Hi Everyone,
So I know it hasn’t been long since my last post, however I thought it was important to actually say some useful advice on what to take on your travels. I also wanted to post whilst I’m not in the pure excitement phase anymore (I am actually a little scared to be honest).
If every one of my posts appeared like every time I travel I don’t get nervous, that would be a complete lie. I am a very anxious person, especially doing things that I don’t have full knowledge of exactly what’s going to happen. This is obviously one of those things. On top of that, I have to leave Samuel for nearly a whole month. Sure, this isn’t as bad as me going to Japan for a year, however, in nearly 4 years this is first extended time apart so of course it’s going to be difficult. I just wish I could pack him in my suitcase with me, but I know that’s not an option. Obviously, I am still really really excited for what awaits me in Italy, however this first farewell is going to be the hardest… to be fair, it’s already felt like it’s been difficult and he’s still eight next to me so I cannot imagine what it’s going to feel like in 16 hours time when we actually say goodbye.
But, enough about that, I just wanted to post to say that with travels there are always nerves. No matter how many times I get on a plane or train etc to go somewhere new/do something new I am petrified. It is overcoming this fear and facing it head on that brings the most joys out of life though because not only have you faced and overcome something you were scared about, but you’ve also built yourself as a person by learning new life skills (and hopefully had fun whilst doing it)!
Now to the little advice part. If you already travel and don’t need this then please just skip this paragraph. I am in no way trying to sound like I know everything or that my advice is what anyone is seeking however, if even one person takes this list of essentials and uses part of it, it was worth writing; even if it reduces one person’s stress levels before travelling. So, I will stop rambling now, and start listing essential things to remember before travelling that are often forgotten:
1. Check the weather – you do not live in their climate, so do not assume you know the weather as, truth be told, travel brochures can be deceiving
2. Write a card to put in your purse with emergency contacts / useful contacts you may need if you get lost. This may include the address and phone number of the hotel or site you are staying at, anyone you may know in that country, the country’s ambulance / police service number, your loved ones. Remember, if your phone was to break/get stolen etc, this card will be your lifeline so don’t forget this.
3. Ring your phone provider – even if it’s only to check how much it costs to call/use data etc. Also, many phone providers have your sims roaming disabled by default. This means you will not get data or signal abroad so make sure you tell them to enable this whilst you are on the phone.
4. Maps – find your route from the station to the hotel etc. You never know if you’ll have to walk. Also, print a map out of the city and mark places you want to go along with your hotel as well. (If you find a free tourist map when you get there you can then transfer these markers onto this bigger, clearer map with ease and if you don’t find one, at least you have some sort of guide as to where things are.)
5. [This is an optional step] Try travel as light as possible and preferably, hand luggage only, especially if your flight is not direct. This is because it’ll make things easier when you get there and, if you do not have a direct flight, sometimes you have to wait for your case and check it in to the other flight and this can take time and cause delays including making you miss your other flight. (BE CAREFUL AND DO NOT EVER ASSUME YOUR FLIGHT WILL AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFER YOUR CASES BECAUSE THIS IS OFTEN NOT THE CASE EVEN WITH LONG HAUL FLIGHTS.) Travelling hand luggage only is also a way of being portable and moving between cities with ease, not to mention the fact that it shows you what is actually a necessity on holiday and how much we actually can overthink how much we need. Objects are just objects after all and clothes can always be washed, remember that.
1. Check the weather – you do not live in their climate, so do not assume you know the weather as, truth be told, travel brochures can be deceiving
2. Write a card to put in your purse with emergency contacts / useful contacts you may need if you get lost. This may include the address and phone number of the hotel or site you are staying at, anyone you may know in that country, the country’s ambulance / police service number, your loved ones. Remember, if your phone was to break/get stolen etc, this card will be your lifeline so don’t forget this.
3. Ring your phone provider – even if it’s only to check how much it costs to call/use data etc. Also, many phone providers have your sims roaming disabled by default. This means you will not get data or signal abroad so make sure you tell them to enable this whilst you are on the phone.
4. Maps – find your route from the station to the hotel etc. You never know if you’ll have to walk. Also, print a map out of the city and mark places you want to go along with your hotel as well. (If you find a free tourist map when you get there you can then transfer these markers onto this bigger, clearer map with ease and if you don’t find one, at least you have some sort of guide as to where things are.)
5. [This is an optional step] Try travel as light as possible and preferably, hand luggage only, especially if your flight is not direct. This is because it’ll make things easier when you get there and, if you do not have a direct flight, sometimes you have to wait for your case and check it in to the other flight and this can take time and cause delays including making you miss your other flight. (BE CAREFUL AND DO NOT EVER ASSUME YOUR FLIGHT WILL AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFER YOUR CASES BECAUSE THIS IS OFTEN NOT THE CASE EVEN WITH LONG HAUL FLIGHTS.) Travelling hand luggage only is also a way of being portable and moving between cities with ease, not to mention the fact that it shows you what is actually a necessity on holiday and how much we actually can overthink how much we need. Objects are just objects after all and clothes can always be washed, remember that.
And with that, I’m just about done for this post. My flight is at 6am, I am flying from Manchester to Florence with a change over in Brussels, just for anyone asking. I also do not know the exact date I’ll be back, however for anyone that didn’t know Sam is also coming to Italy for a week when my work contract ends, so please ask him if you have any questions nearer the time (as obviously he will know when and where we will be flying out of). To everyone who always reaches the very bottom of my blogs, thankyou very much. I hope you enjoyed reading it and, I promise, my future posts will be more action packed haha.
See you when I get back!
-Alice xxxx