Seasoned travellers probably won’t learn anything new from this article. But it does hold a compilation of information, which I wish someone had told me when I first boarded a plane. When I first travelled by plane at the age of 17, I had no clue about how to pack, what not to forget, what’s really important when packing, how to label your suitcase, whether you’re allowed to carry water on a plane, how to pack cosmetics... So, here are a few simple, yet very important pieces of information to follow before travelling by plane.
There have been times when I forgot one of the important things when packing my suitcase, but I’d only figure that out when it was too late. It’s crucial to carry your identity document, bank card and plane tickets with you. You can somehow sort out or buy the rest. Still, I’ve figured that the best way to not forget the important things is to make a list.
If you have the option, check in at home. Some airlines, especially the low-cost ones, require you to pay extra for the check-in at the airport. These costs can amount to tens of euros and raise the ticket price considerably. You should therefore avoid the unnecessary costs and check in at home.
Search for the closest or cheapest parking near the airport and pre-book it. We flew from Treviso Airport in Italy this time. When we were still at home, we booked the Park E. Had we booked the same parking directly at the airport, we would’ve paid six euros per day. This way, we only paid three euros and a half per day. We entered our car’s plate number into the form/application and paid in advance. When we got to the parking, the system scanned the car plate and let us through, and we could simply drive away the day we returned. It’s simple and smart, plus we saved money.
Don’t forget the travel medical kit. Our travel medical kit contains painkillers (usually it’s a blister of Lekadol pills, since Lekadol is widespread in Slovenia) and something for the throat (Septolete or Neo-angin in Slovenia) and the Bepanthen cream. We also add Band-Aids and a sting cooling gel, since mosquitoes seem to really likes us, unfortunately. You know your body the best, so you should add medicine that you usually use. It’s true that you can buy medicine abroad as well, but sometimes we feel sick after a meal or prolonged exposure to sun and wind. It really helps if you have the medicine at hand, instead of looking for an open chemist’s shop in a foreign place.
I prefer to pack my cosmetics in two small separate toiletry cases. I put all the solid cosmetics, such as the comb, brushes, cheek blush, eyebrow pencil and similar stuff in one case, and liquid cosmetics in the other. Liquids mustn’t exceed 150ml (per bottle) and have to be stored in plastic water-proof bags. You can buy most of these things in cosmetics shops, but they’re pretty expensive. I use mini bottles because I can use them multiple times. I pour shampoo and hair conditioner into smaller bottles and stick a label on them. I always carry the toiletry case with liquid cosmetics with me in my backpack, so that I always have it at hand when I have to show it at the security check at the airport.
I always take a water bottle to the airport and drink the water before going for the security check. If there’s still some liquid left in the bottle, there are sinks available at the airports where you can dispose of it. When I’m inside an airport – after going through the security check – I refill the bottle with tap water. Luckily, Slovenia and all its nearby countries I’ve flown from (except Greece) have potable water. The prices for water at airport shops are outrageous. As long as the tap water is safe to drink, I see no reason I should pay for it.
Luckily, it hasn’t happened yet, but you can never be too careful. Before travelling, I usually scan my identity document or take a picture of it with my phone, and the same goes for my health insurance card and bank card. I normally keep my plane ticket at hand in two forms – printed on paper and saved on my phone as a PDF document.
You should always add your name and address to your suitcase. If it so happens that it gets lost or is sent to the wrong destination, it’ll be more easily recognised and directed to the right address. Another important thing I hadn’t thought about before is how recognisable your suitcase is. Mine was black – just like 90 per cent of other suitcases at the airport. So, how to spot your suitcase in a myriad of other suitcases? I solved this by tying a red bandana to it, so I could spot it more easily. An even better solution is to use a safety strap, which prevents the suitcase from opening or breaking when being thrown around, plus it also makes your suitcase stand out, making it more recognisable, if the strap is more colourful.
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