Your Top 3 Travel Rituals
Mar 12, 2013, 3:18 am
#61
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PHX/YEG
Programs: United, HH Gold, SW, AA, SPG, Hyatt, Hawaiian
Posts: 5
I used to take my copy of The Economist every time, flying was my only available time to read it. I don't travel as much anymore so I cancelled the subscription and always carry my Kindle with me now
I've got more than 3, but oh well:
--Print out reservations for flight, accommodation, AND directions for how to get from the airport into town on arrival. The last one is easy to forget, since sometimes that's not in the confirmations automatically e-mailed to me. I like low-cost public transportation to get into the city center. I avoid taking taxis unless it's absolutely necessary and/or cheap.
--I also get a marker and highlight the reservation number/booking ID/whatever on each confirmation document so the check-in agent can see it faster.
--Check money belt for passport, credit/ATM cards, etc. Then check 2 more times because I'm convinced I forgot something important.
--Eat a meal before getting on the plane, preferably before I get into the airport if possible. Worst feeling is being stuck at an airport or on a plane and there's nothing I want to eat.
--Buy a copy of The Economist at the airport and read it on the plane. My favorite magazine in the world.
--Print out reservations for flight, accommodation, AND directions for how to get from the airport into town on arrival. The last one is easy to forget, since sometimes that's not in the confirmations automatically e-mailed to me. I like low-cost public transportation to get into the city center. I avoid taking taxis unless it's absolutely necessary and/or cheap.
--I also get a marker and highlight the reservation number/booking ID/whatever on each confirmation document so the check-in agent can see it faster.
--Check money belt for passport, credit/ATM cards, etc. Then check 2 more times because I'm convinced I forgot something important.
--Eat a meal before getting on the plane, preferably before I get into the airport if possible. Worst feeling is being stuck at an airport or on a plane and there's nothing I want to eat.
--Buy a copy of The Economist at the airport and read it on the plane. My favorite magazine in the world.
Mar 12, 2013, 3:21 am
#62
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PHX/YEG
Programs: United, HH Gold, SW, AA, SPG, Hyatt, Hawaiian
Posts: 5
My three are:
1. Double check for chargers, passport, CC with min spend pending, enough undies and kindle
2. Finish packing at the last possible minute and forget quite a few necessities (not really a ritual but more of a bad habit)
3. Look out while plane lifts, anticipate and smile, absolutely LOVE the feeling in my tummy during takeoff. The first time I flew I knew I wanted to do it again!
1. Double check for chargers, passport, CC with min spend pending, enough undies and kindle
2. Finish packing at the last possible minute and forget quite a few necessities (not really a ritual but more of a bad habit)
3. Look out while plane lifts, anticipate and smile, absolutely LOVE the feeling in my tummy during takeoff. The first time I flew I knew I wanted to do it again!
Mar 12, 2013, 7:51 am
#63
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,057
As noted in the OCD thread:
Which is why I'm always looking for more such jackets 
Before a trip, I arrange all my hotel/air/car/etc. papers in order in the ticket jacket, front-to-back, in chronological order.
The first thing I do when I get on the plane is move that boarding pass stub to the back. Same with hotel confirmations, etc.
There is an OCD feeling of completeness on the final leg when the contents of the ticket jacket are once again in the original order.
The first thing I do when I get on the plane is move that boarding pass stub to the back. Same with hotel confirmations, etc.
There is an OCD feeling of completeness on the final leg when the contents of the ticket jacket are once again in the original order.
Mar 12, 2013, 4:52 pm
#64
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 100
High-five for Economist readers! Same here, flying is the only time that's distraction-free enough to read The Economist from cover to cover.
Mar 15, 2013, 5:11 am
#68
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 10
I didn't think I had any until I took a road trip with 5 friends last weekend and they called me out on it:
1). Clipping curtains closed with pants hanger
2) Used a fan from home as white noise
3). Used extra pillows to block light and noise under the door
1). Clipping curtains closed with pants hanger
2) Used a fan from home as white noise
3). Used extra pillows to block light and noise under the door
Mar 15, 2013, 12:57 pm
#69
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,997
Mar 15, 2013, 7:02 pm
#70
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska, Delta, BA
Posts: 14
1.) Download a good book or two on my Kindle
2.) Check, double check, and recheck that I have my passport
3.) Drink ginger ale on the plane - the only time I ever have it is when I am traveling. For some reason it just seems wrong on the ground
2.) Check, double check, and recheck that I have my passport
3.) Drink ginger ale on the plane - the only time I ever have it is when I am traveling. For some reason it just seems wrong on the ground
Mar 16, 2013, 9:38 pm
#72
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BTV
Programs: US Airways Gold, DL Silver, Avis First, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 121
1. Make sure all confirmations for car/hotel/flight are sync'd to iphone & laptop
2. Park in the same parking area at airport
3. Try to book the same seat on every flight (I'm dyslexic - nothing worse than sitting in the wrong seat, or the gate # is the seat or thinking the seat doesn't match the ticket)
2. Park in the same parking area at airport
3. Try to book the same seat on every flight (I'm dyslexic - nothing worse than sitting in the wrong seat, or the gate # is the seat or thinking the seat doesn't match the ticket)
Mar 17, 2013, 6:10 am
#73
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YYC
Programs: AC*SE, Marco Polo Gold, SPG Gold, IHG Gold
Posts: 99
1) Keeping adapters, cables, spare currencies, NEXUS card, floss picks, earbuds, etc in a couple of old zippered amenity kits means they are first into the pod/seatback on arrival, then the bag goes overhead.
2) +1 for the obsessive patting on the passport
3)
Minimal wine with dinner, excessive port afterwards. But pre-drinking's been a great fallback plan since... forever 
2) +1 for the obsessive patting on the passport
3)
Mar 17, 2013, 8:00 am
#74
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Bansko, Bulgaria
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,260
Obsessively check and recheck that I have iphone/passports/boarding pass until seated on board.
Always wear cashmere hoodie and have merino wrap. If a blanket is available I roll it up and put it behind my back as lumbar support.
Hold Mrbzb's hand during takeoff and grin at each other... we both still love flying (just not the getting through the airport)
Always wear cashmere hoodie and have merino wrap. If a blanket is available I roll it up and put it behind my back as lumbar support.
Hold Mrbzb's hand during takeoff and grin at each other... we both still love flying (just not the getting through the airport)
Mar 17, 2013, 9:33 am
#75
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
Digesting whole Economist it's an "isolation from the world" thing.