20 Travel Tips For Your Next Adventure
Travel planning can be overwhelming for many and even while on a tip, one can feel overwhelmed and stressed. Being a smart and savvy traveler will help eliminate these feelings and ensure you are prepared for your trip and enjoy the time away. Here are twenty travel tips for your next adventure that we live by and do on almost all the trips we take.
Make extra copies of your license and passport.
It is always good to have extra copies of identification, whenever you are traveling. Just in case yours gets stolen or lost, this helps to prove your identity. You can keep full copy of your passport and other identification documents on a cloud-enabled drive or your email account for easy access when visiting another country.
Budget your expenses.
Any trip you take it is important to know how much you intend to spend and what you need to spend. This helps you plan to ensure travel is affordable but also practical. When leaving the country, it is best to look up the monetary conversion before traveling. This will also help you budget and prepare your expenses for your trip if the destination does not accept the US dollar.
Convert before leaving
If you are leaving the country, it is best to convert some money beforehand. Airports have high conversion fees, so it is best to be prepared and a good way to save some money as it will allow you to budget ahead of time. Some credit cards also hit you with an international service charge if using it on foreign soil which can add up during large trips.
Call your bank
and money provider before traveling, warning them that you are going on vacation. When a bank sees sudden charges away from your normal living area, they may think your card has been stolen.
Research your trip/current events
Researching events and activities prior to your trip that you plan on doing. A great way to do this is by reading travel blogs, reading books about the particular location, asking those who have been to the location before for advice, etc. This helps ensure that you find the hidden gems and that you will be able to see everything you want. It is also important to be up to date on any news or current events in the locations you plan on visiting, especially international. Knowing the current events will help you be familiar with any issues the location is facing, but also to keep yourself safe. Learn more about how to keep yourself safe while traveling.
Bring a charger adaptor
This is specific to when leaving the country for your travels. Many countries have different plugs and voltage levels, and you want to ensure that you will be able to always have your electronics charged. While the world runs in two voltage ranges: 110-127V or 220-240V, there are actually seven different types of outlets configurations in the world. It is best to grab an adaptor before leaving for your trip to ensure you have the correct one for your destination.
Bring a portable charger
Let’s be honest, our electronics always die when we need them the most and too often do we forget to throw them on the charger. You always want to have your phone charged just in case you get lost, need to look something up, or simply want to take more photos. While you can always just bring the charger with you and plug it in if space is available, bringing a portable charger can help extend the life of your electronics while traveling long days with less hassle.
Sleep while in transit
When traveling between destination to the destination it is sometimes helpful to sleep. Whether that is because you are taking an overnight journey or early morning travels, it is always good to rest before vacation. This is especially important if you’re traveling somewhere with a time change. It helps your body adapt and adjust.
Bring a journal
Sometimes when you travel, you do so much in a day that you want to ensure you remember everything you did. Bringing a journal and writing down your activities is the best way to reflect on your trip and help you remember the tiny moments. It also will help later on when you have to explain everything to all those who want to hear about your trip!
Cell Phones Abroad
Talk to your cell phone carrier before leaving the country is an important step to do to ensure you are able to use your phone and also not spend thousands of dollars on roaming fees. You will want to read up on the companies policies online or set up an appointment with them and discussing an international plan for however long you’re staying, to make sure you don’t get charged high international fees. Alternatively, if trips are lasting for an extended period of time, investing in a local SIM card can be more cost-effective.
Wake up early to avoid crowds
If there are certain sights you want to see, and you know it gets crowded easily, waking up earlier will help save you time, so you can see the sights you want to see without waiting and wasting your day. Many popular tourist locations are quiet in the morning. Being able to see these places empty or nearly empty provides a whole different appreciation for them (and may even be more relaxing for you!)
Don’t over plan
Leave room in your schedule! Your opinions and priorities may change while on your vacation. You want to make sure you have space to ensure you are able to see everything you want. In addition, you might want to take a day to just relax, hand out or even lay low for various reasons. Having a planned and packed schedule can also be stressful if plans don’t go as planned, a place on your itinerary is closed, or simply to busy for you to want to explore.
Always keep an extra copy address of where you are staying
If your phone dies, you are going to want to keep it just in case you get lost and need to find another way of getting back. If you are staying in a hotel we typically grab the hotel business card and keep it in our wallet. For rental properties or locations without a business card, jot it down on a piece of paper, or know a popular landmark near your accommodations, you can ask directions too.
Bring your own water bottle
Traveling can be very taxing on the body and we often forget to stay hydrated while we travel. When traveling, it is always good to drink a lot of water in order to maintain hydrated and not feel tired while sightseeing!
Make Friends with locals
We are big advocates of the local experience. While traveling, don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation at a coffee shop, restaurant, etc. It is always good to hear the stories, and ask them about the area! They will know the most and be able to give you the best suggestions, guide you to hidden gems or even give you a sense of what life is really like in the region.
Download entertainment
Download your favorite or a few new movies, music, TV shows, documentaries, ebooks or podcasts before you set sail. In order for your car ride, plane, train, etc. to past quickly, when traveling it is always good to have some downloaded entertainment to help pass the time. Since service is not always guaranteed during a journey, having these forms of entertainment on your phone, tablet or computer will keep you entertained.
Splurge a little
When on vacation, it is always nice to buy one little thing to remind you of your travels there. Many travelers collect one various items from every location they visit (Sheila grabs a postcard from wherever we go) or even something that resembles the place.
Under pack
If you question that you may need it, do not pack it. It is always good to pack light just in case you buy new items. You can always pick up an item at a local store or when need be if you did not pack it in your bags. Also, you do not want to pay the fee if it goes over the weight! Some modes of transportation have a bag limit for quantity and weight, which when a traveler exceeds these, you can be stuck paying more than your ticket might have cost!
Be open-minded
Being open to trying new things while traveling will allow you to immerse and learn as much as you can while in a new place. When traveling, you want to experience the destination you are exploring even if you are just relaxing on a beach.
Look up the weather before
A lot of areas weather changes drastically when the sunsets. It is always good to prepare for all kinds of weather, and know what you’re packing for. In addition, various regions of the world also have drastic weather changes depending on the season. It is important to be prepared and knowledgeable of the type of weather you may experience while traveling.