Extra Baggage: What to Do with Your Coat While Traveling
The good news: you're heading to Guangzhou/Hong Kong/Singapore/Thailand, and you couldn't have timed it better given current Beijing temperatures. But especially for travelers who are going to those places for long weekends, and/or intend to use excess luggage space for new purchases, what to do with that winter coat once you arrive at your warmer destination?
Having seen this in action recently and dealt with this before, here are some options, based on your budget and itinerary.
RELATED: Winter Destinations in China
Ditch the coat with your driver: Like I said, budget and itinerary. There was a time not so long ago when I used the same guy to drive me to the airport, he was trustworthy, and it wasn't like I was wearing a cashmere Burberry overcoat anyway. Sure, there was the 30 or so seconds between leaving the car and arriving at the terminal, and vice-versa on the return, but the lack of hassle was superb. We'll talk about cultivating your own airport driver in a future post.
Wear more of what you're taking: This is a balance between how willing you are to be cold and for how long. Can you layer some of the clothes you're taking on your trip, and top it up with a thick sweater? This depends on entirely on your route to the airport: if there's a long, outdoor taxi queue anywhere along your journey, or of course an outdoor walk to or from the airport, this may not work.
Take your most packable coat: Throw warmth to the wind. Whichever coat you own that smooshes down into the smallest ball or packing space, take that one. The hardcore packer will wear the coat into the terminal, then take off said foldable and shove it into their checked luggage. Then again, "overheated" is not a word I would ever use to describe Beijing Capital International Airport, so your mileage may vary.
Wear your coat and ask the flight attendant to hang it: This usually requires a business class ticket or asking very nicely in Chinese as a foreigner. Give it a try. If it doesn't work, then ...
Just wear it and stick in the overhead compartment: If you're going away for the weekend, you're probably not carrying much anyway. Just fold the coat and place it on your carry-on. Or, keep it on your lap and use it as a blanket. Whether it's cold outside or not, the plane will be cold, you can count on that.
More exciting travel news next Tuesday. One road flat safe.
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Email: stevenschwankert@thebeijinger.com
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