After having a fair share of travel adventures over the years, I can safely say that my experiences have taught me a thing or two about how to make the most of your trip, save yourself a couple of bucks and collate as many memories as you can. And as we have officially entered the summer holiday season I thought it would be useful to share some of my personal travel tips for your next vacation.
1. Pack light - I have always made the mistake of carrying extra clothes that I never end up wearing and there is nothing more annoying than having to lug around heavy luggage. Instead carry a few staples that can be remixed and you will thank yourself later.
2. Use Pinterest and Instagram to discover new places - Weeks before your trip, take notes of what you see and pin or screenshot places of interest. Explore different hashtags and accounts related to your destination and you will be surprised at the places you will discover that are not generally promoted.
3. Get Travel Insurance - You may forget or even be tempted to forego this expense but you have to be prepared for the unpredictable!
4. Download a currency exchange app - This is the best way to keep track of how much you are spending in your home currency and to avoid spending too much. XE is pretty good and is available on both Android and iOS platforms. But a next level conversion app is ‘The Converted by Ideon’ that converts just about anything; metrics, clothing sizes… you name it.
5. Book in advance - For places in Europe and America, such as the Heineken museum in Amsterdam or the Empire State building in New York, queues can stretch up to hours especially if you are holidaying during peak season. Book in advance online and you can smugly breeze through. For places in Africa and Asia, I'd say book a day or two in advance with a local travel agent or a registered tour guide when you reach your destination and not online to avoid getting ripped off.
6. Say YES to experiences no matter how terrifying they may seem and you will not regret it, whether it is bungee jumping, zip lining, scuba diving or even venturing out alone.
7. Make a packing list - It will save you time with last minute packing. Click here for the ultimate female packing lists for everywhere.
8. Take tons of photos/videos....so you can go back and re-live memories ...but also take the time to live in and appreciate some moments.
9. Talk to locals - The waiter. The bar staff. That stranger at a coffee shop who looks rather interesting ;) These are the people who will help you discover those hidden gems. For the rest of you shy pots, you could try the Spottedbylocals app.
10. Be Organized - Create a folder in your inbox of all your e-reservations such as your tickets, hotel, excursions or download the TripIt app that links to your email and does all the collation for you. I’d also advise taking a printout of everything in case you lose your phone. Always think one step ahead!
11. Rest before your trip - As excited as you may be in the days running up to your trip, traveling can be exhausting, especially if there is a time difference with your destination so try to get as much sleep as possible.
12. Carry healthy snacks - In the plane, at the airport, or on-the-go, to avoid binging on junk food.
13. Carry a portable power bank – Trust me, there is nothing worse than being disconnected from technology (and the world) because of a dead battery. A power tube is widely available and not too expensive these days and will definitely save the day. Buy one that can charge your phone fully at least twice. Forever 21 stocks some pretty cute ones too.
14. Carry cash - Do not assume you can always pay with plastic in restaurants, hotels and bars. Not all places have an ATM at every block or corner. Being out of cash, whether in Czech Republic or Mauritius, is not the best situation to be in so always carry an emergency $50 or the local equivalent on you.
Did you find these tips useful? Where are you planning to go this summer?