Travelling is not always easy. There is so much to think and take care of. Most people just go with the flow, and so did we when we started out. We made so many mistakes along the way and as a consequence, we learnt a lot. Now, we travel more prepared, more worry-free and enjoy our travels way more. We wanted to share some of these travel tips with you, so you can take advantage of the same and travel smarter. The ones we have given below are mostly international travel tips and hacks, but you can pick and choose the ones that can be used domestically depending on where you live.
Note that this blog post doesn’t mention travel hacks to save money. For that, click on the given link.
General Travel Tips
- Plan but don’t over plan: You should plan your travels to an extent always. Have an overview of the country/city you’re travelling to – how to get there, seasons, areas and places to stay, how many days to travel for, places and attractions to visit, must-dos and any other tips for visiting that location. Blog posts like this one work super well for this purpose. If you like to wing it, you should still know this much to save time and money on your holiday. If you like to have things planned and prebooked, then you should also read and prepare a day-wise itinerary, book hotels etc. That said, ensure you leave time each day, or save one or more days for anything that comes up on the trip.
We plan trips by the day but not by the hour. This not only saves us from anxiety but also leaves time for random adventures. - Get lost purposely: Use the set-aside free time or day mentioned above to wander around aimlessly, ask locals what to do, sit at a café chatting for hours, picnic in a scenic location – you get the idea! We often just walk right out of our hotels and walk around. Or go to the main commercial/attraction area and just walk. This has led us to stumble upon hidden gems more often than not and have been our most memorable days.
- Carry two debit/credit cards: Always travel with two travel debit/credit cards. Leave one in your hotel room and take one with you wherever you go. This will ensure that even if one card gets lost during your travels, you have another to back you up. Running out of money is one of the worst things that can happen on the road!
- Carry emergency money: Keep some emergency money at your hotel safe and in a separate pocket in your day bag. You might not find an ATM at someplace and suddenly need cash or may lose your wallet and need cash. Either way, set a small amount aside to only be used in case of an emergency. It is better to carry cash in addition to travel credit/debit cards mentioned above.
On my Sri Lanka trip with friends, we were about to miss boarding a train because the hotel didn’t accept cards and we didn’t have any cash on us. Had to go all the way to town, withdraw cash from an ATM, make the payment at the hotel and then finally leave for the station. Luckily, it was very close to the hotel and the train was a bit late! - Communicate your travel schedule to your bank if travelling internationally: Your bank may block your card on the premise of suspicious activity if it is suddenly used in another country. So, call and inform them of your travel dates beforehand.
- Scan important documents: Scan your passport, identity card, itinerary, travel insurance and email them to yourself, a travel partner and someone back at home. This provides extra copies of each in the event of loss, theft or accidents.
As iPhone users, once we email the documents to ourselves and each other, we usually save the documents to iBooks for offline access. In Android phones, you can save them to Files. - Have a physical copy of important phone numbers: Keep important phone numbers noted down on a paper or small notepad and keep it in your day bag or on your person. If you lose your phone, you will be able to call your travel mates, embassy, hotel, travel agent, etc. and not feel totally lost.
- Download offline maps: Google Maps lets you create personalised maps with all key points (attractions, hotels, restaurants etc.) and save these maps offline for easy access. Downloading maps (even without the customization) has saved us on plenty of trips when the internet connection was spotty. To do this, make your own map and save your map offline (or just directly save your map offline from Google Maps without the customization). On the trip, use the Google Maps app just as you normally would with or without internet access.
Here is how to do it on the phone (we can tell you the process for iPhone but we are sure the process for Android phones will be similar)- Ensure you have internet access
- Open the Google Maps app
- Search for a place or address
- Scroll down to the bottom, tap the name or address, and tap more
- Hit Download. I like to zoom out a bit to cover nearby places as well before I press the download button. Essentially you should ensure you’ve covered all places you’ll be travelling to on the trip.
When we road-tripped across New Zealand, we literally saved a map of most of the country. While it took a ton of space of the phone, we had access to maps everywhere in the country. No issues whatsoever!
- Learn basic phrases in the native language: It can be very helpful to know at least a bit of the native language especially if they don’t speak a common language like you. Languages are fun to learn and knowing a bit of the native language shows you’re making an effort which locals always love!
- Download Google Translate: For all else, download Google Translate ( iOS | Android ). It lets you translate any word or phrase to another language directly from your phone. It will be better to have your language and your destination’s native language saved offline so you can use the app even without the internet. To do this, download the Google Translate app, then go to Settings and choose “Offline Translation”. You can even get to know the meaning of signposts by clicking a picture through the app. Very very useful!
- Talk to locals: We love talking to locals. Why? They offer advice, tips, tell you about places you may not have found online and usually have an entirely different perspective on things. This is great because you learn a lot about not only their country but their worldview too. Talk to cab drivers, hotel/hostel receptionists, Airbnb hosts, activity guides and more. Usually a pleasure!
Travel Packing and Luggage Tips
- Check luggage weight and dimensions requirements: Different airlines have different requirements for cabin and checked-in luggage. If you’re travelling on a budget airline, it is even more important to check the luggage weight limit as extra baggage weight can cost a lot, sometimes even more than the ticket. If you’re flying carry-on only or with a big carry-on bag, you should also check the dimensions of bags allowed onboard the flight. It goes without saying that you should do this before you start packing.
- Rucksack (Backpacking Backpack) vs Suitcase: You may already have a prior preference. But if you don’t, hear me out! Suitcases are great for trips that don’t involve a lot of moving around such as staycations, visiting only one or two cities, luxury stays etc. I’m about talking about four-wheel suitcases (softshell spinners are my favourites) as opposed to two-wheel ones.
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However, rucksacks are great not only for multi-day treks but also when you’re going on a long trip involving multiple locations, budget/mid-budget trips where your hostel/hotel may not have elevators and trips to mountainous regions where it’ll be tough to drag a suitcase and accommodations will most probably not have an elevator. The front opening ones are heaven-sent for travel purposes! The one we use is linked below.
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This may seem basic, but we are mentioning this because Trisha learned the hard way on our New Zealand trip. We moved around nearly every day and she had a tough time getting her suitcase up to the first floor repeatedly! - Pack in packing cubes: Packing cubes are life-changing. You can section your clothes and accessories in cubes that make packing, unpacking, and locating items much easier. They also help compress clothes to fit more! Read our post on travel packing tips for packing hacks and to know how to pack in cubes.
Buy Packing Cubes India | Buy Packing Cubes USA - Always pack one set of clothes and your essentials in your carry-on: We have often heard of checked-in luggage getting lost. Because of this, it is obviously best to travel carry-on only! Having lightweight luggage helps your back anyway. However, not all of us have mastered packing so little and have to get luggage checked in. In the eventuality of your luggage getting lost by the airline, your set of clothes and essentials in your carry-on will be a saving grace. It’ll give you more time for shopping or recovering your lost items and you will not have to ruin your travel itinerary. You’ll also ensure none of the essential items get lost and have a change of clothes if you spill anything on yourself on the flight or airport! This is one of those flying travel tips that has kept us relatively worry-free.
- Don’t forget to carry an International Power Adaptor: This is another one of those international travel hacks that is so simple but so important to remember if you’re travelling abroad. Do not, we repeat, do not forget to carry a power adapter. There are at least 15 different types of electrical outlets in the world and you’d rather be prepared. You might also consider carrying a power strip if you have a lot of gadgets to charge. If you forget to carry an adaptor, then check for the USB slots on the TV and charge your phone through that. Voila!
Buy Power Adaptor India | Buy Power Adaptor USA - Tip for solo travel: If you’re travelling solo, carry a rubber doorstep wedge to stop intruders from entering your room and a whistle to call for help! And never tell anyone you’re travelling alone!
- Take pictures of your luggage and its contents: This will come in handy if you lose your luggage and need to claim your travel insurance.
- Carry a pen: Make sure you have a pen in your carry on so you can complete customs forms as soon as you receive them. Better not to waste any time at the airport.
Seems like such a simple thing? Well, while returning from our trip to the Maldives, there were dozens of people asking for pens. Because of COVID, no one was willing to even lend their pens. We have no idea how those guys were finally able to fill out their forms. They surely wasted a ton of time. - Carry Snacks: Always carry some snacks. You never know where and when you might get hungry. You don’t want to be without something to eat at times when you can’t find any food around you or do not have the time to buy food. Also, in case you wish to save money, you might want to pack a small meal to avoid buying overpriced food at the airport or flight.
- Use beeswax to make your items water-resistant: Buy beeswax and start rubbing. You can coat anything you’d like with beeswax to make it water-resistant – your luggage, shoes, jacket, etc.
Flying Travel Tips
- Wear compression socks on long haul flights: Have you ever landed after a long flight and discovered your ankles have swollen or it hurts to walk. Well, not moving for a long time can take a toll on your blood circulation. That’s where compression socks come in. They increase blood circulation and reduce the risk of swelling, deep vein thrombosis, and blood clotting! Don’t buy extremely tight ones; remember that your calves should feel a bit compressed not strangled. Also, when on the flight, try to walk around every one-two hours, stay hydrated and flex your ankles. Wearing compression socks during long haul flights is a life-saving international travel hack.
Buy Compression Socks India | Buy Compression Socks USA - Wear your heaviest shoes: If your luggage is too heavy then wear your heaviest shoes instead of packing them– usually hiking shoes, boots or sport shoes. These aren’t only heavy, but take a lot of space in your bag that could be used for something else.
- Exercise to fight jetlag: Doing a light exercise before, during and after a flight helps fight jetlag by increasing the length and quality of sleep during the adjustment period. By increasing your heart rate and respiration through workouts, your body will respond as it did on non-travel days, peaking at times when it might otherwise be winding down. This will affect how long or short your jet lag symptoms last. So, before your flight do a moderate-intensity exercise and if you don’t have time then do stretches or yoga. During the flight do light exercises right from your seat. After reaching your destination, take a brisk walk for 20-30 minutes outdoors. If it’s too late in the eve, then do some stretches and yoga indoors itself. This article mentions exercises to do in each phase.
- Download entertainment: Download your favourite shows/movies for offline viewing on Netflix, Amazon Prime etc. Make music playlists and download your favourites on Spotify, Apple Music or any other app you use. This is great for road trips too!
- Download FlightBoard: This app lets you see the departure board on your phone. No more neck pains, finding the boards, exiting the airport to find one etc. Download App ( iOS | Android )
- Use Seatguru to choose a seat: Not all flight seats are made equal. Some are too close to the restroom, some seats don’t have leg space, some don’t recline, etc. Here is a flying travel tip you will love. You can use seatguru.com to know the seat structure for your flight and accordingly reserve the best seat. There are tons of seat reviews to help you out!
- Leave the middle seat empty: If you’re two people who are travelling and neither one is okay with the middle seat, then try this. Choose the aisle and the window seat when selecting seats or checking in online. Now, hope that no one wants the middle seat between you and isn’t allotted it. If it is left empty, you can enjoy the comfort of three seats between two people. If it is allotted to someone, then simply ask them to switch seats with you. No one denies a window or an aisle seat.
Accommodation Travel Tips
- Carefully choose the area of stay: If you want to keep your transport cost low, maximize time, and care for your safety, it is advisable to stay near the town centre or specific areas of the city that cater to tourists and are regarded safe. Please google the best areas to stay before booking accommodation. You do not want your intended sightseeing locations to be very far from your hotel, you’d lose time and patience. Unless you’re going for a staycation, have your own vehicle, or don’t intend to do any sightseeing, do not book places outside the main areas.
We always check this but know so many people who don’t. Our relatives chose a hotel in Phuket that was very far away from Patong (the area they wanted to visit in Phuket) and ended up spending a lot of money on transport and wasted an hour each way. What was the point of booking a cheap hotel in the middle of nowhere? - Hotel with a view: If you want to book hotels with a view, check themostperfectview.com for some great options. It doesn’t cover every location, but it’s worth checking out for big cities.
Food Travel Tips
- Eat local food: Sometimes familiarity is great and is definitely needed for longer trips. But if you’re on a short trip – 1 week to 2 weeks– do eat local food. Or at least try! Why? Firstly, food tells a lot about people and their culture. Secondly, it is always cheaper than international food. Thirdly, isn’t trying new things the whole essence of travel. What’s the point of sticking to things you eat all the time at home? Worst comes to worst you’ll hate it and can henceforth always eat international cuisine. But what if you love it?
- Check TripAdvisor for restaurants: Tripadvisor has never let us down. A lot of people we know, roll their eyes at the mention of it. Why not just always ask locals for recommendations? It’s great to ask locals for recommendations and we totally do it ourselves especially when the local food is something that aligns with our tastes. But a lot of countries eat food that may not. Local food served at tourist-frequented restaurants adjusts their spiciness and taste based on the likes and dislikes of people who aren’t from their country hence making food palatable and enjoyable yet local and authentic. On Tripadvisor, you can also find out if the restaurant is within your budget or caters to your dietary requirements.
- Ask locals for suggestions: That said, we re-emphasise to ask locals for suggestions. We have often been given some great suggestions that we couldn’t find recommended elsewhere. However, we always look at the restaurant’s menu (or reviews if the menu can’t be found) to see if the restaurant meets our dietary requirement and budget!
- Go on a food tour: Are you a foodie? If yes, then there is no better way to explore a destination’s food culture. During food tours, you learn about and sample different local foods at the best restaurants/vendors in a locality. This is especially useful in countries where you may not speak the local language, not understand the meaning of items on a menu, and can’t clarify with the staff due to language barriers. The tour may also give you a historical background on the locality which is an added plus!
We went on a food tour in New York‘s Nolita and Little Italy neighbourhoods where we walked the same streets and ate at the same restaurants as Martin Scorsese and visited sites featured in The Godfather movie. We also tasted the most delicious pizza and bonbons we have had to date! A brilliant experience. - Take a cooking class: Take a cooking class to level up your cooking skills. After the class, you can cook with local ingredients at your accommodation to save money. However, the best bit that is you’ll be taking a part of the destination’s culture with you back home to share with your loved ones. When you cook a destination’s cuisine, it’ll bring back fond memories for you and those who have travelled to the location. Those who haven’t been there will travel to that destination by the way of mouth-watering aroma and taste!
Activity and Attraction Tips
- Start your days early: Starting early will not only maximize precious holiday time but also see locations when they’re empty. You’ll be able to see more, do more and truly relish your time. You’ll be able to get amazing pictures without the crowds.
- Book activities in advance: Book in advance activities that get sold out or compulsorily require pre-booking. You’ll have to do your research to determine this. We usually read blog posts about ‘country bucket lists’ and ‘things to do at a destination’ to decide what we want to do, find out if activities need to be pre-booked and then book through the activity company directly, Get Your Guide, or Viator.
- Prebook only one activity for the day: Try to prebook only one tour/attraction ticket/activity per day unless you really need to book more. The reason is that if you get late at any one attraction/activity, you’ll be hard-pressed for time and rushing from one place to another. I’m sure you don’t want that. If you need to book two or more, ensure each of these activity timings have enough of a gap between them so you’re never running out of time.
- Skip the line tickets: Buy skip the line tickets for sites that usually have a long queue. You’ll be thanking yourself when you see the lines and don’t have to stand in it. Also, try to get city/destination passes if you’re visiting multiple attractions in a city. These may save you money and also may also have the skip-the-line feature.
We bought the New York CityPASS for our time there and we were so grateful for being able to skip the ginormous queue at the MET in New York. Refer to the image above to know what we are talking about. We aren’t sure if this CityPASS still allows you to skip the line, so double check before you buy. - Sunset Time: If you’re out on a hike, lost, don’t have internet access and need to know how much time is left for the sun to set, then simply count the finger-width between the horizon and the sun. Each finger represents 15 minutes!
Did you find any travel tips and hacks on this post that you didn’t already know? Tell us your favourite in the comments.
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