It’s taken about 10 years of travelling for work, but I have managed (through tricks, lessons and mistakes!) to figure out how to maximize my time on any trip or vacation. And really, it started with my first trip to Machu Picchu–a few snags along the way travel-wise happened on that trip, all of which made me rethink how I plan a trip and travel. Here are some lessons learned, and tips on how to make sure you see it all, no matter where your next trip may be.    

Don’t miss the views

I will always remember my first trip up to the top of Machu Picchu. At the time, I begrudgingly wore glasses to see distance, but in truth, I hated my glasses with a passion. So, I relied on squinting to make out something in the distance. On my hike up Machu Picchu, I decided to forgo the glasses (so not cute for pictures in my mind then), but having to hike with disrupted vision, led it to being an instant regret. The ancient Inca ruins were slightly blurry, the detail wasn’t there and I felt like I wasn’t able to truly see everything that makes Machu Picchu so special. In that moment, I knew I wanted to switch to contact lenses. There was no way I was going to miss out on a view like this again. I made the leap, and it changed the way I travelled, the way I saw things and gave me a much deeper perspective on what seeing it all really means when travelling. After years of wearing monthly and weekly contact lenses, I’ve recently made a switch to daily disposable lenses, which have been a real game changer. Now Alcon DAILIES TOTAL1® are my contact lens go-to… I don’t need to worry about packing lens solution (see my love of carry-on only below), they keep my eyes hydrated and comfortable from early morning to late at night, and a fresh set each day means I have clear vision and won’t miss out on any of that incredible detail that makes travel so special. For avid travelers out there needing a good vision solution, please visit your eye care professional to learn more about DAILIES TOTAL1® Contact Lenses and visit AlconDailies.ca.  

Skip the connecting flights

Why waste time making a connection, back-tracking or increasing your chances of a delay or cancellation with an extra flight. Spend a bit more money and go direct if you can to make sure you have as much time as possible in your destination. This is one of my biggest tips, especially if you are going on a quick weekend getaway, you don’t want to cut in to your vacation time by spending it at an airport. I have been on short trips where I spend more time waiting in airports because of connecting flights than in my actual destination, and that just leads to stress. Take some time to decide which options are best for you and if you want to save on money, or time. 

Pack a carry-on

You all know I’m a super fan of carry-on only. It saves so much time when you get to a destination, plus you don’t ever have to worry about losing a bag, or paying a checked bag fee. And, an added bonus, if you want or need to change a flight, it’s so much easier to do so without a checked bag (particularly if you do end up taking a connecting flight for some reason). 

Pre-buy tickets

If you’re heading to a major attraction, look for ways to secure tickets in advance. Guarantee that will at least save you time in line waiting to buy a ticket, and you may even be put into an express line. Same goes for a historic site like Machu Picchu, many hotels or tour groups can pre-arrange tickets for you to save you time and even money. I’m a fan of CityPass for groups of tickets to major attractions in most North American cities (Top of The Rock, here you come!). 

Maximize your time

Really get to know a place by staying put. Trying to cram too many locations or destinations into one trip can leave you exhausted and rushing through things. There’s something incredibly luxurious and lovely about spending quality time in one neighbourhood, city or town, or country and truly getting a sense of the place. Even though I have an urge to add in as many spots as possible, that feeling of “I wish I had more time here” has made me rethink that urge.

*This post was sponsored by Alcon Canada, but all views expressed are that of the author and Travel & Style Magazine.

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