Next time you’re on a plane, if the person next to you doesn’t seem to have anything other than bright red, it might be Celia Parlers. The Kindle case, sweater, sunglasses, headphones, and charging cord all come in a shocking scarlet color. This is how she won’t forget anything on her seat or in her seat pocket.
“Everyone focuses on red,” said Parels, 62, of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. You don’t notice the sparrows. ”
Parels was one of more than 180 New York Times readers who accepted an invitation in September to share their favorite travel hacks. Lots of tips for packing (ziplock bags), getting a good night’s sleep in hotels (binder clips for curtains), and having more space on the plane (there are lots of strategies to get an empty seat) was focused. But a few ideas stood out as particularly clever or unusual.
Here, along with Paerels’ color-coded advice, are nine of his best pieces of advice.
1. Put language where you can see it.
Technology has helped break down language barriers. Translation programs abound, and travelers can always cram in a few Duolingo sessions with her before their trip. But it’s inevitable that you’ll accidentally say “goodnight” to someone while drinking your morning coffee as your brain struggles to find the right words.
Derek Middleton, 42, from Dublin, has the solution in the palm of his hand. He takes screenshots of common phrases such as “Hello,” “Good morning/Good evening,” “Please/Thank you,” “Excuse me,” and “Do you speak English?” He has set that image as his phone’s lock screen, so he gets a language lesson every time he looks at his phone and always has the right terminology at hand.
“While traveling, I’ve found that people are much more accepting if I make a little effort to speak the language,” Middleton said. “And it usually starts with laughing at me chewing out the words. It starts from there.”
2. Pack candy for the crew.
Goodwill can go a long way toward ensuring a smooth flight, especially as planes become increasingly cramped and the prospect of unruly passengers makes flight crews uncomfortable. Mary Ann Casey, 57, of Alcochete, Portugal, has a way of sweetening her experience. When she and her husband fly, they give flight attendants individually sealed bags of bite-sized chocolates to share.
She once said that when she was getting off a plane in Lisbon, “the first flight attendant came after us and started giving us small bottles of port wine. She gave us chocolates on the plane. I was sorry that I forgot to express my gratitude.”
3. Avoid long lines with the US Mobile Passport Control app.
You don’t often see happy faces waiting in endless queues at immigration after an all-night flight. Sarah Miller, 62, of Corvallis, Oregon, recommends using the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Mobile Passport Control app to reduce her wait time.
“I was able to avoid long lines in Portland while returning from a trip to England last June,” she said. “While there were hundreds of passengers in the standard immigration line, there was no one in the MPC line. After opening the app, I took a photo, answered a few questions (all correct I was able to answer it while walking to the line) and that was it.”
The Global Entry program offers some similar benefits, but costs $100, requires an in-person interview, and currently has an application waiting period of up to 11 months. The Mobile Passport Control app is free and can be used at 33 U.S. international airports without waiting time. “For those of us who don’t travel a lot, this is a time-saving tool,” Miller says.
4. Please bring your Global Entry Card even if you are flying domestically.
When you sign up for Global Entry, the included ID card helps speed up border crossings from Canada and Mexico, but it’s also a lifesaver when traveling within the United States.
When Charlie Bishop, 73, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., realized his driver’s license wouldn’t be scanned at a TSA checkpoint on a domestic flight, he knew he could just proceed with his Global Entry card. was completed.
Bishop says, “Pack it separately from your driver’s license. That way, if you lose your wallet while traveling, you can get on the flight home and worry about replacing your license when you get home. ” he suggested.
5. Use your miles to book extra flights.
When Robert Cohen, 79, of Bixby, Okla., has enough frequent flyer points on multiple airlines, he uses them to book alternative flights in case there is a problem with his desired flight. Suggest that you book a backup flight with your company.
“But remember to cancel your backup on the day of your trip, before you depart, and your unused miles will be redeposited,” Cohen warned. Deadlines vary by airline and can be as strict as 10 minutes before departure. “Some airlines may not allow you to cancel only part of your itinerary, so you may want to book separate outbound and return tickets instead of round trip,” he said.
6. Find out where to find the secret stash of toilet paper on airplanes.
Mary Jane Kyler, 42, of Oslo, recalled how, about 10 hours into a 15-hour flight between Los Angeles and Sydney, she realized there was no toilet paper in the bathroom. I think it was a Boeing 777.” When she looked for her flight attendant, she pressed a lever under the vanity mirror and, to her “utter surprise,” the mirror popped open and out came extra toilet paper and paper towels. He said he came. “Since then, I’ve been able to deal with the problem myself (which rarely happens),” Kyler said.
7. Pack the power strip.
Wall sockets have been a problem for international travelers for as long as there have been electrical appliances that plug into electrical outlets. Even as more devices become compatible with different voltages, travelers are simply bringing more of what they need.
That’s why Andrea Diamond of Montville, N.J., typically brings a 5- or 6-plug surge protector when she travels internationally. “That way she only needs one adapter to plug the power strip into a wall outlet and be able to charge multiple devices,” she said.
She usually carries a power strip in her checked luggage, but she recalled once being stopped at a security checkpoint for additional screening. She said the reason was that she “had a lot of charging cables in her backpack, so I think she looked suspicious on XX.” ray machine. ”
8. Relive your memories with photo bookmarks.
If you’ve taken a lot of photos, the process of sorting out what’s what can become a post-trip headache. Fred Essenwein, 78, of Colonia, New Jersey, has a secret. “Before I take pictures of the beautiful scenery, I also take pictures of the names of towns and landmarks, or even just the entrance tickets,” he said. These “little bookmarks” will help you remember each location as you compile your photo books for each trip.
Essenwein has been using online services like Shutterfly to create photo books for about a decade, with themes including cruises to Antarctica and classic American cars found in Cuba.
9. Make a keepsake using cellophane tape.
British travel writer Bruce Chatwin inspired Doug Corrigan to document his expeditions in a decidedly analogue way. Mr. Corrigan, 79, of Amherst, Mass., carried a slim Moleskine-type notebook, a brand Chatwin said has been a favorite since the 1970s, and a small roll of Sellotape.
“I tape business cards to the pages for good restaurants and shops worth revisiting, brochures for shows at landmarks and museums, and ticket stubs for memorable concerts,” Corrigan explained. “A notebook can become a travel diary and a nice souvenir.”
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