Reading Time: 3 minutes
We’ve compiled a list of our best travel tips.
Preparation
| Keep an offline and hard copy version of your important documents. |
| Research your locations and what you’d like to do, especially if you are in a larger city or have limited time. |
| Have a general sense of your daily budget for the day, outside of your accommodation budget. If you spend a little extra on one day, you can even it out on a different day. |
| If you are traveling to a country that speaks a different language than yours, download the Google Translate app (and the particular language) so you have the ability to converse. |
| Purchase travel insurance. If you think you can’t afford it, ask yourself this question: what would the cost of an emergency surgery or airlift back to my home country be relative to the cost of this travel insurance? |
| Concentrate hotel and travel rewards points. |
| Break large bills into smaller bills. Many places do not keep change for large bills, or they see it as an opportunity to up-charge you. |
| Designate a trusted point of contact at home. Appraise them of your travel plans. Rely on them in times of emergency. Most importantly: get agreement that they are okay to be your emergency contact. |
Also read:
Part One: You Might Want to Travel the World. Now What? Consideration for Long Term Travel
Part Two: The Logistics of Long Term Travel — What You Need to Do Prior to Departure
Packing
| Take half the stuff and twice the money. |
| Pack for seven days of travel, regardless of length of trip. Plan to launder your clothes during your travels. |
| Roll your clothes to create more space in your luggage. |
| Leave space in your luggage for mementos. |
| Use packing cubes so you don’t have to rummage through your entire luggage in order to find an item. |
| Pack a power strip to charge all of your electronics at once. |
| Keep a few zip lock baggies tucked in your luggage for any liquids or toiletries you pick up along the way. |
| Purchase ear plugs for use in the hotel. |
| Pack your bag and walk around with it for a few minutes to see how heavy it is. Imagine what 30+ minutes of walking around an airport might feel like. Could you sprint across the airport or train station at it’s current weight? |
| Be aware of your flight’s carry on size limitations. |
| Do not plan to check your bag, if you can help it. |
| If you have to check a bag, keep expensive items, electronics and other valuables in your hand luggage. |
| Download videos, songs and media offline on your phone ahead of your trip. Do not wait until you reach the airport – most times the airport the wifi speed is slow and limits the amount of data you can download. |
| Separate dirty clothes from clean within your luggage by using a laundry sack. |
| If you overpacked, ship items home. |
Also read:
His Packing Guide for (Long Term) Travel
17 Tips for Keeping Safe While Traveling
Transit
| Prepare an in-seat flight kit. |
| Prepare travel snacks. |
| Adjust to the local time zone by going to sleep at your arrival destination time on your first day. Do not take a nap. Adjust your eating habit to your new destination too. |
| Airport and city center car rental locations are typically higher than pick up from a location a short cab ride away. |
| If you are traveling with someone, create a meet up plan in case you get separated. |
| If taking public transit, arrive early to the port of departure. Like airports, some trains and bus ports require check-in and security. |
| Avoid loading your bag under the bus. Once you become separated from your bag, all bets are off. |
Accommodation
| Understand your accommodation’s check-in, check-out time policy. |
| Contact your accommodation before you arrive to determine a meeting place and time. |
| Grab a card from your accommodation and keep it with you. The card will likely have the accommodation’s name and location listed in the local language. Use the card if you have a hard time finding your way back. |
On the Road – Out & About
| If you see a line for food, get in it and try out what the locals eat. |
| If you have allergies, confirm the ingredients used. The way a favorite meal may be prepared back home may be different in a new place. |
| Be open to conversing and hanging out with locals. |
| Keep a power bank with you when you go out for the day so your ability to communicate and take photos is not hamstrung by a phone battery. |
| If someone tries to hand you something on the street, do not take it unless you are willing to pay for it. It is not free. |
| Apply the same judgement on the road as you do at home. When it comes to safety, listen to your gut. |
What are some of your best travel tips?
Leave a Reply
Pingback: Airport Travel Tips: How to Confidently Navigate through an Airport – Bags, Safety & General Guidance from Start to Finish – Engaged Abroad on February 18, 2020
1 COMMENT