155 Of My Best Travel Tips: Be A Travel Pro In 2023

This list of 155 of my best travel tips has been acquired after many years of travel to over 60 countries, most of them traveled independently. Some, unfortunately, I’ve learned the hard way. Others I’ve just picked up as I’ve traveled.

If you’re planning a trip in the near future, it’s good to pull this list out to review before you go to make sure you’re planning for a great adventure, not one filled with issues.

155 Best Travel Tips: Learn How To Travel Like A Pro

My Best Travel Tips

Credit Cards And Debit Cards

I’m putting my best travel tips for credit and debit cards first as understanding these fundamentals make you an instant travel pro.

• Research and use credit cards with no foreign transaction fees. If you have a credit card with no fees, this will usually be your least expensive method of payment (except in some locations where they tag on an extra 2-3% to use them). Bankrate.com and Nerdwallet.com are good sources for the latest and best offers.
• Research and use credit cards that offer free airline miles to accumulate miles for free flights. As above, see Bankrate.com and Nerdwallet.com for the latest and best offers.
• Research and use a travel credit card that rebates you on travel purchases. As above, see Bankrate.com and Nerdwallet.com for the latest and best offers.
• Sign up for credit cards with airlines. You get free miles and a variety of perks, like free checked bags, discounted food, and more.
• Research and use debit cards with no fees. There are 3 possible charges associated with debit cards. Either your bank will charge you for using an out of network ATM, your bank will charge you a foreign transaction fee, and/or the bank that owns the ATM you’re using will charge you a usage fee. These fees can really add up! Especially if you get hit by all three every time you withdrawal cash. I use the debit card that comes with the Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking Account. It does not charge fees for ATM use and rebates me any ATM fees from the bank I’m withdrawing money from. It also has no foreign transaction fees. There is also no charge for opening or maintaining the account. Note: there are some reports that Schwab pulls a hard credit report when you apply, and some saying they stopped this, so if you’re concerned this and the effects on your credit score, ask first. For more details and contact information visit Schwab.com.
• Although some credit and debit cards no longer accept travel notices, some still require it (my Mastercards do not, but my Schwab card does). If yours does, make sure to note where you will be and when you will be there so your card is not blocked.
• When using a debit or credit card, if you’re prompted to choose between a transaction in the local currency or your home currency, choose the local currency, as it usually provides the best exchange rate.
• Don’t use credit cards to withdrawal cash at ATMs while traveling. This is considered a cash advance, usually with a steep interest rate that starts accumulating immediately.
• The ATMs and money exchange centers in airports and touristy areas are usually the most expensive, so avoid them if possible. If you must, withdrawal a small amount. Of course, if you have a card that has no fees or rebates you, this is not an issue.
• If exchanging money or using an ATM at the airport, you will likely receive large bills. Immediately buy a cup of coffee or water to get smaller bills, so you’re not flashing the big ones and attracting the wrong attention. Most taxi drivers will say they don’t have change anyway, keeping the entire bill, and most buses only accept exact change, so you’ll probably need small change immediately.
• Plan your ATM withdrawals wisely so you don’t need to remove cash again too soon or have excess left at the end of your trip. It’s a fine balance.
• If your credit card bill will be due while you are traveling, pay it in advance to make sure you don’t miss the payment. I do this paying what I expect my bill to be before I’ve spent the money, and sometimes more. I never leave a balance on my credit card.
• When using an ATM, always inspect the card insertion area to see if it looks like it has been tampered with or if card skimmers have been added. Especially if it’s an ATM not located inside a bank or physically attached to a bank. Always cover the key pad with your hand while entering your pin into an ATM. ATMs inside or associated with banks are checked more frequently for tampering issues, so avoid freestanding ones when you can.
• Research whether your destination accepts credit and/or debit cards before you leave. Some countries and/or cities mainly accept cash (especially like places in Asia and Africa or more remote cities).
• Have a back up credit/debit card and keep them in different places in case of theft. For example, some people keep a spare card in their shoe (under an insole).
• Make copies of your credit card numbers, expiration dates, security codes, as well as phone numbers and keep them in a password protected location, like Dropbox. Memorizing them is best if you can. You can also leave a copy with family members or friends you trust.
• If your card uses a 6 digit pin, you may need to change it to 4 digit pin as not all countries accept pins with 6 digits.
• Some ATMs in foreign countries do not have letters on the keypads, so if you use a word, also remember the number sequence.

Money Matters

My best travel tips on money matters are about setting a budget and sticking to it, the importance of understanding the local currency, and tips on being more sophisticated with using and spending your dollars.

• Don’t carry all your cash with you. Only bring what you’ll need for the day. Preferably storing it in a place other than your purse or wallet, which are easy targets for pickpockets. I often keep my cash in my front pocket and my hand hovering close by at all times. Especially in crowded situations.
• Learn to recognize the different bills and their values in the country you’re visiting. Especially if some denominations are similar in color. Locals may take advantage of this by giving you incorrect change. It’s good to understand the coins too, but as their value is lower, I don’t stress too much about them.
• Make a budget before you leave and try to stick to it. I find it easiest to create a budget using a cost per day. It’s much easier to remember while you’re making decisions if you know you have $50, $100, or $150 a day to spend. This means you’re more likely to stick to it! Subtract out flights and room costs if necessary to make the number easy to remember.
• Track your expenses. Apps are great for this. I love Tripcoin for its simplicity and the fact that I can easily track my expenses per day in a variety of categories (I do mine by country). There are many out there, so search for the one that works best for you. My only complaint with Tripcoin is that I can’t add any incoming income. It’s strictly for spending.
• Always have some cash on hand. Sometimes ATMs in foreign countries run out of cash during power outages or on paydays (usually Fridays) when everyone removes cash. You need at least enough to last you a few days or get you to the nearest embassy in case of emergency. This is more important in more remote locations, but always a good practice.
• Save your receipts and check them against actual expenses incurred on your account when you get home to make sure everything matches.
• Some countries accept US dollars (or Euro) for payment instead of local currency. This may seem great, but they will give you change back in the local currency, usually at a poor exchange rate. Make sure you understand the exchange rate to get the correct change. It’s usually best to pay in local currency.
• Avoid exchanging cash at an exchange center (and never do this on the street). It’s usually less expensive to use credit cards or withdraw cash from an ATM with a debit card because of the fees they charge. If you must exchange cash here, look up the actual exchange rate online and compare to what they are offering.
• Some countries, especially ones that mainly accept cash, only accept newer, clean bills with minimal tears and wrinkles. In Myanmar, I had people inspecting my bills and rejecting ones they didn’t like each time I paid for something, including an internal flight I paid cash for. Plus, these same countries often don’t dispense clean bills from their ATMs. It can be quite stressful to suddenly find that you don’t have enough usable cash, even though you have plenty of bills.
• If you’re visiting a country that is known to have corrupt practices, keep a few small bills separate and handy, in case you’re asked for a ‘tip’. If they see you shuffling through a large amount of cash, they may take it all. If they believe you only have a small amount, you may get away with giving them less.
• Keep leftover change from various countries in labeled ziplock bags at home, so you can bring it when you return to that country. Label them by country so you don’t have to try to figure out what is from where. It’s nice to be able to buy a cup of coffee or have bus fare without having to find cash or change first.

Saving Money 

Most of us want to learn how to travel less expensively, and to help, this section of my best travel tips is the longest, providing many ways to save on travel.

• Book airline tickets months in advance to get the best price. It’s often the biggest expense of your trip.
• Use top search engines to find lower cost flights. My favorites are Skyscanner and Skiplagged. Others like Momondo and Google Flights. Book directly with the airline when you can, however, in case any issues arise. It’s easier than communicating with a middleman. They usually also offer the best price.
• Be flexible on your travel days. The lowest cost flights are usually mid week.
• Be open to taking the early flights, red eye flights, or routes with multiple connections to get the best deal. Unfortunate, but true.
• Visit off-season to get the best prices.
• Travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations. Places like Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are stunning, and very easy on the wallet.
• Check the conversion rate of various countries when deciding where to go. There are times when places like Egypt or Turkey are much better deals than others. Even the US dollar to the Euro can fluctuate quite a bit, so visit Europe when they are closer to par. It doesn’t hurt to save 10-15% at a destination.
• I routinely select flight options from search engines that use multiple airlines to save money. It’s much riskier, as if one airline is late, or cancels the flight, you may miss the other on, but for me, the savings are worth it. I do this regularly and have never run into a problem yet. Make sure to leave a long layover between connections to minimize the risk. I once almost missed a three hour layover due to delays on the first flight.
• Sign up with airline frequent flyer programs to accumulate miles when you fly. Some airlines, like United, American, and Delta, also have programs where you can earn miles by shopping at your favorite stores through their website. Every little bit helps.
• Bring food to the airport rather than buying at the airport or on the flight. Make your own sandwich or bring fruit, nuts, and cheese. I once saw a guy bring pancakes in a ziplock bag and eat them on the plane. I thought he was brilliant! If you carry a liquid on the plane though, like syrup, it needs to go in your liquids bag.
• Look into travel or museum passes in the country you’re visiting. You can often get great discounts if visiting multiple locations. Verify the details though, as if you only plan to visit a few places, it’s usually better to buy tickets individually.
• Check for free admission days at museum and galleries in advance.
• Walk or use public transportation to get around. It will be cheaper and often more of a cultural experience.
• Look into multi-day passes for the bus or metro. Even boat services (like the vaporetto in Venice) offer these discounts.
• I often find it less expensive to book things locally, rather than on-line before my trip. It depends on how comfortable you feel about this and if you think an opportunity or event will sell or or not.
• Avoid eating near tourist attractions. It will likely be the least tasty, most expensive food.
• Avoid restaurants that have employees standing outside trying to entice you in. These are usually designed for tourists and will be expensive.
• Eat local cuisine. It’s usually less expensive to eat the home country’s food then their international options (and better too!), like eating pho soup when in Vietnam, rather than a burger.
• Eat where the locals eat. If you’re not sure, ask someone on the street. They’ll know the best places for the best price.
• Make lunch the biggest meal of your day. Lunch is usually less expensive than dinner.
• Don’t plan to eat out every night, or at every meal. Grocery shopping for occasional meals can also be part of the cultural experience in additional to keeping costs down.
• Look for accommodation that offers a free breakfast or at least free coffee or tea. If not, invest in some coffee, oatmeal, fruit, or whatever at the grocery store to start your day inexpensively.
• Buy and carry energy bars, apples, or nuts, to help minimize the temptation to splurge on an expensive snack when hunger strikes.
• Do you really need to buy a SIM card? Often just using wifi at your room or restaurants can be enough. If navigation is your concern, download maps in advance to use offline when traveling like Google Maps or maps.me. Once downloaded, navigation is wifi-free.
• Many people get their hair done before taking a trip, but I’ve consistently found it less expensive to get my hair done overseas. In Egypt, I got full highlights and a haircut for less than $50, while my US beautician usually wants between $200-300. Plus, the stylist was from Russia and did an amazing job! I’ve even found it less expensive in Europe. I’ve had my hair highlighted and cut in Egypt, South Korea, Thailand, Croatia, Spain, and South Africa. They’ve all been less expensive and fabulous. I now specifically plan to get my hair done while I’m traveling!

Packing

Packing properly is essential to making your trip enjoyable. We all want to conveniences of home, but really, less is more. Learn my best travel tips for getting your stuff organized, there, and around.

• Pack light, bringing one weeks worth of mix and match clothing options, preferably no-iron, quick-dry, clothes that can be hand-washed in the sink if necessary. This saves fees from checking bags and makes it easier to get around with public transportation (or walking). Note that many places remove the sink plug, so I bring a plastic bag grocery bag to line the sink for hand washing.
• Invest in travel cubes for packing. You can separate items by tops and bottoms, dirty and clean, or whatever works for you, to help keep stuff organized. They also keep clothes from getting overly wrinkled and the cubes compress so you can pack more into a smaller space.
• Always bring an eye mask and good ear plugs. I’m sensitive to noise, so for really noisy places (like Berlin), I sleep with my iPhone earplugs in all night, playing soothing music or white noise. I use them on the plane too as there’s always someone that’s playing a noisy game or watching a movie without their headphones!
• Do a Google search for comprehensive lists of airline carry-on limits and keep it handy. Especially European ones. Buy luggage within these specs to avoid extra costs. This also keeps packing to a minimum, making it easier to move around while traveling.
• Wear your bulkiest clothing and shoes on the plane. They’re cold anyway!
• Wear a nice pair of thick socks on the plane so you can take your shoes off and still be cozy.
• If you have to check luggage, make sure to put critical supplies, a days worth of clothes, and medications in your carry on, just in case your luggage is lost.
• Place your name and contact information in several places inside your checked luggage. They can’t identify lost luggage if the tags fall off, or if it’s not identified in the first place.
• Luggage with wheels is less than ideal for Europe’s cobblestoned streets and walkways. My preferred luggage is a backpack which fits within European carry-on specs, and has wheels for smooth floors like airports. I like Eagle Creek products.
• Know what you can and cannot bring into your destination by reading their Customs details in advance. In New Zealand, they inspected the bottom of my hiking shoes to make sure I was not bringing any unwanted organisms into their country. I also had a packet of honey in with my backpacking food, which I almost was fined for. It’s illegal to bring that into their country. He was kind enough to ‘hint’ that I needed to declare it.
• Invest in a blow up neck pillow. It’s inflates in a second and folds down flat after the flight. Sometimes I even used this to bolster lackluster hotel pillows.
• Quick dry travel towels come in handy for a variety of situations, plus many hostels charge extra for towels.
• Being your own padlock as many hostels provide a locker with no lock.
• Bring a travel power cord with multiple outlets and USB chargers if you need to charge multiple items. Or just bring an extra long phone charging cord (USB cable). You can buy them 6’ long.
• Bring a power bank to charge your phone in an emergency. This cannot go into checked luggage. It must be packed in your your carry on.
• If you are traveling “carry-on only” and struggling with 1 quart liquid limits, omit the shampoo/conditioner as you can usually buy this cheaply at your destination.
• Pack the sunscreen, however, as this sells for a premium price in sunny destinations. Also, please consider reef safe sunscreen to limit reef damage by chemicals if going in the ocean.
• Consider bar shampoo and conditioner to avoid the liquid travel limits. There is also sunscreen in stick form that does not need to be packed with liquids (my preference).
• Bring a pen to fill out immigration forms. I still always forget this one! It can make the difference between being at the front of the immigration line, or the very back of it.
• If you’re not sure what the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) accepts in luggage, visit the TSA website. It covers many details like what you can and can’t bring, identification, liquids rules, information on TSA pre check, and more. They also provide contact information if you have more questions than they cover.
• Pack socks or other small items inside your shoes to optimize packing space.
• Don’t forget to pack something to sleep in if you’re staying in a hostel. Somehow I always forget this! I once was in a hostel with 3 other guys (I was the only girl) and had forgotten something to sleep in. I ended up wearing my yoga clothes to bed and felt like a complete dork!
• Make sure any prescriptions or medications are not illegal in the country you’re visiting, or traveling through. Keep doctor prescriptions in the original container so officials can see the details.

Safety & Security

Staying safe while you are travel is so important. And while most places we visit are relatively safe, there are a few travel tips that will help make your travel even safer.

• Get a ‘passport card’ in addition to your passport book You cannot use it to fly internationally, but should be able to carry it as an ID in countries that require one at all times without worrying about having your real passport stolen (ideally it’s locked up in the room). I just received mine and will be testing this in 2023.
• You can also make copies of your passport and have them laminated. And/or take pictures of your passport and email them to yourself in case yours gets lost. Send them to your password protected Dropbox, or other, account. 
• Read up on common scams in the location you are visiting. Just Google “common scams in xxxx”. I also include them in all my Travel Guides. World Nomads (the travel insurance company) is a good source of scams by country.
• If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t buy trips or take advice from hawkers in the street. Buy from reputable shops. Some countries have accredited travel companies, so research proof that they are legitimate if you can. Read reviews and see if the phone number actually works if you can’t.
• Don’t dress in flashy clothes or wear a lot of expensive jewelry. You will attract the wrong attention.
• If a stranger approaches you and asks you to go for a drink, it may be a set up. This is actually a common scam. They are likely working with the bar where you will get an overinflated bill. Especially if it’s a beautiful woman that wants you to go to a remote location. If you don’t have enough cash, very large men will be very happy to walk you to an ATM to get more.
• Don’t buy food or drinks if the prices are not listed clearly on the menu. Often this is a scam to overcharge you. Go somewhere else if they tell you not to worry.
• If you’re in a situation where you feel your safety is threatened, remember that WhatsApp has a shared location feature. It can vary by phone brand and type, so look it up in advance so you can share your location with friends in your chat if you need to. iPhone and other phones also have emergency call numbers that connect to the local emergency number.
• Avoid accessing bank or other sensitive information on-line when using public wifi. I pre-pay all bills so I don’t need to worry about this when traveling. Even my credit card if it comes due during my trip.
• Use a VPN service to protect yourself from hackers while using unsecured wifi or if you must access sensitive information. You can also use it to change your location and see if you can get better airline prices.
• Turn Air Drop off on your phone when traveling to avoid people sending you images or files and/or hacking information on your phone.
• Instead of credit cards, consider preloaded debit cards to limit exposure if stolen.
• Be leery of strangers lurking around the ATM, especially when in pairs. Come back later if it doesn’t feel right. Places in South Africa make this easy with armed guards standing by some machines!
• Buy travel insurance. Your country’s healthcare will not cover you overseas. World Nomads is a very popular option that I have used many times, as is Allianz.
• If you’re an American, register for STEP program (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program). This free program will send you email alerts if problems arise, like riots, terrorist concerns, or even pandemic details. If not an American, see if your country has a similar program. 
• If you need to be separated from your luggage on a train or bus (if it needs to be stored away from you), make sure to remove cash, valuables, or important documents first.
• It’s tempting to want to post your location on social media while you’re gone, but be aware of the safety implications. Will people then realize your home is empty? Or stalk you at your location? After all, they’ll be able to learn a lot about you if you post on local hashtags.

Accommodation

The right accommodation is so critical to enjoying your trip. These travel tips cover options for booking that you might not think of, the importance of reading reviews before selecting a place, and being happy with your location and safety.

• If your flight lands early in the morning (after an overnight flight) and you want to ‘nap’ when you arrive, book a room for the night prior. This way you don’t have to wait for the 3:00 check in (or whatever it is). If this is important, it may be a small price to pay to start your trip off right.
• Alternatively, sometimes I take a nap in the arrivals section of the airport (if there are bench seats), then use the bathroom to brush my teeth, freshen up and start wandering until my room is ready.
• Make sure the room you book is close enough to places you want to visit. You don’t want to spend too much time and money navigating on public transportation. Alternatively, rooms in the very center of the town will be overpriced. Find a happy balance. Sometimes, the best priced room is at the top of the hill. Especially on little Greek islands where you have to walk up there. Plus you’ll have an awesome view!
• If booking hostels, read reviews to learn the pros and cons of a place. Is wifi reliable? Is it a party hostel? Or quiet? Are there lockers in the room? Are there are enough outlets by the beds? Are there privacy curtains on the beds? Are the bathrooms clean? Is the staff helpful? Is there a kitchen? Same with hotels!
• If you want a private room, but want the social aspect of a hostel, many hostels these days offer private rooms. Airbnb also has private room options in homes. Or buildings with multiple private rooms sharing common areas.
• Use search engines to find the best room offers, but then book directly with the hotel or hostel. It will usually be cheaper. It’s also usually easier to make changes directly with the hotel, rather then through a third party, if an issue does arise.
• If you’re staying in hostels, arrange to stay a few days in a private room or Airbnb to refresh and recharge from time to time. Especially after a long flight. It’s easier to make friends when you’re not grumpy or overwhelmed.
• If you want to be flexible with travel plans and book at the last minute, just be aware that weekends often fill up faster than weekdays. Especially at quality places. I usually book weekends prior to weekdays to make sure I can get the place I want.
• Many hostels or other small establishments may only take local currency, or charge a fee for credit card use. Read about your destination in advance.
• If you ever feel unsafe in a hostel or Airbnb, talk to the management. This is not something you should ignore. Trust your gut. I’ve only had this happen once. The owner of the hostel I was staying at in Jordan was hitting on me (and other girls). I left the next morning but spent an evening wondering if he would take advantage of the fact that he had a key to my room. Luckily he didn’t, but I really should have left immediately in this situation.
• Ask for an upgrade to see if there is one available. You never know when they may agree.

Directions/Navigation

My best travel tips on directions and navigation are super important to me as I’m directionally challenged. They also save time and frustration.

• Research how to best get to your accommodation from the airport before you leave home. Wifi may not be available at the airport and you will likely be groggy and disoriented from the flight.
• Download maps that can be used off-line for your destination in advance. Add stars for your accommodation and places you want to visit so you can navigate wifi free. I prefer maps.me, but areas on Google Maps can also be downloaded. Just remember to download them when you have strong wifi. Also know that they can drain your battery. Set your phone to low battery usage mode when using them to help.
• Pin your country embassy on your map in case you need it in an emergency.
• Research transportation options for inside your destination before arrival. For example, some places have Uber, some don’t. Asia uses Grab and Gojek. Some places have excellent bus service, others you can’t drive in without a local license at all, like Cambodia. Others, like many places in Europe, have ride sharing services like blablacar that are great!
• If using a taxi, and it’s not a ride hailing service that provides a price before you book, ask a local on the street or your hotel/hostel what a reasonable fare is in advance. Negotiate it before you get in the car. Some taxis won’t have meters, and if they do, they may drive the long route. Either way, you should be prepared by knowing what it should cost. 
• Try to get the name of your destination in the local language. I had several taxi drivers in Cairo nod when I mentioned a place I wanted to go to, quickly realizing they had no idea what I meant when we started driving. I ended up dangling my cell phone over the front seat for them to navigate by. Yikes! It’s also good to make sure they speak English. The driver in another taxi I was in called his brother (who did speak english) and had me explain my destination to him. Of course, not until after we drove off!
• This is pretty country specific, but if you’re in Morroco, don’t ask men for directions. They will lead you to your destination and then expect cash. Ask a woman or policeman instead. I did this in Morroco once when I had no cash. The man yelled at me for quite a bit before he finally gave up and walked away.

Getting Social

Whether you’re traveling solo, with a friend, or as a couple, it always enhances your trip to meet others while you’re on the road. My best travel tips here will help you to be more social.

• Take a local walking tour early in your trip to meet other travelers in the area (Often these are advertised as free, but they actually work for tips, so bring cash). It’s a great way to learn about the area and make friends to hang out with on your trip. 
• If arriving after a long flight, try to rest and refresh before meeting people in your hostel. If you need to stop somewhere for a cup of coffee or snack before arriving to feel better, do so. Or book a private room for the first night. First impressions can make the difference of making friends or being ignored.
• Try a variety of social apps to meet people. You can join a Meetup, book an experience on Airbnb, or join Couchsurfing. Consider Tinder or local dating apps to meet friends, but make sure to note that you are only looking for friendship…and of course, be cautious, only meeting strangers in public places and not sharing personal details. Never, ever share where you’re staying.
• Ask locals for advice on where to eat, the best place for a sunset, top places to see, or even what’s it’s like to live there. It’s great to get their perspective and you may make make a great friend.
• Don’t be afraid to eat alone at a restaurant. In fact, sit at the bar if you can. It may open the door to meeting a new friend and learning more about the culture.
• Say yes if an interesting opportunity comes up…unless someone is trying to sell you something or steer you to their own agenda. Always be aware that this could be a scam…but try not to be so fearful that you miss opportunities.
• Smile! People will smile back.

Social Etiquette 

• Learn the cultural etiquette of your location. Some places require more conservative dress, covering arms and legs. If so, do that to avoid unwanted attention. In some places it’s proper to remove your shoes before entering a home or building. In Singapore, it’s illegal to chew gum. And in the Maldives, there are only certain beaches you can wear western swimsuits (bikinis) on. It’s best to know what the social etiquette is in advance.
• Read up on proper tipping etiquette. Sometimes tips are expected and sometimes they’re not. Sometimes, like in traditional Japanese restaurants, they’re actually offensive.
• Expect to negotiate and know the proper etiquette to do so. Usually start at 30-50% of the estimated final cost and work your way up. Ask at your hotel if you’re not sure what an item should cost. Remember though, that a few cents may mean much more to the seller than it is to your pride. Don’t overdo it.
• Ask permission before taking photos of people. Especially when taking photos of women.
• Never take photos of government officials or government property. This is a very serious offense in some countries. It can result in fines or even jail time.
• If visiting villages that have become tourist attractions, like Ihwa Mural village or Bukchon Hanok in Seoul, remember to respect local property. Don’t take shortcuts through lawns, peak into windows, or be too noisy.

Communication

Many of us travel to meet people and learn more about the culture. At least I do! These travel tips will help you to make new connections on the road and the best way to stay connected with friends back home.

• Learn a few key phrases in the language. It will go a long way to be able to say hello, please, and thank you, at the very least.
• If you’re in a country where you need more than a few phrases, download the language you need via Google Translate when you have access to strong wifi. You can then use it offline. I did this in Kyrgyzstan as the Russian I needed was too difficult for me.
• WhatsApp is a great way to communicate with friends and family back home as it’s free. You can also use it to stay in touch with people you’ve met traveling when you’re back home. Plus most countries outside the USA use it for regular communication, so download it before your trip. Some businesses even use it making it really convenient to get information.
• Research the best SIM cards and where to buy before arriving. Realize that your phone needs to be paid in full, not under contract, and unlocked to use foreign SIM cards. If not, consider buying an old unlocked phone to use for travel.
• eSim Cards are another option. Your phone must also be unlocked for this. Options vary by phone type and plan, so research which is best for you.

Health

While you’re traveling, it’s important to stay in good health, so here’s a few of my best travel tips to stay that way.

• Get shots or vaccines according to potential issues by country. Do you need a yellow fever shot. Hepatitis? Malaria pills? Your doctor or a travel clinic can help.
• Your doctor, or a travel clinic, can also help you with meds in case you get sick, like giving you a prescription for antibiotics in advance.
• Airborne or similar vitamins are a good idea before boarding a flight.
• If you run into a health problem on the road, pharmacies in other countries are usually very helpful and can make recommendations for you.
• Follow COVID guidelines in place by country. In some places you still need to wear a mask.
• Get plenty of rest when you travel so you don’t end up getting sick. 
• Resist the urge to nap when you first arrive in a country where there’s a large time difference. It’s better to get in tune with the local time zone as soon as possible.
• Read up on the safety of drinking the tap water or eating fresh fruit in your location. If you do need to buy water, bring a refillable bottle to avoid single use plastics.
• If you are sick, please get a private room, rather than sharing your germs in a hostel.
• If you travel a lot, find a way to keep up with your personal fitness routine. In addition to a lot of walking when I travel, I also bring my travel yoga mat and look for a place to practice daily.
• Resist eating too much touristy food. It’s ok to indulge a bit, but try to eat relatively healthy.

Planning 

It’s best to strike a balance between planning your trip and not over planning it. These travel tips will help you to plan the perfect trip.

• Don’t overplan your trip, loosely know the top sites you want to see and let it flow rather than trying to control it. You will find yourself open to beautiful experiences you didn’t expect.
• Research key holidays and celebrations in your destination before booking. For example, seeing the Festival of Lights in Chiang Mai where thousands of lanterns are released into the sky can turn a great trip into a spectacular one. On the flip side, it will also be busy and maybe more expensive then.
• Check in advance if important sites are open, under construction, or just closed on specifics days of the week.
• Plan long distance day trips in an overnight sleeper to maximize time and money. If the bus ride is 8 hours, do the night ride and sleep while riding.
• Intentionally get lost a few times and see what you discover.
• Do something that scares you. You’ll learn something about yourself and hopefully have fun doing it.
• Use social media to find the most photogenic places in a city or the best angles of that site.
• Look at top tour companies to get great itinerary ideas for a location.
• Read travel blogs for an authentic perspective on a place or attraction.
• Visit touristy places in early morning or late afternoon, as usually the tour buses arrive mid-morning.
• Save hilltop views and tower vistas for sunset (or sunrise).
• Expect that something will go wrong and try to roll with it, or learn from it.
• If you have a long layover in an airport, check out sleepinginairports.com for tips on where to catch some Z’s.
• If flying one way to destinations, check to see if an onward or return ticket is required. If so, you can rent one or buy a 100% refundable airline ticket and cancel it the next day.
• Leave a copy of your itinerary with friends or family.

Summary

I hope you’ve enjoyed the list of my best travel tips. If you have any that you think I’ve missed, please add it in the comments below.

Safe Travels!

Julie