Ah, the pre-travel adrenaline!
As I sit surrounded by piles of socks, charging cables, and a passport that somehow looks more nervous than I feel, it’s time to document the glorious chaos of the final 48 hours before my Tallinn adventure.
Welcome back to the “Tallinn Bound” series, your exclusive behind-the-scenes pass to my travel brain, where the only thing more packed than my suitcase is my itinerary.
Previously on Tallinn Bound…
Before we embrace the present panic, a quick recap:
In “Decision, Dates, and Dollars,” I crunched the numbers (and, let’s be honest, my spirit), making a budget that would make even my accountant proud.
“Planes, Pillows and Plots” saw me in the wild, booking flights and hotels with the agility of a caffeinated squirrel.
And “Sights, Strolls, and Selfie Spots” was a deep-dive into Tallinn’s must-see marvels, from towering TV towers to Kadriorg Palace.
Now, let’s see what happens when wanderlust meets last-minute living.
Pack to the Future: Suitcase Edition
Packing is a noble art, one I’m not sure I’ve mastered. Should I roll, fold, or just channel my inner Tetris champion?
There’s the “Pack Like a Pro” method (outfits pre-planned, ziplock bags galore) versus the “Hope for the Best” approach (toss, zip, pray).
In my “Packing Insanity” entry, I admitted to being an overpacker. My philosophy is “even if you don’t think you’ll need it, you will, so pack it anyway.” Ha Ha!
Yet, I have yet to pay any additional baggage or weight fees.
How is this possible in an age where airlines charge you major dough for everything, including the air you breathe on the plane?
Simple. I plan it out and don’t wait until the very last minute to pack.
Packing Checklists: They’re fun
If you’re like me, constantly worrying you’d forget an item, creating a packing checklist is the easiest way to ease those worries.
For most trips, I pack early. Packing early gives me a chance to figure out how everything will fit in my luggage, how much it weighs and whether I need to buy any additional items … or even another suitcase.
For every trip, whether business or personal, I always create a packing checklist.
My checklist is more than just a list of clothes and toiletries; it includes travel tips, weather and flight information, and reminders about items to complete before your trip, like putting the mail on hold. I forgot to do this once. Let me tell you, my landlord was not happy.
There are plenty of websites with suggested packing lists to help travelers pack for their adventures, wherever they take them.
The three sites I use frequently are Travels’ Checklist, SmarterTravel’s The Ultimate Packing List and Packtor. I used these three because they are free to print and, in some cases, customizable to fit your needs.
Passport: Don’t Leave Home Without It!
The #1 item I always hand-carry is the most important:
My PASSPORT!
My Passport is the only item I can’t easily replace. As much as I like Tom Hanks’ movies, I don’t want to play out my own version of The Terminal.
Therefore, I always hand carry it and keep it on my person. It never goes into any piece of luggage — carry-on or checked!
My passport is better protected than my laptop. That’s how much this small item means to me!
If you’re a world-traveler, or want to be, invest in quality RFID Blocking Wallet, or RFID Blocking sleeves.
Packing Essentials
For Tallinn, my ticket includes one checked luggage. I’ve tried the carry-on-only approach option on a few previous adventures, but this only exacerbated that “I think I forgot something” feeling. My airline ticket was only $20 more for a checked luggage option for this adventure.
I pack my essentials — an extra pair of clothes, PJs, medications and my journal — in my carry-on. Although I have a checked bag, that used mostly for the souvenirs I’m bringing back.
Almost forgot! There’s one essential clothing item I’ve learned never to leave home without — shower shoes.
No matter how clean the room is, bacteria and other biohazards still lurk on the bathroom floor, and on the hotel room’s floor in general.
Also, shower shoes help prevent slips and falls.
During my 2016 Italian Adventure, I forgot to wear my shoes on a quick late-night trip to the bathroom.
Let’s just say I spent the next day with a monster headache, knee pains and a slightly sprained wrist. Ouch!
Rain or Shine, I’m Checking Twice
Checking the weather in Tallinn has become a hobby. Will it snow? Rain? Will the sun make a cameo appearance just for me?
For my adventure, Mother Nature is planning cloudy skies with a few short showers, then sunshine for the remainder of my trip.
Check-In and Chill (Sort Of)
Online check-in is a modern miracle. In just 3 minutes, I’m checked in, changed my seat (if a better one is available), and got my boarding pass.
Sometimes, I pre-order a special meal, but only when my flight leaves before the airport eateries open.
Frequent flyer number? Entered. Passport photo? Uploaded. Panic level? Please, what panic?
Security: The Unofficial Olympic Sport
Ah, airport security: where my organizational skills go to die, or at least, where I used to think they’d vanish. These days, getting through security doesn’t have to mean standing in an endless line and sweating over every zipper in your bag.
There are so many ways to make this part of your journey smoother: programs like TSA Precheck and other fast lanes can whisk you past the crowds, and some airports offer premium services like FRASmartway to help you glide through with ease.
If you travel often, enrolling in these programs can be a total game-changer.
Of course, I still rehearse my laptop-removal choreography, just in case. More often than not, I get to skip the worst of the line. The real magic is walking straight to the front, liquids bag in hand, feeling more like a VIP than a frazzled traveler.
My only worry now? That my carry-on contains exactly one forbidden item, but which one?
Next Stop: Tallinn!
Packing, prepping, and panicking aside, these 48 hours are part of the adventure.
The anticipation, the last-minute doubts, the giddy feeling of knowing that in just two sleeps, I’ll be wandering the cobblestone streets of Tallinn.
Stay tuned for the next episode, where I swap pre-departure jitters for old town wonders and see if all that prep paid off.
Until next time…
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