Have you ever had to go out of town or even out of the country for weeks or even months on end, whether for work-related purposes or otherwise? Have you noticed how complicated it is to be away from home for such a long period of time?
Obviously, you can’t take your whole life with you on a plane, so you are limited in what is actually going to go in your luggage. And everybody knows that the more luggage you haul around with you, the more hellacious the travel experience can be. So what are some better ways to handle this dilemma? Let me kick a few suggestions at you:
Buy Clothes At Your Destination:
This sounds like something Whitney Houston or some rock star might of done back in the day. In fact, it sounds like some total self-indulgent rock star move. Surely it must be prohibitively expensive right? But the truth is, things have changed. Being able to meta shop online allows you all the choice you could ever want, and it’s worldwide. National borders and distances have never been less of a barrier. Shipping costs worldwide have gone down appreciably in many cases.
And on the other side of the equation, airlines have never been stingier when dealing with your baggage. Some even charge for carry-ons now. Show them up by travelling with a tablet and toiletries, and have a capsule wardrobe waiting for you at your destination. By the way, that’s a pro tip: Plan ahead and order ahead so you can have your clothes waiting for you. This is even more powerful if this is a recurring destination and you can arrange to have your clothes stored between trips.
Don’t Settle For A Hotel Room:
Hotel rooms are usually tiny, and will drive you stir crazy after the first week. Also, they lack facilities like kitchens. Having even the most basic kitchenette in which to be able to cook up a simple meal is a life saver on extended trips. Airbnb is the best option for this; just make sure you are booking something that does include kitchen rights, as every rental is a little different on there. Either Airbnb or hotels are often in the practice of offering weekly or monthly discounts, so make sure you keep that in mind.
Make Sure You Know The Language:
You can’t expect miracles from yourself here, but the more you know, the better off you will be. The internet is an incredible resource here; take full advantage of it.
This includes destinations where English is the native language, or a common tongue. Their slang will be different enough where it can catch you unprepared if you haven’t prepared yourself. A few hours of timely and focused research on local expressions can save you a world of confusion and difficulty at your destination. No matter how business-focused your trip is going to be, you’re going to go out on the street at some point, even if it’s just to eat.
Do you have any other comments or suggestions? We’d love to hear from you below.