November 15, 2019 | Casey Fletcher

World Travelers Share Their Best Travel Tips and Tricks


Being a savvy traveler is something that only comes with experience. It's a lengthy process of missed flights, wrong busses, scams, and cultural faux-pas, and then eventually—after countless errors—you know what you're doing. If you're a first-time traveler or someone who is looking for a few tips for their next adventure, you're in the right place. These frequent flyers and globetrotters share their best tricks to help you travel seamlessly.

plan-your-trip-4516099_1280Pixabay

Don't forget to check the comment section below the article for more interesting stories!

#1 Pocket USB

A small pocket USB power bank has been the best investment ever when traveling. Also, don't delete from your phone/throw away your boarding passes before entering your destination. I've seen border security ask for them.

8596727708_bbaf983329_kFlickr

#2 Travel Light

I travel internationally one to three times a month, and the two best tips I have are: Travel light. Don't bring "just in case" items. Plan to buy them at your destination if you really need them, which you don't. And also, get a phone plan that allows free data roaming (for example, T-mobile in the U.S., 3 Mobile in Europe). Having a working phone is a game changer and makes basically every aspect of travel easier. Bonus tip: two inflatable pillows (one for the neck, one for the low back), an eye mask, and ear plugs make a HUGE difference sleeping on a plane.

8358619102_2537131dfe_kFlickr

#3 Keep Soft Copies

Do your research. Pack light. Keep soft copies of important travel documents in your phone and cloud storage. Get a universal adapter and a power bank.

iPhone 5c with pink chargerFlickr

#4 Check Again for Passport

Check 13 times for passport and NEVER leave it in the pocket on the plane.

#5 Hire a Driver

This has worked for me in less developed nations like India: If you make a connection with someone providing a service (driver, daily tour guide, etc.), hire them. If I feel that a driver is doing a good job and doesn't try to rip me off, I offer to hire them for the week. That way, it is one less thing to worry about.

group-366355_1280Pixabay

#6 Scam Artists

If a good looking woman starts hitting you on a bar unsolicited she is probably a scam artist.

#7 Change of Underwear

Change of underwear, toothbrush, cash, and device charger in whatever bag will be on your body the entire time you're traveling. Lost bags happen and a fresh pair of skivvies can make all the difference. Also, take a water bottle with you to the airport, empty it before security then refill near your gate. Most airports these days have water bottle filling stations to make it easy.

man-walking-person-people-boy-adventure-936126-pxhere.comPxHere

#8 Baby Wipes

Bring baby wipes if you are going to places where you have no access to a bath or shower.

#9 Slow Down

Slow down. There is no need to see all the sights. Just see a few at a leisurely pace and you will enjoy them a lot more. Good examples of this are going from museum to museum in Paris and actually not seeing anything because the collections are so rich, or driving from one national park to another in the U.S. without realizing how huge and how far apart they can be. Also, plan your meal times according to local customs. Most European restaurants close at 2 p.m. for a break. Good luck with getting a decent lunch after that.

41067351765_3a804b2c04_kFlickr

#10 Always Roll

Always roll your clothes instead of folding them. It takes up less space and reduces wrinkling.

#11 Find Contacts

If you're going to a country where someone you know lives, hit them up for information on what to see and locations to avoid. Even if they personally don't know the area you're going to be in, chances are they know someone who does and can help you out. This one has never steered me wrong in all my travels.

35652755551_0d8394860c_kFlickr

#12 Eat Your Veggies

Make sure you eat fruits and vegetables. Fibre will keep you regular and it's a good way to try new foods where you travel.

Seasonal Fresh Colorful Raw Vegetables FruitsMax Pixel

#13 Go By Foot

If you plan sightseeing in a city, try to go by foot as much as possible. This way you will learn much more about the city and the people. When I was in Tokyo I was walking 20km daily and it was amazing to see small neighborhoods, shops, and restaurants I wouldn't have otherwise seen. You get to experience the culture much more!

A man walks into the crosswalk near the Ueno JR train station in Tokyo, Japan.Flickr

#14 Band-Aids

My tip is to always have band-aids on hand. You'll get blisters, and they will be very very annoying till you cover them.

#15 Don't Exchange Money

Don't exchange money. ATMs give you the best exchange rate. Also, many credit cards do not have international fees. Get one to use on your travels. Hotel lobbies have great bathrooms. Find a luxury hotel and go to the bar, have an iced tea or a coke or something and then you can use a nice bathroom. And most hotels also have free WiFi these days as well. Go eat where locals do, food will be better, cheaper, and you'll meet cool people.

5857220614_a8772af1fd_kFlickr

#16 Power Banks

Cheap power banks. You can find decent ones at the dollar store you just put two AA batteries in.

#17 New Music

Bring new music with you when you travel, preferably by an artist or in a genre that you're already familiar with. If you enjoyed listening to it, over time, the music will "imprint" itself onto the memories of your destination. So every time you listen to it, your mind will go back to the place that you first played it.

Frau mit Kopfhšrer in DŠmmerung (von hinten)Flickr

#18 Be nice

Be nice. To every single person. Talk. Learn about them and their culture. Most people are welcoming and happy to have you in their country. When you show interest, they are very happy to inform you about things you won't learn in books.

Two_Drummers_and_a_TouristWikimedia Commons

#19 Medicine

Buy your food poisoning medicine at home and carry it with you. It's not fun being in the middle of nowhere in a third world country feeling terrible and not having the right medicine. Trust me on this one. If you're going to be unpacking and packing every day (backpackers), packing cubes are a godsend. I also like to carry some paracord. Learn some knots and hang your clothes anywhere. And of course ExOfficio underwear.

About Health Food Medicines Medical MedicineMax Pixel

#20 Bring a Pen

Always bring a pen and make sure it's working. You may need to fill out customs or immigration papers, or even just to do a crossword to waste time. Bringing a pen takes up very little space but can be very helpful at the right time!

#21 Wedge Door Stops

Bring one of the wedge door stops. Use it to prevent others from opening your door at night when you're sleeping in a guest house, hostel, motel, someone's apartment, etc. It'll save you from bad situations when you're at your most vulnerable.

#22 Passport Pouch

Passport pouch inside your shirt with all cards, cash, and passport. Look like you're poor and the thieves leave you alone (for the most part).

#23 Carry-On Luggage

Bring ONLY carry-on luggage. I went to Europe (from the U.S.) with a family of five and we only had three carry-ons between us (plus each kid had a small backpack). Life-changing. My kids insist on wearing the same pants all the time anyway, so vacation is the time to say "knock yourselves out! Wear those all WEEK!"

17135575321_6b66d989cc_kFlickr

#24 Microfibre Towels

Ditch the normal towels and get a microfibre towel. They are lighter and smaller considerably. They also dry super fast. Saved lots of space and weight.

#25 Switch to T-Mobile

Americans: If you travel abroad often, consider switching to T-Mobile. Their basic plan allows you to use your data plan in like 150 counties. The speed is throttled but it's not unbearable.

1602538845_87aecefe6a_oFlickr

#26 Gratuity on Cruise Ships

Gratuity is automatic on cruise ships. You can tell the crew you prefer to tip in cash and they'll remove it. Just make sure you tip in cash.

#27 Buy Your Towels There

In my opinion, the fold-up microfibre towels just don't do the job. That and the carry-on security restrictions on airlines. It means that you are going to be buying most useful small items again and again even if you own high-quality ones in your home country. I guess a possible answer is to pack a microfibre towel for emergency use and buy a cheap one at your destination that you can leave in your room and strap on the outside of your backpack if you have multiple stops. Then give it to some local clothes bank on the way back.

towels-washday-laundry-housework-wallpaper-previewPeakpx

#28 Exchange Rate Fees

If you travel a lot, consider getting debit or credit cards with no foreign transaction fees and with full ATM fee reimbursement (Chase, Schwab). This way you won't have to pay exchange rate fees.

money-drink-energy-label-brand-product-1136512-pxhere.comPxHere

#29 You Need Less Than You Think

You need a lot less gear than you think. Nowadays, a phone (with internet), your wallet, and a kindle will suffice. Also, bring a change of clothes if you're picky. I might be exaggerating a bit, but my point stands. You don't need a suitcase full of useless things to enjoy traveling around the world.

rbshFlickr

#30 Know the Laws

Be polite and respectful wherever you go and make sure you know the laws in the state, country, and area.

ranger-elaine-and-visitors-at-steaming-bluff_29918259977_o-2_960National Park Service

#31 Show Up Early

Show up early at the airport. Get all checked in. Take your time with a cup of coffee or get some breakfast. It's way less stress that way. Some people just like having extra time so we do not feel rushed. And you never know what wait times in security are going to be like. And no, missing a flight is not cool at all when you have to be somewhere at a certain time.

7784933372_c0778689bd_oFlickr

#32 Stay at Hostels

Hostels are filled with friendly, well-travelled, and knowledgeable people. It's a great way to see the world. Just lock your belongings up at night.

3293170076_beeedcf65f_kFlickr

#33 Familiarize Yourself With Security Rules

Be familiar with what you'll need to unpack during security before you get in line. Be ready to take off your jacket, shoes, belt, metal objects, and have empty pockets. Make sure you laptop is easily accessible, as it will need to go in it's own X-ray tray. If you have any fluids in your bag, put them together in an easy-to-access location so the agent doesn't have to tear your whole bag apart.

Keep a mental note of everything you put through the X-ray, people often leave stuff behind when they get flustered. There's nothing more irritating than fumbling around before the X-ray with half your belt off, trying to unpack your laptop from an impossible location while an angry line grows behind you.

19821423451_88d5e6edd2_kFlickr

#34 Global Entry

Getting Global Entry is so worth it!! I came back from Florence to a customs line that wrapped around the entire baggage claim area. The line for Global Entry had three people in it.

APC and Global Entry KiosksFlickr

#35 Be Polite To Airline Staff

Be. Polite. To. Airline. Staff. Almost any travel problem can be solved by a gate agent. Being pushy or mean is not going to inspire them to come up with that solution for you. I see this so often: yelling about how your vacation is going to be ruined is not going to get anything fixed. These poor folks have like 45 seconds to fix your issue. Be proactive and most importantly, be nice.

090402-F-6794V-024Scott Air Force Base

#36 Packing Cubes

Packing Cubes. They make life so much easier. It's not such a hassle to fish anything out if you've systematically packed.

#37 No Valuables

Don't bring anything valuable with you on your trip. That includes things like jewellery and expensive electronics, but also personal items that have sentimental value. When you pack, you should be able to look at every item you put in your bag and think, "I'm okay with losing this"—because you very well might.

Jewelry Box Fashion Luxury Jewelry Box VintageMax Pixel

#38 Power Adapters

If you're traveling as a group, carry a single power adapter and a power strip. It's far easier than carrying multiple power adapters.

#39 Water Bottles

Always carry a bottle of water while sightseeing on a hot day, especially while you're at ruins or a place that's located on a bigger, closed area. There might be no shop available once you cross the attraction gate and the sun has no mercy. It also applies to long bus trips and hikes.

#40 Buy Ugly Suitcases

Ugly, ugly suitcase. Or 'unique'. Best to use bright, eye-torturing colors. Ribbons come off. Krylon won't. You'll know when it comes out of the baggage carousel by the screams. People will be kindly pointing at your bag, for you.

28837879810_3e19ec4337_kFlickr

#41 Travel Westward

If you're going on an around the world trip, travel westward as the time zone changes will reduce the effects of jet lag

#42 Choose Fruit Wisely

I was a peace corps volunteer for two years. Picking fruit where you don't eat the skin (like a banana) reduces the likelihood of getting sick from produce. For others, soak them in water mixed with a few drops of bleach for 15 minutes or so. Getting sick can ruin a trip so quickly. A kind reminder that a fecal-oral disease like cholera is spread when you eat someone else's poop. That's how you get it. So, while you can also just rinse the fruit, I prefer a few drops of bleach to just rinsing it. You do what's right for you, though!

Fresh tropical fruit. Top viewFlickr

#43 Half the Clothes, Double the Money

Before you leave for your trip, unpack all of your clothes and lay all of your money out. Bring half of the clothes and double the money. On a serious note if you're travelling for a long time, go with the flow. I've had itineraries for a whole month and dropped all of it to do something new.

fashion-clothes-lighter-cigarettesPiqsels

#44 Western Toilets

If you're travelling in China or another country with squat-toilets, Western chains like Mcdonald's and Costa will usually have clean western-style toilets for free. Makes looking for toilets a lot simpler when you're out and about.

1280px-Öffentliches_WC_in_ChinaWikimedia Commons

#45 Prepaid SIMs

Instead of buying expensive international roaming and data from your cell provider, just buy a cheap prepaid rechargeable SIM in whatever country you need service. Having both a phone and data makes for a fun traveling experience since you can keep in touch with your friends, post photos, use the GPS, and book Uber and Lyft rides, which are more convenient and usually cheaper than taxis.

Kombi-SIM_Deutsche_Telekom-0738Wikipedia

 


READ MORE

Brides Behaving Badly Behemoth

These Bridezillas Behaved Like Absolute Monsters

When the bridezilla started yelling, I was stunned—but then my boss came up with a plan to teach her a lesson.
September 24, 2024 Carl Wyndham
Customer Service Experience

Truly Wild Customer Service Stories

I could tell this Karen was equal parts snobby and angry. A bad combo. I braced myself—but still, what she said blew me away.
September 24, 2024 Scott Mazza
People Share Cringeworthy Moments When Things Totally Backfired

“Well THAT Backfired”: Cringeworthy Moments

What's that old saying about the best-laid plans? Sometimes you have the noblest intentions for something, only to watch it completely blow up in your face.
September 24, 2024 Samantha Henman
Something Is Wrong Behemoth

Something Is Wrong: These Chilling Gut Feelings Were 100% Accurate

People Share Their “Something is Very Wrong Here” Feelings That Turned Out To Be True
September 24, 2024 Carl Wyndham
scary_internal

"I've Got A Bad Feeling About This": Terrifying Experiences That Had People Running

These unsettling stories of life-threatening situations had people running straight for the hills and never looking back.
September 17, 2024 Brendan Da Costa
Worst Rich Customers

Waiters Are Ripping Into Their Worst Rich Customers And We're Cackling

I was serving one of the members at the country club I worked at. After I delivered his drink, I said, “Can I get you anything else, sir?” His reply was so disturbing, it’s impossible to forget.
September 17, 2024 Maureen Kelner


Want to learn something new every day?

Stories that matter — delivered straight to your inbox.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.