Thursday, February 9, 2017

Top 5 Travel Tips and Tricks of a CLAC Rep

As a CLAC rep, one of my primary jobs is to visit with and look after my members. With northwest BC as my territory, I have to travel a lot—it’s a big region.

Luckily, travelling is an area of my work that I love. It is great to have the opportunity to meet members in their communities, and to experience the cultural diversity that makes Canada an amazing place to live.

As we all have to travel at some point in our lives, I am passing along my top five travel tips in hopes that they will help make your travel as enjoyable as mine.

5. Stay Hydrated

Most people do not stay hydrated when travelling. It can be hard to remember to drink enough fluids when you are on the go.

Air travel especially is known to dehydrate our bodies. Not staying hydrated can dry out and inflame the mucous membrane that lines your respiratory tract. When that happens, you have an increased risk of colds, flu, and other infections.

So when travelling, pass on the in-flight martini and opt for water.

4. Leave the Kitchen Sink

Okay, let me be real here. I like to look good wherever I go. I have a tendency to want to pack everything in my closet “just in case.”

The pack-light mantra has been one of the hardest travel lessons for me to learn. I was that person who packed six pairs of shoes for a two-day trip and at least six to eight outfits, an umbrella, two coats, a hat, a cozy sweater . . . you get the idea.

Eventually, the hassle of so much luggage helped me change my ways.

Be realistic about what you need. If you are going to be indoors all day, you don’t need an umbrella, rain coat, and gum boots.

Take layers to make multiple outfits for multiple weather conditions—without having to pack your whole closet. Simplify accessories and shoes. Try one belt, simple jewellery, and one pair of shoes.

I find making a list really helps me stay minimalistic. I imagine the activities I will be doing on a trip, list them out and the days I will be gone, and then pack only what I will need for those activities.

3. Pack Extra Underwear

Okay, so I know I just said pack light, embrace your inner minimalist, don’t pack more than you need, but . . . there is always an exception. Always pack one extra pair of underwear in your carry on. If you get stuck, your bags get lost, or you decide to spontaneously add an extra day to your trip—I’m thinking Cancun or Vegas—then you’re covered—literally.

2. First-Aid Kit

It is not always easy or convenient to get to a pharmacy when travelling, so regardless of my destination, I always carry a small first-aid kit when I travel. It doesn’t have to be fancy—a Ziploc sandwich bag will do—but it is important to travel with some basic medical staples just in case. My basic kit includes tweezers, Benadryl, bandages, ibuprofen, and antihistamine cream—mosquitoes in Manitoba anyone?

Tailor the kit to your trip. A week long jungle hike will require a few different items than a week in Toronto.

1. Go with the Flow

Whether you love travelling and seek it out, or it is a dreaded necessity for you, the reality is unexpected stuff happens. Flights get delayed, freak snowstorms keep you longer than desired, attractions close unexpectedly.

My number one travel—and life—tip: go with the flow. Getting mad, impatient, or upset over things outside our control doesn’t help a difficult situation.

If you’re stuck at the airport, take a bit of time to get to know the person next to you. Or, if you’re an introvert, enjoy some extra reading or thinking time. If one attraction is closed, consider it an opportunity to have an adventure, try something new, or have a nap.

If we treat change as an opportunity rather than a burden, then we create an opening for great things to happen.

Top 5 Travel Tips and Tricks of a CLAC Rep

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