How to pack your suitcase for a trip
How you pack plays a big role in the outcome of your trip. If you’ve ever arrived at your destination only to find your suitcase splattered with the remains of a toothpaste explosion, you know this to be true! To pack for a trip, you have to organize everything you’ll need while you’re away and pack it all into your suitcase in a manner that reduces space while still protecting your stuff from leaks or other damage. There are also a few specific pointers to keep in mind for anyone traveling by plane or train.
- Make a checklist of every item you plan to take on your trip. This will include clothing, shoes, toiletries, and paperwork and possibly also maps, guidebooks, reading material, and hotel or rental car information. This checklist will also help you when packing for the trip back home as you will have a list of everything that you brought with you.
- Commonly forgotten items include toothbrush/toothpaste, socks, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, pajamas, razors, and deodorant.
- Never underestimate how quickly your space will fill up. Will you really need five pairs of shoes for three nights? And four coats? Consider the weather and what kinds of activities you will be doing. You might want to visit www.weatherchannel.com to check out how the weather will be at your destination.
- Plan your outfits ahead of time to avoid over-packing. If you have a decent sense of what the weather will be like, you can be very precise. If not, bring versatile items (ex. a cardigan or light jacket that goes with several of your tops, some three-quarter-sleeve shirts, jeans that look good rolled up at the bottoms) that will allow you to adapt to changing conditions. As much as possible, bring items you can get away with re-wearing. Layering is a good way to not only disguise re-worn items but also deal with changing weather.
- Stretch your travel wardrobe by color-matching. If you make sure every piece of clothing you pack works with many other pieces, you can create a host of mix-and-match possibilities.
- Bring empty plastic bags for dirty items. If you won’t have an opportunity to wash your clothes, tucking them away in a separate bag will keep you from having to mingle the clean with the dirty or sort through your stuff every time you want to change.
- Buy travel-size containers for your toiletries, regardless of the length of your trip. This includes your toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. Unless you will be in a remote location for weeks, you can always drop into a local shop to restock your supply of soap and toothpaste. If you will be flying, there might also be restrictions on the amount of liquid or gel you can bring on the plane, meaning you may find yourself forced to choose between shampoo and toothpaste while going through airport security. Go to the airline’s website to check out the guidelines.
- Put all your toiletries in a secure bag. You definitely do not want an explosion or a leak in your luggage! Oh, and again, these should be in travel sizes.
- If you will be staying at a hotel after your arrival, you can completely skip the shampoo and conditioner and simply use what the hotel provides. (You can buy other necessities at the destination such as toothpaste.)
- If you will be going through customs, check your luggage prior to packing. Ensure that it is completely empty (especially if the luggage is not yours), because as soon as you’re in security check, no one is responsible for its contents except you. Usually, suitcases have hidden zippers along the center or side. Open these and give it a good once-over. It is better to be safe than sorry.
- If you will be crossing borders, consider using tamper-evident products to seal your case so you can check if your luggage arrives without being breached before you go on to clear customs.
- Place heavy items at the bottom of your bag, especially if it is an upright model. Struggling with a rolling luggage that twists and flips in every gentle turn and falls over when you let it go is no way to move around.
- As you pack your luggage, check items off your list. Be thorough; you don’t want to have to dismantle your entire bag in a panic to find out whether or not you’ve taken care of something.
- Pack clothing using the time-honored “roll” technique. Lay two or three items on top of one another, smooth to flatten, and roll them up like you would a sleeping bag to save space and prevent wrinkles. For added wrinkle insurance, place a sheet of heavy tissue or packing paper between items of clothing before rolling. Don’t worry about wrinkle-prone garments; most hotel/motel/inn rooms have an iron and board in the closet for your needs, not to mention a hotel laundry service.
- Pack sweaters, jackets, and underwear in reusable compression bags, which can create up to 75% more space in your luggage. These lock in odors, so they also work for storing dirty laundry. Compression bags work very well. Ziploc sells these. What you have to do is place the item inside, close the bag, and put the included air pump over a little one-way hole. Suck out the air with the pump. It’s that easy
- Place breakable items, like jewelry or glass, wrapped in socks and tucked into shoes inside your luggage. This ensures ultimate safety.
(Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Pack-for-a-Trip)
9 Tips for Staying Safe in a Hotel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic is far from over, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still suggests staying home for your own safety as well as for those you may encounter upon leaving the house. However, if you do decide to travel for any reason and stay in a hotel, local laws permitting, you’ll want to take as many safety precautions as possible.
So, if you decide to book a hotel stay, here are 10 tips to maximize your safety during your trip.
1. Pick your destination wisely.
If you can, avoid destinations that are seeing spikes in coronavirus cases, lest you become the latest statistic. If you’re going to a hotel where the incidence and prevalence of infection is very, very low, that’s obviously going to be safer because you’re less likely to run into or interact with someone that’s infected, but it’s no guarantee. In a hotel, people are coming from different parts of the country and the world.
2. Before booking a stay, research the hotel’s plan to protect guests and staff.
While you can’t control the actions of others, you can find out what a hotel is doing to encourage safety among guests and staff. Are masks required? Will the hotel provide masks for guests who don’t have them? What kind of social distancing measures are in place? Are there signs posted to educate guests on their policies? Are alcohol-based hand sanitizers readily available throughout the hotel? How often are public areas being sanitized? Is there contactless check-in?
And if you don’t find your answers online, pick up the phone and ask directly — a hotel should have answers to all these questions readily available.
3. Find out what the hotel’s plans are for guests who fall ill during their stay.
Worst case scenario, you’re suddenly not feeling well. You’re not in your hometown where you might know exactly what to do. Does the hotel have procedures for you to follow? You can ask the hotel if it has a resident physician, or if it has information on the nearest medical facilities.
4. Wear a mask and stay at least six feet away from others.
Whether or not your destination requires mask usage or social distancing, you should adhere to all pandemic safety policies suggested by the CDC. All the things that you have been doing to protect yourself still apply when you are staying in a hotel, we are still in the midst of a pandemic, and being on vacation doesn’t change that. Wear a mask when you’re in public spaces, and stay at least six feet apart — this applies to the elevator, too.
5. Ask for a room that has not been occupied for a few days.
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the coronavirus can live on some surfaces, including plastic and stainless steel, for up to 72 hours. This means that there is a higher risk of coronavirus if the previous guest stayed in the room right before you check in. For maximum safety, ask to stay in a room that has been vacant for three days.
That said, if the room has been properly sanitized by hotel staff between stays, the risk of contracting the virus from a previous guest is pretty small. But better safe than sorry.
6. Sanitize your room upon arrival.
Although hotels should be properly sanitizing rooms between guests, it doesn’t hurt to double down and do a quick clean yourself, especially on high-touch areas like doorknobs, light switches, TV remotes, the bathroom, and any flat surfaces like tables or countertops.
7. Open your windows for ventilation.
If you’re worried about the virus traveling through the HVAC system, don’t be — at least for now. Right now, there isn’t any proof that that’s the case, but data is limited. If it can occur, it’s going to be a relatively minor mode of spread compared to not wearing a mask and keeping physical distance.
But if the windows in your hotel room open (many don’t for safety reasons), you should let that fresh air in anyway. The risk of airborne transmission is higher in indoor spaces with poor ventilation, so it’s a good idea to open windows and doors and increase the fresh air in the room. Good ventilation can help reduce the risk of coronavirus spread.
8. Decline housekeeping services to reduce the number of people in your room.
If housekeeping staff enters your room wearing a mask, they likely won’t spread the virus to the air or surfaces. The real risk of exposure comes from being around others, so someone cleaning your room would pose little risk to you. But there’s always a slight risk that improper mask usage — or no mask usage at all — could lead to the virus entering your room through housekeeping. If you’re worried, skip out on housekeeping altogether. You can always ask for fresh towels to be dropped off outside your door.
9. Order room service rather than dine out.
Given that you can’t eat or drink with a mask on, you’re best off avoiding the hotel’s restaurant and bar and instead ordering room service. Dining in your room will limit your contact with others, so room service would be a safer alternative than going to a restaurant.
How to Have a Fulfilling Staycation during Pandemic
The last two years have looked a lot different than any before it. Physical distancing guidelines and travel restrictions have been put in place to keep communities safe and healthy. Don’t worry during this pandemic you can still experience a fun, fulfilling vacation without leaving the city as known as a staycation. Taking time off for a staycation can be just as beneficial to your health as a traditional one. Research has found that one of the happiest parts of taking a vacation is planning and anticipating it.
- Make sure your condition is healthy
The first staycation tips during a pandemic is to make sure your body is in a healthy condition. Not only yourself, also you need to make sure the health condition of your family and friends who you want to take for a staycation. If you feel unwell and not good, it’s better to stay at home and take a rest. Especially if it shows symptoms similar to COVID-19, such as coughing, fever, diarrhea and others.
2. Choose a hotel that has high standards of cleanliness
The second staycation tips during a pandemic is that you have to choose and booking hotel that has implemented cleanliness standards in accordance with those set by WHO and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association. Usually, hotels that have implemented this policy have a sign that can be seen when you open by an online travel application. Also, you have to read the hotel reviews that you will choose based on their cleanliness reviews. Reviews about cleanliness are usually written by hotel guests who have stayed at the hotel, so you can find out how clean the room you will be staying in and the entire hotel area.
- Avoid physical contact during the check in process
The third staycation tips during a pandemic is, as much as possible you have to avoid physical contact during the check in process. Usually during the check in process, the receptionist will need your signature as approval to stay at the hotel. Instead of using a pen belonging to the receptionist that has been used by many people, it’s a good idea to bring your own pen to make it safer. Or you can choose to do the online check in or self-check in process if the hotel you are visiting has provided it. Of course this reduces your physical contact with other people during the check in process.
4. Request a room that has been empty for 3 days
The next staycation tips during a pandemic is, you have to request for a room that has been empty for three days. This is because according to research on the Corona virus which causes Covid-19, it can last up to five days. For that, you can ask the hotel to get a room that has been vacated for three days. Usually you can ask for this during the room reservation process up to 7 days before the check-in date. You can check the city where the city you live before staycation, like staycation Singapore.
5. Prepare your own food in your apartment/Use room service to order
You can choose to use room service when ordering food. Usually hotels will serve food in the form of a buffet at breakfast where all hotel guests will enjoy breakfast at the hotel restaurant at the specified time. Instead of rallying with a lot of people in a restaurant for breakfast, you can take advantage of room service or room service to ask for food to be delivered to your room.
If you are staying in a serviced apartment, they come with a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your own meals therefore avoid contact with other guests and staff.
Longonot Place Serviced Apartments is committed to the sustenance of safe and healthy work place for all employees and key stakeholders by acting positively where it can to eliminate hazards, and prevent injury, ill health, damage and loss arising from its operations. We have fumigated our corridors, door handles, lift buttons & doors, reception area surface, staircase railings, and public access areas with a special germicide to fight the Corona virus. Your health is our number one priority.
Fun Facts about Nairobi
Nairobi is one of the most dynamic cities in the continent, the most economic city in East Africa, and the largest city in Kenya, with a population of over 4 million people.
The city is full of culture, it is fun, there are lots of things to do during both day and night, and best of all, and it is affordable for the most part.
Nairobi also has the country’s main international airport – the Jomo Kenyatta International airport, and so many tourists coming to Kenya will most probably land in Nairobi first before preceding to other parts of the country.
Nairobi started as a railway camp, where the British rested as they built the Mombasa to Uganda railway line. It was previously known as “Ewaso Nai’beri”, but the British had a problem pronouncing the name so instead they coined their own name, “Nairobi”.
There’s a lot more I can say about Nairobi, but let’s check out some fun facts you probably didn’t know about the city.
Nairobi attractions
Did you know that Nairobi has some of the best attractions in Kenya? To begin with, Nairobi is home to the Nairobi National Park, the only national park that boarders a capital city. This makes this park particularly special, as you get the opportunity of watching wildlife with a backdrop of the city skyline.
Nairobi is also home to the David Sheldrick’s Trust, best known for protecting orphaned baby Elephants. It is an orphanage that is open to the public for one hour every day where you get a chance to be educated about the animals, watch them being fed, and what’s more, you can adopt one!
Nairobi is also home to the Giraffe Centre, a popular tourist attraction for both the international and local tourists. Here, you have the opportunity of feeding, touching, and taking photos with Giraffes.
The Bomas of Kenya, an open air museum, is also located in Nairobi. It is a place that offers an opportunity to experience cultural performances, and learn about the Kenyan tribes, among other things.
Other attractions to visit in the city include the “Mamba” (Crocodile) village, the Karura Forest, the Maasai markets among others.
Nairobi night life
Nairobi never sleeps, a fun fact you will quickly realize especially if you happen to be in town at night. The city is actually one of the most popular in Africa when it comes to its night life.
The number of night clubs, bars, and “locals” (small gathering areas in the estates) in the city is amazing. What’s more, everyone has a place they will fit, according to their budget. There are clubs where the richest in the city hang out, there are those for the middle class group, there are the “locals” for those who couldn’t be bothered to go to town, and then there are small clubs that serve much affordable drinks to the local “mwananchi” (citizen).
Some popular nightclubs in Nairobi include the B Club located in Kilimani estate, 1824 on Langata Road, 40Forty lounge in Westlands, and Brew Bistro & Lounge along Ngong Road.
There are also many big restaurants all over the city that operate until late.
Transport in Nairobi
Anyone that has ever visited Nairobi will tell you about the streets in Nairobi, the “Matatus”, which are the main public transportation, the “Nduthis” (motorbikes), another popular transportation in the city, and the taxi services including “Uber”, “Bolt” and “Little Cab”, among others.
Matatus are mini buses or smaller vans that provide transport for city dwellers coming from their homes to the city and back. They are pieces of artwork, and can be very interesting to see especially for someone coming to Nairobi for the first time. They are decorated with graffiti, images of international pop icons, contemporary topics, etc. They also play really loud music, and are very popular with the younger generation. There are also some that are not as decorated and not as loud, mostly favoured by the older generation.
You will almost always need to use either or a combination of all the various transportation options in the same day, depending on what you are doing in town, and how fast you want to get from point A to B.
You see, Nairobi is crazy busy. People, in big numbers, are always walking up and down the city. Matatus are almost everywhere and can be noisy sometimes, there will be people pushing carts depending on which area of town you are in, the nduthis are everywhere, and it can get chaotic. But it is also fun to try any of the transportation, albeit for the fun of it!
Nairobi Malls
Nairobi carries the most number of malls in Kenya.
From the Two Rivers Mall along Limuru road, to the Village Market Mall also along Limuru road, to the Garden City Mall on Thika road and the Thika Road Mall also on Thika road, the Hub Mall in Karen, the Waterfront Mall also in Karen, the Junction Mall along Ngong road, to T-Mall and Galleria Malls on Langata road and many more, it’s no wonder the city is renowned as one of the most developed in Africa.
A mall like the Two Rivers Mall is actually the largest shopping centre in East Africa, and the largest mall in sub-Saharan Africa except South Africa, occupying a space of 65,000 square metres.
Nairobi Slums
As you enjoy fine restaurants in the city and see lavish spending in some of the nightclubs in Nairobi at night, you might be forgiven to think that this is the way of life for everyone living in the city.
But it is not. There are some folks that are not so privileged, and these are the ones that live in the slums.
There are two main slums in Nairobi, the Kibera and Mathare slums. Kibera is actually one of the largest and poorest slums in Africa.
These slums are where some of the Nairobi’s poorest people live. But it is also where some very successful Kenyans have come from, and who have gone back to help out the younger generations growing up where they grew up, and giving them hope for a better future.
