Missed buses, irresponsible behavior, cultural ignorance, and a slew of other little blunders have all contributed to the development of travel-savvy. Then, one day, you’ll find yourself gliding through airports and assimilating into different cultures like a fish to water.
I want to help you save time and avoid making the same mistakes I do, so I compiled this massive list of my greatest travel tips that covers everything under the sun to help you reach your full travel ninja potential.
These travel ideas can help you save money, sleep better, venture off the beaten path more, meet locals, and generally be a better traveler.
Always bring a towel with you.
It’s both the secret to effective interstellar hitchhiking and common sense. Whether it’s at the beach, on a picnic, or just to dry off, you never know when you’ll need it. Although many hostels provide towels, you never know, and a tiny towel won’t add much weight to your pack.
Buy a small backpack/suitcase
By purchasing a small backpack (I like something around 35/40 liters), you will be forced you to pack light and avoid carrying too much stuff. Humans have a natural tendency to want to fill space so if you pack light but have lots of extra room in your bag, you’ll end up going “well, I guess I can take more” and then regret it.
Pack as little as possible.
Wearing the same t-shirt several days in a row is acceptable. Take half of what you believe you’ll need… You won’t require as much as you believe. Make a list of necessities, reduce it in half, and just bring that! Plus, if you purchased a tiny backpack, as I already stated, you won’t have many places for other items!
However, bring extra socks.
You’ll lose a lot of clothes due to laundry gremlins, wear and tear, and trekking, so bring extra. I just take a few of extras. Nothing compares to a new pair of socks!
Take Extra Credit
Take an additional bank and credit card with you in case of an emergency. It’s usually a good idea to carry a backup card in case you’re robbed or misplace one. You don’t want to be stranded in a new location without access to your money. I once had a card copied and placed under lock and key. I was unable to utilize it for the remainder of my journey. I was overjoyed that I had an extra, unlike my friend, who didn’t and was often borrowing money from me!
Use no-fee bank cards wherever possible.
Don’t hand over your hard-earned cash to banks. Keep that money for yourself and use it to travel. Get a credit card and a debit card with no international transaction fees or ATM fees. The few bucks they take each time build up quickly over the course of a lengthy journey!
But don’t be scared to be lost on purpose.
Wandering aimlessly across a new city is a great way to get to know it, get off the tourist trail, and away from the crowds. You might be shocked by what you discover. I enjoy wandering about and attempting to navigate without using Google Maps!
At least once, travel alone.
You’ll discover a lot about yourself and how to be self-sufficient. It’s cliched, but it’s accurate. Solo travel taught me how to fend for myself, converse with others, and navigate unexpected circumstances with ease. It’s helped me feel more at ease with myself, taught me more about my capabilities, and given me the freedom to be completely selfish and do anything I want! If you’ve never done it before, it may take some getting accustomed to, but do it at least once. Surprise yourself by making yourself uncomfortable. When you push yourself, you’ll gain essential life skills!
Don’t be hesitant to consult a map.
Being mistaken for a tourist isn’t as terrible as getting completely lost and ending up in the incorrect area. Don’t be hesitant to ask for directions or use a map to give the impression that you’re a tourist. You are, after all, one! When I go, I always bring a map with me. It assists you in getting to your destination!
Take only what you need when you go out.
Limit the amount of cash and credit cards you bring with you so that you can swiftly recover if something goes wrong. Never travel with more than one credit or ATM card. My guideline regarding cash is to carry no more than $50 USD.
Always keep a lock on your person.
They’re useful, especially if you’re in a dorm and need to lock away your belongings. When traveling, bring a tiny combination lock with you. Don’t use one with keys since you’ll be screwed if you lose the keys!
When in queue for security, always get behind business passengers.
They travel light and move quickly since they are typically in a hurry. They’ve been through it before. As much as possible, form a line behind them. You’re going to fly past the line!
Never put your support behind a family.
They take an eternity. It’s not because of them. Because of the children, they have a lot of stuff. Try to avoid queues with a lot of children. It will take some time.
To obtain the cheapest deal, book flights at least 2-3 months in advance.
Don’t stress yourself out by attempting to get the cheapest flight. Spending five hours trying to save $10 will be extremely stressful. Here are a few articles that can help you save money on flights:
Hostels are available.
They are inexpensive, plan events, allow you to meet a lot of people, and are just a lot of fun! In addition, hostel bars serve inexpensive beer. Here are a few articles on how to choose a hostel (including some of my favorites).
Keep some cash with you in case of an emergency.
Because unexpected events occur. For example, there was the occasion in Romania when I couldn’t find an ATM and needed money to get to the accommodation via bus! I aim to maintain approximately $200 USD in emergency funds on hand in case something goes wrong!
Purchase a decent pair of shoes.
When you travel, you walk a lot. Don’t stomp on your toes. If you love them as much as they love you, they’ll take you places you’ll never forget.
To get free travel, use points and miles.
When you don’t have to pay for anything, you can go a long way in the world. Learn how to travel hack and earn points and miles for your ordinary purchases so you can obtain free flights, hotels, train tickets, and other kinds of transportation! It’s something that all seasoned travelers do to save money on their travels, and it’s something you should do as well! Here’s how I rack up a million frequent flyer points per year.
Patience is required.
Everything will turn out OK in the end. There’s no need to haste. You’ll arrive at your destination on time. It is the journey, not the destination, that defines travel.
Respect each other.
Locals are eager to assist you, but there is likely a language barrier, so keep your calm when things don’t go as planned. If you don’t, you’ll just come off as a jerk tourist.
Don’t plan your vacation too far ahead of time.
Allow your days to unfold in your own time. Schedule only two or three tasks and let the day take care of the rest. It’s less stressful, and one of the finest ways to travel is to just let the day take you. Here’s how to avoid overplanning your vacation!
Purchase your tickets online.
Book any activities or excursions you want to do during your trip online. When compared to shopping in person, companies generally give a discount. Not only that, but you’ll be able to pay with a credit card, providing you more security and earning you additional miles!
Register for flight discounts.
Your flight(s) will most likely be your most expensive trip expenditure. Sign up for flight bargain websites such as Scott’s Cheap Flights, The Flight Deal, and Secret Flying to save money. You’ll get incredible flight discounts delivered directly to your email, saving you time and money.
