25 Tips for Stress-free Travel to Australia
I am excited to launch a new series of posts with tips for stress-free travel to Australia. Each post will look at stress from a different angle. These tips are based upon my personal experience and work well for me whenever I travel to Australia.
Today’s focus is on the first day of travel. From leaving home to touching base in Australia. It covers the first 24 hours getting from home to the airport, navigating your way within the airport, from checking in to security, to spending your time before boarding the plane.
Speaking from my experience, the first day of travel is the most difficult day of the whole trip, no matter how good you have prepared your Australia Trip. On top of being in a “naturally anxious state of mind” often situations crop up unexpectedly that robe you energy and take you out of balance. While I think it’s impossible to have a 100% stress free travel on the first day, there are many ways to reduce stress whent travelling to Australia and enhance travel comfort.
I have learnt to plan double time of what I normally plan for any other flight. I make sure I leave relaxed and stay relaxed as much as I can and finally I get armed with a good dose of patience.
Airport – Arrive 3 hours before boarding
On my first trip to Australia I nearly missed my flight due to a series of unfortunate circumstances. From that experience I have learnt a lesson and that’s why since then I always fly with the same airline company for all flight segments. Secondly I plan my journey to the airport to get there at least 3 hours before boarding. These are my tips.
Choose the best way to get to airport, calculate the time and add on top 30-45 min for a stress free journey.
Check and have a train/bus/shuttle/taxi schedule confirmed the day before leaving. Book your ticket/journey.
Research alternative ways to travel so as to have it prepared “just in case” you need to change it in the last minute.
Inform family or friends of your planned journey to the airport or have them take you to the airport.
If you travel by car, check traffic, weather conditions, road works so as to pick a fast and safe drive.
Getting at the airport 3-4 hours in advance it’s not a waste of time. On the contrary, there are plenty of opportunities to make a good use of of this time. Feeleing good and in harmony is vital to enhance your flight enjoyment.
Checking in – Be the first to drop off your baggage
Once you have reached the airport make your way to the check in/drop off counters of your airline and go through security soon after. Not all airports have high standard of comfort. If you don’t know the airport, make a research in internet and take a virtual tour so that you have a picture of how much time it will take to go from A to B within the airport.
Calculate the time needed to navigate within the airport, to reach your terminal and your gate.
Check in online “ALWAYS” either from home or from your mobile. This saves you the queue at the counter.
Check again the baggage weight to be checked in and sizes of you hand bag at your airline counters.
Drop off checked bags, make sure they are locked and labelled with your tags.
Be the first, or in the first group, to drop off the baggage, so as to reduce to the minimum the waiting time.
Security Check – Be prepared
Once you have completed the first step of the airport procedure, the next step is going through security. It much depends on the country and airport procedure, not rarely I have waited in the queue for 30-45 minutes. These 8 tips will help you get better organized.
Have everything ready so that you don’t have to rummage in your bag when approaching the conveyor belt.
Hold boarding pass and passport in your pockets and switch off mobile phones and put them into your handbag.
Have the transparent zipped bag with up-to-10 bottles with max-100ml ready on top of your handbag.
Empty water bottles and make sure you have no more liquids apart from those in the transparent zipped bag.
Keep the computer on a separate bag as you will have to take it out and have it scanned.
Don’t wear any belt and check that there are no metal gadgets on your clothes as they might set off the alarm.
Be prepared to take off shoes, if asked, and have them checked.
Wear a jacket with a few pockets to help stuff things when recollecting your things.
Relax and walk till you drop
The faster you go through check in and security the better and less stress you accumulate. Now it’s time to sit back and relax before boarding the plane. Feeling good and relaxed is crucial for any long flight. These are a few things I always do to keep myself active and relaxed.
Walk, walk, walk as much as you can. This is a first exercise for your legs to prevent swalling and vein blood clots.
Don’t sit if you can. Or sit just for 10 min max at a time. You will sit for at least 12-17 hours on the plane.
Pack your handbags onto a trolley, take a stroll through the shopping malls.
If you love a bit more of exercise find a relaxing area where you can have your fave work out.
Pamper yourself with a drink or your fave meal. Buy yourself fine chocolate or a little gift.
Hide away from the airport buzz and go to the lounge if your ticket/frequent flyer card entitles you to enter. Ask airline counter if you can get a free upgrade.
Find a standing free-wifi station where you can use internet, check your mails, chat, phone and use social media before leaving
Drink plenty of water. Buy 1-2 plastic bottles to take with you and have them refilled on the plane.
These are the first 25 tips that will help reduce stress at the airport. Next time I will reveal how I get preared for the long flight to Australia, how and what I pack into my handbag, what I eat and drink to fall sleep on a 13-17 hours flight to Australia.
What is your best tip to reduce stress at airports ? Add your best tips for stress-free travel to Australia on the comment section here below.
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