There are few things in life that bring as much joy and excitement as traveling: meeting new places, new people, visiting fun sites, historical monuments, discovering new cultures, and new types of food.
Here at TheTravel, we aim to give you a little taste of all this excitement, whether it's sharing unusual stories about unique places, offering travel inspiration, or sharing tips and tricks… but of course, who better to know traveling tips than, well, travelers?
We asked our audience on Facebook to share their best traveling tips acquired throughout all of their combined experience, and these are the 10 best tips you all had to share with us.
10 Bag within a bag
It might sound like a waste of space at first to carry a bag within a bag or a suitcase inside a suitcase - but the truth is, in case something happens and you need a spare, or the shopping gets a little too enthusiastic, having another storage space can be a lifesaver in a trip.
9 Don’t sweat the petty stuff and don’t pet the sweaty stuff!
Now, traveling is amazing, but no one can pretend it doesn’t have its setbacks and disappointments. Being a traveler is all about preparing for the hiccups and being ready to bounce back and enjoy a vacation trip, even when things don’t go quite as planned. As for petting the sweaty stuff - well, that one is pretty self-explanatory.
8 Always have a money plan B
Money is a delicate thing when it comes to travel - especially for those traveling far, to other countries. Make sure that you have your money separated for your trip’s expenses, and also a nice cushion to fall back on in case of an emergency. Don’t forget to check credit card rules for international purchases and always carry a little bit of money on hand.
7 Download flight apps
For those traveling by plane, usage of flight mobile apps can make everything so much simpler and go much more smoothly. With flight apps, passengers can be notified about any news and changes in itinerary, check-in online, and avoid carrying a lot of paper passages.
6 Be mindful about the carry on bag
In case something happens to the luggage (knock on wood), it's always good to have a carry-on bag that is well stocked and well thought out. Make sure your money and documents are all together, easy to access and secure, have all your necessities with you, and take a change of clothes in your carry-on, just in case.
5 Travel light
Sometimes it can seem like being well prepared for a trip is the same thing as packing every and anything one can think of, even if it seems improbable it’ll be needed - and that’s very wrong. Traveling will often lead to shopping and souvenir collecting, and it's important to have space to lug those goodies back home! Besides, think about what a pain it is to drag up and down a bunch of stuff you won’t need anyway. Think about packing wisely!
4 Eat at local restaurants
This one is a must! Sometimes money is tight and McDonald’s seems familiar; but for travelers looking to experience the true culture of the places they’re visiting, eating locally is a necessity and a pleasure. A world of new flavors and experiences is out there to be enjoyed, who would want to waste an opportunity to experience that for sticking with multinational fast food?
3 Music, snacks, and medicine
Get comfortable for a journey; plan ahead and select a playlist with your favorite songs to get you in the traveling mood, pack lots of travel-friendly snacks and goodies, always carry a water bottle (save for airplane travel) and make sure to have any medicine that might be needed on hand; not only required medicine - though doubly important to remember that - but anything that would help with travel discomforts like motion sickness, nausea, headaches, migraines, allergies and the like.
2 Wear comfortable shoes
The heart of most places can only be accessed by foot - so make sure yours are comfortable and prepare to do some serious tourist trekking. It can be tempting to take out that pretty pair of new shoes, but remember that exploring a new city is never the best option to break those out. Just like water, food, and medicine, comfortable shoes are about the functionality of your trip and making you’re as comfortable as possible to devote all that energy into enjoying the trip!
1 Don’t over plan - slow down and be flexible about your itinerary
It can be very exciting to plan a vacation. Travelers feel inspired and plan out a whole itinerary - and then for various reasons, whether time constraints, accommodation or rides issues, or simply exhaustion. It’s important to not get too caught up in plans, and go at your own pace. So slow down, prioritize what you’d like to do first, and remember: the most important thing is to actually enjoy a trip, not tick off boxes in a to-do list!