How to be a practical yet
stylish traveler on your next business or leisure tri
The Must Haves
Before you leave, make a list
of the ‘to do’ items. Get a
haircut, trim or colour as necessary. Check your travel documents —
visas, insurances, expiry dates, reconfirm your bookings and ensure you have
sufficient local currency, plastic (debit/ credit and SIM cards) in a smart
multi utility wallet or travel case to keep you covered for the expected length
of your stay. Pick up your dry cleaning, repair, fix, alter and iron or steam
whatever you need to. Important: Always check the destination’s
weather forecast
before you begin packing.
before you begin packing.
Pack in the Basics
Some options of underwear,
socks (assorted colours) and belts (both casual and formal), vests, a pair each
of formal and casual shoes, comfortable nightwear and a reliable watch (a
classic Chronograph) to keep time, are a must.
Recreation
If you like to stick to your
morning jog or work out in the gym, then you must carry T-shirts, track pants /
shorts and running or sports shoes. If you are likely to go for a swim, ensure
you have your own swim and eyewear. If you are going to play a game of golf or
tennis, pack your regular gear — golf shirt / T-shirt,
shorts or trousers and your lucky pair of shoes. Clubs, rackets and other
equipment are always available at reputed hotels, clubs and courses.
TRAVEL TIP
Always keep local
sensitivities in mind — their dress codes, religious and cultural beliefs and
‘expected standards’ at some places. When
you are in a new place, it’s always better to go
with the flow than against it.
Getting There
Wear comfort-fit clothing —
based entirely on the class of travel — and equally
comfortable pair of shoes that won’t strain your feet
during (or after) the flight. If you fly business or first class you need to
look and play the part — flaunt the labels of your trousers and chinos,
button-less shirts, full sleeve tops, semi-formal jackets and soft cashmere
cardigans or scarves. A colour palette of white, beige, grey, navy and black
works for most upper-class cabins. If you are flying economy —
wear a sturdy pair of jeans, cargos or shorts. Team this with a casual or semi
formal shirt, T-shirt or top. As most seats are cramped and you have limited
space to sit, eat or move — ensure you are
wearing colours that don’t get dirty easily, fabrics that won’t
show sweat patches and that won’t develop hard to
remove crease lines by the end of the trip.
TRAVEL TIP
Remove your shoes in-flight
to deal with cabin pressure, but ensure your socks don’t
smell or have holes where there shouldn’t be any.
HOTEL CHECK IN
Rehydrate your body with some
fresh juice or plenty of water, have a long hot or cold shower, then browse
through the mattress and pillow menu — most good hotels
will have one. Catching up on sleep before you get busy is important and
recovering from jet lag, even more so. If you are a spa person and you have the
time, pamper yourself with a reflexology session or a massage designed to ease
the tired body and mind. UNPACKING TIP
If you have any wrinkles in
your clothes, hang them up in the bathroom while you’re
taking a hot shower — this will reduce and steam out the creases. THE
BUSINESS TRIP
What You Need
For a five-day trip, a
minimum of two (well fitted) suits, three formal shirts, two casual tops, a
pair of jeans or casual trousers, a couple of interchangeable ties and
eye-catching cufflinks (optional). A knee-length overcoat, if you are going to
be where it’s cold. For the after hours, carry some lounge or club
wear — a dressy shirt, a slim fit pair of trousers, sleek
shoes and appropriate accessories.
I always recommend planning a
single colour wardrobe for a business trip — this allows you to
travel light and mix and match both your clothes and accessories. As our work
colours are limited, choose either a dark palette of black and grey or a
lighter palette of brown and beige. You are bound to have a pre-planned
schedule while travelling — use this to your
advantage. Make combinations for every important item on your schedule —
a meeting, lunch, conference, presentation or site visit. Choose clothes and
accessories that fit well, make you look crisp and feel sharp and confident.
For obvious reasons, stay away from fabrics that crease, attract dust and
require high maintenance.
PACKING TIP
Place a casual T-shirt or
nightwear between the folds of your trousers.
PACKING TIP
Save space by neatly rolling
up your clothes into your check-in luggage. Gently roll out on arrival.
THE LEISURE TRIP
What you need, to begin with
is comfortable casual daywear — shorts, trousers,
half sleeve shirts, tees and full sleeve tops. For an evening do, carry a semi
formal shirt and a pair of trousers to match. Prints (checks, stripes and
digital), light, bright or earth colours in comfort fit are ideal. If you are
into them — throw in your favourite hat or cap. Pack cool
comfortable clothing for the beach, warm and insulated clothes for the
mountains and smart urban clothing for cities and downtowns.
Always carry footwear to suit
the terrain where you are going to be and a sleek pair of sunglasses if you are
going to be outdoors. Rather than carrying everything with you. Shop at local
stores for clothes and accessories. Shopping on your first day is always a good
idea. Ensure you have all social events of your trip covered —
a drink at the pub, lunch at a fancy restaurant, day at the beach, a hike in
the hills or at an amusement park with (or without) the kids.
PACKING TIP
Save space and keep your
shoes in shape by stuffing extra pairs of socks into them.
PACKING TIP
Get rid of extra shopping
bags, tags & receipts you don’t need —
they may seem light but will take up space and weight.
CHECK OUT
All’s
well, that ends well — ensure you have everything packed for your return
trip. Double check if necessary and unplug your gadgets before you leave your
room. Inform the hotel of your check out well in advance —
especially if you are leaving during their graveyard shift. Organise your
airport drop and arrange for your pick up at your final destination.
TOILET
KIT
What a ‘Fully
Loaded’
Kit
Should Contain
Rehydrating Crèmes: Use
during and after a long flight Cleansers: Keep a face masque, scrub or toner
handy. Shampoo, conditioner, face and body wash if you are fussy and don’t
like using the hotels amenities Fragrances: Your favourite perfume and a
trusted deodorant Sunscreen: An oil-free sunscreen to avoid tanning or sunburn
Hair Styling: A good gel or styling crème. Combs are optional Shaving &
Trimming: Fully charged electric razor or a new blade on your razor and shaving
foam or gel. If you have facial hair, carry a travel size facial hair trimmer
Oral Care: If you are fussy, carry your own toothbrush and a small tube of your
favoured toothpaste The Vitals: Pack in spare contact lenses and solution (if
you wear them) & a spare pair of eyeglasses Life Savers: Keep emergency
medicines for common ailments, and prescription pills (if you use them)
PACKING TIP
Always assume that anything
that can, will leak in your toilet case
PACK IT RIGHT
Carry a handbag that is not
too heavy and has multi pockets to fit just about everything you need. Strap
your bag across, over the shoulder or keep it tightly gripped in your hands.
PACKING TIP
Save time at security gates
by following regulations pertaining to carrying liquids and sharp objects. The
less clutter in your bag, the faster it will get through the X-ray.
Choose a durable regulation
size hard top case. To avoid confusion at the check in counter or with baggage
handling, remove used and unwanted tags, stickers and labels before each trip.
PACKING TIP
Save the wine bottle from
breaking by packing both ends it into a pair of sports socks.
For a short business trip, a
smart overnighter is ideal. Ensure it has sufficient room for all your
essentials and is lightweight and easy to handle. To ensure your suits arrive
in shape, a suit saver is important to carry on a business trip.
PACKING TIP
If you aren’t
carrying a suit saver, place the suit at the bottom of the suitcase at full
width. This will ensure that it won’t move around and
crease.
If you are travelling in a
group or with family, pack your stuff into your own personal case —
there’s nothing worse than sharing this private space.
Ensure your bag is easy to recognise and stands out on the baggage belt or at
the concierge’s desk.
PACKING TIP
Hotels and fellow travellers
will pay special attention to what you carry —
ensure your bags look smart, clean & well maintained.
Always carry your phone,
laptop, camera & their chargers, connection cables. If you are a frequent
traveller who gets bogged down by low battery signal, choose gadgets that have
a long battery life. Carry adaptors or multi pin plugs if necessary. To be
safe, make a duplicate copy of your passport and travel documents and slide
this into your check in luggage. Carrying an expandable bag is a good idea,
especially if you plan on adding work files, souvenirs or any shopping into it.
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