If you haven’t been on TikTok lately, people now distinguish personalities into two categories. The type A person is more organized, competitive, and disciplined, having the tendency to live in spotless homes and succeed academically. On the other hand, the type B person is that one friend who’s always late upon boarding the plane, but also the creative and funny one that every group of friends has.
And while there’s nothing wrong with being categorized, we recognize the weaknesses of every person’s type. Well, in the case of type B, it can be common to lose things, forget important documents or events, and prioritize punctuality more. This can be a negative aspect when traveling somewhere, for example, and forgetting to bring the necessary papers, or omitting to renew your passport, which can lead to trouble depending on the country visited. So, if you’re tired of these things from occurring, here’s how to ace travel document preparation like a type A person.
Go digital when possible
Maybe one of the reasons why you never find what you need is that you still rely on physical documents. For example, instead of printing your check-in, you can simply store it on your phone and have an offline and online copy. In some cases, you can replace your physical passport or identity card with a digital version, but you must first check the requirements for the countries you’re leaving and visiting.
Another necessity that you can use in its digital form is a mobile SIM. As you may have experienced, when you usually get to another country, you buy a SIM from local shops, which are not only expensive but also physical, so next time you’re traveling again, chances are the SIM will be lost. In this case, it would be great to look into what is an Holafly eSIM, as you only need to download and install the digital SIM to be able to use it, and you can always renew your data plan, regardless of the city you’re going to around the world. An eSIM is also more affordable since you can choose the number of days you’re paying for without having to change phone numbers.
Store physical copies in a smart way
If your documents will not be eligible in a digital format and you have to bring physical copies, you should be smart with it. This means having hard copies of every document you need to bring in a waterproof folder, which will protect them in case of spillage. Always keep the original copies in your carry-on bag, and maybe have the copies in another spot to at least have a backup in case the smaller one is getting lost or stolen.
Consider a folder with separate compartments, so you know where each document is. Another helpful tip to have for both physical and digital forms is to add contacts of your country’s embassy, with addresses and phone numbers, so you can act fast in the case of a lost document. You should also note the address of your accommodation so you can move around the city even without your navigation app.
Get an anti-theft bag
You can keep your documents in a regular bag, but since you’re already a type B person, you may want to consider an anti-theft bag, which is designed specifically to strengthen the safety of your belongings. These bags have lockable zippers that are not easy to open by strangers passing by, along with hidden compartments and slash-resistant materials (such as steel mesh systems).
However, don’t pick the first anti-theft bag you see online, and try to do some research around the products, since many of them are only marketed as such but lack the properties that make them valuable. A genuine anti-theft product makes quick access more complex, so stealing is not as simple, and the concealed storage makes it impossible for someone to reach the spot where you keep your most important documents. Also, look for a product with reinforced straps that adds sturdiness to the bag.
Set an alarm for the documents you need to fill out
If you’re unlucky for the passport to expire or for the VISA requirements to knock right before the trip, as a type B person, you will need to be more thorough with remembering to assess these documents, so we recommend setting alarms continuously until you actually update the papers.
For example, if you are supposed to be driving abroad, note that not all countries accept your driver’s license, so you will have to apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP), for which you need to fill out a specific form, pay a permit fee, and offer original passport pictures. While this is the case as a US citizen, things can change for Europe or Australia, so find out what you need to provide and complete all the necessities as soon as possible.
Keep your money in an RFID wallet
Clumsy or not, you can never be too sure of the safety of your money and cards, so an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) wallet can save you a few grey hairs in the future. This type of wallet is especially necessary for cards that are vulnerable due to unauthorized readers being able to access them, as they use an inner metal layer that acts as a shield.
Since most cards today are contactless and allow you to pay everywhere in a matter of seconds, there are individuals who will try to fraudulently read them, but this can happen even unintentionally when getting too close to a card reader. In addition, these wallets also have a place for coin pockets, pop-up systems, and security zips.
Final considerations
As a type B person, you tend to be clumsier with your documents when traveling (or with getting ready overall), so we tried offering you the tips that a person A would do for seamless traveling. These include going digital when possible, having multiple copies of documents, and even setting alarms to remember about filling out important forms.