Knowing where to book for a Valentine's Day weekend away, slo-mo holiday or European ski break is hard enough, let alone understanding how to cram your suitcase full with all of your travel essentials.
Last year, a survey by villa holiday tour operator Villa Plus found that 60% of Britons pack more than they need when they go on holiday, with 25-34 year-olds being the worst age group for overpacking toiletries (47%).
So, if you're going to trust anyone's travel tips, whether it's how to pack or how to get the best deals on accommodation, let it be Janaye Ingram.
As Head of Partnerships at Airbnb and co-founder of the Women's March, Ingram is regularly jetting between the likes of Brazil, New York City and Los Angeles. Navigating time zones and airports for work (and for the occasional holiday) has armed the entrepreneur with a super savvy list of travel tips, which she's prepared to impart to you here.
From melatonin to packing cubes, here's everything you know about traveling like a pro:
1) How to pack a suitcase
'I travel so much for work that I’ve searched for things I can invest in to make life simpler, especially while on the road. For all of my trips, I swear by packing cubes - organisers that help compress and contain your essentials.
'I was initially skeptical of them but they make packing seamless and keeps things orderly, even if I’m going to a lot of destinations using one suitcase. I have an eight-piece set of packing cubes that has a shoe bag, toiletry bag, and other sections for clothes and dirty washing.
'When it comes to choosing my luggage, I generally like to use a carry-on/hand luggage suitcases. Over the years, I’ve experienced luggage not making it to my destination and, as we all know, this is not a fun way to start a holiday. I typically pack for a week using hand luggage by leveraging my shoes as additional storage space for certain items (think stuffing them with underwear, socks, bikinis).
'However, I've also managed to pack for two full weeks in a carry-on trip for trips to Greece and Italy by bringing pieces that I could easily mix and match. During the summer, you can afford to take clothes that are a lot less bulky, take up less suitcase space and can be worn from day to night.
'Another trick I use is to down-size my handbag by taking a very small bag that can fit nicely into a backpack or duffle bag which I'll then use as my personal item. Some airlines will weigh all of your luggage, including your hand luggage and personal item, so you have to be careful that they aren't overweight. I try to use the personal item carrier as a way to get more of my things on my trip.'
2) How to travel
'I travel so much that my main worry is getting ill and having to slow down. Similar to Naomi Campbell’s now famous travel habits during a flight, I have a similar yet less extreme routine to sanitising on a plane.
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'Before a flight, I'll make sure to stock up on sanitising wipes or spray which I'll use to wipe down the majority of my plane seat – headrest and cushions. I also sanitise all touchable spaces – window shades, lights, arm rests, call buttons, screens, every part of the seatbelt and food trays.
'To help me sleep, I will listen to playlist that plays 528hz music. This frequency has been thought to provide cellular level repair and prevent sickness. It's also nice and calming if you have travel nerves.
'Once I’m at my accomodation, I will generally smudge palo santo wood – which involves lighting a piece of wood and wafting it in corners of space – in certain rooms. If you’re someone who believes in energies, palo santo is similar to sage, except that it specifically removes negative energy. It’s a good thing to do at the start of the trip and has a soothing, woody fragrance that can fill a space.'
3) How to stay healthy
'For a long haul flight, I make sure to have melatonin and caffeine tablets which help my body adjust to changing time zones. I also invest in supplements such as The Good Day Chocolate which tastes like sweets and help me sleep more soundly.
'Before I get on a flight, I drink lots of water. While some travellers prefer not to do this so that they don't need to constantly be getting up to go to the toilet, it's important to stay hydrated.
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'I also try to drink ginger and turmeric tea a few hours before my flight. The combination is an anti-inflammatory and helps fight any swelling.'
4) How to dress
'For beach breaks, I’ve learned to pack cover-ups that can also be used as a beach blanket. This is a fail safe trick to make sure I can lay out on the beach, even if I’m not able to rent a beach chair and umbrella.
'Generally, when I’m on holiday, I leave my heeled shoes at home. I used to bring them and found I never wore them, rather would opt for my more comfortable flat sandals. When traveling, it's important to consider what clothing is essential and can be worn in different social situations, rather than thinking you might need something "just in case".
'For work trips, I always take a pair of my most comfortable and plain-coloured heels that I can wear to dinner or to meeting. By choosing one-coloured shoe that I know I can wear for hours without blisters, it means that no matter what plans or opportunities come up, you are prepared and have the appropriate attire.
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5) How to book the best Airbnb
'My top tip for booking an Airbnb like a pro is to first look at the photos to help you better understand what the space looks like and establish what your expectations of the accomodation should be.
'I'd also advise users to look at the property's rating and see if the score reflects topics like cleanliness, communication with the host, and the check-in process. It’s important to thoroughly read the reviews to understand the experience of previous guests, specifically those who have stayed more recently and whose experience is likely to be reflective of what you’ll likely experience.
'If you're struggling to know what to book, I advise opting for accomodation by a Superhost – someone hosting in our community that has stellar ratings.
'It's important to know that when a listing is new, the host might set a lower price to encourage people to stay and build up their reviews. It's worth regularly checking for new listings on the website every few days if you have a trip coming up as this is the easiest way to find the perfect place at a bargain price.
'Additionally, I'd suggest taking a look at the amazing Airbnb Experiences on offer to get a taste of a local area. For example, some people like to use Experiences for a workout, such as the boxing session in New York with a World-Champion boxer. You can even explore new food experiences with the feature. There’s a madeleine making experience in San Francisco that teaches you how to make the most amazing madeleine cookies.
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