When it comes to travel, its easy to get caught up in the big picture. Juggling itineraries, TSA guidelines, reservations, and transportation logistics can be difficult, but beyond the major details, it’s important to remember that it’s the little things that can make a trip less stressful. Sometimes it’s those little details, and the right attitude, that can make or break your travel experience.
30 Easy Travel Tips You Should Be Following
- Save money by parking in the economy lot. Most of the time you’ll need just an extra 15 minutes built into your schedule to save tons of cash by choose the most economical parking.
- Check to see if taking an Uber or Taxi will be cheaper than paying for parking during your trip. In my case, this is *always* true!
- Pick your assigned seat as soon as your book your flight. If that’s not an option, check in as soon as the 24-hour window allows. The availability of “free” seats is decreasing with most airlines. Be one of the first or risk paying so you don’t have to sit in the middle. *TIP* Even with a confirmed ticket, if you do not have an assigned seat on an overbooked flight, you are the first to be *bumped* so always make sure to pick any seat, if you can!
- Mark your bags with an easily recognizable item or buy bright colored luggage that can’t easily be mistaken for someone elses!
- Don’t rely on cell service. Screenshot important pieces of information like hotel reservations, mobile boarding passes, passports and more so that you always have a digital “hard copy.”
- Wake up early. Nightlife can be overrated. Try waking up early at least once at every destination to experience it in a new light – literally and figuratively.
- Meet local people. Travel isn’t just about the destination, the people you meet along the way will have a far lasting impact that any place you visit. Make it a point to hang out where the locals do.
- Pack a sarong. They work as a towel, travel blanket, skirt, dress, modesty cover, pillow and more.
- Know when to splurge. Budget travel is great for maximizing the value of your travel dollars but there are times when it’s worth it to experience that once in a lifetime moment.
- Always, pack a paper fan. They can make a 100-degree bearable. They’re cheap and the take up almost no room in your suitcase.
- Take lots of photos. If the choice is between leaving your camera in the hotel and bringing it, bring it – even if it’s just your cell. See our tips for better mobile photography.
- Always learn at least a few words of the language. A sincere smile and a few sheepishly broken words in the native tongue will go a LONG way to winning over locals and getting help when you need it.
- Volunteer when you can. Causes like Pack for a Purpose make it easy to give back wherever you go.
- Ditch the plans. Sometimes the best way to experience a new place is to get lost in. Toss the map and the plans out the window and see what you can find on foot.
- Say YES whenever possible.
- Take it easy. You don’t have to see and do everything in a single trip. Traveling for the sake of checking things off your list is no way to travel at all.
- Journal. The mind plays tricks on us and the memory forgets, experiences you think will never leave you, tend to fade over time. Write it down.
- Break out of your comfort zone. Make it a point to push the boundaries of your comfort when you travel. The best experiences tend to be on the other side of your comfort zone.
- Pack less. I travel with only a carry-on and a lap bag. You won’t need half of the things you think you will.
- Pack intentionally. Lay everything out and make sure it’s something you’re certain you will need before it goes in the luggage.
- Always roll your clothes when packing. You will get far more use out of the space.
- Go solo. Traveling with family is awesome, friends are great too but there is something to be said for traveling on your own.
- The Amazon Kindle is made for travel and a fantastic entertainment companion.
- Always shop around for the best rates to convert your currency. Airports tends to be the highest in my experience because of convenience.
- Tiger Balm is a cure all and works as a bug repellent too!
- When booking flights, sometimes it is cheaper to fly into airports other than your final destination, and then take a train or bus.
- Hit the busiest and most popular attractions at meal times. When everyone else is eating the crowds tend to die down.
- Tourist areas mean that food is half as good for double the price. Go where the locals go for the best, authentic food and great prices too.
- Book the window seat on long flights. Being able to rest your head on the window will give you better rest.
- Check out our more in depth travel tip guides for specific travel issues:
5 Holiday Travel Tips for the Most Painless Experience Possible
Money Saving Tips To Help You Travel Even More
Easy Beauty Tips for the Traveling Gal
5 Tips For Traveling While Pregnant
15 Tips For Traveling Abroad With Kids
Helpful Tips for Traveling Abroad
Of all these tips you’ve listed, I like Tip#27 the best. My only concern is that the places I would want to visit might be closed for lunch break. I will have to check that out.
Our suitcases are black. Marking them with something colorful is necessary, for sure! That’s a good tip.
We are headed on our first big family vacation in 6 years later this summer. These tips will be so useful!
A travel journal is such a fun idea! I like the idea of traveling, but sometimes it stresses me out!
Research is always important especially when you’re traveling to a different country. I learned how to pack light because of all the traveling that I did before, it’s so much better when you don’t have a ton of things to carry.