How to Plan for Stress-Free and Convenient Travel

Picture this: your 6-hour flight to your vacation destination is delayed on the tarmac. When you finally land in the brand-new city you’ve been dreaming about for months, there’s not a taxi in sight. And when you find one? They accidentally drop you off two blocks from where you’re staying.

Finally, you arrive at your hotel and swing your suitcase open for a nice shower and a shave. You’re running late to meet your boss at the hotel bar for dinner. You have your shaving cream…but where’s your razor? And your toothbrush? You swore you shoved them in your bag at the last minute.

We’ve all been there. It’s all too easy to procrastinate planning and organizing a trip until the last minute. There’s just so much to remember. But the last thing you want after a stressful travel experience is to realize you’ve forgotten something important.

Over here at Convenience Kits International, we’re here to help! We’ve compiled a comprehensive guide that you can reference to make every step of the planning process a breeze. Check it out below.

Step 1: Make a List

Every successful trip begins with a good list. While it’s going to vary between person and destination, there are a few essentials that we all need to stay clean and healthy. Here’s one we compiled for you to reference.

Hygiene Essentials

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dental Floss
• Face Wash
• Moisturizer
• Sunscreen (no matter where you’re going!)
• Comb or Hairbrush
  Feminine Hygiene Products
• Mask and Hand Sanitizer
• Contact Lenses and Solution
• Razor
• Shaving Cream
• Nail Clippers
• First-Aid Ointment

Whew. Seems hefty, doesn’t it? Whether you’re flying, driving, or taking a train, you’re going to want your bag to be as light as possible. If you bring full-sized versions of all your products you likely won’t have room for much clothing, and certainly not for any mementos you want to bring home.

Packing Tip for Products

There’s a solution to keep your luggage a reasonable size and weight: travel-sized products. They contain only the amount you’re going to need for your time away and will take up far less space in your bag. Some people shy away from purchasing travel-sized products because they tend to be more expensive. But you can solve this by buying pre-made Convenience Travel Kits.

Take the Women’s Deluxe 10pc Travel Kit for example. It contains Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Toothbrush and cover, Toothpaste, Deodorant, and even a styling comb. With a single purchase you can knock your toiletries list in half, and for a quarter of the price that you would spend buying the products individually. It even comes in a TSA Compliant zip-lock bag in case you want to take it in your carry-on.

Going on a girl’s trip? Maybe a Bachelorette party? Orders over 6 can be ordered in bulk, and the more you purchase the less they are. That way you can be sure that the friend you’re sitting beside on the plane has minty fresh breath the entire trip.

For men, a popular choice is the Men’s Deluxe 10pc Travel Kit, which contains similar items (substituted with brands that men know and love). And if you want to travel in style, you can opt for our Premium version that comes in a sleek, extra-large zippered bag.

Essential Clothing

• For warm destinations:
• T-Shirts x 3
• Underwear x however many days you’ll be away
• Sweater x 1
• Pants x 1
  Shorts x 2-3
• Swimsuit
• Dress Shoes
• Sport Shoes
• Sunglasses

• For mild/cold destinations:
• T-Shirt x 1
• Underwear x however many days you’ll be away
• Sweater x 2
• Pants x 2-3
• Dress Shoes
• Sport Shoes
• Sunglasses
• Warm Jacket x 1
• Socks x 3-4

Packing Tips for Clothing

1. Wear as many clothes as you feel comfortable with in order to keep your bag light.
2. Instead of folding your clothes, consider rolling them.
   
3. Place the clothes you know you’re going to need first closer to the top.
4. Wear your largest shoes on your feet to save room in your bag.
5. Socks and small items can be stuffed inside your extra pair of shoes.
   
6. If your destination doesn’t have laundry, you can wash your clothes in the sink and hang them overnight to get more wear out of single items.

Essential Documents

While it may be a pain to forget your toothbrush or comb, it’s not going to ruin your entire trip.

But forgetting your passport or license? That just might! We recommend compiling all of your important documents and keeping them aside 2-3 days before you depart. When your departure day comes, place all of your essential documents in a safe and secure place that you can easily access when called on by the TSA or border agent.

• Passport
• Driver’s License
• Car Registration
• Any Extra documents for non-citizens
• Visas
• NEXUS cards

PRO TIP: Did you know that even if your Passport hasn’t expired, many countries will not let you travel if it expires in six months? Make sure you check the expiration date on your card to be certain that you can travel. Most countries will allow you to renew your Passport 1 year in advance of it expiring.

Step 2: Book your Travel Tickets

The best time to buy tickets depends on three important metrics: where you’re going, when you’re going, and how you’re going to get there.

For example, international flights are almost always going to be cheaper when booked a few months in advance. Domestic flights, on the other hand, often have seat sales that knock the price down closer to your departure date. A good rule of thumb is 3 months in advance for international travel and 1 month for domestic.
Vacation destinations have an on and off season that’s usually dependent on the weather. If you can handle a bit of rain and chill, then you can see countries like Greece, Italy, and the UK for a far better price and with far less crowds if you book in January, February, or March.

It’s important to know what exactly you plan on doing in your destination before you choose the month. For example, it may be far cheaper to head to Peru and see Machu Picchu in February. However, a little research goes a long way–February is the rainy season in Aguas Calientes, so you probably wouldn’t see much of the Lost City at all!

Research, research, research.

Pro Tip: Some credit cards will allow you to build points with them for travel-related purchases. These points can be redeemed for travel as well as a variety of goods and services. That means that if you sign up at the right time and pay off the balance responsibly you can essentially get paid to travel.

Step 3: Book your Accommodation

Secured your tickets? Perfect. Now you’ll need somewhere to stay. Whether it’s a hotel, Airbnb, or a friend’s couch, you want to be sure you’ll have somewhere to hang your head once you arrive at your destination. Even if you’re the adventurous type and figure it out as you go, you’ll still definitely need somewhere booked for the first and last nights of your trip.

Hotels with higher ratings will offer standard products like soap, shampoo and conditioner. Unfortunately, these products are usually low quality. For women, we recommend packing a 13 Piece Tresemme Travel Kit in a Premium Clutch bag.

That way you know you’re not only using a trusted beauty product, but you also have every other toiletry you could possibly need not provided by the hotel. It even comes with a floral clutch bag you can put essential items in and place in your purse for an evening out.

Tips for Choosing Accommodation

1. Use trustworthy sites to book to avoid being scammed.
   
2. Read recent reviews of the accommodation.
   
3. Book in advance to get a good price.
   
4. Take recommendations from friends if possible.

PRO TIP: Be sure that you book somewhere close to public transportation or a car rental office if you’re staying on the outskirts of the city. It’s also worthwhile to research individual neighborhoods for safety recommendations. In places like San Francisco or some South American countries, very unsafe neighborhoods are right beside tourist destinations.

Step 4: Plan to do a little good while you’re there

Not what you were expecting? Stay with us.

At Convenience Kits International, we work with a variety of nonprofits in order to provide hygiene and safety kits to underserved communities. No matter where you go on in the world there are people in need. But if you’re venturing to a country or city that you know has higher poverty rates than where you are from, why not bring a bit of extra luggage to make a huge difference?

Because we offer Bulk Ordering, you can provide an entire classroom of students or a small community with a hygiene kit for a very low cost. It may not have crossed your mind when making your list, but it’s one way to guarantee that your trip will have a meaningful impact on wherever you end up.

Step 5: On the road (or sky)

So you’ve made your list, checked it twice, booked your tickets, and remembered your Passport. Now it’s smooth sailing, right? We wish! The bumpiest parts of traveling are, well, when you actually travel. Thankfully there are a variety of ways to take some weight off your shoulders (and from your bag).

Tips for Traveling with Young Children

It’s no secret that traveling with babies and toddlers can be stressful. But family doesn’t always live close, and sometimes you all need a trip to the beach. Even if everything goes, well, tantrum-free, you still need to be responsible for a whole lot of extra luggage.

1. To make room for large items like potty-seats and stuffed animals, we recommend that you minimize your toiletries list by purchasing a travel kit. Our bestseller in this category is the Johnson & Johnson 10pc travel kit, which contains everything you need to keep your little one clean and giggling: shampoo, lotion, baby powder, brush, baby cleansing wipes, a guide, a circle key ring rattle, and even a rubber duck for bath time. With the kit, you’ll not only have all the items, but have them in one place. This will save you so much time when a fussing baby needs attention, stat.
   
   
2. Bring lots of snacks and a variety of activities. A bored child is far more likely to cause a scene than one who has a granola bar or new toy to play with.
   
   
3. Pack more clothes than you think you need. Accidents happen, and more often for toddlers! Thankfully, if you use A Convenience Kit, you’ll have room to pack them.
   
   
4. Book a departure that leaves in the early morning. These flights are statistically less likely to be delayed, and less people will be at the airport.

Staying Safe while Traveling

The pandemic has added a few things to our packing list—and not the kind you want to forget.

While some countries are lifting masking restrictions on flights and railroads, many still have regulations in place to keep you and your family safe. And even if masks aren’t enforced, it’s a good idea to use them in tight spaces just in case. Traveling means you’ll often be packed into dense spaces with other travelers, which may increase your exposure to viruses.

Thankfully, a few products can keep you protected:

Hand Sanitizer – For killing pesky germs on door handles, armrests, etc.
Hand Lotion – To help maintain the skin’s moisture barrier after using hand sanitizer

Disposable Face Masks – To decrease your chance of contracting a virus by protecting the nose and mouth

While these products may be readily available in most pharmacies, many of them are full-sized bottles or come with marked up price tags. To keep the most bang out of your buck and ensure you and your family are protected, the Stay Safe Germ Protection Kit is your best bet.

The kit contains the essential items listed above as well as a Kleenex Tissue Pack and Scope Mouthwash. (That’s to keep your fellow travelers safe…from bad breath.)

PRO TIPS: Masks that are completely intact and not torn in any way can be worn for three days. After that it’s best to discard it for another. Try to remember to use hand sanitizer every time you or your children touch a shared surface. Maintain a distance of 6ft from other travelers as often as possible. And if you can’t, ensure your mask is properly placed on your face.

Step 6: Enjoy Your Stress-Free Trip!

There you have it. A complete, comprehensive guide to having the smoothest travel experience possible. From the planning stages all the way to the day you put your key back into your door, Convenience Kits are going to save you a whole lot of stress and money. And the best part? They can even help you make a positivize difference at your destination.

Whether you’re flying solo, with family, or an entire sports team, everyone can benefit from having all their essentials in one convenient place for an affordable price. At the end of the day, traveling should be a positive experience. No matter where you’re going or who you’re going with, it’s a chance to see and learn new things about the world. Wouldn’t you rather be doing that than having to buy a new toothbrush in the middle of the night because you didn’t make a list?

Make your trip (and your life) easier. Pack light, pack smart, travel on.