In a few days, fall break will be upon us.

Tired and stressed out high school students want nothing more than two weeks full of fun and relaxation. Since HBA’s fall and spring breaks span two weeks, many families take the opportunity to travel off-island to visit relatives, go to Disneyland or other popular destinations, or visit colleges. Additionally, HBA offers school trips during these breaks, such as the East Coast, Europe, South America, and Asia trips. This fall break, Japanese 3 and 4 students will head to Japan.

For many of us, the most challenging parts of a trip happen before we arrive at our destinations; Packing decisions and the journeys themselves can be stressful experiences. If you find yourself in this category, here are some tried and tested travel tips to help alleviate your stress the next time you’re going on a trip.

PRE-TRIP/PACKING TIPS

  1. Roll your clothes to save space.
  2. Separate outfits/types of clothes in packing cubes.
  3. Put all liquids in a Ziploc bag in case of spillage.
  4. Pack light to leave room for souvenirs.
  5. Bring plastic bags for dirty clothes, shoes, etc.
  6. Pack a few extra Ziploc bags (of varying sizes) so you can pack snacks, store cords and miscellaneous small items.
  7. Bring clothes that you can mix and match. (For example: A few shirts you can wear with the same pair of pants/jeans.)
  8. Pack all the chargers and batteries needed for your devices. It’ll be helpful to put them all in a small pouch.
  9. Consider bringing a car charger if your family will be renting a car, or get a battery pack to charge your devices on the go.
  10. If you’re going to be doing laundry, or are going on a short trip, try to travel with only a carry-on bag. You’ll save about $50 on checked baggage fees, which can be spent on souvenirs instead.

AT THE AIRPORT

  1. Drink lots of water while on the airplane; Dehydration worsens jet lag.
  2. Wear comfortable clothes. A soft tee and comfortable jeans can make a great plane-friendly outfit.
  3. Bring a jacket in case the airplane ride gets chilly.
  4. Don’t wear shoes that have laces. Slip on shoes make security check points a breeze when you have to take off your shoes.
  5. Wear socks so you don’t have to go through the security check point with bare feet on cold, and possibly dirty floors. And socks will keep your feet warm during the flight.
  6. When you get to the airport, try to put all your carry-ons onto one bag so you have fewer things to keep track of when going through the security check point.
  7. Don’t wear a belt — you’ll have to take it off at the security check point.
  8. Pack an extra change of clothes in your carry-on bag (especially undergarments) just in case your checked baggage is lost or delayed.
  9. Girls: Pack feminine hygiene products just in case.
  10. Airplane air is very dry because it is recycled. For those concerned about dry skin, bring a heavy moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.
  11. To ensure a comfortable flight, consider bringing ear plugs, good earbuds, an eye mask, and a neck pillow (inflatable neck pillows are comfy and save a lot of space in your backpack.)
  12. Apply lip balm liberally.
  13. Keep your passport/ID, trip plans, and ticket in one secure place that is easily accessible.
  14. Bring a backpack or cross-body bag as your carry-on item because it keeps your hands free.
  15. Take Zzzquil to help you sleep through the night if you’re on a red eye flight. Make sure to take it after the plane takes off, and with parent approval.
  16. Bring hand towelettes to wipe down your seat, armrest, and table in front of you to kill germs.
  17. Contact lens wearers: Pack your case, solution, and glasses in your carry-on bag. Buy travel size solution so as to meet TSA regulations. And always bring an extra pair of contact lens if you can.
  18. Bring snacks on the airplane; Plane food is expensive and not always worth the splurge.
  19. If you have checked baggage, take a picture of it in case it gets lost so that you can accurately describe it to airline staff.

DURING YOUR TRIP

  1. Get a lot of sleep.
  2. Try to get adjusted to the time zone you’re in ASAP. Don’t take naps and try to go to bed at a reasonable time.
  3. Take a lot of pictures, but don’t let picture taking take away from your experience.
  4. Take advantage of public transportation. Cities like San Francisco, Boston, and Washington D.C. have great public transportation systems.
  5. Check out review websites like Yelp for food, entertainment, activity recommendations.

PHOTOGRAPHS Airport. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 24 Sep 2014. http://quest.eb.com/#/search/139_1928134/1/139_1928134/cite Close up of suitcase on bed. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 24 Sep 2014. http://quest.eb.com/#/search/154_2879605/1/154_2879605/cite Nightime skyscrapers and city buildings, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, Asia. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 24 Sep 2014. http://quest.eb.com/#/search/151_2578244/1/151_2578244/cite