HOW TO

ORGANIZE, PACK,
AND TRAVEL
EFFICIENTLY
WORKBOOK
 An Introduction to Efficient Travel

Traveling is a rewarding experience and it does not have to be stressful. We have tips and techniques
that you can apply to make it a pleasant experience for you. At the end of this module, you will
have a better idea on how to save time and effort when you travel and some ideas on how you get
added perks every time you travel.

Whether you travel for work or for pleasure or even if you have not travelled YET, one thing is for
sure--you already have the mindset on how to travel efficiently because you are a member of the
Dojo.

This entire training is geared towards two sets of people: those who travel and those who haven’t
yet. So it is for everyone, including you.

Action Steps

What do you think would you need if you were to fly somewhere for a week? You don’t have to think
about it too much, just write down everything that comes to mind. Putting a little bit of thought into
what you might need will save you a lot of time later. We will refer back to your answers on the later
part of this workbook.

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 The Work You Can Do Now

Preparing for travel does not happen only when you buy your tickets and you need to pack your bags.
There are things that you can do long before you even decide to travel that will make your future
travel much simpler and less stressful. This ensures that when you do decide to travel, you are ready
for it.

In this part of the training course we will introduce you to apps, services, subscriptions, and mem-
berships that can benefit you and help you travel efficiently.

Our mobile app recommendations are:

1. TripIt

TripIt is a service that collects all the information you need for your trip into one convenient
location. Everything about your travel will be in one place including confirmation numbers,
travel documentation, car rentals, flights, hotel reservations, etc. When you forward any trav
el related email to plans@tripit.com, it will create a custom itinerary for you. As long as you
use the same email address tied to your TripIt account, it will automatically tie the emails to
your trip and it will immediately create the itinerary.

If you decide to upgrade to the paid TripIt account, you will also get sync live information
about your flights. For example: gate changes or if your flight gets delayed. If you do not
want to get the paid tier but would like the same function at a much lower price, App in
the Air is your next option.

2. App in the Air

This app fully syncs with TripIt, in case you want to use the two apps. This will track your
flights (check-in, boarding, takeoff, landing, and any flight related change).

The pricing is a bit different with TripIt Pro which is billed annually. App in the Air’s pricing
is based on the number of flights that you want to track. You can purchase tracking for
5 flights, 12 months, and then their lifetime plan (or until the app no longer exists).

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 With App in the Air, you can also set other people to receive notifications about your flight.
For example, you can set your spouse to receive text notifications when your flight takes off
or when it touches down.

Aside from apps, there are also services that you can get to minimize the hassle when traveling:

1. TSA Precheck

Let’s you use an express line through security and you don’t have to take your liquids out of
your bag, take your shoes off, take your laptop out, or take out stuff from your purse.

With TSA Precheck, you are vetted as a low-risk flight traveler. Because of this, a background
check will be done and you also need to submit your fingerprints when you apply for TSA Pre
check.

The fee is $85 with a five-year validity.

2. Global Entry

This is done through US Customs and Border Protection instead of the TSA but it provides all
the benefits of TSA Precheck plus accelerated processing through customs.

If you travel internationally and you have Global Entry, the process is as follows:

a. Go to the Global Entry kiosk

b. The kiosk takes your photo and your passport’s photo
c. Scan your fingerprints
d. Answer the questions on the kiosk
e. Print out will be given
f. Hand print out to customs agent
g. You are through!

A background check will also be done and you need to send in your fingerprints and addition
ally, you would have to get your photo taken and register and schedule for an interview
with Border Protection.

The fee is $100 with a five-year validity.

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TSA Precheck and Global Entry will both help you breeze through the security lines and save you a lot
of time.

Next on the list is to create an account for every single airline that you might fly with in the future.
When you have either TSA Precheck or Global Entry, you will be given a known traveler number (KTN)
which gives you the ability to skip the line. But you have to add your KTN to your airline account in
order to use it.

The next account that you can create are accounts for car rentals such as Hertz, National, Avis,
Enterprise, etc. When you have an account with these companies, it allows you to instantly
pick up your vehicle which eliminates standing in line, giving our information, talking with an
agent before you get your car. Basically, it saves you a lot of time.

Finally, specific credit cards can give you additional benefits when you travel. This is really optional,
but if you travel frequently the perks can add up. Some examples are lounge access, hotel status
(free breakfast, etc), priority boarding, free checked bags, and free superior seats, just to name a
few.

Here are some credit cards that we would recommend:

1. AMEX Platinum
- Access to more than 1,100 airport lounges across 120 countries
- It pays for your TSA Precheck or Global Entry (statement credits)
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Special car rental privileges from Avis, National Car Rental, and Silvercar
- No foreign transaction fees
3. American Express Skymiles Gold or American Express Skymiles Platinum
- Priority Boarding
- Earn 1 mile per $1 for purchases
4. Chase United Explorer
- Priority boarding
- Free first checked bag

If you prefer hotel-specific cards, here are our suggestions:

1. AMEX Hilton Surpass

- 125,000 bonus points when you sign up (100,000 points after spending $3000 within the first
3 months and an additional 25,000 points after making an additional $1000 purchase within
the first 6 months)
- Earn 12 points per $1 spent at Hilton Hotels/Properties

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2. Chase Hyatt
- 3 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels, plus, 1 free night every year
- No foreign transaction fees
3. Chase IHG
- Earn 10 points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG hotels

If you are not comfortable or open to getting a new credit card, that is fine. You can still check your
current credit card offers travel perks.

Bottom line is choose the Credit Card that will work best for you and that card may not be on the list
that we shared.

Action Steps

How many times have you travelled by air during in the last:
6 months: ___________________________
1 year: _____________________________
2 years: _____________________________

Think of the time you spent waiting (check-in, car rental, etc). How can the information, you’ve
learned (so far), help shorten your waiting time?

What cards do you want to have in your wallet for your next trip? List them down and the perks that
you really like about it:

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Compare your existing cards with those that we have suggested and list down perks that are import-
ant to you or is/are good to have. Are there any cards you would like to add before your next trip?

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 Packing for Travel

Traveling is a process and packing for travel is just one step of it. Unfortunately, most people would
usually procrastinate during this step. Just thinking about what to pack or how much to pack stresses
other people--so they wait until the last minute and end up forgetting important items.

There are some tips and tricks that you can use to make this step (almost) pain-free. Bags, types of
clothes, accessories, etc. are also discussed in this part of the workbook.

Bag Tips

• Carry-on everything that you can. When you do this, you save money since you don’t have to
pay for your checked bag. You also save time since you do not have to wait for your checked bag
in the baggage claim area. Imagine just hopping off the plane and walking directly to the taxi bay
area or the car rental area.
• If you do decide not to check-in a bag, use a backpack and a carry-on bag for your things. In
this way, you do not have to pack your carry-on bag to the brim. You can also store your backpack
under your seat and your carry-on bag inside the overhead bin.
• Get the hard-top bag if you travel a lot. Soft top bags are not built to last. You will often see
the wear and tear of soft tops bags after a few trips and you usually can’t just wipe stains away.
Hard-top bags, on the other hand, are sturdy and built like a tank. As long as you get a reliable
brand, it will last you for several years.

Bag Recommendations

The right travel bag is very important. You need to have something that will suit your needs.
You have to think about what type of items you would usually take during your trip. For example
gadgets, shoes, etc.

Here are several bags that we recommend for your next trip:

• Incase EO - A travel backpack that can fit a 17” laptop with enough space for overnight travel
clothes.
• Tom Bihn - This company offers a wide range of carry-on travel bags from backpacks to totes to
messenger bags that are extremely well made. They also have the Synapse 25 backpack. This
backpack can be used for travel and even for hiking.

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• Timbuk2 Uptown - A smaller version of Incase EO (15” laptop) but still big enough for overnight
clothes.
• Costco luggage sets - A 2-piece set that includes a carry-on bag and a 28-inch checked bag and
both are hard tops.
• Samsonite - This brand is a household name when it comes to luggage bags. They have been mak-
ing bags since 1910. They offer a wide variety of bags including hard-top bags.
• Carry-on Away - A well-thought of carry-on luggage that even has a power bank, but make sure
that lithium batteries are allowed in the cabin before you fly with it!

Accessories to Bring

These accessories can make a difference when you travel.

• Packing Cubes - organizes and compresses the items in your luggage. Think of it as a way to tame
your luggage by keeping it organized. You can separate different type of clothing per cube which
makes it easier for you to unpack or remove items that you need. It also allows you to maximize
the space of your luggage since it compresses your clothes.
- eBags
- Gonex
- Amazon Basics
• Eye-Mask - this will help block all the light and allow you to get some sleep. Even if you travel at
night, the person beside you might be fiddling with their gadgets or might have their overhead
light on. Bringing your own eye-mask ensures that you get some rest and at least not be as tired
when you arrive in your destination.
• Noise-cancelling headphones - planes can be very noisy and these headphones can drown the
noise and has great sound in case you want to listen to something while traveling.
• Dopp Kit - the usual stuff we forget when we travel are toiletries (toothbrush, razor, medicine).
Make sure your Dopp Kit is always stocked so that when it’s time to travel, all you have to do is
put it in your luggage and you are 100% sure that you don’t leave anything behind, especially
medicine.
• Earplugs - not all hotels are built alike--some are noisy. Earplugs will help you get some shut-eye
and rest peacefully.
• White Noise Machine - aside from privacy, it also drowns out any extra noise and create a more
relaxing environment during your stay away from your home.

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Clothes and Money

When we travel, we often think about how many clothes and how much money to bring. Bringing too
many clothes means a waste of space and taking not enough money is a disaster.

You can also follow this simple rule for clothes and money:

Think about the number of clothes and the amount of money you might need for the trip. Take the
number of clothes and divide that by 2, that’s the number of clothes to bring. For the money, take
the number and multiply that by 2 and that’s the amount of money you should bring.

Be smart when it comes to the material of the clothes you pack as well. The best type of clothes for
travel is made out of merino wool since it’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The materi-
al is not bulky and does not wrinkle easily as well. You can check out Wool & Prince and Amazon for
samples.

Another tip when it comes to packing for longer trips is don’t pack a lot of clothes. Most likely, you
will have the time to get your laundry done or an access to a laundromat.

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Action Steps

If you were to create a reusable list of travel items, what would this list consist of?

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 The Day of Travel

Are you ready for your trip? Use the items below to check if you are ready.
Confirm all the confirmations you received
Have you sent all your confirmations to TripIt and added your flights to App in the Air?
Have you synced everything in your itinerary?
Have you checked your list of items for travel to verify that all your travel accessories and
personal belongings are prepared?
If you’re driving to the airport, do you already have parking?
Use a 3rd party company for parking
If it’s long trip and the travel to the airport is long, it is worth looking into staying at a
hotel that is near the airport (or next to) and ask if you can park your car there during
the duration of your trip (free of charge)
Go through security using your TSA Precheck or Global Entry KTN.
Go straight to the airline lounge
If you already have a travel credit card, check what airport lounge is free for your use
Try to stick to one airline to accumulate those air miles and enjoy those perks!

Think of everything you might need if you were to fly somewhere for a week and list everything
down--this time using everything you have learned in this training series. Compare this list with the
first list you created. What are the key differences?

Now you are all set to travel efficiently.

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