05/26/2025
Young Travel's travel tips!
-Get AirTags or another luggage tracker for your bags (TRUST US!)
-Get International Data/Calling Plan for your devices. If you use Verizon, they have a Travel Pass that’s around $10/day when used. It kicks in automatically for future trips so it just needs to be added the one time. The other carriers should have something similar. Alternatively, you can turn your cellular data off or put your phone in airplane mode and only use it when you’re on WiFi - otherwise, you’ll come home to a huge bill.
-Bring adapters so you can charge your devices while traveling internationally. If you are bringing a curling iron, hair straightener or a hairdryer, you’ll also need a converter.
-Give your credit card companies or bank (if using a debit card) a heads-up of the countries you’re going to so they don’t flag transactions. Some banks allow you to add this on their app where you can list specific trip dates and countries.
-Upload the airline’s app to your phones so you’ll get real-time notifications of flight delays or gate changes.
-Consider a portable power-bank battery pack (especially if your phone is older and the charge doesn’t last all day). The magnetic ones are especially cool but may require a special phone case, depending on phone.
-Consider packing cubes or sleeves. They’re a game-changer for saving space in your luggage.
-Take photos of your luggage (including carry-on bags) and store on phone. It can help immensely if bags get lost, stolen, or left behind.
-Take photos of your passports and other travel documents. Keep a hardcopy with you and also store on your phone while you travel and leave another copy with a trusted friend or family member at home who can assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.
-If flying out of GSP, consider pre-booking your parking as sometimes the close lots will be full if not reserved in advance. Plus if you pre-pay, the valet parking is considerably less than what they charge at the airport. It's only $1-2 more/day to pre-book valet than the cost of Lots A & B vs. an extra $6/day at the airport. You can also purchase insurance for only $1 which allows you to cancel up until 2 hours prior to arrival.
-If you have medical conditions, consider an ID bracelet to alert responders that you have diabetes, epilepsy, heart problems, etc. If not a bracelet, make sure you at least have an ID card in your wallet and a medical alert on your phone (make sure your settings enable the alert to show when phone is locked). You may want to alert Young Travel as well as the cruise line or tour operator so it can be added to your profile in case of emergency.
-While in the air traveling to different time zones or throughout your trip, you can use the Clock app on your iPhone and tab to "World Clock" to check current times around the world. Androids may have a similar feature.
-If interested in help coordinating your wardrobe and packing your bags, our Greenville friend Ashley Brister with Style Envy can come to the rescue. She will help you select outfits and organize everything neatly in your suitcase. Ashley also offers fashion consulting and is a personal shopper. Reach out to us for contact info or visit her website at https://mystyleenvy.net/.
-If you don't have Global Entry, you can use the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) App to skip the line at Customs & Border Patrol. Up to 4 hours before landing or immediately after landing, take a self-photo and answer a few questions in the app about your arrival and declarations. If you are traveling with a group, you can add up to 12 people to a submission from one device. This means you can stay together when you speak to the CBP Officer, instead of going up to the booth one at time.
-That said, TSA Precheck and Global Entry are great programs and can save you a lot of time standing in line! You can even obtain your Global Entry interview on arrival re-entering the US from an already-scheduled trip instead of having to travel to CLT or ATL. (The TSA Precheck interview is available in Greenville.)
