Traveling is like navigating a game of chance with your time. Choose correctly, and you’ll hit the beach with a margarita by noon. One piece of the puzzle goes awry, and you’re lucky to watch tomorrow’s sunset!
Everything hinged on Ronald arriving no later than 5:50 AM. He was the first leg in this perfectly orchestrated masterpiece: tuk-tuk, ferry, taxi, flight, e-trike, another ferry, and the hop-on, hop-off bus.
My first *big* travel day, and it was in the Philippines. All the cool travel shit happens in an archipelago. So, I surprised myself when I scheduled a house of cards from point A to B.
I met Ronald the day before and promised to tip big if he picked me up the next morning…early. When I looked outside my door and saw his blue tuk-tuk, I exhaled. I knew that Emman would be waiting for me outside Pier 1 in Cebu. I would catch my flight. And I tipped my drivers 60% of their fares. Judge me or don’t; that’s on you.
I will pay to kick stress in the ass… And make it to ocean-front margaritas by noon!
My biggest travel day so far was in the Philippines (all the cool travel shit happens in an archipelago). A few days before Super Typhoon Nanda, the Filipinos had had enough corruption. It turns out that the government was diverting funds from flood control to its own pockets. Ronald and I approached a SWAT barricade. I could tell Ronald was apprehensive because he stopped about 50 feet away before proceeding. Tuk-tuks, motorcycles, and cars were separated for inspection. For us, that meant careful scrutiny of Ronald’s driving and tuk-tuk credentials. Within a few minutes, we were on our way. About a mile from the checkpoint, the SWAT team corralled a truck, tuk-tuk, and about 15 pedestrians. Their day would be much different.
When I saw Emman two and a half hrs later, I asked him the difference between SWAT and the police. He told me SWAT keeps order. I wondered what “order” looked like in the Philippines…. Another four hours and I was in Boracay, where time gives way to white sandy beaches.
I’m a planner. At least I was until I left the US in July 2025. Now I fly by the seat of my pants (haha). I book last-minute tickets, scramble to uncover visa requirements, and buy onward tickets while picking up my boarding pass.
I’ve become that girl!
Still, traveling by plane can be one of the most convenient ways to get around…and one of tremendous hassle.
Carry-on. We’ve all seen the die-hard carry-on fans. They overstuff an oversized carry-on and play dumb. They know their bag is too big, but they don’t care. They want their stuff with them.
I don’t blame them. There’s something to be said about cruising through airports
Checked Bags. Will my bag make it, or am I buying undies and a toothbrush? The reality is that 0.5% of bags get lost (5 out of 1000). Odds are completely in your favor your beloved #LittleSaltySuitcase will be waiting for you at carousel D.
But sure, it sucks if you’re the 0.5%.
It begins with packing…
Are you checking or carrying on? If you’re checking, pack the kitchen sink. If you’re carrying on, please remember you are not the only person flying! You will be rolling your bag through security, through the airport, and sharing space in an overhead bin with lots of other passengers.
Liquids: One ziplock bag.
Computers: Pack so that they are easily accessible.
Weight: Keep it down. You have to reach over people’s heads to get your bag up and down. Gravity is magical — it assists bags in a downward direction at great velocity.
Size: Do be that guy (or girl) with a bag outside carry-on regulations. Here’s what happens in real life — the overhead bins get full fast!
You’re booked in row 10 but have boarding group 7. Due to limited bin space and oversized carry-ons, your roller is riding in row 23. By the time the plane empties and you can finally get your bag, you find yourself sprinting to meet your connection.
You arrive at the gate. The doors are closed. Guess what? You’ll be spending some extra time with your extra-stuffed roller at the airport.
As for me? I’m sipping my first gin and tonic and queuing in-flight entertainment.
The “onward ticket” …
I just learned about this game changer!
An onward ticket has been described as “renting” a ticket on a flight out of dodge! Some countries will let you stay for 30 to 90 days…so long as you can prove you’re leaving.
But what if you change your mind and stay longer or shorter? That can get expensive fast. Enter: The Onward Ticket.
An onward ticket looks like a regular ticket, only it “self-destructs” after a short time, like 24 to 48 hrs.
If looks are what you’re after, here’s the company I’ve used (no affiliate link here, just a good experience without the onslaught of junk mail afterward)!
Pro tip: it can take up to 8 hours to receive your onward ticket, so buy it the night before your flight.
Points. Convenience. Budget.
Flying always comes down to these three clutches.
I’m a convenience person. Every. Single. Time. I don’t run through airports, so I want at least 1.5 hours within the country and 2 hours for international connections. If there’s extra time, I’m going for a mojito.
And I never want a 20-hour flight plan!
You have to decide where you land (ha!).
I thought I was so cool until I said, “Hear that noise? It’s the wheels deploying for landing.”
The guy next to me replied, “Only if the pilot wants them ripped from the plane!”
It was the engine, sort of downshifting! You can actually watch it if you’re sitting near the wing.
This is how I felt about navigating — I had it all figured out. The flight expert. And then I left to travel around the world.
You need to answer the question: points, convenience, or budget before you can navigate.
Here’s what I can tell you… An around the word ticket is *perfect* for the person/couple/family with limited time who wants to circumnavigate the globe. Choose an airline where you already have some points and watch your total rack up! Yeah, you!
If you want flexibility, you will be squeezed into the middle seat, sit next to the toilet, and sometimes in first. Jackpot!
Budget airlines. Love them. Hate them more. Fly them all the f-ing time! Why? They’re really, really convenient!
If you travel by air, you will spend money. Take budget airlines for those short flights. And then, on those long hauls, splurge for the upgrade on Cathay Pacific or Qatar.
I have two tips:
No one is off limits. I will talk to literally anyone! But in most train stations, there is someone behind glass windows begging for attention.