San Jaun Snow Treks

Everyone wants their trips to be stress-free, but that’s not always the case.  One of the things that can cause a lot of stress is preparing for the trip.  If you don’t pack the right clothing, take everything you need, and know your travel information, you can end up being stressed out before you even start your luxury holiday.  When it comes to pre-trip planning, here are some things to keep in mind.

Don’t just open your suitcases and start throwing cloths in.  Instead, make a list of outfits you’ll need.  If you don’t plan on doing anything that requires fancy dress, leave the suits and evening gowns at home.  If you don’t plan on swimming, don’t pack a bathing suit.  If you only need three pairs of pants, don’t pack five.  Packing too much doesn’t leave you much luggage space, but on the other hand, packing too little can cause problems as well.  Know how much clothing you need so you end up with just the right amount.

Make a list of everything you need to take with you.  This can include the standard items like shampoo, a hair brush, and clothing, but it should also include anything specific to the trip.  For business trips, this might mean brochures, business cards, or your presentation.  For holidays, it may include event tickets, a guide book, and your camera.

You also need to know everything about your flight (or bus/train trip), hotel booking, and rental car, if you have one.  Be sure to take copies of any receipts and booking confirmation numbers, and leave a copy of this information with a friend or family member, too.  You should also know how to get from the airport or bus station to your hotel.  Does the hotel offer a shuttle?  Does the airport provide transportation?  Don’t wait until you arrive to ask.

Finally, plan out your itinerary.  Start by filling in everything that has a set time and day, and then add in other events.  Don’t plan out every single moment—you may arrive and find something really interesting that you didn’t know about.  However, it is helpful to have a plan so you don’t waste time trying to decide what to do.

Tags: business trips, holiday, hotel, luggage, pre-trip planning, travel information

Nearly everyone uses a computer in their line of work or for pleasure, and many people who own laptop computers take them everywhere, even on holiday.  While you may love the idea of checking your email and browsing the internet from your hotel, there are a few things you should remember when you take your laptop with you on holiday.

The first is that you should backup all of your data before you leave.  This is a good idea for two reasons.  First, you never know when a thief may strike.  Second, your laptop could be damaged while travelling.  Additionally, you need to write down all of the serial numbers on your laptop and your laptop accessories.  Having these numbers makes it much easier to recover your laptop in the event that it is stolen.

Of course no one wants their property to be taken, and there are several things you can do to protect your laptop.  First, even though your hotel room should be secure, if you leave, always put your laptop back in its bag and put that bag in the closet or in a drawer.  Don’t leave your laptop out in plain sight.

If you’re taking your laptop out with you, use a shoulder strap with your bag and wear it over your neck so someone can’t just pull it off your shoulder and run off with it.  Also, never leave your laptop unattended.  If you’re using it in a restaurant or café and need to use the restroom, pack it up and take it with you.  Don’t assume the café staff will watch it.

Tags: holiday, hotel, hotel room, travelling

When going on holiday, or even when going to a different city for work on a conference, it seems like family and friends always expect you to bring them back a souvenir.  However, finding the perfect souvenir can be difficult.  For one thing, it can be very hard to get some souvenirs back to your friends, especially if they’re very large.

The first souvenir idea isn’t that original, but it is easy to transport—a t-shirt.  T-shirts are usually inexpensive as well, plus you can always find a shirt that fits the personality of each family member or friend.

Another small, cheap souvenir is a fridge magnet.  Many people collect magnets, and most hotel gift shops sell some very interesting magnets.  Some are three dimensional, some have moving parts, and some can even be personalised with names or have a slot for a photo.  Magnets are also great gifts if you don’t have a lot of baggage space to devote to souvenirs.

Likewise, pens and pencils can be good gifts that don’t take up a lot of room and are fairly inexpensive.  They’re also useful, practical gifts since people are always looking for a pen or pencil to take message with or for taking notes.

Post cards can be a nice, inexpensive souvenir as well.  What’s great about them is that you can post them to your friends while you’re on holiday and write them a little note about your trip.  This can add a personal touch to your souvenir.  Just remember to take along stamps or find a place to purchase them early in your trip.

Local foods can also be a good gift, but you have to be careful about buying anything in breakable bottles.  The last thing you want is to purchase a bottle of local barbeque sauce, back it in your luggage, and then get home to find that it broke.  If you do purchase breakable souvenirs, try to keep them small enough to put them in your carry-on bag or wrap them in a paper sack if you’re putting it in your luggage.

Tags: holiday, souvenir