TripHip - Travel Tips and Advice for Traveling on a Budget

Everyone has their preference of whether they think a window seat or an aisle seat is better. If you are allowed to choose, and especially if you are on a long-haul flight, consider this one important point:

On long-haul flights, people like to sleep. If you travel alone and you get a window seat, you'll have to wake up the people next to you in order to get to the bathroom, and they'll have to get up again when you come back.

Of course the majority of people don't mind doing this, as it is common courtesy. But you can save yourself the hassle by taking an aisle seat.

Also, if you need to use the loo and you're stuck in a window seat, and the people next to you have their laptops or dinner trays spread out, it will be a big hassle for them to arrange everything for you to get up to use the restroom. Like I said, most people exercise common courtesy on these long-haul flights. But sometimes you just want the freedom to get up and move around as you please. :)

If you leave cosmetics or a camera memory chip behind, that's no big deal. You can buy practically anything along the way, or when you reach your final destination. However, if you're travellig on a budget, having to buy a new camera or a fishing pole can be a pain.

So, a week or so before you start packing for your trip, make a list of everything that you want to bring with, and everything you need to bring with.

As you put each item in your suitcase, check it off your list.

When it comes time to leave, and you find you've got too much stuff in your suitcases, such that you decide to leave some stuff behind, check your list and make a note of what you're leaving behind. In the stress of the moment you might forget, and when you get to your final destination and can't find something you're looking for, the list will remind you that you elected to leave it behind.

If you didn't put it on the list, it's not your fault if you forget it.... so make sure you start your list well in advance, before the stress of trip planning starts to get to you, so that you don't forget to put things on the list!

Then, make a list of all your suitcases, and when each one is put in your trunk or the backseat, check it off. Missing fishing poles? Forgot the stakes for the tent? These lists will remind you of what you need to bring.

If you are going on a long-haul flight, like one that is more than 6 hours, you'll probably want to nap at some point. This is where neck pillows really come in handy.

Although cushy neck pillows are really comfy, they also take up loads of precious space in your luggage. If space it at a premium (which it is for most travelers), you might want to invest in an inflatable neck pillow. They are usually quite inexpensive, and they can be just as comfy as the cushy stuffed neck pillows.

All you need to do is blow air into it. When you're done, simply deflate the neck pillow and store it in your luggage.

Long-haul flights can feel like they take forever. You can break up the time a bit by getting up and walking around at least once an hour (or in between flight movies).

Stretch a bit if you can, so that you don't get cramped up.

Splashing water on your face helps too.

A great way to make it through a long-haul flight (one that is 6-7 hours or more) is to take a sleeping pill right after they serve dinner. Then you can get out your neck pillow, put on your eye mask, wrap yourself in the airline blanket and fall asleep until breakfast.

That way you'll be nice and refreshed when you reach your destination!

(Make sure your sleeping pill isn't too heavy, and/or make sure it's one where you won't be incredibly drowsy upon waking up... as that would be counterproductive!)

If you're going on a trip with several people, make each person responsible for their own luggage (even if a child - as long as they're strong enough to carry their backpack or suitcase), and make one person responsible for double-checking to make sure each piece of luggage has been loaded.

In other words, the luggage-loading checker loads his or her own bag, then stands by the car trunk and checks off a list as each person stows away their own luggage.

Also, before leaving, one person should be in charge of looking in the hallway or living room to ensure that no luggage has been accidently left behind.

If you've got a long journey ahead, either by car, rail, or plane, consider bringing an audio book or two with you. You can download audio books as mp3s, so you don't need to worry about luggage space.

This way you will have something to keep you entertained, if none of the on-flight entertainment strikes your fancy, for example!