Here are the ten most important travel tips I’ve learned traversing the globe. No one else will tell you these because they are a little bit outside conventional wisdom, but get it done messy is my main motto, and even those of us who askew perfection can learn from our mistakes to maximize the future.
Buy the flight
In an attempt to save 22 dollars people end up missing out and not going anywhere. If you see a flight you can afford, buy it and keep it moving.
Do Some research, but not too much.
If you’re staying in a place 8 days or less, do some research and plan ahead. There are plenty of people who plan their trips a year out and end up buying all the Eiffel tower tickets, which means if you wait until the last minute, you might not get one. You don’t want to get to Paris and not end up in the Eiffel tower.
Anything more than 8 days, plan the stuff you really want to do and leave the rest to God. There is no better way to miss the cool serendipity of a place than hustling around like you’re at work.
Figure out your airport transport
I don’t like to plan anything, but you are at your most vulnerable when you get off a flight all disoriented and the scam artists know it. To avoid that, take the 5-10 minutes at home and get everything sorted out, so you don’t have to start your trip with a sour face.
Get your money at an ATM, but not the messed up one
ATM’s are the most secure and least expensive way to obtain local currency, if you choose the right one. Look for the ATM with the words “bank of” in the title. All those other bright and beautiful boxes are scams with high fees. Another way to spot a “messed up one” is if the machine offers more than one currency. If you see that, run.
Travel light
Put the shoes away. You don’t need more than 3 pair. Save all those fancy clothes for people who see you every week. When you travel, you can wear the same thing every day, but all anyone is going to notice is the smile on your face. That’s what I call trip shine.
Take pictures of your passport
Include your atm cards (front and back). Then email them to yourself. No matter what happens, you’ll be able to get access somehow, some way.
Carry baby wipes
They are the gift that keeps on giving.
Eat local food
No matter how careful you are, 1 out 80 things is gonna strike you down with the stomach issues, so in the meantime, enjoy one of the most visceral aspects of a culture and keep it moving..
Meet local people
Whether you use couchsurfing.com, meetup.com, or my favorite a drink at a local bar, the best advice and the best memories will come from the people you meet along the way.
Chill
This one is the hardest for me. When something crazy happens like your luggage gets lost, pretend it’s a game where you need to figure out why it’s actually a good a thing. The unexpected is inevitable and it’s in your power to turn it into trip treasure.
Any questions? Hit me up in the comment section below.
What are you favorite travel tips? Sharing is caring!