The International Playgirl Credo
[ 31 March 2009 ]
For some of us, travelling is an ever-present reality, while for others, it’s something that happens only once in a while. Regardless, when it comes to skipping across the planet, you can either do it with style & panache… or you can run around flustered, making a mess of things. Here are a few things I’ve learned over the past year or so — & I’d love to hear your own travelling tips!
Always take a scarf on the plane. Even if it’s warm & you don’t need it, you can always throw it over your head as an impromptu Do Not Disturb signal.
Ensure your laptop & MP3 player are fully charged before you board. Some planes have power outlets underneath the seats, but it’s better to be safe than techless!
Always know how much time your airline requires for you to check in. Always.
JetBlue is awesome. If you can fly with them, do. They are totally amazing.
Recognise that every person on the journey is a gift. (Even the annoying ones.)
Keep mementos.
Always have business cards (or in my case, postcards) to give to people.
Cultivate relationships wherever you go — you never know how this or that person could impact your life, even if you just speak to them for ten minutes.
Realise that not everything is going to go to plan — but every time it doesn’t, you will learn something valuable. My father always told me we learn more from failure than success, & he was right.
Embrace the weirdness.
Say yes.
Take one day a week to do absolutely nothing. Otherwise you will collapse in a shivering heap with your face in a plate of macarons, which is not so chic.
When you see well-dressed or immaculately coiffed people in the street, ask them where they go to shop or for beauty treatments. You will not regret it.
Yelp.
Always keep a book of local stamps tucked into your purse or wallet. It will make it much more likely that you’ll send postcards.
Ask the locals what they recommend.
Learn the art of meticulous suitcase packing. (My tips? Roll your clothing & group similar items — i.e., put all stockings/tights/socks in a zip-lock bag. It makes it much easier to find things.)
Be organised. Write down your flights & reference numbers. Keep all your travel documents in one place. Be at least 70% packed the night before you go.
Don’t overburden yourself with a huge list of things to do in every city. You probably won’t be able to do them all & you’ll freak yourself out trying.
Enjoy the small things. Sometimes supermarket shopping can be an immensely exciting experience when everything in there is unfamiliar!
Sublease where possible. Usually a month’s sublet is about the same price as a week in a hotel.
...But spend a couple of nights in a boutique hotel if you can.
Learn how to be a good house-guest.
Remember your vitamins. This is a two-parter: first of all, remember to take them with you. Secondly, remember to put them somewhere that you will see them!
Drink lots of water, especially if you’re doing a lot of walking.
Take comfortable shoes. They do not need to be ugly. I feel like I have trekked all over the planet in my Frye boots, & they have served me extremely well.
Take high heels for fancy dinners & exciting parties.
Eat salad every day to help keep you going.
Know thy baggage allowance, or you will be punished accordingly!
If your ride to the airport has their own concept of time, tell them you need to be there earlier than you actually do.
Keep in touch with the people you meet. Email them the next day if you can.
Buy local magazines to find out what’s really going on where you are.
Book flexible air tickets. You never know what will happen…
Travel insurance is worth the peace of mind. Especially if you have an accident or get sick.
If you’re travelling with someone else, have days where you both go off alone & do your own thing.
Offer to help people where you can.
Don’t be afraid to change your plans.
Have your travel agent request a special meal.
Learn to adapt, quickly.
Wear shoes you can just slip off when you fly. It makes getting through security about a billion times faster.
Don’t be afraid to be friendly to TSA & airport officials. They are bored. Make their day a little better, & sometimes they’ll reward you. (I have been serenaded by TSA workers more than once.)
Take snacks. Always.
Don’t plan too far ahead if you can help it.
Marvel at the kindness of strangers.
Stay open.
Enjoy & adopt local colloquialisms, but hold onto your old ones. They make up who you are — plus, people will find it charming.
Ask questions, especially of locals who you befriend. Most people love to show off the place they live in.
Call home, but not all the time.
Always have a spare, charged camera battery in your purse.
Always, always, always carry a can of dry shampoo!
Document what you do. Write a journal, take photos or film, draw pictures of things you see, whatever — like Leonard Cohen says, “I hope you’re keeping some kind of record“.
If you do decide to write a journal, make time to do it. I find that when I’m travelling & on a hectic schedule, I get to play journal catch-up on planes. You might want to make brief notes every night, though — otherwise it’s very easy to forget entire days.
Before you go, do some research. Read books about the place, engage in some clever Googling, search the city’s name on Flickr & see what you can find.
Relax.
Do your very best to get enough sleep.
Splurge where you can.
Buy something cool, so that when people ask, “Where did you get that?!”, you can say, “Oh, in Paris/Leipzig/Vancouver…”
Get a frequent flyer card with every airline you can.
Make friends with Kayak.
Wear something comfortable on the plane.
Subscribe to airline newsletters so you get the inside scoop on any deals they have going.
Maintain transcontinental friendships. It’s always more fun to visit a place where you have friends.
Try new things.
Finally, remember that we travel because we’re seeking something different. This is to say, don’t go somewhere else & expect it to be like what you’re used to. If you want things to remain the same, stay at home!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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This is a really great list – I think you covered everything possible!
I like your montage/collage (?) too :)
love this! I’m supposed to book a flight to NYC today but problem is, I hate flying! I’m absolutely terrified and everytime I fly I have to take a pill to calm myself. This made me kind of excited though!
Wow, I can tell you really enjoy travelling… And with few words you’ve covered the entire travel check list ;). Plus I love that open-minded last sentence… totally true!
Yes, yes, and YES to everything on this list. I try to travel like this when I do get to travel. I’m hoping to get to Spain this year. I’ve been to Barcelona (LOVE it), but I’m hoping to get to more countryside this time around… :) This list just made me want to start to plan a trip!
This is awesome! Travel always stresses me out more than it should, mostly because I try too hard to plan everything out & keep everyone else happy. I’ll definitely reread this list next time I’m going somewhere. Thanks!!
This is awesome! I lurrrrrrve travelling and I can’t as much as I want right now, but this’ll be great to look back on. This book is awesome: www.amazon.com/Girlo There might still be a preview on google books too. (:
Fantastic article – a whole list of things every international playgirl needs to remember!
My tips:
Learn to say “please” and “thank you” in the language of the country you’ll be traveling to, and use them!
Save yourself some luggage space to bring home souvenirs.
If you’re taking photos, jot down a quick record of what photos you’ve taken in your planner.
When I travel I find old buttons, put the earring posts through the holes, and attach the backs. I use one button per pair, so I never have to dig around to find a stray.
Tip from Budget Travel Mag:)
Aww, I love how you included the picture of us sleeping on our honeymoon!
“Buy local magazines to find out what’s really going on where you are.”
....or, if you’re on a budget, grab the free Criss Angel Bible. Haha.
Really, really good and timeless advice. Where should we go next (not counting Vegas)?!
wooah. this is extremely useful. i’m gonna print this out & have it with me whenever i travel :) thank you thank you thank you.
I love the tips about trying new things! Oh, and about comfy shoes! I need to buy some new flat black boots which actually fit my feet, as mine are falling apart!
My top tips are to get a train or ship if possible, rather than going by plane, (especially if travelling within Europe) as it’s less harmful to the environment and it often makes for a leisurely and relaxing journey, thus making the journey an experience as important as the destination. And also, don’t expect the food to be the same as you get at home, so it’s good to be open-minded about that.
I’m currently planning a holiday to Amsterdam with my boyfriend for this summer and I’m so ridiculously excited already! It’ll only be a short trip, but it’s going to be so much fun going away together.
I have never been on a plane or travelled before. I can’t wait to go somewhere cool, even if its not that exotic.
Nubby — I don’t know, but I think it needs to be somewhere ridiculous…
PurpleTanz — Oh, the point about travelling via train or ship is a goodie! Also, I had some extremely good experiences travelling across Germany by train!
I love this list!
“Don’t be afraid to be friendly to TSA & airport officials. They are bored. Make their day a little better, & sometimes they’ll reward you. (I have been serenaded by TSA workers more than once.)”
That is so true too.
I always take hobbies to work on while I’m waiting for my flight which usually leads to fun conversations with strangers!
such lovely tips.
i roll my clothes in my box too
JetBlue do the BEST cookies and blue crisps!!
These tips are great! I definitely try to buy one special item from each place I visit, and also buy something unique when other people visit me. This weekend, I got two dresses that will forever be remembered as “the dresses I bought when my sister came to town.” :-)
Also, talk to people on planes. The essay that got me into grad school was all about conversations with strangers on planes and observing people in the airport. Airports are a wonderful place for people watching.
My suggestions would be…
Try the local beer!
Pick up the free souvenirs like cardboard coasters from cool restaurants — they make great scrapbook items
Feel free to get lost (I once road the train all the way around San Diego just for the hell of it)
Perfect timing – I’m off to San Francisco TOMORROW and needed some reminders of how to make the most of my journey!
Great tips, but I must add one more!
Bring with you something to control excess gas…like gas-x or bean-o or something like that.
The mix of potential nervousness and new foods/beers can cause an unpleasent party in your stomach!!
For instance, the hefty beers in Germany (especially durning Oktoberfest!) can give you some nasty surprises the morning after, so prepare for this accordingly ;) haha
This makes me yearn to escape the UK for a while! Fabulous tips, as always! I’ll be sure to look back at it next time I’m preparing to head away from home!
SO many things on this website are SO true!
I have, however, decided that perhaps the most important thing is ALWAYS HAVE SNACKS. Life is so miserable when you’re hungry.
I love this, thank you!
In three months I will be going on a grand adventure, and I was considering sending you an e-mail about any tips you might have because after all, you are an International Playgirl!
I’m going to NYC tomorrow, so all these tips are timely and extremely helpful. Thank you!
This actually couldn’t have come at a better time. I am literally right now half way through packing for a flight to france tomorrow (i know, my disorganization must hurt your virgo soul). Thanks soo much Gala. xx
Hi,
this is probably the wrong place to ask this, but I’ve been having a lot of trouble with this girl recently. She claims to be my friend, but only when she’s making fun of me or criticizing me for something. Then I’m suddenly an outsider when she’s talking about ‘her friends’ (read: mine too.) She tries to cut me out and complains I’m rambling when I mention a difficult and recent situation so she can continue talking about something that happened to her years ago in high school.
Normally I would ignore this, and just try to avoid spending time with her, but I’m thrown in with her quite a lot in classes, etc. She gets offended very easily( so if I stop talking to her or politely limit our talks, she’ll be angry) and will keep a grudge for years. I’m not quite sure what to do. I’m good friends with her roommate, but this entire situation is hard to deal with. I don’t want to make an enemy, but I also don’t want to just let her continue making fun of me.
How do I avoid being a doormat?
Thanks
This is a really great article, Gala. The tip about TSA agents is so, so true. I have an insulin pump that causes me to get taken aside for wanding every. single. time. I fly. It’s a real pain, but I’ve had a lot of interesting conversations while being patted down up by nice lady government workers :D You really have got to have a since of humor working that job, and they do. They particularly seem to appreciate people who wear cute socks.
Another thing I try to remember when I travel: have gratitude. So many people on this Earth could only wish to be able to afford a plane ticket somewhere. Every time I feel flustered by a cancellation or snafu — I try to breathe and remember how lucky I am to be going anywhere. It centers me when I travel.
Great tips, Gala. I will pass them on to friends. Thanks!
love ‘em.
would these tips be any different if you were traveling somewhere a little less glamorous?
if you were going to a third world country, for example, what would you do differently?
another great article, thanks but i disagree with
‘Get a frequent flyer card with every airline you can’
I suggest getting one card for each group of airlines:
One World
Star Alliance
Etc
You can earn Qantas frequent flyer points when you fly on British Airways
Or Virgin points while flying Singapore airlines.
For example.
Otherwise you might end up with lots of points on different cards that don’t add up to earn a flight.
Getting a credit card that earns you points with your frequent flyer program as you spend is a great way to get extra points. as long as you can pay off the credit cards of course.
This is so useful! Thanks for this. I found out recently that I’m going to Austria, and it will be my first time traveling alone, so I’m happy for any advice.
I can’t wait!
This is an awesome list. But how have I never heard of dry shampoo before? I would also add to always always always have tissues or portable toilet paper, because if you’re seriously traveling, you’re probably gonna end up somewhere you need it.
The biggest thing though, which you’ve covered so nicely, is to just breathe.
you can save lots of money by taking travel books out of the library instead of buying them. especially good for short trips.
i get all the books out i can on my destination, but only take the best one or two with me on my trip. (returning the others before i leave)
then I put postit notes on the pages of the things I want to do with notes like,
‘museum – closed tuesday’
‘good for breakfast’
‘if it rains’
‘free on sunday’
then i can quickly find things to do, especially if i have more than one book.
I am going away this coming Saturday (Houston, Texas) and this list totally calmed my nerves. Thank you!
Ooh this just makes me want to get on a plane and fly somewhere exciting!
Speaking of good deals, I just saw this awesome tip in Oprah’s newsletter:
“The best time to find a low fare is in the morning, says Keith Melnick, vice president of travel site kayak.com. Airfares are sometimes reset overnight, and the best pickings are available before East Coast workers get to the office. Look for flights departing Saturday, when fares are often cheapest; avoid Monday mornings and Thursday evenings, when flights are crowded with business travelers. Book as far in advance as possible—the chance of a price drop is slim, and should one occur, many airlines will credit you the difference upon request.”
Great minds, cool things, etc. etc. ;D
Oh, Gala, I love this post!
Also, I think you would like this website: www.jauntsetter.com They have cool ideas for where to stay and shop in plenty of cities, plus once a week they list their ten top airplane deals from New York. Makes me wish I lived there!
Awesome tips!
Two other great websites for spontaneous travellers are the Vagablog www.vagablogging.net/, and if you haven’t read any of Rolf Potts’ books/travel writing you definitely should!
Also, www.adioso.com, which is even better than Kayak (although they’ve only just started adding US flights) because you can search by price (amongst other things) rather than just dates.
gala this is one of my favourite posts of yours! i am currently looking at subleases in new york on behalf of 2 of my beautiful friends who are going there in june.
xo
ps- i really loved the video walk-through of your last new york babe pad and am planning on making a couple to send to my mum- one of my current house (that she’s never seen) and one of the house i am about to move into. what are the chances of you doing a fresh one for international playgirl HQ? i’m big on voyeurism! haha
Nice list! I liked the idea of keeping stamps on you and emailing people the next day (otherwise it never happens!). Very practical gala
I just realised for the first time how really incredibly lucky you are. Those pictures really are memories of terrific experiences you had, and see how much you’ve travelled at such a young age. I’m amazed and admire you very much for that: for having left it all and having chosen the ‘untrodden road.’
Thank you for reminding me things are not as structured in this life as I sometimes think they are. And do please let me know when you can fit Buenos Aires, Argentina into that hectic schedule of yours. Thank you for being an inspiration, and I mean that as truly as I can. I think you are one of those persons one may have the chance to speak to in life, and be unable to forget them. Wow.
This really makes me want to get away and travel! Definitely saving this list away for next time. :)
A most excellent list!
For frequent fliers, I would add:
~ Bring some pre-moistened face wipes onto the plane (especially if you have a long flight). It feels sooo good to wipe your face and throat with an aloe-and-cucumber-infused towelette!
~ Buy the most ridiculous magazine you’ve ever seen – one you you would NEVER purchase in real life. My personal favorite is a magazine by the name of “Hairstyles.” It is exactly what it sounds like.
~ Whenever possible, pack your own in-flight meal. Bonus points for using an adorable bento box! :-)
Hi!
Love your lists. They are so entertaining.
I have traveled quite a lot in my life. Sometimes abroad, I lived in Europe, but mostly in the U.S.A.
My travel tips are:
Bring baby wipes – They are really helpful for any various quick clean up job and store easily.
Take Dr. Bach’s Rescue Remedy – This may not be allowed on all airlines now due to the new rules, but for traveling in general it’s helpful to have around if you’re doing a lot of traveling which can strain your nerves after awhile, especially if you are afraid of traveling.
Chewing Gum – If you have never been on a plane before ,or are traveling with small children, you may not be aware of the air pressure which can hurt your ears a lot making you sick. I know, this happened to me when I was almost three and was on a plane for the first time and didn’t know how to ‘pop’ my ears. I threw up all over the place. Sad, but true. Someone on the plane helped my mother and told us about chewing gum or having something to drink with a straw. That could work, too.
Always request the aisle seat on your e-ticket; when you gotta go, you gotta go!
we love that most of these tips can be applied to every day life too.
well done!
Number one tip — always have a toothbrush (+ paste is nice too but not always necessary) and spare underwear in your bag.
Just in case.
I have a tip to add (although it should probably be common sense)
ALWAYS go to the toilet before your flight. I was flying from Brisbane to Melbourne and had a coffee before take-off. Then for some reason, they closed off both of the toilets about 10mins into the flight, and I had to hold it the rest of the way. It was VERY painful and to make matters worse, the airport was full when we arrived in Melbourne so we just had to fly around for a while. I thought my bladder was going to burst!!
Fortunately, the steward let me use the toilet when we landed.
From then on in I always use the loo as close to take-off as possible!
This post was just what I needed! I’m going to France and Italy this summer, and all these tips and ideas will help make my time there very memorable and hassel-free! Thanks Gala, you rock…
It’s extremely useful that you posted this three days before I go to France, Spain, and England.
Very good tips. I will have to look this article up, print it out and stick it in my travel diary when I finally get out of this land of ze long white cloud. :)
Oooo this is wonderfully helpful, and true. I’m moving to Japan next week and have found myself quite excitedly plotting the 14-hour adventure! I cannot agree more with the easy to remove shoes…traveling in high-top chuck taylors, so not worth it anymore.
LOVE THIS:)
Gala, I would really love it if you did more travel related articles, this one is great! Gala Planet! :)
My number one tip is to learn a few essential words in the local language eg: Thank you, hello etc. I think it shows respect plus you never know who can’t speak English. And like you said, buy some fabulous things for yourself! I like to collect charms for my charm bracelet in my favourite places.
Oh love this list! Reading it made me even more excited about my future planned travels. ♥
this gave me crazy travel fever. augh!
That is a great list for air travellers, but hum… Ever heard about environnement ? ecology ? carbon emissions ? This plane eulogy is typical of environnement-wasters… Are you ?
I LOVE grocery shopping in another city! It seems irrelevant at home but all of a sudden in another place, finding something for dinner is really exciting! Plus you’re all like “Ohh we have this shampoo/yoghurt/lettuce at home too!”
Ohh, the other thing I wanted to add was whenever I go travelling I always buy a book to take with me – not brand new or super-expensive, just something that was ten dollars from a secondhand book shop and looks interesting; I take it with me everywhere to flick through if I get bored or need something to occupy my attention, and I also write all over the blank pages in the back (that’s what they were made for, right?!) what I’ve been doing, exciting things I’ve seen, places I’ve visited, etc. Then when I’m back home and I pull the book off my shelf, it reminds me of the trip :)
Love the way you capture the spirit of travelling in your tips. Be organised, healthy, but expect the unexpected and thrive!
Totally words of wisdom to live by!!! :-)
Thanks!!! :-)
Kisses from Paris!
xoxo
www.chicsetera.com
Love this post – great tips x
Brilliant, as usual.
I’m currently planning 3 months Stateside and right now my biggest conundrum is luggage. How much luggage? What kind? Should it match? Will it last? Will it hold all my cosmetics/products/shoes? Will it be too heavy? etc, etc I’m determined to find the perfect suitcase even if it drives me bonkers.
Great list!
I think this article should be on your next carousel for sure. Totally fascinating article about a 17 year old shoplifter.
nymag.com/fashion/09/spring/54…
Such a great idea! I’m ecstatic about going to New York for the first time this summer, so I’ll definitely be bookmarking this list.
Other travel essentials: – It’s essential to check beforehand what you can & can’t bring on the plane to avoid hasty unpacking at the airport, as each country & airline has different rules. Like here in the UK, you can’t take any liquid over 100ml in hand luggage through security – knowing things like this earlier prevents irate security guards from messing up your immaculately-packed bag! – If you’re going somewhere where you’re going to do lots of shopping, take 2 suitcases! I always manage to fill them up. – Cereal bars and dried fruit are wonderful for travelling: they don’t take up too much space, & they’re a lifesaver if you hate the food on the plane. – Wear comfy slip-on shoes so you can take them off easily through security if needed (always happens to me!) & on the plane to rest hot, achy feet.
This is great!
Also, I was talking my friend who had just got back from 3 months in Colombia and she was saying how different the stars are! You wouldn’t think that stars could be familiar but it’s a cute concept!
Also a perfect excuse to take someone cute Star gazing!
;)
Wonderful post!
along with that dry shampoo – at least 1 extra pair of undies! you never know when you might get stuck in greece an extra day with no access to laundry!
Out of the whole list — which I think is a fantastic rundown of all that we should keep in mind — I need to remember vitamins. Especially when germs surround us. I recently came back from Chicago, and in dealing with flight changes and annoying passengers, etc., I did my best to enjoy the journy. Thanks Gala Darling!
oh my – you mentioned my dear hometown leipzig! that’s wonderful. thank you so much for that! (:
agggh, this has made me want to go travelling somewhere so badly!
Great post, as per usual. My travel tips (aside from the ones you mentioned already!):
1. Whenever I’m on a long flight, I roll a pair of sweat pants into my carry-on and change in the bathroom. That way I’m comfy on the flight but can still change back and look fantastic in my skirt (or whatever) when I land.
2. Invest in good headphones. Those ipod ear-things don’t cut it when there’s a crying baby.
3. Bring a warm coat/hoodie on the plane with you; you never know how cold it will be (@Gala’s scarf point), and it might serve depending on the weather where you land.
4. Check in online before you leave and print out all your itinerary info. Double-check your flight time for last minute changes. as you’re getting ready to head out.
5. Don’t forget chargers to all your electronics!
6. Make sure you pack things you can’t live without (this might sound obvious, but you never know how long you could end up staying somewhere. This totally happened to me).
Question: Where are your favourite places to travel?
Always pack snacks – they never feed you! But my best tip is to make friends with the flight attendants. They honestly have the best gossip ever. Every one I’ve chatted with has the life of a soap opera, I swear. Plus you get extra drinks!
Perfect timing, Gala – I fly to Nepal this Saturday!
Excellent list Gala! I have one question! Does anyone know of any major backpacker/youth hostel companies in North America? I know of the HI organization but was wondering if there are any others? Planning a bit trip for the end of year and trying to find a good hostel company!
Fantastique Gala, Merci!!!
My friend has just left for Europe and told me about this site www.couchsurfing.com as he is planning to couch surf at some point in his travels.
Definitely worth checking out. I think it sounds like a great idea!
Vancouver shoutout! If you ever end up here and want to know where to swim in a secret pool in a canyon or sneak into amahzing artists’ studios lemme know, because I got my Vancouver dooowwwwn;)
I travel next week to Europe so this is a good reminder list of everything I will need to do next week…. at least I know that everything I need to pack fits in my suitcase! (I’ve already had a good trial with my BRAND NEW SUITCASE)
Lovely lovely list Gala!
Great list Gala!
Your point about travel insurance is so true. It’s so cheap anyways, and you can get policies to cover a year’s jetsetting or a weekend trip, so why wouldn’t you? I think a lot of people don’t realise how easy it is. And of course, if you’re an EU citizen travelling to other EU countries, make sure you have an EHIC.
I’d add that it’s always a good idea to have the number of a legit taxi company in the city to hand, just in case your adventures take you some place less than lovely and you want to get the hell out of dodge.
I work for jetBlue! Glad you love us =)
Look into student discounts—an international student ID card is a good thing to have!
As if I wasn’t excited enough about going to Fiji on Monday!
For the less technically minded, head to charity shops a couple of days before your holiday and buy cheap chick-lit. Holidays are definitely the best time to laze and read :D
excellent list!
flying in cute ballet flats, and smiling a sweet “Thank you!” to the TSA staff has served me well.
Wow wow wow. I have JUST planned a trip to Malaysia in July, and Southeast Asia and New Zealand at the end of the year.
Now I am a hundred times more excited!
These are amazing tips. Every frequent traveller can gain something extra by browsing through this list.
Great tips.
I say, be completely open to trying new foods while on vacation. If you’re a vegetarian, put your diet aside for a moment and realize that you may be in a place with thousands of years of history and there are foods that you may never have the chance to taste again.
In Peru I tried alpaca meat and it was absolutely delicious. I didn’t get around to trying guinea pig and have huge regrets about it now!
Seize the day and try everything at least once, if for nothing else than a completely novel experience.