If you talk to top-level luxury travel professionals, you’ll often find they have one thing in common: a passion for travel that started early and grew so intense that they felt called to make travel their job.
The Co-founder of Sui Generis Entertainment & Travel, Inc, Carlos Alvarez, shares that story with his fellow luxury travel experts. With a mother and grandmother that loved to travel and had him seeing the world from a very young age, he admits to catching the travel bug early and loving every minute of it.
“Starting to see the world as a young boy opened my eyes to how many different kinds of places there are and how many experiences there are to have. Then, as an adult, I realized that I could help create those magical experiences for other people, and I’ve never looked back,” he said.
With an adjacent love of geography, he started what would become his business as a hobby, planning vacations and itineraries for his friends and families. Thankfully, his wife Ana was a fellow travel lover and became his business and life partner.
The well-traveled couple works with an elite global clientele, creating bespoke itineraries and one-of-a-kind experiences delivered alongside complete concierge services and access to their network of contacts offering exclusive travel deals.
Here, he offers advice on things he never leaves home without when he starts another fantastic journey.
Covid-19 Vaccination Paperwork
Though most countries have now removed various levels of Covid-19 vaccination requirements, always make sure to have your paperwork, vaccine passport, app with QR code, or whatever was issued in your home country to prove that you are vaxxed.
“There’s no telling if there could be another outbreak while you are traveling, and restrictions will come back into play. Or one of your hotels or bucket list attractions might be particularly careful and still require these documents,” advised Alvarez.
Avoid Plane Bloat
For long flights, Alvarez swears by compression socks. So after a long-haul, overnight, or red eye, you’ll be thankful that you wore these unattractive — but incredibly useful — socks.
The limb-compression garments keep leg swelling at bay after hours in the same position but also help to inhibit conditions like edema, thrombosis, and phlebitis.
Make a List
Make a list of items you want to take, check it twice, and cross things off as you place them in your bag. Most of the time, putting it down in writing will ensure that you don’t miss anything while packing.
Keep Valuables Close
This should go without saying, but Alvarez is often surprised by how many people choose to place valuables in checked luggage. A simple scan of news headlines reveals how often checked bags are opened, compromised, and valuables are removed.
Even worse, insurance companies and airlines often don’t cover these losses since they expressly warn travelers not to check valuable items.
Be Socket Savvy
If you’re traveling outside of the US, check what kind of sockets are used in your destination and their voltage. Spring for a good-quality converter that can work in several countries and includes a main plug and USB outlets to charge several devices simultaneously.
Additionally, the voltage in some locations, such as Southeast Asia, is different, meaning certain items can get fried by too much electricity. Though things like phones and computers have built-in safeguards against this, other items, such as hair dryers and straightening irons, can be damaged by incorrect voltage.
Learn Some Lingo
Though it’s not feasible to study the language of every country you visit, you’d be amazed at how many doors a few simple words can open. For example: yes, no, hello, thank you, excuse me, and bathroom are indispensable vocabulary to have on hand, according to Alvarez.
Back-up Your Documents
It’s not uncommon for a passport to get lost, stolen, or damaged while traveling. Making sure you have photocopies, and digital copies in the cloud can be a lifesaver in such situations.
The copies make it easier to identify yourself, easier for the police to make a report, and easier for the embassy to help you replace your documents on the fly.
Bank on It
Though many companies no longer require it, it never hurts to get in touch with your bank and credit card companies to let them know that you will be traveling, your destination, and what dates you will be abroad.
This way, you won’t get caught in an embarrassing or inconvenient situation where your card is declined, or you can’t take out cash.
Be Insured
Be sure to purchase travel insurance for every trip since a large overseas medical bill can derail an entire family’s budget. Medical emergencies can and do happen anywhere and can be as simple as food poisoning or traffic accidents. You can find many insurance companies at www.visitorscoverage.com
Stay Relaxed
As a final thought, Alvarez noted that vacationers should be flexible and patient when traveling. Unforeseen delays and situations can — and often do — happen. From delayed flights to inclement weather and lost luggage, accept that these things happen and make the best of them.
After all, travel is meant to be fun and guaranteed to be an adventure.
No matter which of these tips is new to you and which you consistently follow, Alvarez and his staff of luxury travel consultants can help you plan your next trip and advise you on each step.
About Sui Generis Entertainment & Travel
Sui Generis Entertainment & Travel, Inc is a boutique luxury travel company that provides top-tier immersive global travel experiences. Founded by Carlos and Ana Laura Alvarez, Sui Generis can custom tailor your next trip for a one-of-a-kind adventure for families, friends, weddings and solo travelers. For more information, please visit https://www.suigeneris-travel.com/
