Top 30 Travel Tips That Make You Like an Experienced Traveler

Being travel savvy is not a gift. It’s something that is learned only from actual road experience. In the beginning, you make a ton of mistakes and waste a lot of money. Travel know how is best obtained with hard knocks born of missed buses, foolish behavior, cultural unawareness, and countless tiny errors. Then, one day, you are enlightened and begin to seamlessly move through airports and experience new cultures like they are meant to be experienced.

I want to help you bypass the steep learning curve that I and others like me have had to endure these following tips will help you avoid my mistakes so I put together this simple travel tips list that covers all you know and avoid.

1. Always pack a towel

You never know when you will need it, whether it’s at the beach, on a picnic, or just to dry off. While many hostels offer towels, you never know and carrying a small towel won’t add that much weight to your bag.

2. Buy a small backpack/suitcase

By purchasing a small backpack (something around 35/40 liters),  this will force you to pack light and avoid carrying too much stuff. Humans have a natural tendency to want to fill space so if you pack light but have lots of extra room in your bag, you’ll end up going “well, I guess I can take more” and then regret it.

3. Pack light

Don’t be afraid to wear the same t-shirt a few days. Take half the clothes you think you will need. Write down a list of essentials, cut it in half, and then only pack that! Plus, since you bought a small backpack, there is no room for extra stuff anyways!

4. But take extra socks

You’ll lose socks for several reasons wear and tear, and hiking so packing extra will come in handy.
5. Take an extra bank card and credit card with you

Disasters happen. It’s always good to have a backup in case you get robbed or lose a card. You don’t want to be stuck somewhere new without access to money.

6. Make sure to use no-fee bank cards

Get a credit card and debit card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee or an ATM fee. Over the course of a long trip, the few dollars they take every time will really add up!

7. Travel by yourself at least once

Traveling by yourself will teach you how to fend for yourself, talk to people, and handle unfamiliar situations with ease. Here are some helpful articles on solo travel:

8. Don’t be afraid to use a map.

 Don’t be afraid to use a map or ask for directions and look like a tourist. After all, you are!

9. But don’t be afraid to get purposefully lost.

Wandering aimlessly through a new city is a good way to get to know it, get off the beaten path, and away from the tourists. You might be surprised by the hidden gems you find.

10. Always visit the local tourism office.

They know about everything going on in town. They can point you to free activities, special events happening during your stay, and everything in between. They even offer discounts on attractions and transportation. It is their job to help you experience the destination better.

11. Don’t buy a money belt — they’re stupid.

Thieves know they exist and being seen with one basically shouts, “Look at me, I’m a tourist with money! The more you can blend in and act like a local, the easier it will be to get deals and avoid touts

12. When you go out, take only what you need.

Limit the amount of cash and bank cards you carry with you, so if something does happen, you can easily recover. Never take more than one credit card or ATM card with you. Rule of thumb for cash is to limit it to $50 USD.

13. Always carry a lock.

They come in handy, especially when you stay in dorms and need to lock your stuff up. Carry a small combination lock with you when you travel.

14. Make extra copies of your passport and important documents.

Don’t forget to e-mail a copy to yourself too. You never know when you might need to have some sort of documentation with you and might not want to carry your original. Additionally, if your passport gets stolen having a copy will come in handy for your police report.

15. Ask hostel staff for information — even when you aren’t staying there.

Hostel staff deals with budget travelers all day, every day. They know exactly where to go for cheap meals and attractions. They also tend to be locals so they know the city very well. Even if you aren’t staying in one, just pop in and ask for help.

16. Learn basic phrases in the native language of your destination

The locals will appreciate it and it will make your interactions easier. You don’t need to master the language but learning a few things like “Hello,” “Goodbye,” “Thank you!”, “Where’s the bathroom?” will go a long way to enduring yourself with the locals.

17. Read a history book!

You can’t understand a place’s present if you don’t know anything about its past. Read up on the destinations you are visiting. It will give you a deeper understanding of this place you’ve wanted to see for so long!

18. Don’t be ashamed to walk into a Starbucks or McDonald’s.

Sometimes familiarity is comforting and both places have free wifi and public restrooms you can use.

19. Don’t fly direct

When booking flights, sometimes it is cheaper to fly into airports close to your final destination, and then take a train or bus to where you need to go.

20. Always get behind business travelers when in security lines.

They move fast since they are usually in a rush and travel light. They know the drill. Line up behind them as much as possible. You’ll speed through the line!

21. Never get behind families.

They just have a lot of stuff because of the kids. Try to avoid getting in lines with lots of kids. It’s going to take awhile.

22. When you check in to the hotel, don’t be afraid to ask for an upgrade.

They have a lot of flexibility when it comes to assigning upgrades at check-in. It never hurts to ask. Often times they can accommodate you if the hotel isn’t full. Just be super nice!

23. Libraries, Starbucks, and most cafés have free Wi-Fi.

If you’re staying someplace that charges you to connect, check out one of these places. You can connect for free.

24. Lunchtime is the best time to visit historical sites.

You’ll have fewer crowds getting in your way as big tour buses, groups, and most travelers head to lunch. It’s always best to visit an attraction super early, late, or when people eat.

25. Never eat in a touristy area or near a tourist attraction

As a general rule, I walk five blocks in either direction before I find a place to eat. The closer you are to tourist attractions the more you are going to pay and the worse the food (and service). Use websites like Yelp, Google Maps, Foursquare, or Open Rice to find some delicious and popular restaurants around you.

26. Locals don’t eat out every night and neither should you.

Go grocery shopping. You can learn a lot about locals’ diets by seeing the type of food they buy. Plus, it will save you a lot of money. Cook your food, save money!

27. Eat at expensive restaurants during lunch.

Most expensive restaurants offer lunch specials featuring the same food they would serve for dinner but half the price! That’s the best time to eat out when you travel.

28. Pack a flashlight.

It will let you see at night, you avoid stepping on stuff.

29. Carry a basic first-aid kit.

Accidents happen so be prepared. Take band-aids, antibacterial cream, and ointments for minor cuts and scrapes. You never know when you’re going to need it and you can’t always get it when you travel.

30. Book flights 2-3 months in advance to get the best price.

Don’t drive yourself too crazy trying to get the absolute cheapest fare. 

Source: https://bit.ly/2snUjCS