Travel hacks

Sound and earned advice from an experienced fun-haver. By: Nick Greece

By KAVU

March 5^th, 2019

Recently, I had to renew my passport in order to make room for an upcoming trip to Brazil. Before initiating the process, I spent a good amount of time flipping through its many pages, marveling at the many places, people, and experiences represented by every stamp, visa, and signature.

I have learned much about the world, as well as a fair amount in regards to transiting it....

....not due to any natural ability mind you, but because I continuously made the same mistakes until I “learned.”

I’ve developed a solid set of tools and practices I carry with me that help maximize my good times and allow me to focus on what counts.

They center on comfort, reduction of time spent dealing with bureaucracy, and better living through intelligent choices concerning technology.

comfort

The question I ask is, “How do I need to engineer my environment to be comfortable, when the going gets long and tough?”

I need to be able to control sound and light, just as some people require their pillow or snack-pack. My purchase of noise-cancelling Bose headphones that reduce harsh ambient noise and concurrent stress levels that arise over 7-30 hour-travel times gives me the control I crave over my environment.

I also make sure to have a plethora of podcast options, which I find are the absolute best for the road. I am either deeply enthralled in the content or fast asleep—pretty much the best states to in which to travel.

sleep sound

Upon arrival, I make sure to have a pack of Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicon Earplugs.

These, for me, are the best, and I don’t have to wear a cone around my neck to prevent me from pulling them out of my ears while I sleep. The worst scenario for anyone is realizing that, after finally arriving at your hotel, you’re next to a noisy freeway, ice machine, or party, all of which could possibly keep you awake or fuming throughout the night.

Light is easily controlled with an eye mask. There are two options from which to choose; the tradeoff is weight versus comfort. I vacillate between a plush, furry option and an ultra-light eye cover that can also serve as a thick bookmark. The best in-between mask I often use is the Eagle Creek Easy Blink Eye Mask.

Enjoy the airport. Airports are a marvel of industrial architecture, people in transit, and delectable (if you search hard enough) food options. I think of them as giant fish bowls and do my best to find the ideal spot for my mood and phases of travel. Keep an eye out for chairs without armrests, where you might stretch out, or gates with a small space behind them, where your might be able to lie down, away from the crowd. When you’re alert, look for good areas for people watching and dining. Start taking notes about the airports you visit, and, eventually, you will start to feel at home when you arrive at one that’s become familiar to you.

Shoes.... Let those dogs breathe. At 6 feet tall and a size 12, I get an instant upgrade in terms of space when I remove my shoes. Important caveat that may be completely obvious, though, is only take your shoes off if they are relatively new, AND you have on a fresh pair of socks, AND you haven’t walked/run/speed-walked/strutted for miles on end to get to the gate on time. Being respectful of the strangers around you is paramount to gliding along to one’s final destination. One must tick all of these boxes, not just one or two of three. If you don’t fully comply, leave them on, please.

fight the power

Don’t let the man get you down. I try my hardest to face all travel issues with a smile and a plan. Here are a few more tips I’ve learned over the years.

Carry at least four passport photos with you at all times. These will help you get a sim card, deal with visas on arrival slowdowns, and make your friends laugh if you have a collection from different years and hairstyles.

TSA Pre...... Get it. If you live in a metropolis that takes ages to apply and book an appointment, consider securing it at a smaller international airport. I was able to complete the whole process while I waited for my bags after a flight to Salt Lake City. Make sure to call and check hours of operation. Also, a credit card like Chase Sapphire will pay for TSA Pre fees as well as Global Entry application fees. Global Entry automatically enrolls you in TSA Pre, so if you can tick that box..... it’s a great 2- for -1.

Travel medical insurance

Get it. I use Seven Corners for short term overseas’ policies, including a hazardous sports rider that gives me coverage for everything from paragliding to kayaking. When I was guiding paragliding students in foreign lands, I required every client to buy this plan. It is legitimate and only costs 30-60 dollars for plans ranging from 2 to 8 weeks. Currently I am also enrolled in Global Rescue, and Medjet Assist. Global Rescue is insurance for immediate rescue and aid from everything from a climbing fall to an earthquake. Medjet Assist is there to fly me, if I am injured, to the hospital of my choice. I participate in relatively dangerous sports, but better safe than sorry.

"Keep the change"

If I have less than 50 dollars in foreign currency I usually keep it as the exchange rate and transaction fees make it undesirable . Especially if it is Euros, Swiss francs, or English Pounds. I have a bag of cash with different currencies that I break out before every trip. If I am returning to a country and have at least a few dollars when I hit the ground it makes life a lot more peaceful out of the gates.

technology

It’s a connected world and being able to successfully work on the road has enabled me to take more trips than I ever could have imagined when I left my 9-to-5 job in New York City. Here are a few highlights from the road:

I always bring a small receptacle containing a paperclip or safety pin that will fit in the small hole in the iPhone and can be used to pop out the Sim card. The case also is a perfect place to put the sim card from your home country while you travel. I always keep the case in the same spot in my roller bag, so when I reenter the country after customs, I can easily return to life online.

After I pull my Verizon sim, I determine who has the best service in whatever country I am visiting. Then, I find a sim-card dealer who speaks enough English to help me set up the sim. Buy a big plan whose time will not run out, spending the extra 10 or 20 dollars, and also get a good data plan. This will enable you to work almost anywhere in the world and will give you the ability to tether your computer in some countries to On the Go WiFi. If you have a newer model phone, you might need to call your service provider to request that they unlock your phone.

find the power

Many countries have different power voltages. If you question whether you might do damage to your devices, plug them in through your laptop. Laptops come with a power converter that will shield your other devices from potentially damaging power spikes. If you have an Apple laptop, get the travel adapter set. It costs about 30 dollars and is game changer, because the combination of the two frees you from carrying the extra 3-5-pound power inverter.

Call your banks and tell them about your travel plans. Some advisors recommend having a separate account/ debit card for travel that you stock with the cash you will need for each trip. They reason that if your card gets stolen or lost, anyone who has it only will have access to a limited amount of money. I usually don’t change money before I leave the U.S.; I use my debit card to get cash, instead.

Some countries, however, like Iran, do not have ATM’s, in which case you will need to travel with cash. When you are getting 100-dollar bills, be sure to check each one at the bank for pen marks or tears, as many countries will not accept bills with ANY blemishes whatsoever.