Travel might be at a halt, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning for the future. I’m hopeful that all of our travel dreams will resume in the new year once it is safe to do so! The last trip I took was with my family to New York City in 2019 during Christmas and I had so much fun. This was my first time outside of Canada in a long time so I did the absolute most to prepare for it. If you plan on visiting New York in the future and need some travel tips, or you’re just curious about what my experience was like, look no further! Grab a drink and join me in reliving my Christmas trip to New York City. Here are few easy tips to help make your next trip fun and less stressful.
Enjoy!
1) Resist the urge to overpack
A word of advice for my fellow bag-ladies and bag-men: try to stick to the essentials. On this trip, I brought a lot more clothing than I needed. I get too indecisive about what to bring and end up bringing my whole life with me! Slowly but surely, I’m learning that the less you bring, the better.
To avoid overpacking, I suggest you plan your outfits ahead of time. Pack essential items that you can mix and match with and create different looks! If you can create multiple outfits with a certain sweater you love, pack that sweater. If you can style a pair of sneakers that you own in ten different ways, pack those instead of bringing multiple pairs. You save so much room in your luggage by doing this. Also, apps like Pinterest are a great way to seek outfit inspiration before travelling! The clearer your vision is about what you plan on wearing, the less tempted you’ll be to overpack. And if you know any light-packers, ask them for tips on how they do it!
2) Dress for the weather
Always check the weather forecast of the destination you will be traveling to before you leave. Luckily, it did not snow the entire time my family and I were in New York. The cold wasn’t unwearable either, so we were pretty lucky. I wore a big faux-fur coat that kept me warm the entire trip. If you’re travelling during a cold month like December don’t forget to pack gloves, a scarf, a hat, warm footwear, and whatever else will keep you nice and toasty. I was stubborn and kept my ankles exposed the entire trip because I love my ankle pants, but shh, don’t be like me. Stay warm.
3) Bring a book or magazine
Nowadays, there are so many ways to entertain yourself but there’s nothing quite like a classic book. Audiobooks count too! To New York, I brought with me Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a ****. I’ll be honest, I probably read 5 pages the entire trip. But it was nice knowing I had it for moments of downtime. I finished the book the following month and really liked it! Click here for a synopsis.
4) Download a podcast
For those moments when you need a little laughter, education, or words of encouragement, a good podcast will be your saving grace. There are loads of places to find free podcasts such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play Music. And don’t forget to pack your earphones or headphones!
5) Wear comfortable footwear
I know many of us want to look stylish when walking through city streets. But remember to keep your comfort in mind before you pack those shoes that are one size too small or two inches too high.
Pack your stylish shoes by all means, but do yourself and your travel companions a favour and change out of them once you finish taking photos. Bring a change of comfortable sneakers, boots, or flats to do your touristy activities in. I used to be so stubborn when it came to this, but now I choose comfort always. Comfort doesn’t mean looking bummy. You can feel good while looking good, the two are not mutually exclusive!
6) Make an itinerary
Plan out where you want to visit ahead of time. How detailed you want to be is completely up to you, but having an itinerary will give you structure and allow you to plan your routes. I suggest making a priority list of the top places you plan on visiting and also sharing it with everyone you’ll be traveling with so you’re on the same page.
For example, my family and I agreed that Saturday would be our busy day to fulfill all of our touristy desires. We went to Macy’s, NBC Studios, Times Square, Fifth Avenue, and of course stopped in between to see other popular spots like the Rockefeller Center and Radio City. We wanted our Sunday to be more relaxed so we went all out the day before. Do your research on the places you’d like to visit and on which days. Most importantly, don’t overwhelm yourself— plans are always subject to change and almost always, the spontaneous days end up being the most fun.
7) Take advantage of the locations page on Instagram
This one is for my Instagram users. I’m sure most of us do this before going on any sort of trip. We look up the location on Instagram and scroll through dozens of posts to see what we’re in for. This is the perfect way to not only get a feel for the place you’ll be visiting, but also to get photo inspiration. See someone posing in front of a cool brick wall by the restaurant you’ll be going to for lunch? Take note. That way, when you go out for lunch and come across that same wall, you’ll take advantage of the photo opportunity.
8) Plan a budget
Always do your research on costs and have an idea of how much you want to spend ahead of time. This way, you won’t go overboard once you’re there. Be aware of the time of year you’ll be travelling as well. Christmas time in New York City is loaded with tourists, so you can expect prices to be high.
In general, the cost of living in New York is quite high and even though you may want to see/do everything once you arrive, remember to be realistic. I recommend comparing prices and price checking before your trip. Compare restaurant prices, track Airbnb and hotel prices, budget for your commute because you’ll be doing a lot of it, and give yourself a shopping-spending limit. Have fun and seize the day, but don’t break the bank!
9) Create a playlist dedicated to your destination
Creating or listening to a playlist that fits the vibe of the location you’ll be going to is one of my favourite things to do. Doing this heightens the anticipation for the trip and I feel like I’m there before I even leave the house. Upon arriving in New York, we played ‘New York New York’ by Frank Sinatra followed by ‘New York State of Mind’ by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. A trip begins before you even reach your destination. Create an entire experience for yourself and it’ll be that much more fun.
10) Make a checklist
Write a list of everything you need to take with you on your trip. This may range from the most critical items such as your passport, to the basics, like socks. To-do lists give me peace of mind knowing that I have packed everything I need. Also, checklists don’t need to be related only to the items you’re packing. Maybe you need to run an errand before your flight, fill up your gas tank if you’re driving, or pack some snacks. Write those down. Perhaps you need to clean the house so that when you return home, you won’t have any chores waiting for you. Write that down too so you don’t forget. I personally love the satisfaction of writing my to-do lists on paper and checking each thing off with a pen, but having one on your phone is just as handy. I like both! Do what works for you.
Recap
- Don’t overpack
- Dress for the weather
- Bring a book or magazine
- Download a podcast
- Wear comfortable footwear
- Make an itinerary
- Use the locations page on Instagram
- Plan a budget
- Create a playlist
- Make a checklist
These tips are applicable to any kind of trip you plan on taking, even if it’s just across town. Everyone’s travel styles are different, but hopefully you find them useful when planning your next trip!
Where do you hope to visit in 2021? Share in the comments below!
Xo, Kundi
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