The hustle and bustle of work life often steals the opportunity of travel from a working professional. While many weekends also get spent in fulfilling the dissatisfied client’s demands, how does an executive get time for themselves? But who says you always need to travel to unwind? If you are a working professional and want to relax when travelling isn’t an option, here are 5 ways in which you can do that:

1. Go out into your natural surroundings: Whether you are working from home or the office, sitting in front of the desk in a closed room can feel very claustrophobic. When travel isn’t an option, you can always go and explore your surroundings. This will get you in touch with nature and being in greenery will also reduce stress levels. It could be something as simple as a walk in the park or an elaborate Sunday picnic in an open area.

2. Staycations for the win: You don’t need to travel to go on a vacation, juts go on a staycation. A staycation provides a change of environment and a taste of luxury and relaxation in one’s own hometown. While at a hotel you can make full use of their services like the scrumptious buffet, soothing spa or gym to keep you active.

3. Explore the local wonders: People often think that they need to travel far and wide to see wonders but forget that a glorious vacation is right outside their door. Every city has its own charm. Explore the local areas, the hidden gems and sightseeing places to unwind.

4. Organise a virtual party: If the Covid-19 lockdown has taught us one thing, it is that you can party while being at your home. When stressed, just organize a virtual party with your friends. You all can dress up, arrange food and also get creative by using virtual happy hour games on the party app. Fun times!

5. Spend time in giving back to the community: Professionals and executives can relax by taking out some time to give back to the society. Now, it might sound like work but there is nothing more peaceful and calming than giving back to a charitable organization or non-profit organization. In any case, you will feel accomplished and this makes work rewarding and refreshing.

Nobody wants to experience the same chaos of last summer with lost baggage and long waiting lines at the check in counters. Therefore, in order to skip all that misery, I have some tips and tricks to help you to just travel with a carry-on. This will make traveling a bit less stressful and believe me, you can pack more than you think. Before you start packing, check the weight limits for carry on luggage with your airline along with the number of bags you can bring along. This will differ per airline.

1. Make optimal use of clothing sets

It is best to do this a few days in advance. Prepare everything you want to take with you. Make sure you always bring a few basic items that you can combine with other items of clothing such as a pair of jeans which you can wear with several t-shirts or tops. Trying on everything in advance and taking photos of the items will help to prevent packing unnecessary clothing.

In addition, wear your ‘heaviest’ clothes when you fly. If you have a short flight, you can also put on layers. Perhaps for a long flight this will not be ideal. Alternatively, wear your most comfortable outfit but with your heaviest shoes or shoes that would take up a lot of space in your suitcase.

2. Roll and do not fold

What will save you a lot of space is rolling up your clothes. Roll them up tightly and you can actually store more in your suitcase than you think. The advantage of rolling is that it will wrinkle less compared to folding everything. If you still have wrinkles but no iron, you can hang the clothes in the bathroom when you take a hot shower. The steam ensures that the wrinkles are reduced.

3. Use all the space in the suitcase

More tips when traveling with a carry-on only: Use every inch in your suitcase. If you bring a small handbag, fill it with underwear for example. If you have a pair of sneakers in your suitcase, fill them with socks. Put everything in small bags to keep everything ‘fresh’.

Also take anything out of packaging. It may not make a lot of difference, but every little bit helps.

4.Vacuum bags

I would only use this method for clothing that is allowed to wrinkle since a vacuum bag does give you folds and creases, however, it saves a lot of space. I apply this process for tops, underwear, and pajamas. On the return flight, I place all clothing in the vacuum bags since obviously the wrinkles will not matter at that point as everything will be washed anyway.

Use vacuum bags whenever you will not need a vacuum cleaner. You can purchase these anywhere for just a few dollars. Simply by rolling and applying some force, all of the air releases out of the bag. This makes it one solid package.

5. Washing at your vacation address

Another option is to wash your clothes at your vacation address. There are travel size detergents that you can take with you and therefore you can take less clothing. This is handy for clothes that are not too dirty and only need a refresh.

Another option would be hotels that offer a laundry service. You can then have some clothes washed on-site using this service. Keep in mind that this process would incur extra costs. In large cities you also have the option of using a nearby laundromat.

6. Minis

Another one of those tips: If you only travel with a carry-on luggage, you will have the max of 1 liter of liquids that you can take with you in a container of up to 3.4 oz (100ml.). Pay attention to this since they are very strict about this rule. You can also buy travel size products for vacation. They are however quite pricey in comparison to the regular sized packages. Otherwise, you can also purchase empty travel minis and fill them yourself with the products you always use.

What I often do is take the minis from the hotel I’ve stayed in and simply reuse them. I rinse these well and fill them with my shampoo or shower gel. The empty minis for purchase are sometimes too big for the number of days of your trip and that’s a waste of space.

7. iPad/ E-reader

Don’t take books with you when you’re running out of space. Instead upload them on an e-reader or on your iPad. Also, I would advise not to take a laptop with you unless you really need it. You can upload so much content on an iPad instead. Alternately, you can simply upload everything on your phone. It is a smaller screen but you have everything on one device.

8. Pillowcase

I recently came across some “tips” on social media although I don’t think I would use them any time soon. Currently, it is going viral that you can take extra items with you in a pillowcase however, I don’t know if this really works.
This process surely won’t cause any problems with security however, I don’t know it will a be a problem upon boarding. It’s possible that it may be charged as an extra carry-on and in this case you would be stuck with it not fitting in your suitcase or it may be too heavy. Surely now that this method is going viral, TSA is going to pay more attention to it.

Extra tip

If the airline still wants you to check in your suitcase and you are afraid of losing your suitcase, you can also put a tracker in your suitcase. In this way at least you will know whether your suitcase is on the plane, and the location of it.
Don’t forget to pack at least one set of clothing and underwear in your personal purse/ bag. In this way, if your suitcase is lost or left behind, you always have an extra set of clothing and underwear. Also note, never put all the important items you can’t live without in your suitcase if it has to be checked in.

What’s the best day to travel? Best time of day to travel? How do I book flights?

Hailey Berg, lead economist at the travel app, Hopper, offers the following tips to book the best rates.

What not to do when booking travel

Berg said prices will fluctuate at least 10 times per day.

“Don’t book without first using a price-monitoring tool. Flight and hotel prices change constantly. If you’re not using a price-monitoring tool, you’ll miss out on the best deals and lowest prices,” Berg said.

Days you shouldn’t travel

“Don’t travel on the weekend — those are the most popular dates, but you’ll pay a 25% premium on hotels and up to $100 more for flights,” Berg said.

Berg said travelers who fly mid-week (usually Wednesdays) can save an average of $56 per ticket on domestic airfare throughout the year. Over busy periods like spring break, summer vacation and the holiday season, travelers can save upwards of $100 by flying mid-week compared to the weekend.

This time of day is best for travel

“You want to get up early. You don’t want to get on a flight departing after 9 a.m. — you’ll be twice as likely to be delayed or canceled,” Berg said.

Berg said flights departing after 9 a.m. are two times more likely to be delayed than departures scheduled between 5-8 a.m. To avoid travel disruption and potential costs associated with delays, missed connections and cancellations, fly as early in the morning as possible.

What time should you book travel?

“You do not want to wait until the last minute to book your flights. Prices spike in the last month before your departure, so start monitoring prices three to four months in advance. Expect to book domestic trips about a month or two before you depart,” Berg said.

Berg said there is a sweet spot for flight prices: When airlines offer lower prices and discounted fares. Begin monitoring prices three to four months before the trip so as not to miss the “golden window,” and use a price tracker to monitor prices and get notified as soon as a good deal becomes available.

What not to do when it comes to booking travel

“Don’t forget to protect your travel, add flight-disruption protection or a flexibility product you might need for any reason, so if you have a disruption, or you don’t like your hotel, you don’t have to book a new flight or book a new hotel, you are covered,” Berg said.

For many people, traveling is about exploring new cultures, landscapes, cuisines and ideas. However, the cost of the trip is still one of the most important considerations when booking a vacation.

In fact, according to a survey, a one-of-a-kind online community of shoppers working together to shop smarter and save more, 81% of respondents listed total cost as their top consideration followed by a desire for kid-friendly experiences at the destination and discounts or deals on transportation and lodging.

Even amid reported concerns about inflation (56%), increasing flight costs (51%) and gas prices (49%), 84% of families plan to spend the same amount or more on travel this year as last. Among the respondents, 42% plan to spend between $1,501-3,000 and 15% plan to spend $5,000 or more on travel.

While traveling is undoubtedly an investment, it doesn’t have to break the bank. Consider these tips from Pete King, deal expert for Slickdeals, to save money as you begin planning your next excursion.

Set your budget with hidden costs in mind. When setting budgets, many people stop at the basics like transportation, accommodations and entertainment. Make sure to factor in additional costs such as pet care, food, checked luggage fees and airport and hotel parking so there are no surprises at the end of the trip.

Look for deals. Being open to a variety of destinations and travel dates can help you score the best deals. If you’re tired of switching between booking sites or searching online for bargains, consider browsing the latest travel deals on the Slickdeals Travel Page where community members share some of the best travel deals on the internet, which can save you time and effort when looking for savings on your trip. You can even set deal alerts to be notified when deals pop up for your desired destination.

Bring an empty water bottle. While Transportation Security Administration regulations don’t allow you to bring most fluids through security checkpoints in airports, packing an empty water bottle in your carry-on or personal item can save you from high costs inside the terminal. Once you’re through security, simply fill your bottle at the nearest water fountain. An added bonus: You can take the full bottle on the airplane to stay hydrated during the flight without having to rely on the small complimentary beverage on board.

Pack less than you think you’ll need. Many people overpack, and that can be a costly mistake. A single checked bag can cost as much as $50, and some airlines charge extra for a ticket that includes a carry-on. For a weekend trip, keep it simple with a carry-on or backpack, and for longer adventures, keep in mind nobody at your destination will likely know you wore the same jeans two days in a row.

Find the right rewards credit card. If you have a rewards credit card, you could get cash back when you make certain purchases. You could get a percentage back on groceries, travel, dining and more. For example, with a travel rewards credit card, you earn points or miles that can be redeemed for future travel plans. General travel cards earn points or miles on virtually every purchase, regardless of airline or hotel chain, while co-branded cards that align with a specific airline or hotel reward users with more points for loyalty spending and provide additional benefits like free checked bags or a free night’s stay on your card anniversary.