We often think of travelling as full of major decisions, a valid thinking, indeed. But the major decisions are also made up of minor decisions, the small things that matter just as much as the big things. Here are a few of these small things that you can keep in mind when travelling that will give big benefits.
Park with the Car Nose Out
There are several benefits to parking your car with its nose out, a fact that applies to whether it’s a rental car from Budget or your personal car. First, you will have an easier time getting out of the parking spot, a great thing when you’re parked in cramped airport spaces. This may seem like a small thing but when you’re on a tight schedule, the minutes add up.
Second, you can have easier access to a dead battery, if you accidentally left the interior light on before leaving your car in park for days on end. You will also have an easier time hooking up your car to a tow truck, if necessary, such as when it has broken windows caused by thieves.
And speaking of parking, you may want to consider economy parking lots near airports (i.e., off-airport). These are significantly cheaper than other lots and, thus, are great places for budget-conscious travelers, especially those embarking on longer trips where several days’ worth of parking fees are necessary.
Mark Your Belongings
We’re not talking about using colorful neon markers on your bags because these can leave ugly marks on the expensive leather material, as well as look tacky to stylish travelers. Instead, you can use other methods in marking your bags so that these stand out from a sea of nearly identical bags on airport carousel.
These can include tying a brightly-colored ribbon on the handle, putting large personalized stickers on your bag, and stitching uniquely patterned patches. If you want to take it to the extreme, you can have your close-up photo imprinted on your bags!
The bottom line here is that you can’t rely on the tiny name tags alone. You have to be able to easily and quickly spot your bags even from a distance because these have identifying marks or objects.
And never accept bags, purses and other containers from strangers even when they say that these don’t contain contraband and the like. Never give in to request to bring items not your own, too, from others since these can get you in trouble. These may be small favors of kindness where you are concerned but not for airport authorities.
