BIG Packing Mistake - Why You Should Not Overpack Your Carry-On

Stop Overpacking Your Carry-On and Travel Smart, Travel Light

Traveling with carry-on luggage saves time and avoids hassle. However, the most common mistakes many travelers make lead in the opposite direction if you get flagged by airport security for a secondary screening.

Physical Burden

Besides the physical burden of a heavy carry-on, such as hauling cumbersome luggage through bustling airports, public transit, or flight stairs, the other main disadvantage is that a piece of heavy luggage is more likely to get flagged at the airport for screening and even at the flight gate.

Security Screening

Bulky luggage is hard for scanning machines to inspect, thus security officials need to pull them for secondary screening. This might open the door for longer delays and missing your flights. Also, security officials might get suspicious just by looking at an oddly-shaped, chunky bag and flag you to open and manually inspect it.

Gate Check

Another drawback of carrying a bulky carry-on backpack or suitcase is the possibility of gate check. I have seen this a lot; airlines are forcing passengers to gate check when they conclude that overhead storage will not be able to handle all the carry-on luggage. However, this has never happened to me because I always travel light.

Travel Light for a Better Experience

The joy of not carrying immense weight on your back and not maneuvering through the airport with cumbersome luggage is priceless. Traveling should be an enjoyable experience and not an experience in which you worry about how you are going to make it to your destination.

Packing Tips

Here are some quick tips: 1. Plan Ahead: Make a list of essentials and stick to it. 2. Use Packing Cubes: Organize your belongings and maximize space. 3. Roll Your Clothes: Save space and reduce wrinkles. 4. Limit Shoes: Try to limit yourself to two pairs. 5. Toiletries: Opt for travel-sized items.

Conclusion

Travel smart and travel light to avoid the common pitfalls of overpacking. Your journey will be smoother and you'll have more time to enjoy your trip.

What Are The Different Types Of GMT Watches? Caller GMT vs. Traveler GMT

Caller GMT vs. Traveler GMT: Understanding the Differences

GMT watches are handy for tracking multiple time zones. Two popular types are Caller GMT and Traveler GMT. Let's break down how they work and who they're best for.

Caller GMT:

The Caller GMT watch is ideal for people who stay in one place but need to know the time in another location. It has a GMT hand that you can set to show the time in a different time zone. Meanwhile, the main hour hand stays fixed to your local time. This way, you can easily see the time in another part of the world without changing your local time. This is great for business professionals or anyone with friends or family abroad.

Traveler GMT:

The Traveler GMT watch is perfect for people who travel frequently. With this type of watch, you can adjust the main hour hand to the local time wherever you are, while the GMT hand continues to show the time in your home time zone. This makes it easy to switch between time zones without losing track of home time. It's especially useful for globetrotters and frequent flyers.

Key Differences:

The main difference between Caller GMT and Traveler GMT watches is how you adjust the hour hands. The Caller GMT keeps the local time fixed and adjusts the GMT hand for the second time zone. The Traveler GMT lets you adjust the main hour hand for local time, making it easier for frequent travelers.

In summary, choose a Caller GMT if you need to keep track of another time zone while staying in one place. Opt for a Traveler GMT if you travel often and need to adjust your local time frequently.

This Should Be The Travel Shorts for Your Next Trip (The Best Men’s Shorts?)

Men’s Travel Shorts for Beach Destinations

My fabric of choice is cotton, but there are instances where cotton simply will not do. For example, when I was doing an island-hopping tour in the Philippines, I got wet right away and often throughout the trip. However, a pair of fast-dry, moisture-wicking shorts saved the day.

I have been searching for the perfect travel shorts, and I believe I found them. Here comes the Wrangler Performance Flex Cargo Shorts. They’re made of 94% Nylon and 6% Spandex. Some of their properties are:

- Stretch Fabric
- Quick Drying
- Moisture Wicking
- UPF 30 for sun protection

I like that they have a longer inseam at 10 inches. This comes close to the knee and provides more sun protection. Also, it’s easier to sit with a longer inseam.

If you run out of pocket space, Wrangler’s Cargo Shorts are equipped with ample space, as there are 2 cargo zip pockets, 2 back pockets and slash pockets. This is great for traveling when you need to safely store your cell phone, wallet and other items in an enclosed pocket. I had to check many pairs of shorts to find some that came with pocket zippers and my Wrangler Cargo Shorts were the only ones I was able to find.

In the past, I used to carry separate swim shorts for traveling. But since I minimized my travel items, I now have only one carry-on. I use my regular fast-dry shorts as my swim shorts as well and my Wranglers fit perfectly for that.

I have a month-long trip coming up for Malaysia and Maldives and my Wrangler Performance Flex Cargo Shorts should be a perfect tool for adventures exploring islands and beaches.

Why We Stopped Using Airbnb: A Personal Reflection

Why Booking Hotels May Be Better Than Airbnb

Part 1

Airbnb has revolutionized the way we travel, offering unique accommodations and experiences that traditional hotels often can't match. However, after years of using the platform, especially our experience from our Philippines and Thailand trips, we decided to stop booking or reduce booking as much as possible through Airbnb.

For example, we have a month-long trip coming up to Malaysia and Maldives and this is the first time we don’t have a single Airbnb booking. Here are our main reasons behind our decision:

 1. Increasing Costs

When Airbnb first emerged, it was known for providing affordable alternatives to hotels. Over time, however, the cost of Airbnb rentals has risen significantly. Service fees, cleaning fees, and other hidden charges often make the total cost comparable to, or even higher than, hotel prices. This shift has made Airbnb less appealing for budget-conscious travelers. We noticed for our Malaysia and Maldives trip, Airbnbs had higher prices than hotels (and no breakfasts were included).

2. Safety Concerns

This was our priority issue. Staying in someone else's home can sometimes raise safety concerns. While Airbnb has measures in place to ensure safety, we've had experiences where the security of the property was questionable. Issues like faulty locks, lack of emergency exits, and unfamiliar neighborhoods have made us reconsider the safety of Airbnb accommodations.

I remember we had a two-storey unit in Boracay (in general Boracay is very safe for tourists), but at night we didn’t feel safe at all. Although the host stated there was security at night, we never saw anyone around.

3. Host Reliability

The relationship between guests and hosts is crucial to the Airbnb experience. Unfortunately, we've faced situations where hosts were unresponsive, canceled bookings at the last minute, or failed to address issues during our stay. This lack of reliability can lead to stressful and unpleasant travel experiences.

In one instance, when we went to check in the attendant disappeared and we had to hunt down the owner on WhatsApp to arrange our check-in. In another situation, we had to wait a long time in a condo reception area and the attendant never showed up, so the condo concierge had to hunt them down.

4. Local Regulations

Many cities around the world have implemented strict regulations on short-term rentals, including Airbnbs. These regulations can lead to legal complications and fines for both hosts and guests. Navigating these rules has become increasingly complex, making traditional hotels a more straightforward option.

5. Impact on Local Communities

Airbnb has been criticized for contributing to housing shortages and rising rent prices in popular tourist destinations. By opting for hotels, we feel we're making a more responsible choice that supports local economies without exacerbating housing issues.

6. No One to Help Around the Clock

This is my personal preference; I like seeing someone always available at hotel desks. When I enter or exit hotels, or in case of an emergency, there is always someone available to help. This is a must—especially if you have late-night flights. As with Airbnb, you might worry during your long flight if someone is available to let you in in the middle of the night or if you have to leave very early to catch a flight.

Conclusion

While Airbnb offers unique and memorable stays, the increasing costs, inconsistent quality, safety concerns, host reliability issues, local regulations, and impact on communities have led us to reconsider our use of the platform. For now, we find that traditional hotels provide a more reliable and stress-free travel experience.

Why You Need a Multi USB Cable | Travel Hacks

Best Multi Cable for All Your USB Cable Needs

In the past, having multiple charging devices on the plane was a challenge. Most of the time having the right cable was hit or miss. For instance, I had the both USB C-ending cable whereas the aircraft only had a USB output. That’s where the need for a multi cable comes into play.

Unlike a traditional cable, a multi-USB Cable comes with everything you require, such as USB C, USB, or even lightning cable for some Apple devices. After searching for a while, I ended up buying one called NOHON 4 In 1 Multi USB Cable.

This is not a paid or affiliated review – there are many other cables available on Amazon and the like. The one I bought costs only $7 to $10. It has an adapter that lets you convert from USB C to USB and USB C to Lightning cable. If you don’t need a certain type, you can even completely detach it and put it away.

For example, I don’t own any Apple products, so I am contemplating removing the Lightning converter, as this is unnecessary for me. It is 4 feet long with nylon braided material and seems to be durable enough.

As a bonus, the NOHON 4 In 1 Multi USB Cable also supports high speed charging and high-speed data transfers. These features will come in handy when traveling.

A multi cable will make life a little more worry free when you are traveling, as there many other things you constantly need to worry about when you’re on the move. I have a video review of this which you can view by clicking the link below: