-John
iTOWNSEE says
I’m surprised you guys didn’t mention how to lower your odds of getting bedbugs when traveling – given the recent bb blowout especially in high travel cities and hotels and also remembering John’s not so fun experience with them in New York.
My additional tip for any bedbug scared traveler would be to first Google hotel’s name + ‘bedbugs’ to see any recent reviews that included encounters with bedbugs. Also to lower the possibility of picking any hitch hiker bugs from the plane I would changed the luggage type to seamless and sleek light colored hard shell plastic one.
Less bugs – more fun travel! =^)
YoungHouseLove says
Good tip!
-John
Sally says
Interesting post and comments y’all. A consideration on #7… While traveling for work a few years ago, I missed a flight because the flight number and time on the itinerary my office compiled for me were wrong. Now, I just forward my plane and hotel reservations to my family and print a copy to take with me. Yeah, it’s more sheets of paper, but there’s no chance that key information will be mis-typed or not updated.
MaryBe says
I can’t believe no one has mentioned this – always ROLL your clothes instead of folding them! No wrinkles, and they take up much less room.
Loved all the comments!
Penny Smith says
Amazon Prime (for real-not just a trial) is SUCH a great deal! I don’t see a pair of shoes at the store that I don’t check to see if they are cheaper on Amazon (90% of the time they are!) or even food!! (Organic baby/toddler food was a favorite at one time.) And let me tell you, you get REALLY use to “free” 2 day shipping! One day on the cheap has come in handy at times too! We far exceed the Prime fee each year in shipping alone-the movie perk feels like the free item!! :)