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My Best 61 Travel Tips to Make You the World’s Savviest Traveler

Most people aren’t born savvy travelers. It’s something that only comes with on-the-road experience. Travel savviness is a process born of missed buses, foolish behavior, cultural unawareness, and countless tiny errors. Then, one day, you begin to seamlessly move through airports and integrate yourself into new cultures like a fish to water.

In the beginning, you just make a lot of travel mistakes.

But I want to help speed up the process and help you avoid my mistakes ( and I often make a lot of them ), so I put together this giant list of my best travel tips that cover everything under the sun to help you reach your full travel ninja potential.

I’ve learned these tips over the last sixteen years being a nomad.

These tips for traveling will have you saving money, sleeping better, getting off the beaten path more, meeting locals, and just being a better traveler.

So, without further ado, here are the best 61 travel tips in the world:

1. Always pack a towel. It’s the key to successful galactic hitchhiking – and plain common sense. You never know when you will need it, whether it’s at the beach, on a picnic, or just to dry off after a shower. While many hostels offer towels, you never know if they will or not, and carrying a small towel won’t add that much weight to your bag.

Make sure it’s a lightweight, quick-drying towel since regular towels are too bulky and heavy (and they take a long time to dry). Dry Fox travel towels are my favorite (use the code “nomadicmatt” for 15% off your purchase)!

Nomadic Matt posing for a photo in Hawaii while traveling

My favorite bag is the Flash Pack from REI . Other companies offering high-quality bags are Osprey, Nomatic, and MEC (for Canadians).

This article has more tips on finding the best travel backpack for your needs.

The same rule applies to suitcases. Don’t take a huge suitcase because they are a pain in the butt to lug around, especially if you’re traveling long term (short term, not so much). I like Level 8 suitcases. They are durable, quite spacious, nicely designed, and well-priced (luggage can be pretty damn expensive). Plus, they have a TSA lock built into the zipper. You can click here to learn more and buy one .

I also recommend packing cubes , which are essential if you’re going to be living out of a backpack for a few weeks (or months), or you just want to keep your suitcase better organized. They come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to store items big and small. They’re great for making it easy to find everything in your backpack or suitcase.

3. Pack light. Write down a list of essentials, cut it in half, and then only pack that! Plus, since you bought a small backpack like I said above, you won’t have much room for extra stuff anyways! Take half the clothes you think you will need…you won’t need as much as you think. It’s OK to wear the same t-shirt a few days in a row.

I love Unbound Merino , as their travel clothing can be worn daily for weeks without getting smelly. They are super light and they look sylish too. I really love the material, they’re comfortable, they hardly ever need a wash, and they last forever!

Click here for more packing tips .

4. But take extra socks. You’ll lose a bunch to laundry gremlins, wear and tear, and hiking so packing extra will come in handy. Take a few more than you need. Trust me on this. Nothing beats a fresh pair of socks!

A room of empty bunk beds in a hostel in Spain

Here’s a list of all my best hostels around the world . If you’re planning on backpacking Europe , it’s worth getting HostelPass , a card that gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money, and they’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and so I’m glad it finally exists. Use code NOMADICMATT for 25% off.

6. Take an extra bank card and credit card with you Disasters happen and things get stolen or compromised. I once had a card duplicated and a freeze put on it. I couldn’t use it for the rest of my trip. I was very happy I had a backup. You don’t want to be stuck somewhere new without access to your funds. This happened to a friend once and they had to borrow money for me for weeks while they waited for their new card to arrive.

Here are some helpful articles on banking:

How to Avoid Banking Fees While Traveling
22 Ways to Cut Your Expenses and Have Money for Travel
How to Pick the Best Travel Credit Card

7. Make sure to use no-fee bank cards. Don’t give banks your hard-earned money. Keep that for yourself and spend it on your travels. 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!

Here’s an article that will tell you how to do that.

8. Don’t fly direct. When booking flights, sometimes it is cheaper to fly in to airports close to your final destination, and then take a train, bus, or budget airline to where you need to go.

To use this method, find out how much it is to go directly to your destination. Then, look at prices to nearby airports. If the difference is more than $150 USD, I look to see how much it is to get from the second airport to my primary destination.

My favorite flight search engine is Skyscanner . This is my go-to website for finding cheap flights. It searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss.

Here are some more tips on finding cheap flights!

Nomadic Matt posing at the Villandry chateau in France during the summer

Here are some helpful articles on solo travel:

Why I Travel Alone
The Joy of Solo Travel
Travel: The Ultimate Personal Development Tool
How to Overcome Being Alone
Reading People: One Skill Travel Has Taught Me

10. Always visit the local tourism information center. This is probably one of the most underused travel tips in the world. Tourism information centers 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. It’s amazing how many travelers skip this when they are visiting somewhere but, as a savvy traveler, you know to use this resource!

11. Take free walking tours. Besides being free, these tours will give you a good orientation and background of the city you are visiting. I love, love, love taking walking tours when I travel. You pass the time, you get to pepper the guide with questions, and you get to learn so much about where you are. Here are some of my favorite walking tour companies around the world:

The Best Walking Tours in New York City
The Best Walking Tours in London
The Best Walking Tours in Paris
The Best Walking Tours in Berlin
The Best Walking Tours in Amsterdam

And while free walking tours are great, sometimes it’s worth it to take a paid walking tour if you’d like to dig deeper into a particular aspect of the destination. Walks is one of my favorite paid walking tour companies, offering in-depth history and cultural tours in cities around the world (especially Europe). Its small-group tours also tend to offer exclusive behind-the-scenes access you can’t get elsewhere.

For fellow foodies, Devour Food Tours has all kinds of amazing food tours around Europe.

12. Don’t be afraid to use a map. Looking like a tourist isn’t as bad as getting really lost and ending up in the wrong neighborhood. Don’t be afraid to use a map or ask for directions and look like a tourist. After all, you are one!

13. 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. I like to wander around and try to find my way without using Google Maps. Travel is the art of discovery and you never know what cool little spot you’ll come across.

14. Ask hostel staff for information — even when you aren’t staying there. Hostel staff deal 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. Ask them for all sorts of information. Even if you aren’t staying in one, just pop in and ask for help. They’ll usually give it.

15. Sign up for flight deals. When it comes to travel, your flight(s) will likely be your biggest expense. Save money by signing up for flight deal websites. You’ll get epic flight deals straight to your inbox, saving you time and money. Also be sure to sign up for airline newsletters, since that is where they will announce their sales first. The best websites for finding travel deals are:

Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) – The BEST for upcoming US flight deals.
The Flight Deal – Great for global flight deals.
Holiday Pirates – The best for European flight deals.
Secret Flying – A great site for flight deals from around the world.

16. 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! Rip me off!” The more you can blend in and act like a local, the easier it will be to get deals and avoid touts. If you’re worried about pickpockets, keep a better eye on your stuff!

17. When you go out, take only what you need. Limit the amount of cash and bank cards you carry with you when you go out, so if something does happen, you can easily recover. Never take more than one credit card or ATM card with you. My rule for cash is to limit what I carry to $50 USD.

18. Always carry a lock. Carry a small combination lock with you when you travel. They come in handy, especially when you stay in dorms. Most hostels use lockers, so budget travelers need to provide their own travel lock to keep stuff secured. While you can usually rent or buy them at hostels, it’s much cheaper just to buy one before you go. (Just don’t use one with keys because if you lose the keys, you’re screwed!)

19. 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.

20. 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 endearing yourself with the locals. They’ll like that you tried.

Here are some tips on how to learn a language .

Nomadic Matt reading a travel book at a desk

Here are some posts that highlight my favorite reads:

13 Travel Books That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust
The Best Travel Books
12 Books to Take You Around the World

22. 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. (Just don’t eat the food at McDonald’s! That shit is gross and unhealthy for you! You can get it back home!). Libraries and most modern coffee shops also have free Wi-Fi too.

23. 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!

24. Never get behind families in airport security. They take forever. It’s not their fault. 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 a while.

25. 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!

Note: If you stay in hotels frequently (or want to), it might be worth it to get a hotel credit card . You can earn points on your everyday spending at home and convert those points into free stays. The best cards come with status, making upgrades more likely too!

26. Write down your experiences. Even in this hyper-technological age, I think everyone needs to write more during their travels so they have something to look back on. I never leave home without a journal. Not only do I use them for work (I’m constantly taking notes and writing down ideas) but I also use them to keep track of my travels.

Simple travel journals work great for journaling during your trip as well as for writing down logistical information like directions, contact information, and language tips.

If you want a travel journal that isn’t just blank pages but rather has space for itinerary planning, places to jot notes in the local language, inspirational quotes, and more, grab our new travel journal. It was designed specifically with travelers in mind, so you can take notes as well as write down stories and reflections during your travels.

27. Lunchtime is the best time to visit historical sites. Be a contrarian. 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. You’ll have even the most popular places to yourself!

28. 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 , or Open Rice to find some delicious and popular restaurants around you.

Additionally, never eat anywhere the menu is in like 6 languages! That means the restaurant is just for tourists!

29. 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. You won’t regret it. Cook your food, save money, and surprise yourself!

30. Eat at expensive restaurants during lunch. Most expensive restaurants offer lunch specials featuring the same food they would serve for dinner but for a fraction of the cost! That’s the best time to eat out when you travel.

I share more tips on how to eat cheaply around the world here.

31. Pack a headlamp. This is a handy tool for both backpackers and anyone looking to do any hiking or camping. If you’re going to be staying in a hostel, having a headlamp is helpful when you need to check in or out but don’t want to disturb your fellow travelers by turning on the lights. They’re also helpful in emergencies.

32. Carry a basic first-aid kit. Accidents happen, so be prepared. I always 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.

You can either assemble a first aid kit yourself ( here are some tips for doing so ), or purchase a pre-made kit online .

33. Don’t believe the cheap flight myths. Don’t drive yourself too crazy trying to get the absolute cheapest fare. There are a lot of myths online about how to find cheap flights, but there is no magic bullet or one secret ninja trick. It’s not cheaper to book on a particular day of the week, or if you search in an incognito window.

Spending five hours to try to save $10 will cause you a lot of stress. Once you find a flight deal that you’re happy with, book right away, as airfares change by the minute. Remember, you usually have a 24-hour window to cancel in case you need to.

Here are some article on how to save money on flights:

5 Steps to Booking a Cheap Flight Online
How to Always Find a Cheap Flight
Where I Find the Best Travel Deals

34. Use Meetup, the sharing economy, and hospitality websites to meet locals. These websites will help you get an insider’s perspective on your destination by connecting you with locals in the places you visit. The sharing economy has changed the way people travel allowing you to meet locals, get off the tourist travel, and save mega money! It’s a triple win – and I use these resources all the time when I travel.

Here’s an article on how to use the sharing economy (and what websites to use) when you travel.

35. Be open to strangers. Not everyone bites. Say hi to people on the road. Turn strangers into friends. Remember they are just like you! They want to live a happy, full life and have hopes and dreams too! You never know. You just might make some lifelong friends.

36. But keep your guard up. Some people do bite, so keep a healthy level of suspicion. You don’t want to fall for any travel scams or get yourself into uncomfortable situations. Be open but cautious. Here is a list of travel scams to avoid.

A delicious, fresh Greek meal while looking out over the ocean in the Greek Islands

My Favorite Restaurants in Europe
The Best Places to Eat in NYC
How to Eat Cheap Around the World
30+ Places to Eat in Tokyo
How to Eat Around the World on a Vegan Diet

38. Avoid taxis. They are always a budget buster. Never, ever take a taxi unless you absolutely have too!

39. Take a reusable water bottle through airport security and fill it up at your gate. Single-use plastics are common in a lot of countries around the world. They’re also polluting our oceans and destroying the environment. Drink from the tap when you can — you’ll save money and help the environment. If you’re going somewhere where you can’t drink the water, be sure to get a water bottle with a filter. I love Lifestraw .

40. Get city attraction cards. If you are going to visit a lot of museums and other attractions in a short period of time, a city pass is going to save you money on admission (plus most provide free public transportation too!).

41. Take pictures of your luggage and clothes. If your bag gets lost, this will help identify it more easily and speed up the process of having your travel insurance reimburse you.

42. Carry emergency cash. Because emergencies happen, like that time in Romania when I couldn’t find an ATM and needed money for the bus to the hostel. I usually try to keep around $200 USD in emergency cash in case something happens!

43. Get good shoes. You walk a lot when you travel. Don’t beat up your feet. Love them as much as they love you, and they’ll take you to amazing places.

My favorite shoes for traveling are Suavs shoes , which are versatile and durable. They’re comfortable and great for exploring a new city all day, but also look nice enough that you can dress them up if you want to at night.

44. Get vaccinated. Because falling prey to an illness in a foreign country is not fun — and many countries require you to get vaccinated in order to visit them. So regardless of your opinion on the subject, you just might have to.

Here is an article on how to stay healthy on the road.

45. Learn to haggle. Haggling is a fun, playful way of not getting charged the foreigner price. It’s the art of negotiating and one that will help you throughout all of life, not just at the market.

Here are some articles to help you get started with using points and miles:

Points and Miles 101: A Beginner’s Guide
How I Earn 1 Million Frequent Flier Miles Every Year
The Best Travel Credit Cards
The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Best Travel Credit Card

47. Take a jacket. Nights get chilly.

48. Eat street food! If you skip the street food, you miss out on culture . Don’t be scared. If you’re nervous, look for places where kids are eating. If it’s safe for them, it’s safe for you.

49. Get travel insurance. Travel insurance is the most important thing to get that you never want to use. If something goes wrong, you don’t want to be out thousands of dollars in bills. Travel insurance will be there if you get robbed, flights get canceled, you get sick or injured, or have to be sent home. It’s comprehensive and, for just a few dollars a day, one of the best investments you can get for a trip.

You may think you’re superman/woman but so did my friend who broke her arm, didn’t have insurance, and had to pay thousands out of pocket. Insurance was there when I had to replace my camera and when I popped an eardrum scuba diving! Get it! Here are some tips on how to find the best travel insurance.

My favorite companies are:

SafetyWing – A budget-friendly choice for travelers who need basic coverage. They are affordable, have great customer service, and make it easy to make a claim. If you’re on a tight budget, go with SafetyWing!
Insure My Trip – The best insurance for those over 70 years old.
Medjet – This is a membership program that provides emergency evacuation coverage should you get into a dire situation while traveling and be hospitalized. Medjet is meant to supplement your regular travel insurance.

50. Be patient. Things will work out in the end. No need to rush. You’ll get to where you are going in due time. Travel is about the journey, not the destination.

51. Be respectful. Locals are willing to help you out, but there’s probably a language barrier, so keep your cool when something doesn’t go your way. If you don’t, you’ll end up just looking like an asshole tourist.

52. Don’t over plan your trip. Let your days unfold naturally. Schedule two or three things and let the day fill in the rest on its own. It’s less stressful, and letting the day just take you is one of the best ways to travel. Here’s my advice on how not to over plan your travels!

53. Relax. See Be patient .

54. Be frugal — but not cheap. Don’t be pennywise but pound-foolish. Look for deals and don’t waste money, but don’t miss out on great experiences or walk 10 miles to save a couple of dollars. Time is money. Spend them both wisely.

55. Take earplugs. Anyone who has ever stayed in a hostel knows that earplugs are a necessity. Snorers are everywhere and you need your sleep.

But even if you’re not going to be in a hostel, they’re still helpful for sleeping well if your accommodation is located on a busy street, or for sleeping in buses, overnight trains, and other types of transportation. A good night’s sleep is priceless — be prepared!

These earplugs are reusable and work much better than the cheap foam ones, blocking out any distracting noises.

56. Always carry a power bank. Batteries die. Your good mood shouldn’t.

We all travel with numerous electronic devices like phones and tablets, but it can be hard to keep them all charged. An external battery solves that problem.

57. Remember that you’re not alone even if you’re traveling solo. Traveling alone never means you’re really alone. Wherever you go, there is a network of travelers who will be your friends, give you advice or tips, and help you out. They will guide you, point you in the right direction, and be your mentors. You aren’t out there on your own. You’ll make lots of friends and tons of memories.

If you’re not sure about traveling on your own for the first time, you can always join a group tour, such as those we offer at The Nomadic Network . I’ve designed all the itineraries myself to ensure they cover the highlights, get you off the tourist trail, and connect you with friends and locals.

Christmas dinner in Ko Lipe with new friends

59. Pre-book your tickets to attractions, activities, and excursions online. If you’re planning to do any activities or excursions on your trip, book them online. Companies usually offer a discounted price when compared to buying in person. Not only that but you’ll be able to pay with a credit card, giving you some extra protection as well as more travel points!

Many major attractions also allow you to reserve your spot and skip the line. Always look online to see if this is an option. This will you to avoid wasting time in multi-hour lines and go right in. I’ve seen people wait hours for the Paris Catacombs, Louvre, London Churchill War Rooms, churches, temples, historic fortresses, and more. Pre-book the day before, skip the line, get to see more during your day!

Get Your Guide is my favorite place to book activities in advance. It’s a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions, with tons of options in cities all around the world, including skip-the-line attraction tickets, cooking classes, walking tours, and more!

60. Avoid TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor is fine when you need opening hours or an address, but when it comes to reviews I ignore it completely. People always leave a negative review when something bad happens but rarely leave a positive review when something good happens so the reviews tend to be skewed.

On top of that, it’s very easy to create fake reviews and make a place seem better than it is. Many hotels and restaurants hire firms to artificially inflate their reviews on the platform. Additionally, TripAdvisor has been known to take down reviews that are overly negative as well as reviews on sexual assault. Use TripAdvisor with caution. Or better yet, don’t use it at all.

61. Finally, wear sunscreen. For as the Baz Luhrmann song “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” goes:

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists Whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable Than my own meandering experience.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)
Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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27 Travel Experts Share Their Best Travel Tips

When you are planning your travel as a first-time traveler or searching for new destinations, my recommendation is to seek advice and the best travel tips from travelers with experience, especially those who have blogs about family travel, solo travel, international travel, etc.

Travel experts have often “been there, done that” and are willing to share their wisdom and travel tips to improve YOUR travel with optimized planning skills, travel hacks, and advice. Especially if those travel tips can save you time and money, give you inspiration on the best destinations, and help you be as prepared as possible for your trips.

Table of Contents

27 Best Travel Hacks and Tips from Travel Experts

As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This page may contain affiliate links. I would love your support through clicking on the links. Read the full disclosure here.

My top 5 travel hacks and tips are:

Start a Savings Fund for Travel
Use Packing Lists
Consider Travel Insurance
Research Your Destination
Plan for Your Electronics

Ace travelers weigh in on their best travel hacks and tips for a worry-free vacation .

1. Start a Travel Savings Fund

Recommended by Just Wander More

One of the BIGGEST barriers to travel is the COST. Especially if you are interested in traveling overseas. What you really need are practical travel tips and suggestions on 10 SUPER EASY Money Saving Hacks for Travel .

Your goal is to establish the habit of saving money SPECIFICALLY FOR TRAVEL each month. If you travel regularly, you will find that you build up your travel savings fund, plan a trip , use up your fund, and then start to build again.

Starting today is totally do-able.

Are you planning for a once-in-a-lifetime travel event ? If you start a travel savings account today as suggested by US News, your vacation fund will begin to grow until you are ready to go.

BUT where do you find the extra money to add to your vacation fund?

Making travel a goal in your life might mean that you begin to make sacrifices in other areas as well:

go to fewer movies, plays or musical performances
eat out less often and/or bring a lunch to work
bring coffee or energy drinks from home
cut out cable
cancel magazine subscriptions
don’t renew your XM radio plan
limit clothing splurges

These sacrifices all support your dream of traveling and are worth the effort. You do not have to be excessively wealthy to travel, but saving for travel should be a PRIORITY.

Are you new to travel? Haven’t traveled in awhile? Looking for more ideas on planning travel? Check out my recently released eBook: Plan a Trip to Europe .

Plan a trip to Europe ebook with photo of lake in Bruges, Belgium

2. Use a Digital SIM Card

Travel tip is to download Airalo eSIM app

Recommended by Sydney of A World in Reach

Often when traveling abroad, the cell phone plan that you use at home won’t include coverage internationally. Most US-based providers offer international plans at additional costs, but these can get extremely expensive , especially if you just want to have internet for navigating and looking up restaurant recommendations.

One of the easiest and cheapest ways travel experts stay connected while traveling abroad is by using an Airalo eSIM . An eSIM is a digital SIM that you can purchase and install right on your phone without having to remove your existing SIM card. This travel tip lets your conveniently get data on your cell phone without having to pay for expensive international plans or rely on WiFi to stay connected. Some Airalo eSIMs also support voice calls

Airalo offers eSIMs for 80+ countries. You can pick a single country eSIM if you’re visiting one country, or opt for a regional one if you’re visiting multiple countries within the same region (like Europe or the Caribbean). Airalo eSIMs start at about $4.50, with prices varying by country, length of validity, and data amount.

Check out Airalo

3. Apply for a Travel Credit Card

Best travel tips - apply for a travel credit card

Recommended by Jessica of Uprooted Traveler

Travel experts agree that researching and signing up for a travel credit card that makes sense for you and the way you travel is one of the super smart travel hacks: options include Chase Sapphire Reserve or Capital One Venture credit cards. For making everyday purchases, you’ll rack up reward points, which, depending on the card you choose, can be used to fly to Maui or the Maldives or to splurge on a nicer hotel than you’d usually spring for.

And if you time signing up for the card before you’re about to make several larger purchases (like for your upcoming wedding or move), you’ll usually be able to meet the credit card’s sign-up bonus spending threshold and get those points (and thus, those free flights) even sooner! Isn’t that the best travel tip?

Travel credit cards offer a variety of other benefits for travelers, like airport lounge access, paying for TSA Precheck and Global Entry, plus no international transaction fees when you’re spending abroad. Just make sure you can pay off your credit card every month and that your travel credit card is earning you money (instead of the other way around!).

4. Use the Wise Mobile Banking App

Use Wise debit card for best travel tips

Recommended by Shevaun of Shev Strolls

Once your flights and accommodations are booked, the next big stressor you are probably feeling as you prepare for your trip is “ How do I spend money abroad? ”

And it’s a good question! Learning about new currencies and banking in a different country can be very daunting. Thankfully, you have Wise. Wise is an international mobile banking app recommended by travel experts that is 100% free, and it will be your new best friend as a traveler. It is one of the best travel hacks to remember.

Wise allows you to receive, send, and hold money much like PayPal or Venmo—except it allows you to do so in more that 50 currencies! You always get the market rate for travel savings when you convert money between currencies, and it has crazy low fees.

The best part? The Wise debit card allows you spend your money like your home debit card, but in the currency of whatever country you are in.

Not convinced? Discover all the ways Wise can work for you!

5. Purchase Travel Insurance

Recommended by Marya of The Beau Traveler

Travel insurance is often overlooked, especially for first time travelers, but for peace of mind, it is one of the best travel tips to follow.

Many people often forget that anything can happen when you travel, even if you are only planning for a short-term vacation. However, protecting yourself with travel insurance can save you time and money when unfortunate things happen. For example, if your flight is delayed or you accidentally get sick while traveling , travel insurance can ease your mind.

Nowadays, you can find many travel insurance plans online. Some even offer annual plans for digital nomads, which are valid worldwide. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry when you travel.

6. Create a Packing List

Recommended by Venaugh

Ace travelers know that a great time saver for the first time traveler is to create a packing list. Of course, you may still forget some things, but your packing list is a list you keep improving as time goes by.

Eventually, you will have the perfect list. Create categories for clothes, accessories, and technology like portable chargers . Add in reminders of things to do before leaving the house like closing all ventilation windows that are usually open all the time. Depending on the type of trip you’re taking, the type of things you’ll need will vary a bit, so once you have the basics you can make variations for the season and destinations.

Double check your packing list before you leave to reduce anxiety.

Download the International Travel Planner

Check out the Domestic Travel Planner

7. Choose the Right Size of Backpack

Best travel tips for packing your camera

Recommended by Koyeli of Nature Diary

Traveling becomes trouble-free if you carry a the right capacity backpack with you. To understand the capacity of your backpack, you can divide your bag into three zones:

Bottom zone: Ideal for storing items not needed during travel but required after reaching the destination.
Central zone: This zone can be used for bulkier items that need more space. You can pack all your clothes here.
Top zone: You can keep the essential items here that you might need during travel/ hike .

Apart from these zones, backpacks with many pockets and compartments are perfect for storing travel essentials you will need urgently, e.g., first aid kit, medicine, water, etc.

If you plan for a 1-3 day weekend trip , then a 30-50 liter backpack will be perfect. A lightweight backpack with adjustable torso length and ventilation keeps you comfortable on the trail.

You need to carry heavier loads and supplies for trips 3-5 days long or longer. So, it would be best if you choose a backpack depending on the frame type with a capacity of 70 liters and more.

8. Pack Solid Toiletries

Recommended by Ali of Travel Made Simple

When you’re packing for a trip, the liquids rules for your carry on bag can really get in the way. One of the best ways to minimize how much liquid you have to deal with is to switch to solid toiletries for travel .

Some great options are solid shampoo and conditioner. So many brands exist that are just as good, if not better, than their liquid counterparts. Ethique is one option. Try a few before you travel to figure out which ones work best for you.

Make sure you get a travel soap dish for your solid shampoo and conditioner. But when you’re done with your shower, let the bars dry before you close it up again, otherwise they get mushy.

Beyond shampoo and conditioner, you can also use solid sunscreen. It’s a little bigger than a stick of deodorant and works just as well as the liquid version.

You can also get solid toothpaste tabs, solid laundry detergent sheets, solid bug repellent, and many other things you might not have thought about before.

These non-liquid items don’t have to go in your liquids bag because, well, they’re not liquids. This leaves you more room for other items you can’t replace with solids, and it makes packing a little less stressful.

9. Travel with Carry-On Luggage Only

Recommended by Kelly of Travel New York Now

If you regularly check blogs about family travel, solo travel or adventure travel, you’ll note that one of the best travel tips is to always double check the amount of allowed luggage on any flight that you book.

While some premium airline carriers have generous baggage allowances, some airlines only include one small handbag with the price of your ticket. And if you arrive at the airport with more luggage than your ticket allows, you can sometimes pay upwards of $100.

For the best travel savings, please note that the prices for excess baggage are usually much higher when purchased at the airport as opposed to purchasing online and in advance.

Also read the fine print on any airplane ticket you buy : carry-on luggage weight and size allowances can vary significantly from one airline to the next.

10. Pack a Travel First Aid Kit

Recommended by Bev of Bev & Shams Adventures

A travel first aid kit , is essential when hiking, traveling locally or internationally. It will help you or your family, should you become ill or injured, and you can treat minor injuries without the need to seek further medical attention.

Travel first aid kits come in a variety of sizes; this travel tip focuses on a kit small enough to include in your personal travel bag or backpack .

First aid kits are easy to find, as most outdoor stores, sports stores and in some places your super store or pharmacy sell them.

A good first aid kit will include much of what you need—tweezers, antiseptic wipes and antibacterial cream or wash, plasters, burn gels, even a heat retaining foil blanket—if you run into trouble while hiking.

Alternatively, you could make your own DIY first aid kit. You can customize it to have all the essential things you need while you’re traveling such as:

Hand sanitizer
Rehydration packets

If you do use anything from the first aid kit, travel experts recommend that you make sure to replace it as soon as you get home. First aid kits are a lifesaver and something you should never leave home without.

11. Keep a Digital Copy of Documents

Use LastPass to store travel documents securely

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Travel experts strongly recommend that you keep copies of your documents—physical copies and digital copies—in cloud storage or in a password storage program.

Remember the days when you’d write down on a piece of paper the address of your accommodations, the phone number, and directions? While you may just check Google Maps now, do you still keep a piece of paper with the rest of your important information?

Because technology can fail us, all blogs about family travel, solo travel, and adventure travel would advise that you keep copies of your documents both in physical and digital formats . You should consider scanning all relevant documents and storing them on a flash drive as well as in cloud storage (secured with a password, of course).

If you travel long term, make sure to always have a hard copy of your:

Drivers’ license
Insurance policy.

Should you happen to lose your key documents, this is one of the travel hacks that makes it easier to get help from your embassy or consulate to get back home if you can show those copies.

12. Use a Water Filter Bottle

Recommended by Jennie of Jennie Wanders

If you’re doing a lot of traveling, you’ll likely end up in a place where it’s unsafe to drink the tap water. Either that, or you’ll need to stay hydrated whilst on a long hike or out camping. There’s nothing worse than being far from a shop or water source, and it can really have an effect on your mood and overall health if you’re not hydrated.

One of the best travel hacks is to always carry a water bottle with a water filter . Not only will the planet thank you for using less disposable plastic, but you can drink water from any tap, stream, puddle or pond after filtering!

13. Bring a Wheeled Cooler on Road Trips

Recommended by Donna of Explore the Road

Traveling by car can give you a lot of freedom while vacationing. Careful road trip planning allows you to see more, be spontaneous, and drive for as long or as little as you like.

Blogs about family travel are great resources to help you plan.

Plus a road trip allows you to save money on food. Ace travelers and road trippers suggest that filling a cooler allows you to pack easy breakfasts such as fruits and yogurt drinks that you can eat during the drive. Sandwich meats and snacks like string cheese make easy lunches for hikes and other outdoor activities.

Once you reach your destination, it can be hard lugging a cooler full of food down to the beach, to a campsite, or even from the parking lot to your accommodations. Problem solved with a wheeled cooler!

A cooler on wheels will fit all of your food needs for your trip, but you won’t strain yourself having to carry it around. A retractable handle also helps to pull the cooler up stairs. If you are staying somewhere with kitchen facilities, you can even bring your food for the week and unload everything into the fridge when you get there.

One of the Just Wander More travel hacks is to bring a smaller folding cooler for day trips that folds and tucks easily into your luggage for trips close to home and abroad.

14. Check Hotel Room Amenities Before Packing

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A mistake that many first-time travelers make is overpacking and bringing unnecessary items that they won’t use.

To avoid this mistake, it is worth checking the room amenities before you start packing. Travel experts recommend checking the hotel’s website to determine what items are provided in your room.

For example, you may be thinking of packing a hairdryer or a travel iron to keep your clothes neat, however, the hotel room may have these two items, so you can leave them at home.

By leaving unnecessary items at home, you will also have more space in your suitcase to pack other essentials that you will really need during your trip or keep your luggage lighter.

15. Find FREE Campsites

Finding free camping spots best travel tips

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When you’re traveling, camping can be a really fun way to experience a new place, get out in nature, and also log some travel savings! There are lots of ways to find free campsites while you’re on the go.

When you’re traveling around the United States, did you know that you can camp for free in national forests or on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land? Travel experts recommend using the Public Lands app to see the boundaries of public lands in the US. If you want some adventure, you can drive down forest roads and find a spot to camp!

There are also a few apps that you can use to find campsites that ace travelers have visited and reviewed, which can be easier for first time travelers. Some of the best apps include iOverlander and The Dyrt. iOverlander has user-contributed campsites, while The Dyrt features established camping areas (both paid and free) that usually have more amenities.

16. Travel as the Locals Do and Save Money

Travel as locals do for best travel tips

Recommended by Melanie of The Professional Traveller

A great way to see real travel savings while traveling is to travel using public transport. Passes are often available which make it great value too.

For example, a 24-hour train and subway ticket in Berlin costs 8.80 Euros ($9 or £7.50). You can extend this ticket for another 24 hours for 3.70 Euros ($4 or £3).

A single journey on the local transport in Baku costs 12 cents or 10 pence.

The public bus from Istanbul airport to the city centre costs $3 or £2.50. It’s great value for a journey that takes 1.5 hours.

Many cities also have integrated public transport. In London you can travel on the subway, bus, train and boat with one ticket/pass. The cheapest way to take a trip on the River Thames is on one of the local ferries.

Traveling on public transport is a great way to meet local people and enjoy some everyday life too. Drivers and locals are happy to point out stops if places are unfamiliar. This makes public transport a great option whether you are a first time traveler or among the travel experts.

17. Access Airport Lounges

Best travel tips is to gain access to Airport lounge

Recommended by Palo of moonsandroses

Traveling can be stressful sometimes—crowded airports, delays, going through security, choosing what outfit to wear at the airport —just to name a few. That’s where airport lounges can come to the rescue! If you ever find yourself in the terminal wanting to get away from it all for a few minutes (or hours), you can unwind in the private lounges that are available in almost any big-city airports.

Travel Experts are Familiar with These Lounge Perks:

comfortable seating
complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
complimentary snacks (and meals sometimes)
shower facilities

Although most lounges require you to fly business class, fly internationally and/or be a premium cardholder, there are some simpler ways to gain access to an airport lounge:

Subscribe to an annual membership such as Priority Pass
Purchase an annual lounge membership with your favorite airline
Pay for a day pass at the door

Your options will differ depending on the airport so it’s always a good idea to check with the airport and airline as to the lounges they have to offer as well as the entry requirements.

18. Practice Self-Care to Reduce Stress While Traveling

Recommended by Alex of Wander with Alex

Although we travel to relax and enjoy ourselves, some situations can still cause stress. Travel experts know that tending to your basic needs through self-care activities can help to reduce that stress and enhance your travel experience. Food, water, sleep, and exercise are essential details that should be included in your travel plans. Follow these four basic self-care travel tips to help you stay healthy while you are out adventuring:

Make Sure You Are Getting Enough Sleep – Most trips have time constraints, so we tend to stretch ourselves thin wanting to see and do as much as possible. But forgoing your rest can lead to exhaustion, low energy, and an all-around bad time. Beat jet lag by adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before your trip and plan to get some rest once you arrive at your destination. And be sure to get adequate sleep each night for the next day’s activities.
Don’t Forget to Eat and Drink Water – It’s easy to skip a meal unintentionally while you’re out exploring. However, skipping a meal may cause your blood sugar to plummet, resulting in low energy, moodiness, jitteriness, anxiety, and brain fog. Instead, make sure your meals are scheduled into your daily itinerary and pack snacks when there will be a long stretch between meals.
Drink Plenty of Water – Hydration is another basic need we tend to forget while traveling . Adding a water bottle to your packing list and keeping it with you can solve this problem. Also, avoid eating foods with too much salt and drinking too much alcohol.
Get Outdoors and Move Around – While you don’t need to get up at 6 AM every day of your trip to hit the gym, you should make sure that you are getting out and moving around. Exercise is good for your metabolism, mental clarity, and mood. Consider scheduling a walking tour to get to know your destination better or take a hike at a nearby state park. You can most certainly get creative when it comes to exercising during your travel

19. Learn Basic Phrases

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During travel to non-touristy places, you might find out that most of the people in the area might not speak English. One of the best travel tips from ace travelers? Learn a few basic phrases in another language.

Two of the most spoken languages in the world are Chinese and Spanish. If you already know the world of siesta , it might be worth learning a few more phrases that will help you during your travel. Some of the most essential are: “How much is this?” and numbers! Can you imagine shopping or paying for a taxi without knowing those basics?

20. Work with a Travel Agent

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If you are traveling internationally, or to a popular tourist site (ie., Disneyland), a great suggestion is to work with travel agents aka travel experts.

When working with a travel agent, be sure to ask if they charge a fee. Many travel agents don’t charge a fee, although some do. Travel agents get paid through the hotels, resorts, and tours they book through.

Not only can travel agents help you find hidden gems in the cities you’re visiting, but they can also help you save money through the hotels and other travel sites they use. An agent can also help you find beautiful, less-touristy cities which you may not have first considered. Some agencies even have “specialists” for certain geographical areas of travel.

When you’re traveling internationally, you must not only consider the transportation of flights but also their train systems. Navigating that on your own may become overwhelming if you have never done it before. An agent can help you navigate the train and flight systems and put them together in an itinerary for you. Having a travel itinerary is extremely helpful, especially being in a new place.

If you have any issues while you are on your trip, don’t hesitate to reach out to your agent . Sometimes small hiccups come up being in a new country. Your agent is there to help and wants your trip to go as smoothly as possible.

21. Research Your Destination

Pinterest, one of the essential travel planning apps

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Once you have your travel destination chosen , no matter where it is, one of your next steps is to do some research. Great resources include blogs about family travel, solo travel blogs, and adventure travel sites. This can include how to get there, accommodations, things to do, and costs at destination.

Looking at things to do, your obvious friend is a search engine. Enter Google and Pinterest . However, don’t discount or disregard social media. There are plenty of ace travelers and companies on social media with local knowledge who are willing to help find that perfect spot.

To get the best results from any search engine, using specific keywords returns the best information, whilst “must do” and “best things to do” are a great start. More specific phrases such as “non touristy” and “crowd free places” narrow your searches significantly. Alternative words that can also be used are “secret”, “hidden”, “unique” etc. Additionally, if you like to do a specific activity add this to your search, e.g., “[activity] in [destination]”.

Search for pages, communities, blogs about family travel, groups or #hashtags for the area you are looking for on Twitter , websites, and Instagram . As an example, “traveling to/in [destination]”, “travel [destination]”, [destination] travel community, #travelto[destination]. You can then search any specific questions or read articles posted in the group.

A Few More Travel Hacks and Tips…

22. Travel in the Off Season
23. Apply for an International Driver’s Permit
24. Use Google Flights to Find Cheap Flights
25. Pack Essential Electronics
26. Plan for Your Camera Gear
27. Ask the Hotel Concierge for Ideas

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best travel packing hacks.

Bring a carry-on, not a checked bag. Use packing cubes to stay organized. Use packing lists.

Are there more travel hacks?

Don’t exchange money at the airport. Travel during “shoulder season” to get lower rates. Bring your own reusable water bottle. Get TSA PreCheck. Download Google Maps offline.

How do you survive a long airport layover?

Long Airport Layover? Creative Things You Can Do To Pass the Time Sleep Watch a movie Walk to get exercise Plan your next trip Play a game Charge your devices Visit an airport lounge Catch up on work and emails Pamper yourself

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Final Thoughts on 27 Travel Experts Share Their Best Travel Tips

If you are new to planning a vacation or if you are looking for tips to streamline your travel planning, you are quickly learning that there is a lot to consider. Thankfully, travel experts have weighed in on their best travel hacks and tips to help you have the most successful trip ever.

Bookmark this page for insider tips and advice that will help to make your next vacation seamless and memorable.

Travel savvy is something you learn over time through experience and making a few travel mistakes along the way. These super smart travel tips will help you enjoy travel savings, find optimal transportation, explore off the beaten path and simply become a better traveler (and maybe avoid a few missteps along the way).

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I’m a Colorado-based travel blogger with a passion for exploring the world, enjoying family time, and taking fantastic photographs. I am also a book writing, creative thinking, detail loving, frequent flying, comfort loving mom of three girls and wife to an amazing guy. Discover More .

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26 comments.

Great tips! I totally agree with so many of these, especially getting a travel credit card and/or a credit card that gives you access to airport lounges. Gaining airline miles and being able to hang out in lounges before flights are such game changers!

These are great tips! I’ve never really thought about buying a SIM card locally which is such a good idea.

These are all great tips! I am definitely going to check out the eSim card. It seems so much easier than always having to get a local Sim card.

That seems to be the opinion now.

These are great tips and some I had not considered like the sim card for international travel and the wise banking app. What a helpful list!

So glad it was helpful. We can always learn something new and helpful for travel.

Totally agree will all your excellent tips! Especially, that having a separate travel/vacation fund is the key to how to travel more and saving money.

Some amazing tips here! I had no idea that digital sim cards existed, I’ve been spending a lot on local sim cards over the past few months so that is a great tip!

Agreed. I need to check them out too!

Great tips Jolayne! I’m about to embark on a 3 month trip and where to keep my documents and passwords has definitely been on my mind. Thank you for the detailed tips!

That sounds so fun. Where are you headed?

What a great collection of tips from travellers. I went through the list and nodded. Although I am still searching for all the right solid toiletries that work for me. And no matter how I try, I can’t travel with just a carry on!

Especially with all of the cruising that you do. You wouldn’t want to bring just a carry on.

As always, you have some great travel tips! I think it’s time for me to get a digital sim card, so I will check it out. Found some more tips as well, so thank you!

Yeah, I need to check out the digital sim card as well.

Thanks for the tips! Great information here. Okay now I know I’m getting old. I had no idea you could purchase non-liquid shampoo. 🙂

I always try to travel more in the off-season, especially any of our bigger trips to save money….so much cheaper that way!!

I love all these tips, they’re so useful!! I didn’t know a digital sim was a possibility either, such a good idea!

We used Airalo on our last trip and it worked like a charm.

What a great list. So many top tips.

Travel experts have learned from experience.

These tips are wonderful. I haven’t traveled internationally in so long, some of these i had no idea about. I’m going to pin for my future travel! Thanks for sharing!

I hope you can get back to traveling soon.

Our 15 Best Travel Tips from 15 Years on the Road

Last Updated: March 30, 2024

Here’s our list of the best travel tips to help you travel like a pro.

We’ve been lucky enough to be travelling the world for over a decade, living a semi-nomadic life, and in that time we’ve picked up quite a lot of travel tips along the way.

Rather than write out a list of generic travel advice or life lessons, we wanted to put together this article with a bunch of actionable and not-so-obvious tips to help you make the most of your adventures.

Table of Contents

1) Travel Slow

2) think outside the box when booking flights, 3) learn some of the local language, 4) buy travel insurance, 5) ask for prices before you agree to anything, 6) get a vpn, 7) apply for a credit/debit card that has zero international transaction fees, 8) never exchange money in your home country, 9) have multiple copies of your important documents, 10) abc – always be charging, 11) save money (and time) – do your own laundry, 12) get quick-dry clothes, 13) pack ear plugs, 14) always bring a water bottle, 15) get a local sim card for your phone, here are our top travel tips.

Whether you’re planning on travelling for a week or a year, we hope these great travel tips will make your next trip go much more smoothly.

Whenever somebody asks what our number one travel tip is, we always reply with the same bit of advice – slow down.

It’s totally normal to try and fit in as many exciting destinations and incredible activities as possible when you’re on vacation. After all, your time away from work is precious. But we can promise you that you’ll gain so much more valuable experiences and memories if you travel slowly.

The truth is that unless you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort and have no intentions of leaving the property, travel is exhausting. Your sensors are firing on all cylinders, constantly taking in the new sights, smells and tastes of wherever you are.

If you’re anything like us too, the moment you leave the hotel you’re out on your feet all day, visiting museums, climbing viewpoints and winding your way through narrow alleyways. Yes, you’re on holiday, but you’re not exactly taking a rest!

Throw in that if you’re on a long-term trip as well, you need to be constantly thinking about how to get to the next place, where you’re going to stay, how to get a visa on the road, managing finances, etc.

READ MORE – Check out our guide on how to be a responsible traveller .

The best way to not get completely burnt out from all of this is to simply slow down.

Give yourself more time in each city you go to. Spend the mornings sightseeing, but leave the afternoons free to chill out in a cafe. Don’t try and jam pack a million things to do into a few hours.

Staying in places longer also gives you a chance to find hidden gems, try different restaurants and sometimes even get better deals on your accommodation.

We’ve done it all – tried to fit in everything into one week, spent 7 months wandering one country, and everything in between. We can promise you that slow travel is much more rewarding, and better for the soul.

Depending on where you are going, flights can be the most expensive part of your trip. If you’re planning on going somewhere slightly obscure, the prices might even be astronomical.

That’s why we always try to think outside of the box when it comes to searching for our airfares.

The first thing to do is try a whole bunch of different websites to find the cheapest options. You can save money on flights with Wego as an example, or do simple online searches.

For example rather than just punching ‘Sydney to London’, try going ‘Sydney to Singapore/Kuala Lumpur/Bangkok’ or any other major hub, then from there to London to see if there’s specials on airlines that aren’t part of the same alliance.

Or if you want to have a layover somewhere, look at multi-trip tickets. That’s how we ended up giving ourselves 3 days in New York City for the same price as transiting through.

Have you ever had somebody walk up to in your home town and ask a question in a language you don’t know? If you live somewhere like Australia or the United States, the chances are not likely, or if it has happened, very rarely.

It’s just not something that would happen, and in some places it’d even be considered completely unacceptable.

Now let’s flip the coin – have you ever travelled to a place where you don’t know a single word in the local language? Where you just walked up to a local and blurted out a query or question in English, expecting or hoping them to understand?

I’m going to go out on a limb and say yes. We’ve all done it.

There seems to be a double standard when it comes to speaking local languages, depending on whether you are on vacation, or you are at home. The fact of the matter is though it’s almost impossible to learn an entire language for a place you only plan on visiting for a couple of weeks.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least try though.

Our next best travel tip is to make an effort to learn the basics of the local language for where you are visiting. Try to pick up words and phrases such as ‘hello’, ‘thank you’, ‘good bye’, ‘where is the bathroom?’ and ‘how much?’ so when you communicate with a local, you are making an effort to do so in their language.

Showing this level of respect will go a long way in making positive interactions between tourists and local communities. If you don’t have time to learn from various apps before you leave home, on your first day in a new country ask a local to write down those keywords into a notebook, and keep that on you at all times.

If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. It’s a saying that has been used thousands of times, and that’s because it’s entirely true.

A lot of the people we know who have refused to buy travel insurance do so because they feel it’s a waste of money, or they don’t travel with anything valuable, or believe that medical care wherever they are going is cheap.

We can tell you from experience that none of that matters. Alesha visited a hospital in Thailand with severe stomach pains one day, and after only spending a few hours there we were handed a bill for USD$1000.

Our old roommate broke his leg rock climbing in Canada and ended up getting a blood infection in the hospital. He spent 6 weeks confined to a bed getting treatment, and his bill came to $150’000.

Even if you don’t think you’ll get sick or aren’t planning on doing any extreme activities, accidents do happen.

READ MORE – Do you really need travel insurance?

Never, and we mean never, get into a cab, sign up for a tour, order a meal at a local restaurant or agree to anything that involves money without knowing exactly how much it will cost you.

Unfortunately in quite a few countries, unscrupulous locals may see tourists as a walking money bag (especially taxi drivers, don’t get us started on taxi drivers), and if you haven’t determined how much something is worth beforehand, they may feel they can make up a higher price at the end.

At this point you’ve already received your product or service, and can find it hard to argue a lower price, even if you know they are trying to rip you off.

So our big travel tip is to always negotiate and agree on a price beforehand, and make sure you iron out all of the finer details first (one-way or both ways, per person or total, etc).

If you’re like us and are constantly connecting to random wifi networks around the world, you need to learn to protect your sensitive data when browsing the web.

Hackers are getting smarter and more cunning, and might be monitoring web traffic on an unprotected network, and if you happen to punch in your bank login or credit card details on a compromised network, you could be at risk of having your accounts cleared out.

For this reason whenever we are doing anything involving money, we use a VPN to create a secure connection.

Some countries as well block access to various social media platforms and websites, and you can get around these restrictions by using a VPN.

Beyond that, this is also very handy if you are trying to use a website that is geo-restricted, or perhaps has different prices for people buying products outside of their home country.

(For example we’ve seen websites try to charge us up to 25% more for something because we’re trying to buy it in Australia. Change location to the US, and get the same thing for cheaper!)

We personally use ExpressVPN and have done so without issue since 2014. Use this link to get your first 30 days for free .

Did you know that many banks will charge you a fee for making purchases in a foreign currency, or using an international ATM?

This is usually 3% for a currency conversion, plus $5 (more or less) for using your card overseas. It might not seem like a lot, but if you’re on a long trip, or making regular purchases in different currencies, this is going to add up.

For this reason we always carry a bunch of different debit and credit cards that offer zero international transaction fees to keep our needless expenses down. Because at the end of the day, who really wants to give banks more money?

You’ll need to do your own research to see which banks offer these products in your own personal country, but here in Australia we’ve found a couple of great ones:

Bankwest have a Platinum MasterCard with zero annual fee and zero overseas transaction fees.

CitiBank has a debit card that doesn’t charge you anything to withdraw money at an overseas ATM (you still pay the local ATM fee though).

ANZ also have a ‘Travel Rewards’ Visa credit card that doesn’t charge any fees for overseas credit transactions, plus it lets you collect frequent flyer miles.

Note – we are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the above banks in any way.

Speaking of money, one common question we get from readers, friends and family is what to do about having access to cash when they travel. We always tell them over and over again, just get your money there in the country.

Gone are the days of needing traveller’s cheques or having to exchange your money in your home country before you start the vacation.

In fact these methods will actually end up costing you money!

Airports and banks offer horrible exchange rates on international money, and you’ll up losing a lot of money in currency conversions if you give them your business.

Instead we recommend waiting until you are in the country and withdrawing money at an ATM. Remember how you picked up that awesome debit card without international transaction fees? Yep, it’s going to work wonders here.

Even if you don’t have one of those awesome cards, getting money out an ATM will almost always be better value than exchanging money at the bank or airport.

For those that always want local money as well for when they land, most airports have ATMs in the terminal, and while they might have higher ATM fees, you’ll usually get the current market rate for currency conversions.

You’ll be surprised how many places ask for a photocopy of your passport, or in some places like Iran perhaps even to see you wedding certificate if you’re sharing a room with your significant other.

Rather than always having these important documents on you at all times, we recommend having a number of photocopies that you stick into your backpack and can show if ever asked (without presenting the real versions).

It’s also a good idea to take photos of these and save them everywhere – email them to yourself, upload them to Google Drive or Dropbox, and keep them in an easy-to-find folder on your phone.

This one is particularly important for people like us, who always have laptops, cameras and phones in constant use. Keep them charged!

There’s nothing more frustrating than being out for a full day of exploration, and finding out that your phone/camera is flat.

You never know when you’re going to get a chance to charge your electronics, so if you find yourself somewhere with a spare powerpoint and a bit of time to kill, throw everything you can on charge.

Another great accessory to pick up is a USB battery pack, so you can charge your smaller items throughout the day without needing to find an electrical outlet.

You definitely don’t want to be ‘that smelly backpacker’ when you travel, so make sure you bathe regularly, and always have clean clothes.

The thing about travel though is you rarely have time to look for a laundromat and wash your clothes, and getting your hotel to do it for you can be very expensive (it’s 2019, why do they still charge per piece??), so we recommend doing your own laundry.

For years we’ve always hand-washed our clothes (in sinks or in the shower), then hung them up using a pegless clothesline in our room

There’s a couple of reasons we do this. First of all it saves money. While some hostels and hotels charge a reasonable price of only a few dollars for laundry, or have washing machines guests can use themselves, a lot charge insane prices.

Another reason is it also guarantees we won’t lose any bits of clothing. We’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve picked up laundry only to find socks, underwear and even t-shirts missing.

Third, time. We can wash our clothes at night, hang them up, go to bed and in the morning they’ll be dry.

Recently we’ve just picked up a Scrubba ‘travel washing machine’ to make the task of doing laundry easier. So far we’re loving it.

This travel tip follows on from the laundry one above. Always travel with quick-dry clothing. The reasoning is pretty self explanatory.

Quick-dry clothing is just what it sounds like – made of material that dries quickly. This is awesome if you’re doing your laundry in a hurry or do a lot of outdoor activities where you might sweat (or end in a rain shower).

Just hang it up for an hour or two with a bit of sun or a breeze, and it’ll be fully dry. Or you can do what we do and put on a damp shirt and let your body heat dry it out for you.

Our all-time favourite brand for quick-dry clothing is Kathmandu .

Even if you’re the world’s heaviest sleeper, having ear plugs in your bag can be the single best (and cheapest) item you travel with.

From loud music on overnight buses to heavy snorers in the tent next to you, you’ll never know when you’ll find yourself trying to catch some z’s in place that is just too noisy to crash out.

You don’t need to have anything fancy. Just the standard foam ear plugs you get from a hardware will do.

If you care about the environment at all, then you should travel with a reusable aluminium water bottle.

Rather than always buying plastic bottles for drinking water as you walk around a town, carry a metal bottle with you and fill it up on the go.

You can drink the tap water in most of Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, and also in some parts of South America, Asia and Africa (just ask the locals first).

If you happen to be travelling in one of the very lucky countries that have drinkable water coming straight from the tap, there’s no excuse to buy bottled water.

If you do happen to be somewhere that you can’t drink the tap water, then we recommend buying the biggest water bottle you can find (5L, 10L, etc) and refilling your metal one before going out for the day. This way you’ll minimise your plastic use.

Some places like Thailand have reverse osmosis machines on every block, or most bars and hotels will have water dispensers and will happily fill up your water bottle for a small fee.

In this day and age, having access to the internet while you travel is almost essential. From booking last-minute accommodation to checking Google Maps, to posting your best travel photos to social media, there’s a million reasons to want to have phone data at all times.

Unless your mobile phone plan has free international data roaming, chances are the moment you turn your phone on in a new country you’re going to start getting hit with crazy fees.

Even if your mobile phone provider offers a deal such as $5-10 a day for international roaming, this is going to add up quickly if you’re on a long trip.

What we personally do is pick up a prepaid SIM card with data in every country that we’re going to be in for a week or more. You might be surprised at how cheap this can be!

For example in Kyrgyzstan we got a 30-day prepaid sim card with 50gb of 4G data for $7. In Romania 10gb was about $10. In fact most countries except for Canada offer really good prepaid deals.

If you have the time we recommend going into a phone shop directly to get the best deals, rather than buying the airport SIM deals, as they’ll almost always be cheaper.

Your phone has to be unlocked for this to work. Do a little bit of Googling before buying a SIM card to make sure you find the best deal as well.

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8 Solo Travel Experts Share Their Best Tips

Find out why you should always buy postcards and stop booking tours in advance

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Book a tour. Don't stay out too late. Have a charged cell phone. Pre-plan your transportation. We've all heard the tried-and-true solo travel tips—and while all these suggestions are great (and absolutely important), we wanted to go one step deeper with real solo-travel experts. These writers, photographers, and entrepreneurs have traversed the globe, from Machu Picchu to Morocco , and now we've gathered their top bits of wisdom to share with you.

Protect Yourself in Your Hotel Room

Abigail Akinyemi, the digital creator behind The Lady Who Travels , never leaves home with a doorstop , but she has a simple trick if you forget one. "Use two glass cups on the door handle," Akinyemi told TripSavvy. "If the glass cup breaks, you know someone was trying to enter your room."

Take a Tour at Night

Tours are a popular way for solo travelers to meet others and become acquainted with a new place, but lawyer-turned-traveler Jen Ruiz, founder of Jen on a Jet Plane , always recommends booking a tour at night. "I like to book tours to go out at night, like haunted walking tours or food tours ," she explained. "This way, you feel safe because you're in a group setting, and if you want to stay out a little longer, hopefully you've made some friends along the way."

Book a Night or Two in a Hostel

Yes, even if you think you're too old. While we all reach a point where we're past the hosteling lifestyle, hostels do have some perks for solo travelers, as Sophie Clapton, the writer and photographer behind We Dream of Travel , found out on a solo trip to India. "After five days without meeting anyone, I found a hostel with excellent reviews and booked two nights there," Clapton said. "This simple change turned my trip to India into the best solo trip I ever took. At the hostel, I immediately found people that would become lifelong friends and who I went on to explore India and beyond with." (Even if you're not comfortable sharing a room, many hostels offer private rooms.)

Don't Book Tours in Advance

It might seem counterintuitive, but photographer and blogger Catherine Xu , who's been to 63 countries, learned early to stop booking tours in advance. Except for tours that often sell out, Xu prefers to find a local guide and agency shop once she's on the ground in her destination. "Once I arrive, I visit two or three tour agency offices to see what all my options are. Typically, many of these tours are not comprehensively found [online], especially in lesser-visited countries," Xu said.

Put Your Phone Down

While this advice could apply to any traveler, putting your phone down and living in the moment is even more important for solo travelers, argues Nate Hake, the blogger behind TravelLemming.com . "It can be super tempting to always have your smartphone out. It can easily become something of a social safety blanket, a way to make ourselves feel comfortable in public situations," Hake explained. "But your phone is also a barrier telling other people to stay away from you, leaving you more isolated." Hake recommends the Forest App , a game that rewards you for taking breaks from your phone.

Don't Pack More Than You Can Carry

Lydia Mansel, the founder of Just Packed , a site dedicated to helping travelers prepare for trips, just returned from a four-month solo expedition throughout the U.K. Her biggest takeaway: pack light. "This means carrying no more than two bags, preferably a backpack as one of the two," she said. "This leaves you with a least one free hand to navigate your way as you travel to and from locations. Since you're by yourself, you need to be able to move your luggage on your own—whether it's in and out of an airplane, train, cab, or bus."

Document Your Trip

While it's easy to take selfies and post about your trip on social media, solo travel can be quite personal, and you may find yourself wanting a more profound recollection of your journey after your return. Instead of traditional journaling, Dan Meyer, the founder and director of BACK&PACK , an experiential travel program for 18 to 30-somethings, buys postcards at each place he visits and writes a journal entry on the back about his experiences. "I have a stack of these from my solo trips," Meyer said. "There's a really special feeling when I pull them out every once in a while to read through."

Stay at a Casino Hotel

Even if gambling is low on your activity list, hear us out. Leslie Carbone, the blogger behind Sancerres at Sunset , always looks for a casino hotel when she's traveling solo. She explained that they’re safe, pointing out abundant cameras and security personnel and cost-efficient since rooms are often inexpensive or comped. Also, "there’s always something to do," Carbone added. "There are restaurants and bars, spas and pools, and lots of games."

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These Insider Travel Secrets Will Make Your Next Flight a Breeze

From choosing the right drink to avoiding crying kids, here's everything you need to know.

Vehicle, Airplane, Air travel, Airline, Airliner, Transport, Car, Aircraft, Mode of transport, Airport,

Everything Tastes Different in the Air

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Altitude can affect more than your inner ear—when it comes to your tastebuds, cruising altitude can also make a drastic difference in your palate . The combination of cabin pressure and low humidity combine to dull certain flavors and heighten others, according to Andrea Robinson, a Master Sommelier who selects wines for Delta. Fruity flavors like red berries suffer the most, because much of what we perceive of those tastes are influenced by scent; that’s why most wines on airplanes end to have a fruit-forward profile.

" Wine also seems to be more acidic and watery when consumed in-flight, so you may not enjoy that glass of rosé as much as you would on the ground," says Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant Mapuana Faulkner.

When picking out a sip to match your in-flight meal, you’re better off with a jammy malbec, pinot noir, or chablis than you would be with the barolo or chardonnay you might choose on the ground. Look for bottles that don’t depend on oak aging —that buttery note can come across positively greasy at elevation—and avoid too many tannins which can make wine seem astringent at 30,000 feet.

Lock in That Upgrade

Comfort, Room, Furniture, Sitting, Technology, Nap, Child, Leisure, Vacation, Interior design,

Want to up your chances of getting that first class upgrade? There are the obvious things you can do, of course—like opting in to your airlines rewards program—but there are also some sneaky tricks that can improve your chances.

Dressing for the part , for example, can increase your odds of beating others to the upgrade list. “I am not going to put someone wearing flip-flops up front with our best customers," one gate agent told AirFareWatchdog.com founder George Hobica. So save yourself some suitcase space and slip into your blazer or most stylish boots before you head to the airport.

Another handy trick for improving your seat assignment is to ask the gate agent: "Has revenue management released any first-class seats for miles upgrades yet?" This tip, from frequent flier and author Tilly Bagshawe, can sometimes work when asking about upgrades.

The One Thing You Shouldn’t Drink

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Coffee and tea may sound like just what your early morning flight needs, but there’s a good reason you won’t catch flight attendants sipping on either of those brews.

Unlike your other in-flight beverage options, coffee and tea are brewed with water from the plane’s tap, and the regulations for how often a plane’s water tank has to be disinfected gives airlines a lot of leeway. In fact, EPA testing in 2012 showed that 12% of the commercial airplanes they looked at tested positive for coliform bacteria (the class to which e. coli belongs) at least once. Consider this your go-ahead to just have the soda—for once it might actually be healthier.

Your Flight Attendant is a Font of Knowledge

Scarf, Eyewear, Clothing, Suit, Blazer, Beauty, Outerwear, Fashion, Street fashion, Neck,

You may not immediately think of your flight attendant's sommelier certification, but if you’re flying Singapore Airlines you could be getting a fully-trained tasting expert anyway. In fact, many airlines have begun incorporating high-end education from dining etiquette and five-star plating to wine tasting into their flight crew training.

"When you’re serving things like Dom Perignon and Bordeaux, you need to have a thorough understanding of what you’re pouring,” a flight attendant from Emirates explained. “We need to know the difference between old world and new world wines, as well as champagnes, bourbons, whiskeys, and other spirits."

There is a "Worst" Season to Fly

Despite the holiday season’s reputation for air travel expense, when it comes to the combination of value and customer service, you might be better off avoiding the summer months.

Between the sunny weather and school being out, most Americans take their vacations in July or August, driving up the price of flights (the period between June 22 and August 27 is projected to have some of the highest fares of 2018 .) Of course, all of those rowdy kids, party-bound collegiates, and surly families who have been traveling too long make it the flight crew’s least favorite season too, which pretty much guarantees that no one on your plane is having a good time.

You Can Get Unexpected Freebies, If You Ask

Wine glass, Glass, Stemware, Room, Drink, Drinkware, Champagne stemware, Wood, Interior design, Floor,

While airlines don’t exactly advertise it, there are certain above-and-beyond services that you can nab if you bother to ask. A full can of soda instead of the usual pour, a mini-bottle of water, or an extra snack can often be easily acquired from your flight attendant, while unexpected little perks like a sanitizing wipes for your tray table or a band-aid may require a special request but are usually on hand for the flight crew.

Other bonuses may be a little more under-the-table. Many airlines, for example, make it a policy to offer a free premium snack or drink on delayed flights, but they don’t make a point of announcing it—you have to know to ask.

Where You Sit Matters

As for those perks, you may find them more free-flowing if you’re sitting toward the back of the plane. “We like to avoid responding to call bells from the front of the plane because answering one means potentially flaunting whatever item the passenger has requested to everyone else along the way,” a flight attendant told Oyster . “For passengers sitting near the back of the plane, however, it's much easier to slip in that second mini bottle of wine. ”

So Does the Airline You Fly

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Pick one airline and stick to it. This strategy will allow you to build up not only bonus miles for future flights, but also the valuable qualifying miles required to reach elite status at your preferred airline. For example, under Delta's SkyMiles loyalty program those who fly at least 25,000 "Medallion Qualifying Miles" (which are based on distance flown and fare class) and spend a minimum of $3,000 on flights taken annually on Delta or its partner airlines are eligible for Delta's first level of elite status: Silver. With that comes access to unlimited complimentary upgrades to first class, a free checked bag, priority check-in and boarding, and call priority when contacting customer service by phone .

It Takes a Lot to Get The Look

Fashion, Uniform, Standing, Formal wear, White-collar worker, Businessperson, Suit, Dress, Fashion design, Event,

While you might be too busy trying to get your carry-on stowed to notice what your flight attendant is wearing, the dress code for most airlines is stringent. Everything from skirt length (no more than one inch above or below the crease on the back of the knee at United Airlines) to hosiery thickness (15 denier or less if you’re working for British Airways) is carefully dictated . And that’s just below the neck.

"An 'Emirates red' lipstick with lip liner is required. We like to use Mac’s Russian Red because it stays for a long time. Eyeshadow can either be black or beige, and liquid eyeliner is recommended, ” one Emirates flight attendant said of the airline’s Imaging and Grooming Department guidelines that cover everything from nail polish to hair ties. And for attendants who aren’t sure what to select, the airline even offers classes in makeup application and skincare.

Science Can Help You Avoid Plane-Plague

Window, Design, Architecture, Glass, Vehicle, Metal, Art,

While there’s no hard data that proves you’re more likely to get sick on a plane than in some other form of transport ( planes are actually cleaner than you’d think ) there’s something about being surrounded by so many people for so long that makes every sniffle and sneeze around seem dire.

Though the old standby of popping some vitamin C certainly can’t hurt, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that those who chose window seats made significantly less germ-spreading contact with other passengers than those in center or aisle seats, with those at the front and back of the plane making the least contact of all.

There’s a Baby-Free Zone

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Traveling with little ones is rough, especially if you can’t hand out noise-cancelling headphones a la the Clooneys, and though we sympathize, there are also times we’d just prefer to sit… anywhere but next to a baby.

Of course, there’s no way to guarantee you won’t find up sharing a seat with an unhappy newborn, you can reduce your odds by choosing seats away from the bulkheads. These partitions tend to offer parents the best spots to secure baby seats and bassinets, and end to be the first ones allocated to travelers who are flying with wee ones—which means that if you’re looking to keep your travel time adults-only, you should consider bulkheads your no-fly zone.

Expedited Security Programs Are a Big Timesaver

Airport security and Customs don't have to be a nightmare. Travelers who sign up for Global Entry can use a kiosk to clear immigration when they arrive back in the United States instead of waiting in long lines ($100 for a five-year membership). TSA Pre✓, another government-administered program that is included with Global Entry (or costs $75 for five years on its own ), offers access to a priority line at airport security in which passengers don't need to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts, and light jackets .

Another option is Clear ($179 per year), a service whose value comes in handy even before the airport security screening. Clear members have a special security lane at more than 30 airports and sports stadiums around the country now, where they scan their fingerprints or eyes at a kiosk to confirm their identity . Once that's done, they can proceed directly to the security screening—without ever needing to pull out their ID for a TSA agent to scrutinize.

Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.

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The Vacationer • Travel Guides • Travel Tips

49 Best Travel Tips to Save Time, Money, & Stress in 2024

Traveling locally, across the country, or to another continent is an exciting way to form memories and experience other cultures. But an awry trip can usher in unnecessary stress, expenses, and potential regrets.

These travel tips can help you have a successful trip from the initial planning stages, as you pack your bags, and once you reach your destination.

Table of Contents

Best Travel Tips While Preparing for a Trip

This collection of tips covers just about everything you should consider when traveling and before you go. You are most likely practicing some of them, making them a good reminder, and others can help prevent uncommon travel surprises.

1. Book At Least Six Weeks in Advance

Instead of carving time out of your schedule to book your trip at a specific date or time (such as Tuesdays at 3 a.m. using a private browsing session to find discounted fares), a more effective strategy is researching travel options at least four to six weeks in advance.

You can still find cheap flights and ideal flight times at least six weeks before departure. Getting on the hunt two or three months before major holidays is also good.

Last-minute travel savings are possible but you may be unable to get a desired departure time, layover window, or destination. Waiting until the final days can be worth it if you have a flexible schedule and are open-minded about where you travel to.

Learn More: Best Days and Times to Book Flights

2. Travel in the Off-Season or Shoulder Season

Avoiding the peak travel season is one of the easiest ways to pay less for flights and lodging. You also will enjoy smaller crowds and the weather can still be decent for your intended activities.

For example, visiting Spain is delightful in March and April but travel prices are elevated during Semana Santa (Holy Week) when most cities have processions that virtually shut down the city.

Another example is visiting a beach town during the shoulder season. The shoulder season is the time between the peak and the offseason. So you could take a trip to Cape May, NJ from the middle of May to the end of June instead of during the July/August peak. The weather is still good enough during the shoulder season to enjoy most peak-season activities.

3. Compare Multiple Booking Sites

Comparing prices from several travel booking sites can help you find the best rate within minutes. Airlines, hotels, and rental cars offer several slots to third-party booking sites and you can pay less than booking directly from the carrier.

It’s worth your time to check prices directly from the carrier website but also from one or more third-party booking sites (online travel agencies or OTAs) like Hotels.com , Kayak , or Google Flights .

The Vacationer Tip

Along with looking for the best flight schedule and prices, you can use our guide to help find the best seats on the plane and book them for cheap or for free.

4. Book Directly from the Travel Provider

While you can find discounted prices through online travel agencies and third-party booking sites, booking directly from the airline, hotel, or rental car agency provides more protection if you must cancel or reschedule. This is especially important for flights and the 24-hour cancellation rule .

With third-party reservations, you may be locked into a particular itinerary that could be non-refundable or non-changeable. You will need to call the booking site to determine what your alternatives are. If you’re eligible for a refund, it can take longer to receive your funds.

5. Stay at a Hostel to Save Money

Hostels are a common and safe way to secure affordable lodging in Europe and Asia. If you’re traveling solo or in a group and okay with not having as much privacy, a hostel helps keep your travel costs down.

Despite many misconceptions, most establishments are well-run with clean bathrooms and bedding. You may also be able to get a basic breakfast at some. With that said, be sure to research your options and consider paying a little more to get more luxurious accommodations.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Staying in a Hostel

6. Consider Vacation Rentals for Extended Stays

Vacation rental websites like Airbnb and VRBO have become immensely more popular since the pandemic as people yearned for privacy. While hotels are usually better for shorter stays as you avoid expensive cleaning fees and service fees, a vacation home or villa can be more cost-effective for extended stays.

At a minimum, a rental or an extended-stay hotel is more likely to offer a full kitchen suite that allows you to cook full meals instead of relying on packaged snacks or what fits inside the hotel mini-fridge.

Vacation rentals can also be cheaper per square foot if traveling as a family. Instead of squeezing into a hotel suite or booking multiple rooms, you have spacious accommodations. If you have small children, the extra space can keep you from losing your mind on rainy days.

The Vacationer’s Tip: While many people focus on spending less for flights, hotels and vacation rentals can have variable pricing. Here is how to find and book cheap hotels to enjoy clean and spacious lodging on a budget.

7. Buy Travel Insurance for Expensive or International Trips

Travel insurance is inexpensive on most itineraries and can save you thousands of dollars if your non-refundable travel is canceled or delayed for qualifying reasons.

Obtaining coverage is a good option for expensive trips. Picking up a policy can also be worth it when traveling outside the United States as you can have medical coverage and emergency evacuation benefits that your ordinary health insurance may not provide outside the country.

You should also consider booking your trips using credit cards with travel insurance coverage . These benefits are sufficient for low-cost excursions and can activate before your standalone travel insurance policy can. They can also provide complimentary rental car coverage .

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers the best credit card travel insurance benefits. Namely, you can be eligible for trip interruption and cancellation coverage of up to $10,000 per person ($20,000 per trip), primary auto rental collision damage waiver, up to $500 per ticket in trip delay reimbursement, and up to $100,000 in emergency evacuation Learn How to Apply Here

8. Consider Annual Travel Insurance Plans

If you travel regularly, an annual travel insurance policy covers multiple trips at a lower premium than buying a new policy for each trip. This is an excellent option for frequent leisure travelers and business travelers.

9. Review Airline and Hotel Cancellation Policies

Your travel plans may change unexpectedly for personal or work reasons. Before you book, take the time to review the cancellation and modification policies just to make sure they are reasonable.

You want to make sure you have a strong possibility of getting a refund or a travel credit to redeem later. Being locked into a non-refundable itinerary may not be worth the savings unless you’re booking right before you go or your travel insurance may issue a refund.

In addition to researching the cancellation policy, be sure to review an airline’s seating and carry-on policy to avoid add-on fees and restrictions.

10. Choose Early Flights

Early morning flights are the best time to fly for several reasons. First, these departures are less likely to be delayed as it’s a new travel day with rested crews and minimal weather-related interruptions.

Additionally, these flights can be cheaper as you need to arrive at the airport a little earlier. Routes popular with business travel can be an exception to this rule, but you can anticipate paying less than for a mid-day sortie.

Learn More: How to Avoid Flight Delays and Cancellations

11. Arrive at the Airport Early

Best Travel Tips - Arrive at the Airport Early

Photo: Pixabay

Getting to the airport at least an hour before departure for domestic flights at small airports or when you’re not checking luggage. Plan on arriving at least two hours for domestic flights at busy airports, if you’re checking a bag, or traveling with small children.

What about international flights? Plan on arriving at least three hours before departure to allow additional time for a potentially longer check-in time.

Learn More: How Early Should I Get to the Airport?

12. Qualify for Expedited Airport Security

If you fly several times a year, obtaining expedited airport security credentials can help you avoid long airport security lines.

The first step is applying for a federally-administered Trusted Traveler Program, such as:

TSA PreCheck : Enjoy expedited security at domestic airports only.
Global Entry : Get expedited processing at customs lines on international flights plus TSA PreCheck benefits.
NEXUS : Ideal for travel between the U.S. and Canada. It also includes Global Entry and TSA PreCheck benefits.

Several rewards credit cards are offering free Global Entry and TSA PreCheck application fee credits to save a few dollars.

In addition to Trusted Traveler programs, you can also shave a few minutes off security wait times with CLEAR at select major airports and stadiums. Where available, this pre-security program can help you reach the expedited TSA security lines sooner.

Getting a Redress Number can help those who frequently have boarding pass issues, are subject to additional security screenings (including having SSSS on their boarding pass ), and those who experience delayed or denied boardings.

Learn More: How to Get Through TSA Airport Security Faster

13. Relax at an Airport Lounge

If you have a long layover or arrive at the airport several hours later, visiting an airport lounge (like a Centurion Lounge ) can help you grab a complimentary meal and drink, and recharge your devices. You can also have a comfortable place to sit and the luxury lounges offer spa treatment, sleeping rooms, and shower suites to clean up.

Single-day passes are pricey but there are several credit cards with lounge access . Most lounges allow entry for the primary cardholder and up to two guests complimentary up to three hours before your next flight’s departure.

Airport lounge access is just one way to reduce air travel stress . Check out our article for additional suggestions.

14. Check Your Passport Expiration Date

Some countries and airlines won’t let you travel if your passport expires within six months. If you’re planning a trip, see if your passport is expiring soon to prevent delaying your trip.

Consider renewing your passport early if you’re approaching the six-month expiration window as the passport processing times can take up to 13 weeks to receive your new document. You can pay extra for expedited processing but the process can still take several weeks.

After submitting your renewal request, you can check your passport application status online .

Finally, use our How to Take Your Own Passport Photo guide to simplify things when applying or renewing.

15. Don’t Go Into Debt for Vacation

As much as you’re earning to get away on a dream trip, it’s probably not worth going into debt for. Whether your bank is offering a vacation loan or you intend on carrying a credit card balance (even with a 0% APR), borrowing money to travel can backfire.

Instead, look for the best options within your spending power. Consider setting aside money each month and delaying your trip if necessary.

In addition to saving up for travel in a dedicated savings account, you can use travel rewards credit cards to redeem points to defray purchases. Some cards offer annual statement credits that reimburse eligible travel bookings.

Additionally, airline credit cards and hotel credit cards also offer complimentary benefits to spend less.

Making a travel budget can help you plan for travel expenses so you’re not nervous about running out of cash while you travel or having regrets once you return home.

16. Exercise and Stretch

Once you depart for your trip, be sure to stretch and perform basic exercises as time and space permit. It can be as basic as stationary stretches while sitting in your seat to walking the airport terminal. If driving, stay outside for a few extra minutes at the gas station or rest area.

Stretching and being active once you arrive is also beneficial and can help you sleep better.

Best Travel Tips for Packing

17. only bring a carry-on.

When possible, only bring a carry-on to avoid lost or missing checked luggage. You can also avoid checked baggage fees and excessive weight charges if you overpack. Using the best carry-on can help you find the perfect soft or hard-sided luggage to fit your travel gear.

If you need to check a bag, it most likely won’t get lost but could get delayed. Here’s our helpful guide on what to do during baggage delays .

18. Pack as Light as Possible

Packing is stressful; Many people overpack to ease their anxiety, which sometimes means bringing extra suitcases or paying to check a bag. Write down everything you think you need on your packing list. After it’s complete, cut it down to the bare minimum.

Pack underwear and socks for the number of showers you expect to take; Add an emergency pair for every five or so days of your trip. Shirts and pants can usually be worn multiple days in a row. If your accommodation has a washing machine, you can pack even less.

19. Carry-On Overnight Travel Essentials

You never know when a flight delay will turn into spending the night in the terminal or at a nearby hotel. While the airline may provide meal vouchers, you should pack these travel essentials to freshen up:

A change of clothes, especially extra underwear and socks
Powerbank (they cost about $20 and have several phone/tablet recharges)
Travel charger

Even if you’re not stuck somewhere overnight, these small and compact items can also help you rest while on the road:

Earplugs (great for plane rides and noisy hotels)
Noise-canceling earbuds or headphones
Travel blanket
Travel pillow (see the best travel neck pillows )

Adding these carry-on essentials to your packing list can prepare you for nearly any change of plans and to weather a long layover or flight.

20. Don’t Forget a Power Adapter

A power adapter is essential in most foreign destinations to charge your devices. Traveling to Canada or Mexico is an exception as the standard voltage is 120v and these countries have the same outlet design as the United States. Check to see the adapter requirements for the country you are visiting before leaving.

The Vacationer’s Phil Dengler recently visited South Africa and needed a Type M adapter. He purchased this Ceptics International Power Plug Adapter Travel Set , which includes 13 adapters for just about every foreign country.

21. Use Packing Cubes

There are a couple of ways to organize your travel luggage to squeeze everything in. Your bag may include built-in storage compartments or you might roll up clothing and put them in packing cubes or vacuum storage bags. If you’re on a budget, rubber bands or plastic bags can also do the job. I recommend the following packing cubes: Veken 6 Set of Various Colored Packing Cubes .

Packing for a vacation can feel like a fine art at times, even as a seasoned traveler. Our travel packing list can cover everything you need to bring so you don’t forget and have to buy something along the way.

22. Bring an Empty Water Bottle

For over 20 years, it’s become ingrained for air travelers to pack liquids in containers containing no more than three ounces. This security rule means you can’t bring a filled water bottle through airport security, but you can bring an empty one.

Most airports have filtered water dispensers in the post-security terminal that you can fill up your bottle with and avoid paying big bucks for bottled water. You also won’t struggle to stay hydrated during your journey.

If you’re driving, consider bringing a travel water filter or a portable filter that you can use in your hotel room to pay pennies for filtered water.

23. Dress Comfortably for the Flight

You should dress comfortably for the plane ride. Dressing in layers with a light jacket or a travel blanket can help you stay warm if the cabin is cool. Bringing travel slippers or slip-on shoes on long-haul flights is another overlooked comfort hack. Wear sweatpants instead of jeans.

24. Bring Duplicate Travel Documents

Take a few minutes to photocopy your critical travel documents such as your government-issued IDs and passport. Be sure to keep these papers separate from your originals in case one set gets lost.

Once you arrive at your destination, you may decide to go out in public with your duplicates and keep your originals plus at least one payment card in the room safe. That way, a pickpocket doesn’t run off with the more valuable set and you still have a way to make purchases.

Taking it a step further, write down your credit card numbers and the emergency contact number if you need to call and cancel if your plastic goes missing. If you don’t have a phone number, you can also look for a pay phone that should have a toll-free number to contact Visa or Mastercard to cancel your card.

25. Keep Valuables at Home and Bring a Lock

Unless it’s necessary to bring them along for a business function or a personal event, leave your valuables at home. The hassle of keeping them secure and the risk of losing them may not be worth the replacement cost.

This includes your fine jewelry, watches, and high-end electronics that are nice to use but optional for this trip. Additionally, these items can make you a target for thieves.

The Vacationer’s Phil Dengler also recommends bringing a luggage lock or a standard combination lock.

26. Install a Luggage Tracking Device

Bluetooth tracking devices like the Apple AirTag are a small and easy way to see where your carry-on and checked luggage are at all times. A single piece is about the size of a coin and costs $30 or less.

27. Bring Comfy Walking Shoes

Most of the world walks more steps than we do daily. Therefore, it’s essential to pack at least one pair of comfortable shoes or sandals to stroll the streets of your destination. Comfortable footwear is also a must-have if you’re staying stateside.

28. Keep a Travel Journal

Consider packing a notebook or diary into your carry-on. Handwriting your favorite travel memories in a journal is an easy way to remember the intricacies that you may struggle to remember years later when you reflect.

For example, you can write down what you did each day along with exciting facts. Having everybody share their favorite activity for the day is another way to use this journal.

Best Travel Tips for Once You Arrive

29. learn the local customs.

Words and expressions can have different meanings where you’re traveling to. It’s also a good idea to know some of the common phrases and customs the locals practice so you can have a basic conversation.

You can research these details online or in a guidebook.

30. Dress As a Local

Blending in with the crowd can help prevent unwanted attention from panhandlers and pickpockets. For example, don’t wear revealing clothing when the culture favors pants or long dresses. Researching fashion advice for your destination is your best option.

31. Be Wary of Local Scams

Brushing up on the latest tourist scams can help you avoid bad situations. A recent travel guidebook is a reliable way to find the most common tactics for your destination. Two to look out for are unofficial taxis and fake wifi hotspots.

32. Consider Wearing a Money Belt

Long-time travelers have a love-hate relationship with money belts as they point you out as a tourist if you’re constantly reaching for it in public. Additionally, wearing the belt all day can be a nuisance as it’s an extra layer of fabric you’re not used to.

At the same time, it’s harder to steal a money belt than to grab something from your pockets or purse. They are also inexpensive to buy on Amazon and don’t take up a lot of suitcase space if you decide not to use it.

33. Download Travel Apps

Smartphones make international travel substantially easier as you can download various apps before leaving home so you can hit the ground running.

Some types of apps you may consider downloading for these purposes:

Offline Maps: Many consider Maps.me to be the best offline maps app and more user-friendly than Apple Maps or Google Maps. You may still try getting paper maps from a local tourism office or bookstore once you arrive though.
Translation: A translator app for traveling can be pre-loaded with basic phrases with offline access. It may also be able to interpret voice recordings and photographs.
Jet Lag: Flying to the other side of the world takes a toll on your body and sleep cycle. Timeshifter can help you conquer jet lag quicker while traveling and upon returning home.

Downloading apps for your airline, hotel, and travel booking sites will help you access your digital reservation information and receive itinerary updates. Some travelers also enjoy downloading tourism apps like Tripadvisor or Yelp to quickly access ratings for attractions.

34. Get an International Sim Card or Phone Plan

Your stateside phone carrier may offer an international plan that you can upgrade to while you’re out of the country. Contract carriers and prepaid providers offer this overseas coverage.

Alternatively, an international sim card can be a budget-friendly and reliable option if you visit multiple countries. Just make sure your device is unlocked and GSM-compatible.

35. Avoid Eating in Touristy Areas

You’re likely to pay more and potentially get lower-quality food when eating in touristy areas. This isn’t always the case. For example, dining within sight of Rome’s Pantheon is an exception as there are well-rated restaurants for a memorable ambiance.

However, going a few streets over or to an adjacent community can be the ticket to finding authentic food. Asking your hotel or trustworthy locals can help you find a good spot in addition to researching places to eat online.

36. Lunch Can Be Cheaper than Supper

If you’re only planning on eating out one meal per day, your mid-day meal can be more affordable than in the evening.

Depending on the restaurant, there can be separate menus for the bar and dining room. Staying in the bar can be more affordable and your meal options can be similar.

37. Use American Chains for Public Restrooms and Wifi

Finding a public bathroom can be challenging in foreign destinations. American restaurants like McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Taco Bell are more likely to offer public access to restrooms and wifi, although you may need to make a small purchase.

38. Look for Free Walking Tours

Free walking tours are common in popular tourist destinations both stateside and internationally. These tours can last a couple of hours and hit the cultural and historical points of interest. They can provide an idea of what you want to spend more time exploring later.

While these tours don’t have an entry fee, nothing in life is genuinely 100% free ,and leaving a tip is expected in most situations. You may decide to tip more if the guide is knowledgeable and engaging.

39. A Paid Tour Can Be Better Than a Free Tour

You should also compare the free tours to private, guided tours. A paid tour can provide more hands-on support and access to more landmarks.

In addition to researching the traditional tour providers, the experiences section in Airbnb can also provide curated opportunities to see the sights, enjoy culinary delights, or do physical activities like paddleboarding or folk dancing.

Further Reading: Best Websites for Booking Cheap Tickets, Tours, & Activities

40. Look for Discounted Sightseeing Passes

Museums and entertainment attractions offer discounted and priority admission with sightseeing pass companies. So, instead of buying tickets directly from the tourist attractions you wish to visit, purchasing a city attraction card in advance can save money and means you won’t need to wait for hours (potentially) to buy a ticket at the door.

For domestic trips, CityPASS® offers discounted packages in approximately 15 major U.S. cities. Entertainment.com can also help you save on experiences in the United States and Canada.

If you’re flying to the “Eternal City” of Rome, Italy, the Roma Tourist Card is worth the upfront cost as you can enjoy these benefits:

Skip-the-line access at the Roman Colosseum
Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica
Access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
Audio guides for the Pantheon and Rome
Free return transfer to or from Rome’s international airports (Ciampino and Fiumicino)
10% discount on other attractions, museums, and tours

Depending on the program, you may need to book your pass weeks in advance.

41. Get an Interrail Pass for a Eurotrip

If you’re backpacking Europe or touring several countries, an Interrail Pass from Eurail can make it easier to finalize your transportation plan using an interactive map. This platform lets you visit up to 33 countries by rail with a single pass.

42. Have a Flexible Travel Schedule

Mapping out an initial plan for each day can help you seize the day and optimize your time of playing tourist. Meanwhile, remaining flexible is pivotal as several variables can alter your itinerary such as:

A change in the weather
Accomplishing more than you originally scheduled
Making friends with other travelers and having dinner with them
Realizing a planned activity isn’t as appealing once you arrive

Another related suggestion is to get out and explore the city and the immediate area on your arrival date (time permitting) so you have a better idea of what to do the next day.

43. Wear Sunscreen Early and Often For Beach & Outdoor Trips

There is nothing worse than getting a bad sunburn at the beginning of a trip. Find a good facial sunscreen and buy a travel-sized container. Apply it to your face and neck a few times per day. For beach trips, either cover up with a hat and clothing or apply strong sunscreen to your body multiple times per day. While it may be annoying, it is much better than dealing with painful and peeling sunburn.

Sunscreen is usually marked up at typical tourist spots. If you check a bag, consider buying what you need before leaving and packing it.

44. Use an ATM Instead of a Currency Exchange Booth

Instead of heading directly to the currency exchange booth at the airport or train terminal, look for an ATM instead. Several should be in the public terminals or you can look for a local bank branch to find a secure location.

Why? ATMs provide better currency exchange ratios than the money exchange booth. Even if you pay foreign transaction fees and non-network ATM fees, you will most likely come out ahead financially speaking.

45. Use a Credit Card With No Foreign Transaction Fees

Many travel-focused credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred , the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , and The Platinum Card from American Express do not have foreign transaction fees. Use cards like those when traveling internationally to avoid potentially expensive fees.

46. Bring at Least One Backup Credit Card

Getting stuck on vacation with no access to money (besides cash) is not something you want to experience; Your main credit card could get lost or stolen. Carry at least one backup credit card (ideally with no foreign transaction fees if overseas) on all trips.

Phil Dengler’s Favorite Travel Tips

Here are a few of Phil’s favorite travel tips.

47. Be Very Flexible – Pick Your Travel Dates Based on the Cheapest Days to Fly

Flights are usually the most costly part of a vacation. I recommend using Google Flights calendar view to find the cheapest days to fly to and from your destination. After identifying those days, book your airfare. You must be flexible, but it can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars planning a vacation this way.

Further Reading: How to Find Cheap Flights and How to Use Google Flights

48. Book the Aisle and Window Seats When Traveling in Pairs

I always book the aisle and window seats when flying with my girlfriend or a friend. No one wants to sit in the middle seat, so people rarely select it. Doing this usually gives us the entire row to ourselves.

It does not work on full flights, however. The good news is people are usually willing to trade their middle seat. Simply offer them your aisle or window seat and you still get to sit next to your significant other or friend.

Further Reading: Can You (and Should You) Change Airplane Seats With Someone Else on a Flight?

49. Follow Proper Airline Etiquette

Knowing how to properly act on a plane can better your flying experience. See our following guides for more information.

Airplane Seat Reclining Etiquette
Overhead Bin Space Etiquette – Who Does it Belong To and How to Avoid Fights

The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts

Taking the time to plan for a vacation, whether it’s the annual beach trip or you’re trying some new place, lets you practice these travel tips and not stress before or during your expedition.

The best part is that you don’t need to be a travel pro to successfully implement these suggestions. If you’re a beginner, try adopting several more each time you leave home.

By Josh Patoka

Josh Patoka writes about maximizing travel rewards for The Vacationer. As well, he contributes to several personal finance sites specializing in making money, paying off debt, and investing.

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How to Avoid Airline Flight Delays & Cancellations – 2024

Best Travel Tips From 21 Years Traveling the World

Written By: The Planet D

Travel Tips

Updated On: June 7, 2023

It all started with a five-week trip to Thailand in 2000. We fell in love with travel, but we’ve had our fair share of mishaps over the years. From being airlifted from the Amazon to getting lost on Swiss Rail, we made a lot of travel mistakes. So we’ve compiled this comprehensive list of our best travel tips from the things we learned over the past 21 years of traveling the world.

We’ve done everything from cycling the continent of Africa to driving a car from England to Mongolia. By traveling both independently, with groups, on guided tours, and for business to 115 countries over the past two decades, we learned a lot.

Table of Contents

Best Travel Tips for 2022

So are you ready to make the most of your travels when we can all hit the road again? Let’s get started with these top travel tips for traveling the world in 2022!

Money Travel Tips

Money Making Travel Tips from Professional Travelers

1. Don’t Go Into Debt

This is one of the most important tips for traveling we can give you. Don’t spend beyond your means when you decide to go traveling. You’ll regret every moment of your travels if you come back home from a trip of a lifetime only to face a mountain of debt.

If you can’t afford to travel internationally yet, do some adventures in your own backyard. When Dave and I were dreaming of traveling the world, we explored a lot of our home province of Ontario, Canada. Being in nature weekends got us out of our rut and inspired us to try new things. As you explore your backyard, home, you can save money and a plan to travel the world. For us, we put away a lot of money by doing adventures close to home and within a year we were on a trip around the world.

Read how you can save money for travel here.

2. Always Get Travel Insurance

This is seriously one of the best travel tips we can offer. Get travel insurance before you leave home. A lot of people say, “ I only need travel insurance if I am going off the beaten path ” but they are wrong. Accidents can happen anywhere. Dave and I were on a luxury cruise a few years ago and he slipped on a set of stairs and broke his back. If we didn’t have travel insurance, we would have been stuck paying nearly $100,000 dollars for the air ambulance and hospital bills. We can say with certainty to purchase travel insurance.

Travel Insurance During Covid-19 What You Need to Know
How We Choose Travel Insurance To Best Suit Our Needs
Busting 5 Common Travel Insurance Myths
Do I Really Need Travel Medical Insurance?

3. Hire Local Guides

Top Travel Tips from years of Traveleing

One of our top travel tips is to hire a local guide. By hiring local guides, you are directly supporting the local economy. It cuts out the middle man and helps local families. Plus, hiring locals will help you save money. When you book tours overseas or online, you are paying the middle man, the tour operator, and the rent for an expensive office. When you book locally, the money is going directly into that person’s pocket. Plus, it’s a great way to make new friends and immerse in local culture. They have often invited us to their homes and given us a more meaningful travel experience.

Read Toronto Tours by Locals – An InsiderS Guide To The City
Organized TRavel vs Independent Travel

4. Apply for a Rewards Travel Credit Card

I know we said do not go into debt, but we still feel that credit cards are key to traveling in style and boosting your travel budget. Using a good rewards credit card will help you save money for travel. Rewards add up quickly and offer a lot of perks like free travel, free upgrades, and late checkout. Plus, a lot of travel credit cards offer huge signing bonuses that you can put towards your flight to help you travel the world. So when offering travel tips to save money, we say get a car, just make sure to pay it off.

But note – We always make sure to pay off our credit card monthly and never carry a high limit. To decide on the rewards credit card that works fo you, check out this list of all the best travel credit cards in one place.

For more tips to travel the world check out: How to Travel Around the World – The Ultimate Travel Resource

5. Debit Card and Credit Cards

Before you travel, let your bank and credit card companies know of your travel plans. If they suddenly notice a purchase overseas, they may lock your credit cards. Plus, be sure to carry a few different cards. We’ve had our debit card blocked in Cuba, eaten at an ATM in Istanbul, and our blocked in Sudan even after informing our banks about our travel plans. In Sri Lanka, we tried 3 different bank and credit cards before we could finally get money out of the ATM. It’s good to have a few different cards from different banks on hand to be prepared for all the reasons above.

6. Cash in Small Bills

We’re Canadian, but we always have a couple of hundred US dollars in small bills for tipping when we arrive at our hotel or for the ride from the airport. Whether you are traveling in Africa, the Caribbean, South America, or Europe, US dollars work everywhere. Also, it’s good to have some cash on hand at all times in case of an emergency – USD is the most widely accepted around the world.

Travel Tips – Local Tours and Discounts

7. Take Advantage of Free Walking Tours

One of our favorite travel tips to tell people about is the free walking tours you can join around the world. Whenever we get to a new city, we join a free walking tour. It’s a great way to get your bearings around town. This is one of the best travel tips that we didn’t even know until we’d been traveling around the world for a few years. But these free walking tours are awesome! Usually, the free walking tours are better than the tours you book ahead of time online. They are led by locals and you only pay what you feel is comfortable at the end of the tour. We usually suggest $10 per person.

8. Get a City Pass

When visiting any city, we recommend getting a city pass. We use them to save money by bundling attractions . If you are spending a few days in a city and want to see all the major tourist attractions, we highly recommend getting a City Pass. It gives you access to public transit and it allows you to skip the lines at major tourist sites. Our Favourite City Pass Bundles are CityPass for USA and Canada, and Leisure Pass for Europe.

9. Choose Tours Wisely

travel Tips for choosing the right tour company

We made a lot of these mistakes in our early years of travel and that is why we really wanted to share this very important travel tip. When choosing tours, make sure you go with a responsible company. Ask questions and don’t be afraid to turn them down if you don’t feel comfortable.

Don’t swim with dolphins in captivity, don’t ride elephants, and don’t chase wildlife. In Chiang Mai we looked for elephant sanctuaries and everyone claimed that they were one. When we asked questions we found out that they let tourists ride elephants and they weren’t really a sanctuary at all.

If you do find yourself on a tour where your guide is being unethical or having a negative impact on the environment, wildlife or culture, speak up and tell them you are not happy. Guides often think they need to pick up the turtle or chase the dolphins to make the tourists happy or get a tip.

Meaningful Travel Tips
Responsible Tourism

10. Respect Local Culture

When visiting a new destination one of the best travel tips we can give is to learn about the culture and customs . Before you travel, do a bit of research to look into the way the culture dresses and what the accepted behavior is in public. You’ll feel more comfortable as you blend in and you save yourself some embarassement by doing something wrong.

Read How to Make Your Travel Meaningful

11. Give Back

International travel tips for your next vacation

Be it through volunteering, raising money, or visiting a project. You can make a difference when traveling. It can be as simple as staying at a local family-run guest house, hiring a private local guide, or shopping locally. Our favorite travel tip is to tell people to get involved. It truly adds more meaning to your trips and makes you feel better about yourself. We once taught English for a day in Cambodia. It wasn’t planned, but a local teacher asked us if we wanted to visit their class so the kids could practice. We’ll never forget what an uplifting experience what was.

Insider Travel Tips from The Experts

12. take lots of photos of yourself.

Dave and I were always embarrassed to ask others to take photos of us. And now we have very few of us together. Ask other tourists to take photos of yourself in front of those iconic sites around the world. And make sure it is more than just a selfie! We started doing selfies and find that they all end up looking the same. Get those epic shots and start making memories. And then print some of them out. Don’t just leave them on your phone or computer, make prints to display when you get back home to remind you of those amazing travel memories.

13. Splurge Every Once in a While

Even if you are on the tightest of budgets, it’s important to splurge on the finer things in life when traveling the world. We’ve done a lot of backpacking on a very small budget, but every few weeks we take a break from cheap hotels. Sometimes when we arrive in a city after a grueling adventure, we book a luxury hotel to recharge and keep the fun, excitement and romance alive. In particular, if you are traveling in Southeast Asia, a luxury hotel can be quite cheap!

14. Step out of Your Comfort Zone

Travel Tips for getting out of your comfort zone

Travel is your time to do something spontaneous that you’d never dream of doing at home. Whenever we’ve stepped out of our comfort zone, new and exciting things happened in our lives too. It just takes a small step to make a great change. Travel that can inspire you to take on new hobbies and see your life through different eyes. So go for it! Read: How to Face Your Fears to get started.

15. Don’t Compete with Other Travellers

You know who they are. The travel snobs who have to brag about where they’ve been, what they’ve done, and who they did it with. Who cares? Travel is for you! Don’t let anyone pressure you into trying something you don’t want to, or making you feel bad about where you’ve been or what you’ve done. To those who try to one-up your experiences, forget about them. The great thing about traveling the world, is you don’t have to see them ever again if you don’t want to.

16. A Smile Goes a Long Way

A smile breaks the ice when you first meet people and it helps a lot in tough situations. Smiling can ease an uncomfortable moment and it breaks the tension with the people you meet along the way. When you get off off the beaten path, a smile is often the only thing you will have in common when communicating.

Even when negotiating at the market, we smile. We find we can get a better deal if we smile. We find that locals approach us more if we smile. We get better service if we smile, and we make new friends when we smile.

17. You Don’t have to Be Fluent in a Second Language

A lot of people ask us if we speak other languages. We really don’t! So don’t let the fact that you don’t speak thr language stop you from traveling the world. In today’s world with Google Translate and countless other language apps, you can get by with ease. But we do recommend learning a few keywords and phrases of the local language. If you can say “hello”, “thank you”, “how are you”, and other simple phrases, people will respect you for trying to learn their language and making the effort. A little bit goes a long way!

Check out our favourite travel apps besides Google Translate: The Best Travel Apps That Travelers Should Download Today

18. Sunrise is Better than Sunset (Most of the Time)

Getting out early for sunrise is a chore, I know. But most of our best photographs and memorable quiet travel moments have happened at sunrise. If there is one travel tip we can offer, it is to set the alarm and get up before dawn. When you go to an iconic view or landmark at sunset it is often overrun with tourists. But at sunrise, you usually have the place to yourself. In the morning, nobody is around. We love walking on the beach or through city streets while having it all to ourselves.

19. Make a Plan – But Don’t Over Plan

Travel costs a lot of money, so it’s good to have a plan before you fly. But don’t over plan. We usually make a plan for the first two or three nights of our travels and then play it by ear from there. We book a hotel for the first two nights which gives us time to decide if we like where we are or if we want to move on. We also make a point of joining a tour to see the top tourist attractions at our destination but after seeing the bucket list items our plans can go right out the window. Some of our most exciting travel moments have been when we got a hot tip and changed our plans.

20. Be Flexible

This brings us to, be open to changing plans. It’s good to plan your route around the world but it is also important to stay open to new possibilities. We’ve changed plans after travellers recommended we join them and fly to Borneo to climb Mount Kinabalu . It was the best decision we ever made. Once while sitting on an island in Malaysia and met people heading to KL to see Thaipusam. We didn’t even know what Thaipusam was, but we went with them and experienced the most amazing and shocking festival on earth.

If we decided to stick to our plans and keep a rigid schedule, we never would have had those amazing moments that we have never forgotten.

21. Buy Souvenirs and Use the Post Office

We know a lot of people who say they don’t buy anything from anywhere when they travel because they don’t have space in their luggage. But we love going to local markets and buying souvenirs. We just send it home! We can still pack light and buy a lot. Plus going to post offices in other countries can be an adventure. I’ll never forget having to use the correct color of yarn when sending a package home from a post office in Malaysia. And now that we are home, we have memories. Every time I look at my drum from Bali or Digeridoo from Australia, I am reminded of my travels.

20. Don’t Be Afraid of Street Food

Don’t be afraid of eating street food. It is often the freshest and most authentic. Here’s a hot travel tip: If food is cooked over a flame, deep-fried or boiled, it is safe to eat. Just make sure the person behind the counter, doesn’t touch it with their bare hands after cooking. When looking for local food, we just walk around looking for vendors surrounded by locals. We avoid the overpriced tourist traps and instead join the regular patrons at their local hot spot.

Travel Tips for Safety

21. Follow Your Instincts

If that rickshaw or taxi ride seems so cheap that it is too good to be true, it probably is! An important travel tip to remember is to follow your gut. We have visited many local families during our travels. We’ve been invited to dinner and inside tea at many houses and almost always accept the invitations. Usually, people are wonderful and welcoming. Read more: Travel Safety Tips – How to Have a Safe Vacation

But we’ve turned down a lot of invitations too. The invitations that feel shady probably are. If we have second thoughts, we listen to that gut feeling. Whenever we have gone against our gut feelings, things have gone wrong.

22. Don’t Let Your Guard Down

When we have been scammed out of our money, experienced a dicey situation, or when we’ve been robbed, we can look back and see the mistakes we made by not following our instincts. A lot of travel mistakes happen when people let their guards down. You have to be as smart when traveling the world as you are at home. Don’t party until the wee hours of the morning and go home alone, don’t walk down dark deserted alleyways alone, and don’t get into cars with strangers.

23. Don’t Put Yourself at Risk – Be Smart

Dave and I have taken on a lot of epic adventures in our lives and more importantly, we hired professionals to help us out when we needed it. WE see a lot of people doing stupid things for the “gram” or to share on social. Don’t climb towers just to show off and don’t do adventures that your qualified to handle. We weren’t qualified to do a lot of our epic adventures independently. If we hiked the Arctic Watershed alone, we definitely would have died. But with expert guides, were learned new skills and accomplished life-changing challenges around the world in a safe and fun way.

24. Cover-Up and Wear Sunscreen

I’m not saying you have to slather yourself in sunscreen all day every day but I do suggest that you wear sunscreen. Skin cancer is a very real thing. However, I find that wearing lightweight long-sleeved clothing and a hat works really well. I cover up most of my body and then wear sunscreen on my nose, ears and neck. Trust me, your older self will thank me. Read more: Top 10 Tips for Healthy Travel

25. Vaccinations and Disease

Before leaving to travel the world, go to a travel doctor or travel clinic to learn what vaccinations you need for each specific destination. Do this at least 6 months in advance as some vaccinations require more than one shot. The doctor will also fill some travel-specific prescriptions like Malaria and antibiotics.

Mosquitoes carry many diseases like Malaria and Zika. So just like we said above about covering up, wearing breathable, long-sleeved clothing will protect you from insect bites. Insects hate light colours, so wear light coloured clothes. You can even buy insect repellent clothing to help reduce the risk of mosquito bites.

Travel tips for Packing

26. Pack Light

The best travel tip we can possibly give you is to pack light. We know what it’s like to overpack and it’s awful. We once carried dive gear through Central America and it ruined our travels. You don’t need a new outfit for every day of the week. You aren’t going to see the same people all the time and nobody is going to notice if you have the same T-shirt on as the other day. Pack lightweight clothing that is easy to wash.

Check out our packing traveler tips: the Ultimate Packing List

27. Choose the Right Backpack

So when packing for your travels around the world, buy a backpack that is easy to lug around. Don’t make the mistake we made up buying the biggest and best. If you choose a smaller backpack, you won’t be able to carry more than you need. Trust me, if you have the space, you will fill it. Read: Ultimate Pre-Travel Checklist

28. Carryon Care Package for the Plane

If you have to check a bag, it is important to have important items with you in case your luggage is lost. We check our bags because we carry computers and cameras in our carryon and don’t have a lot of space for clothing. But we do put in essentials for flying and to last a couple of days if we need it. We pack a change of clothes and underwear, plus carryon size toiletries and personal items. Our airplane care package includes

Noise-canceling earbuds (Deb) headphones (Dave) – personal preference
Eye mask and ear plugs
Gravol, Advil Cold and Sinus (I get stuffy on the plane)
Tiger balm – to mask bad odors, but not too overpowering for others around us
Shawl or sweater
Read: Air Travel Made Easy

29. Always Pack a Sarong

Make sure to always pack a sarong I never leave on my travels without one . A sarong can be used as a headscarf in the Middle East and used it to cover up when entering temples in Asia. It works as a beach blanket, a towel when snorkeling, and a sunshade on a boat ride and to keep warm on an overly air-conditioned bus ride or flight. I’ve even dressed up an outfit for dinner by wrapping a decorative sarong around my waist.

Check out the many uses of the Simple Sarong

30. Pack a Water Bottle and a SteriPen

Save the world don’t buy bottled water! We have really cut down on buying bottled water over the years and instead carry a water bottle that we refill daily. When going to places where water isn’t potable, we use our SteriPen to purify it. We purify water anywhere in the world – we’ve even used it in the rivers of Kazakhstan! It purifies water using ultraviolet light in 30 seconds and it’s lightweight too! We also prefer to pack a collapsible water bottle for optimal space.

31. Carry Portable Chargers

Always pack a portable charger. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been in the middle of a great day and our batteries went dead. There is no excuse anymore. Most of our Sony products charge by USB and our portable charger has 4 USB charges in it. Now we never miss a shot! The VPower 23000mAH power charger is a good choice.

Check out more The Best Travel Gear – Unique Ideas for Smart Packing

32. Do an Idiot Check

Dave and I used the term “idiot check” whenever we leave our hotel room or restaurant. Even if we think we have everything packed up, we usually find something we left behind. That’s why before leaving a hotel, we always do a final sweep. And we call that an idiot check. We check the beds, outlets, under chairs, and behind doors.

33. Always Make the Bed

This may seem like a weird travel tip, especially under the subheading “packing tips” But before leaving a hotel, I always make the bed. It sounds ridiculous, but I cannot tell you how many items I have found in the covers. I never would have noticed had I not made the bed. It is amazing how many things slip under the sheets when we unpack in our hotel room. So before I leave any hotel room, I make the bed.

Travel Tips for Couples and Groups

34. a fight doesn’t mean the end of your relationship (or friendship).

Traveling with your best friend or the one you love can be a very intense experience. You are stuck with each other 24 hours a day. Emotions run high and you are definitely not in your usual comfortable environment. This situation causes stress on people. Dave and I have had some doozy arguments. I’m talking yelling matches with each other. But we understand that sometimes you just have to let off a little steam. Don’t be too proud to apologize and don’t hold a grudge. Arguments happen, but it doesn’ have to ruin a friendship.

35. Don’t Get Hangry

Some of our biggest arguments happen while trying to find a place to eat when we are “HANGRy”. (angry + hungry). We have talked to so many people who have travelled the world who agree, that Hanger is usually their biggest cause of fights. Start planning for lunch or dinner before you are hungry. Or carry some snacks with your for your day out sightseeing so you don’t get to the point of being Hangry.

36. Tell your Companion How Much You Appreciate Them

Travel can be all-consuming. It’s easy to forget about the person you are traveling with and become self-absorbed. Be it your spouse or friend, it’s important to let them know how much they mean to you. You chose to travel with them because you love them or enjoy their company. We never take that for granted and let each other know how much we appreciate their support. Even the little things.

37. Compromise

As a travel couple, this is our number one travel tip. Travel can’t be about one person dictating where to go and what to do. Dave and I like spending time together but we don’t necessarily like the same things. But we do compromise. We give a little, and we each try things that the other person likes. And you know what? We often find out that we like it! Everyone is different, so we try to respect each other’s opinions and boundaries. If you are a morning person and the person you are traveling isn’t, give them their space until they are ready to chat. Don’t expect everyone to conform to the way ou live your life.

Budget Travel Tips

38. skip hotels if on a budget.

We found the best way to save money was to rent an apartment with a kitchen. Even if it is a bit more money than a hotel, we save so much on food. Eating out is one of the biggest expenses of travel. So if you can eat a few meals at home, it’s worth it. What we like about staying in apartments as opposed to hotels is that we can cook at home and save on eating out. VRBO is an excellent way to save on accommodation. It’s an alternative to hotels allowing you to save money and to experience your travels like a local. Trip Advisor and Booking.com now offer apartment rental choices.

39. Don’t Eat Out Every Meal

When traveling, meals can add up quickly, so if you can eat breakfast and cook a few gourmet dinners in your apartment rental, you can save a lot of money. It’s also a lot of fun shopping at the local markets. We often have breakfast in our flat and then have a picnic for lunch. We then make a huge and cheap meal in our kitchen, complete with wine and appetizers. We can then go out at night for snacks and cocktails in a local restaurant or bar without breaking the bank.

Check out VRBO for accommodation

40. Try the Local Food

Trying the local food is one of the greatest travel experiences when in a foreign country. We love eating with our hands in India and Morocco. We love spooning our food in Thailand and picking up rice with chopsticks in Asia. Plus when you eat local, you save money. Restaurant hotels and eateries in tourist zones are more expensive. When you go to a local eatery, you’ll save a lot of money on a more authentic meal.

Some of our best experiences have been trying local food like a Sichuan Hot Pot in China that made our tongues go numb, or a three-hour meal in Japan serving 20 courses of beautifully designed dishes. Look for places filled with locals and head inside. Don’t be afraid to ask for help for what is good on the menu.

41. Get off the Beaten Path

It is amazing to see the top sites like the Eiffel Tower of Paris or the Taj Mahal of India, but some of the most memorable experiences we’ve ever had are when we are in remote destinations. Plus when you travel off the beaten path, it is less expensive.

When you go away from the tourist traps, you not only leave the crowds behind, you also leave the tourist prices behind. Going to places like Kyrgystan or Mongolia is much cheaper than a popular tourist destination because they haven’t inflated their prices yet!

42. Feel Free to Wander

Make it a priority to immerse in the local culture. Don’t take a tour that simply drives through a neighborhood and keeps you behind the glass as you gawk at the people on the street. Get outside, go for a walk and get lost in the markets. Talk to people and ask them about their lives. We’ve made lasting friendships this way.

The best travel tip I can give you is if you are visiting popular tourist destinations, let yourself wander and get lost in the back streets of Venice or wander through the streets of Paris at night. Even the most popular tourist destinations have quiet places to visit. But don’t get lost to the point of putting yourself in danger.

Airport Travel Tips

43. Get a Priority Pass

Most Travel Rewards Credit Cards come with lounge access at your home airport, but they don’t cover other airports. Priority Pass has been a savior for us. With Priority Pass, we have access to more than 600 lounges around the world and it makes flying so much more fun. Lounges have free food and drinks, free wifi and quiet places to relax. We can sleep during layovers and have a shower after a long flight. Sign up for Priority Pass here.

We use American Express Platinum and Priority Pass Comes with it, but if you don’t have a credit card with Priority Pass, you can also purchase it separately. Check out Priority Pass for details.

43. Get a Credit Card that Lets you Skip the Security Line

In our home airport of Toronto Pearson, anyone with a specific American Express Card can skip the security lines and go into priority boarding. Look into your local airport and see what they offer. We have been in airports around the world and see that certain cards like Visa, En Route or American Express get priority security access.

44. Look for Business travelers at the security line

When lining up at security, never get behind families, they are always slow. Instead, go to the line filled with business travelers. Even if it’s a bit longer, it will move faster because everyone knows what they are doing and get through quickly.

45. Pack Liquids in clear ziplock bags

Keep everything simple while in line and have all your liquids prepacked and easy to access in a ziplock bag. I put it at the top of my carryon and pull out my computer, and bag of liquids in one swoop. If you can start your travel off on the right foot, it sets the tone for a relaxing and fun vacation

46. How to Book Cheap Flights

There are many travel websites for booking flights and accommodation. We like Skyscanner for finding the best deals on cheap flights. It offers price comparison and you can maximize searches by having flexible flying dates.

If you search a few days before and after your preferred flying dates, you may save hundreds of dollars. Having flexible dates is a great way to save money on flights.

Read more tips on saving money on flights here: 10 Best Travel Hacks for Flying

For day tours and city tours we use Get Your Guide or Viator . These companies offer affordable day tours and city guides around the world that can be easily canceled with 24 hours notice. They can also be booked last minute.

Final Thoughts – More of the Best Travel Tips

47. Put Down the Cell Phone

It may seem easy, but this is one of those travel tips that people need to be reminded of. A photo is nice to have, but it’s how you feel in the moment that you will remember forever. Today’s world is noisy. Travel gives you the opportunity to block out the noise, so put down your smartphone and be present instead. When Dave and I look back on the past 20 years, we don’t remember how many likes a photo got on Instagram or how many views on TikTok, we remember the experiences we had.

48. Have an Open Mind

Many people have preconceived notions about a place before they go. Especially when traveling internationally. The beauty of travel is that you learn and understand different cultures and religions. People are often the same as you and me. They laugh, they cry, they care about their families. You’ll find that you have more in common with people around the world than you thought.

49. Back up your Photos

We’ve seen more than one person lose all their photos on a trip by never downloading them onto a hard drive or into the cloud. One mistake, and all your memories are erased. Back photos up even while you are still traveling. Don’t just keep using the same memory card, YOu are taking a huge chance. You can carry a portable hard drive , upload them to the cloud, or other online storage, put them on your computer or store them on Smugmug .

50. Relax – Things Will Go Wrong

And finally, relax and take a breath. Things will inevitably go wrong but we’ve seen way too many people fly off the handle. We have seen people complain while on tours, argue at check-in, and grumble over meals for absolutely no reason. Instead, be in the moment and take it all in.

Travel can be frustrating and overwhelming, but we’ve learned (over time) to take a breath and step back for a moment.

51. Remember Travel is a Privilege

Travel is a privilege and oftentimes the people we end up complaining to or shouting at have very little authority. They also usually have very little at home. You are lucky to be able to travel. Not everyone in the world is so lucky. The people serving you on your travels are working hard to get by and feed their families. As they are being yelled at they are probably wondering, “Why on earth are we so upset about something so small?” As travelers, we are the lucky ones and the more we remember that, the easier our travels become.

And that ladies and gentlemen, is a list of our best travel tips from 21 years on the road. Nobody is perfect at traveling and the only way to get better is to keep doing it. After 21 years, we’re still learning new tricks!

We’d love to hear your words of wisdom too. Do you have some good tips on travel to share? Tell us below.

About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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180 thoughts on “Best Travel Tips From 21 Years Traveling the World”

Amazing travel advice from The Planet D’s 21 years of world travel! Lessons learned: Avoid debt, purchase travel insurance, work with local tour guides, and carry modest bills.

Thank you soo much for sharing such a wonderful article on travel tips and tricks.

Agree with everything, except your assertion that US dollars are fine everywhere. Not in the UK. Croatia was also a problem. They wouldn’t accept Euros or USD in 2019, although they’re now (2023) a Eurozone country. Norway wasn’t too keen on them this year (2023).

In general, for touristy activities they’re a maybe – tour guides (etc) collect enough for it to be worth their while to exchange them. Everyday places, shops, bars, restaurants? Not so much in many G20 countries I’ve visited.

Very helpful, thanks for the tips

Those are some helpful tips.

Fabulous information! Fabulous site!

Safe travels everyone! Keep up the fantastic BLOG D&D!

Great resource for travel tips! I especially love the emphasis on being prepared and planning ahead for a smooth trip. Thanks for sharing this informative post.

Awesome post! Thanks for sharing such a great stuff with full of knowledge and keep up the good work.

“Remember Travel Is A Privilege. You are definitely correct. I’ve been traveling with hesitation because of these tips I would love to travel more. Thank you!

I’m a freelance photographer and I do travel a lot to different countries..exploring new adventures, people and places is always fun. That is really nice content. Keep updating 🙂

Your article is very helpful. Thank you for sharing your travel tips.

Tips for any traveler that are really thorough. In my travels, Thanks for sharing.

You are such a natural storyteller. I just love your writing.

Why I Travel Alone!

Some people shy away from traveling alone, a few embrace it. This article looks at the decided advantages of going it alone. First, traveling solo is the ultimate freedom. The itinerary you set and all the decisions you make are your creations without concern or acquiescence to any other person or group. In other words, no compromises. No arguments, no second-guessing! Traveling alone is a confidence builder as well. When I was young, at the tender age of 16 I traveled alone to work in Biddeford-Saco, Maine. I was over a hundred miles from home and family for the first time in my life. I was just a snipe of a boy and yet I was never terrified. Only a bit lonely. In retrospect, I realize the great value of that small journey (though a big one at the time) for a new found confidence was born in me. This always happens with travel by oneself. You learn you can solve problems, get over the blues, and find hidden treasures all by yourself. Have you noticed that when you’re on your own as a Traveling Pauper, people are more willing to start a conversation with you? You may feel like taking the initiative as well. Up pops an invitation for a meal, a side trip, a stay at someone’s home. For some odd reason people keep a slight distance from couples and groups for they seem so self-contained in their association. Whereas the single Pauper looks ready about for a fellow human being that he might engage at any moment in pleasant conversation and simple exhanges about his travels. Thomas Jefferson once said: “One travels more usefully when alone because he reflects more.” It’s true: you have abundant time for contemplating, even vegetating, or anything you want. A day long visit to one museum? No problem. You don’t have to deal with someone else’s mood swings, —nor they with yours. Here are two more exciting reasons that solo travel appeals to me: I find you learn language faster when you don’t have someone else talking to you in your own all the time. It’s funny, but we interact, are FORCED to interact much more frequently when we travel alone in a country that doesn’t speak our native tongue. And finally, romance. I won’t get into specifics, (this is such a tender and private sort of thing) but when you’re on your own you’re free to meet someone who might turn out to be very important in your life. The most important factor to consider in your decision to make a trip alone is your own sense of independence. If you find that you have little tolerance for the idiosyncracies of others (and I confess this is my problem) you might be happier traveling alone. But what if you have an eager spouse, relative, or friend that would feel somehow diminisehd by your decision to take off by yourself? Not to sound indelicate but, that my friend, is your problem. You’ll simply have to open up these relationships in your life and solidly communicate the value of traveling alone. I pray your loved ones will be open and understanding enough to allow your wish to become reality. I have a whole section in my book: ‘Travel Cheap Travel Well!”- Confessions Of A Traveling Pauper on this issue of solo travel, as well as the many vagaries and benefits of traveling with a partner or a group. But in this article, I hope I’ve at least opened the door, shown you the great benefits of leaving everyone behind as you discover the world INSIDE and outside of yourself. Why not plan such a trip this year? Tell everyone of your decision or keep it to yourself and, with no explanation given, leave with great joy in your heart for the adventure to come. It’s your choice! As for this Pauper, I’ve done both and found each a liberating experience each time. In such action I’ve rediscovered that little boy that traipsed off to far away Maine on his own without permission asked or granted. I rebel still at conformity and the restriction of others upon me. So, I challenge you to answer your own inner traveling pauper, to pick up your courage and let your heart lead the way to a new adventure and landscape. Be it near or far—go it alone!

It’s impressively written about travel tips. and a nice picture collection, Thanks for the post it is helpful.

Such an impressive article! Thanks for sharing your 21 years of traveling experiences.

absolutely amazing, thanks for sharing this.

Wonderful travel tips, very practical and helpful to the travelers!

OMG!! I am starting a life as a freelance-globe-trotter and this article is a jewel! Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

An amazing post with great tips as always. Anyone will find your post useful. Keep up the good work.

Such a nice travel tips, Its very informative and practical. Thanks for sharing!

This article is probably the best travel advice I’ve ever read. You have mentioned all the necessary things comprehensively. This is so impressive. Keep it up, and thank you so much for sharing this informative article with us.

As have not travel yet, but ultimately is planning. The tips posted here is very informative. It help to no experience traveler to have an insight of what is to experience and the preparation as well as expectation in the travel world. To the contributor, continue the wisdom of writing and sharing your experiences in traveling. This is a legacy you can share with all us for us to make ourself be ready and prepare the journey.

Maraming Salamat means thank you very much from the philippines. .

wow nice site, and u guys been to 115 countries.. wow!! wish i had such an opportunity. anyways best of luck guys

Being new to travelling I found each and every tip to be very useful and, these guys shared some of the most genuine and helpful tips that should be kept in mind before planning any trip. Kudos, for the nice work guys.

Probably the best travel tips I’ve read since! Keep it up!

Impressive travel tips! Taken down notes from this article. Thanks!

Carrying a portable charger is such a goodie! The amount of times a portable charger has saved me at busy airports with no free charging ports is worth every penny. Great article

Hello, Thanks for providing such nice tips for traveling. I love traveling in hilly areas. Mostly, there can be unexpected situations during travel, so, these tips are very useful and I endorse them. Everyone who is planning to travel should read these tips. Thanks again 🙂

I love Travel all over the world. I find your blog is very resourceful for me. Thanks!

Congrats Dave and Debra! Lucky you guys got an opportunity to travel to 115 Countries. Wow! that’s amazing I am feeling so jealous of you guys. This is my dream and I am just waiting for that time to come when I can do the same as you guys are doing 🙂 I really loved and enjoyed going through your article. Thanks for the great article with your audience

this is the site I was looking for. It helps me to find the best travel tips. For a beginner who wants to travel but don’t have the knowledge, for them this is the best site ever.

Hey! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the great work!

Useful travel tips. Really great to know that you have more then 4/5 years traveling experience. I learned so much from your article. Thanks for sharing 🙂

I want to visit the whole world with friends…and want to do lot of adventure activities there. Thanks for your tips it’s motivate me .

The best tip that I could relate to was that if it doesn’t feel okay it isn’t. Gut instinct plays a very important role especially when you are traveling solo. I personally have experienced it when I tried to give somebody the benefit of the doubt and it didn’t work out well. The first instinct is always always right. The other thing I’m learning is to not do an activity too many in a very short span of time. Because of this fear of missing out, I tend to go from one thing to another with such accuracy that it scares me sometimes. But then it also feels good to have seen many things. Still fighting that urge and learning to just relax in a place.

I find it so interesting that you guys have been able to travel the world for over 20 years now. Some of these tips are useful and my boyfriend and I will be using them.

We are set to start traveling full-time June 5th.

Amazing tips !! I love traveling and I travel thrice a year. This blog post is really helpful for travelers like me. Traveling is the best way to explore yourself. I have added this post to my bookmark list as it is quite impressive. Thank you for sharing such an incredible & informative post.

Hi, Dave and Deb when I am thinking about traveling the world relented tips at the 1st I was thing about your blog. This blog is so informative and helpful for us. Once again thanks for the great tips.

What a great list and tips! Thanks a lot! You guys are definitely a big inspiration for us! Will make sure to re-read this article again and again!

Really comprehensive tips for any traveler. I’ve made use of some of them in my travels too. Thanks!

Hey Dave, it’s really nice travel tips, thanks for sharing.

Love how it was simple to understand, and comprehend I was looking for travelling options I found this website that offers great services, maybe you can see them and tell me what’s the best option.

Great tips! I absolutely enjoyed reading! Thanks for the article

this is real tips from the expert. different from other travelers.

thank you for sharing the tip and i gain a lot info from this anticle

Such a comprehensive list of tips. Great work. Love your article.

Some remarkable photos. Incredible colours.

Thank you for all the wonderful information, this may be the most information for us novice travel bloggers that I’ve come across to in one place!

Very good blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you propose starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally overwhelmed .. Any recommendations? Thanks!

‘Do An Idiot Check’ this is the most useful tips for any traveler. Even a single minor thing has a huge importance while you travel in wild. I always prepare the list of things I need to pack and mark them while I put them in bag.

Wow, Great tips on travel. It helps every traveler on planning their trips.

Thanks. This is kind of article which I was expecting from a travel website. Backup your photo should be top on the list 🙂 🙂

Aw, this was an incredibly nice post. Taking the time and actual effort to make a top notch article… but what can I say… I hesitate a lot and never manage to get anything done.

Thanks for sharing these amazing tips. This is very useful for planning a trip.

I want to become a travel blogger but how could i earn money in it

Nice Information, I really love to travel. I want to start my career as a travel blogger

Wonderful Article tips… Really helpful for traveler like us.. keep coming.. 🙂

I love traveling especially with my family and I would like to say thank you for giving such a piece of incredible information.

It really nice to me to get experience before to start the trip. Thank you very much! Have a nice day!

Dave, Deb this is amazing. Backing up photos is crucial!

I am a big fan of traveling. Trekking, hiking, and reading books about traveling really give me a great time. I am especially interested in cultures and customs of ethnic minority groups in China.

I love taking photos while embarking on adventurous journeys so this is why you should backup your photos. I used to be backpacker and explorer of the world and loosing precious pictures before writing a blog about where you have been was very bad. Its like you have never been there.

Now i currently work as a Travel Adviser.

Keep up with the good work!

Dave and Deb, my girlfriend and i we love your life style. You guys really inspire us. Thanks to you we have been traveling asia for 6 months. To be honest i was thinking its really bad idea to travel with your GF but after all experiences, this is the best way for traveling. Thanks for the whole site and this valuable tips.

All these tips are great, but I truly appreciate the perspective blog thanks for share this post…….

A brilliant list of very useful travel tips, thank you for sharing guys they’ll definitely come in handy!

Wow thanks for the share. All of the tips derive to make it about the trip, don’t get destructed or even lose focus, just enjoy any time.However, if you really need to enjoy your trip, to me ensure you prepare right and ensure there’s nothing left behind such that you don’t get disorganized.

Nice tips when we travelling !

Thanks for writing such a useful list!

I love love love this! I have been traveling for 4 years and am now trying to turn travel into a business. I fully agree that people need first to enjoy traveling for the experience versus trying to become the next influencer. Your first bullet point about putting down your phone is spot on. I have lost my phone twice while traveling, and I appreciate these times. Instead of being reliant on Google Maps I have to walk up to strangers and ask for directions. Instead of being busy trying to take a photo, I’m fully living in the moment. I also love your point about smiling! Good vibes and energy go a long way.

Great post, keep up the good work.

Hi There! Appreciate it. Thank you for sharing fabulous information which seems to be to incredible post.

Great tips! I especially like tips 5 and 6. We often do the mistake of travel insurance and a local guide is very important while traveling a new country. I hope all traveler like us should follow these amazing tips while traveling a new country.

You are one of the best travel blogger I’ve ever seen your writing style is too good thanks for the sharing.

I look forward to being in Florida and Santa Barbara, California in the near future when I start traveling again. The “side hustle millionaire” mindset has me so focused right now that I can’t do any traveling for the moment. One thing I do love about traveling to different places is expanding my mind and seeing the beauty of unfamiliar environments. 🙂

Thanks for your tips, I just love your story about how down to earth you are.

Thank you for sharing your experiences, my point of view leaving our comfort zone can bring us an amazing trip without a doubt.

These are really awesome and pics are also helpful for me. Even there are many things which are missed by me and other i think. Many tips are helpful for me and honestly I like your ways.

Thanks & Regards Ritika Kumari

This is all such great advice — thanks for sharing! My partner and I have been traveling full time for the past couple years, and we’ve found ourselves falling into these mistakes every now and again. We always take the time to reflect on each trip to pick out ways we can make our experience better (and the experience of people around us). You’re right about traveling with someone requiring compromise, and your advice to just relax every now and then couldn’t be better! Always being “on” can so easily prevent you from truly experiencing something. Thanks for this great post!

All your tips are great! I would add to the “battery discharging” tips – Buy a solar power bank charger. It recharges itself by daylight. I found it VERY helpful on several occasions. Thanks for sharing with us.

Article with sensational travel tips. That’s why I follow your blog and recommend it to several friends, congratulations.

Cheers, Dave and Deb. You got really lucky in traveling for years. I really like your tips as I love traveling and exploring new destinations. I am aiming to travel a lot more and share also my experience in my blog. Take care the both of you.

Helpful travel tips. Really excellent to know that you have more then 16 years traveling experience. I learned so much from your article. Thanks for sharing 🙂

At this time it looks like BlogEngine is the best blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?

We use WordPress.

Great travel tips. Good job! This is worth to read. Thanks!

Amzing tips it’s use for us…. thanks for this post

This is my first time visit at here and i am in fact happy to read everthing at single place.

I love traveling with my friends and while traveling I always take care of health and take an travel insurance policy with me so that if in future something could happen with me there is no loss to my saving as treatment expenses are lot as they will lose your all savings too.

Hmm it seems like your site ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any points for newbie blog writers? I’d genuinely appreciate it.

Many thanks to you! A very great article and so much to learn from these travel tips. Thanks, once again.

These tips are accurately significant to enjoy the travel trip. I’ll take note of this. Thanks!

Great post! I’ve learned a lot from you sharing this information with us.

It’s such a timely article. I’m planning to have my very first travel and this helped me a lot.

I love to travel alone and my family always worries about me and in order not to make them worry in every time I travel to somewhere I let them know and track me using a GPS Tracking device so that they will know that I’m always safe.

Congratulations on the super simple tips that are most useful.

Great post. Thanks for the awesome inspiration!

Thanx for this post, May be soon me and my friends planning for this trip.

If this is your first time Traveling abroad, Look up the monetary conversion before you go, pack your bag, Bring a charger, Check-in with your doctor and many more things you need to take care before going on travel.

Awesome article. This post is really helpful. Thanks for sharing these travel tips.

I am going on vacation next month and after reading your tips, I have got information a lot, Thank You

Such a great blog about travel, i learned a lot from this is very helpful!

Wonderful and interesting resource. Thank you so much for all your effort on this blog. I really appreciate it. While searching on travel I found your site.

Congratulation for both of you for bring succesful traveler blogger and having chance to see the world.

nice article

All these tips are great, but I truly appreciate the perspective about Sunrise is better than Sunset. I know I am probably in the minority here, but the freshness of morning is a rebirth for me. And a dazzling sunrise does more for lifting my spirits than almost anything else. Whatever problems I had yesterday, now, with this new sunrise, I have a chance at a fresh start. (Don’t get me wrong…I love a romantic sunset too!)

Very useful information for travellers 🙂

I am a frequent traveler and hence after trying and testing various hacks to make my travel easier, I have consolidated a list of travel tips that have always come handy!

What a fantastic experience! 4 years traveling with family. Congratulations on sharing this story with everyone! I loved the site. Thank you

The first tip is a great tip and invaluable not just for traveling but for life in general. We spend more time on devices than enjoying and making memories. Well made post!

Thank youposting the useful information about 27 Best Travel Tips after 7 Years Traveling the World, happy bogging.

If we spent some time on internet before traveling then we could save our time and money while traveling. for example, if we know the right place to say then it might save money and if we know some airline tips which can save both our time and money. These tips can help a lot while traveling. Few good examples are given below

Using offline dictionary (Google Translator) Doing Web Check-in (online) Pre-Booked hotels (Advance booking saves money)

These are just few examples we can do a lot. So I prefer to invest some time on internet 🙂

Really Great I Loved It

Great post guys, it was my bed time story last night 😀 Really sums up travelling at its best!

We’ve done some travelling separately before the blog and a couple of trips together to Cuba and Hawaii and it’s so nice to remember those times when we didn’t have to worry about updating our social media or getting together a guide 🙂 Which we did do eventually ha ha…

Splurging once in a while is so important, otherwise what’s the point in visiting amazing places if you don’t treat yourself!

the very good tip, thanks.

Hits the nail on the head on so many points. This brings back many memories of our travels, like when we packed too much and wanted to kill each other since we were both so miserable with our heavy bags. And the time we had to give up on the hostel in Morocco and paid for a pool day pass at the Sofitel. We felt like we were cheating, but in the end, we needed the rejuvenation. Always love your posts, thanks for the inspiration and congrats on all the years of traveling together!

I totally know that feeling. Having too much luggage just makes me miserable. When I go lighter, I enjoy myself more. And no you weren’t cheating, we all need a break from the road and that day at Sofitel must have made you feel amazing and ready to get back on the road again. Thanks for sharing your experiences!

Dave and Deb – Beautiful post! My husband and I are so inspired by the two of you! We are starting our travel lifestyle tomorrow (eek!) so this post really hits home. There is so much mentoring in this post 🙂 Congrats on 16 years! What an accomplishment!

Such great advice – I really appreciate all the tips that you have to share. Beautiful photos as well, it is clear you both love what you do and that’s what it really comes down to! – Elizabeth elizabethnubel.com

First of all I want to say terrific blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind. I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your head before writing. I’ve had difficulty clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas out there. I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips? Many thanks!

Very good article, my dream is to travel the whole world, for now I only know 3 countries. I want to know Europe, Asia and the Middle East is fantastic! Thank you for the content!

Belo Post was what I was looking for, I’ve been following some posts from this site and I’m really enjoying reading them.

Amazing article and tips guys. I’ve read it with such a big pleasure and I felt it each of them. I’ve traveled also a bit, just 14 countries till now but I can say you have an amazing list of tips. keep up with the good work

If you are going to be in a country for 10 days or more, it may be worth purchasing a SIM card. This can be a lot cheaper than paying for an international plan on your own local network. BTW, nice tips here. Very informative indeed!

Beautiful photos, I loved it!

I enjoyed all types, but the best is relax

Wow! Amazing tips, thank you for sharin your experience

Just you agree, for me you are an eternal god

For me god always exists

Wonderful blog and you use amazing photos on your website i like it….!!!

Amazing best travel tips ever !!!. You should publish your own book for the benefit of all travelers in the world.

I loved this article … As Natalie said, it greatly reduces our learning curve

Best out of best, thanks for sharing your view on travelling. Well tips revealed before planning for international trips, especially pertaining the security i.e. Travel Insurance.

That is great experience to visit here you have really provide a detail tips, this will help us to plan us next trip.

Awesome blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers?

I’m planning to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Hi Shane, here’s a link to our travel blogging tips. It gives a step by step guide on how to start a travel blog. https://theplanetd.com/how-to-start-a-travel-blog/

So positive, thank you for the amazing tips. We’re just starting out and ‘packing light’ really helped us stay away from those heavy airline baggage charges!

Thanks for sharing, many great nuggets of advice in there!

27 Best Travel Tips after 7 Years Traveling the World Many thanks any way! Wonderful Tips!

WOW !! Excellent article post with perfect photography no words for this great journey. I love this article thank you so much for sharing with us.

Thank you so much for sharing these tips.

I was looking for one tip that I would try on my next trip, but I could not find one as they all are great tips! Thanks for the inspiration!

Aw, thanks! Have a great trip!

Wonderful Tips!!!

Every tip is worth to note down. Thank you so much. Do keep writing such posts.

Nice post, Lovely to read about your trip, thanks for sharing.

What great tips! I’ve been traveling for years and there is a learning curve for sure. I had a sharp learning curve when the kids arrived because boy are traveling things different when you take the littles! One tip that never changes no matter the group or your changing situation is your #25 “Tell your traveling partner how much you appreciate them. That is SO true. Being appreciative of your family makes all things better – good times, bad times and everything in between.

We always travel with the kids and what an education they get! Not only the obvious like new cultures and experiences, but the day to day interactions between valued family members – most especially when you express that appreciation as you suggest! Travel helps you raise global children. 🙂

Bringing a sarong is small but smart thing to do. I also carry a small umbrella with me to keep the sun off during the mid-day tropical heat. Great tips!

Thank you for sharing the useful information about 27 Best Travel Tips after 7 Years Traveling the World, happy bogging.

That’s great post. Pictures are stunning and beautiful.

What a great tips! Thank you for sharing such great information. Very inspirational!

Yes, Before I had a habit was to mostly focus on camera to capture the nice photos and expected “likes” at social media while traveling instead of watching what was in front of me. Now I change, and one of my keys to get a successful trip is not to hesitate to ask and talk to locals. They will give you some good tips

Excellent advice about talking to locals. When you get to know the people who live there, it really makes for a wonderful experience. And you are so right, they have the best insider tips! We’re guilty of focusing only on photos at one point as well. When we started blogging as a career, we nearly lost ourselves in the work. We now always have to remind ourselves to have balance. It’s amazing to be able to capture a moment at our fingertips, but we feel it’s just as important to stop and take it all in. It’s easy to miss the moment when you’re looking through the lens. Thanks for sharing!

As I was reading your 27 Best Travel Tips For Travel it occurred to me that your article could just as easily be titled 27 Best Travel Tips For Life.

Thanks Carl. You hit the nail on the head. I think that travel has helped us learn so much about life.

It is a great truth, to travel we have to be with a certain amount of time in the budget to be able to make the most of all the wonders. Congratulations!!!

Agree with some of these, especially the bit about not waiting to travel if you don’t know the language. Don’t agree about the cell phones-technology has changed how people actually process information. It’s not just that they’re phone is a distraction, it’s also that it’s part of how they experience the world.

Pretty pictures! Was lucky to have visited 5 towns in Alsace (including Riquewihr, Colmar and Strasbourg) 2 years ago!

Article with sensational travel tips. That’s why I follow your blog and recommend it to several friends, congratulations.

This is another great post. I always love to read your blog post dear. keep sharing post like this.

Such a great post, such great wisdom not just on travel but on life in general. Thanks for sharing with us. I love to think You can create a life you dont need a vacation from, and you guys seem to have done just that. 🙂 As newbie blogger son our Travels, f which we have done some, I hope I will be as inspiring years from now!

Great list of travel tips Dave and Deb. I would like to recommend to fellow travelers to book in very last minute, ideally on the day when you travel, to get the best rates. Most hotels and hostels are willing to give you half rate or even better price just to not have a free room (which does bring them exactly 0). I booked couple of rooms for just $1 with this method on my trip to Japan!

Really awesome photos as always. Dave and Deb, my girlfriend and i we love your life style. You guys really inspire us. Thanks to you we have been traveling asia for 6 months. To be honest i was thinking its really bad idea to travel with your GF but after all experiences, this is the best way for traveling. Thanks for the whole site and this valuable tips. Cheers, Enes % Emma

I am so happy to hear that you are loving travel with your girlfriend. I couldn’t imagine traveling another way. It’s wonderful to be able to share experiences with the one you love.

Thanks for the great tips. People indeed forget a lot of simple things during travel. Simple Reminders are really helpful.

Thanks a lot for a great information sharing and tips !!!I wish to be there in 2017

Amazing Post! thanks for the sharing.

Good tips dear! There are many of them that we observe already and I hope all traveler like us should follow this amazing tips while travel a new country.

aww!!!!! I loved the part “Tell your Partner/Husband/Friend How Much You Appreciate them”. This is an awesome article i have seen ever. The person who loves you heartily will appreciate your company. 🙂

That must been an awesome experience to the kids to go to Everest

Great advise and Guide. I have started traveling as a couple and its been 6 months now. Your above tips will surely help us complete our goals in long term.

Thanks for the tips, I just found your blog yesterday and have been working my way through a few of your posts – love how down to earth you are. The airlifted out of the Amazon post made me renew my travel insurance immediately, yikes!! Hope you’ve made a full recovery.

Thanks Helen and welcome to our blog! I am so happy that you stopped by and stuck around for a bit. I’m also doubly happy that you renewed your travel insurance. It is so important.

Really comprehensive tips for any traveler. I’ve made use of some of them in my travels too. Thanks!

Thanks Dave ! As a traveler and photographer amateur, I find your recommendations very useful. Many of them I try to put into practice always (but not always is possible) Cheers!

Hi. We are just entering our 4th year on the road and I think I agree with just about everything above. It’s always changing, we find new, better ways, or what we want from this lifestyle changes, so for a few months we’ll be regular backpackers, then we’ll chill and rest for a while in a city apartment rental. Whatever, we love this life. Your picture of that little stove on the Everest trail brought back happy memories, we took the kids up there a few months ago, great times. Cheers!

Hi Alyson, congratulations on four years on the road. That must have been an amazing experience for your kids to go to Everest. You are giving them the best education. Good luck with the rest of your travels! Cheers

How to Pack: Tips from the Experts on Maximizing Space

By Rachel Chang

The Best Packing Tips for Every Type of Trip 2021

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

As I dusted off my suitcase for my first trip during the pandemic last month, a familiar dread came over me. Despite my track record of packing for two-week vacations in a carry-on suitcase , the process always takes me days of agonizing over every. single. item . Still, as soon as I get out the door, inevitably there’s that one item I wish I had packed that I end up thinking about the rest of the trip.

Before I sunk back into old habits, I reached out to organization experts and flight attendants—the ultimate frequent travelers—to learn the tricks of the trade. Below, 10 of their best packing tips.

1. Use the right suitcase for the occasion

Often, our instincts are to choose luggage based on the length of the trip. While it’s a definite factor, what matters more is the kind of trip. “A compact or medium-sized suitcase is ideal for a city break or beach holiday because you can easily pack a lot of light garments, which you'll need for daily outfit changes when the weather is hot and you've been walking all day,” says Etihad Airways flight attendant Adina Elena Beldie. Hard-sides like Away’s The Bigger Carry-On and Monos’ Hybrid Carry-On , as well as soft-sides like Samsonite’s NuRoad Carry-On Spinner fit the bill.

“On the contrary, an outdoor adventure trip would require a larger suitcase for all of your hiking gear, like thick clothes and bulky footwear,” Beldie adds. Top choices in the category include the REI Co-Op Big Haul Recycled Rolling Duffel or Osprey’s Shuttle Wheeled 130L bag . “Lastly, in my experience, a business trip usually means packing light, although this can vary depending on the duration of the trip,” she says. No matter the size, Travelpro’s Platinum Elite Hardside Luggage fits the chicness and practicality factors with its Compact Carry-On or Medium Check-In .

Image may contain: Luggage, and Suitcase

2. Take the weight off of you

There’s no need for you (or your back) to bear the burden. “If you’re flying to your destination, spinners are a must-have,” travel packing expert Anne McAlpin of Pack It Up says. It’s not just about the luggage itself—it also serves as a way for your carry-on tote to slip over the handle. “The weight of the bag is carried by the spinner, not your shoulders, making traveling through long airport terminals a breeze,” she says.

Though many totes can slip right over the handles of carry-on luggage or a checked bag, sets complete the look, like Delsey’s Chatelet Hard+ two-piece set or Kenneth Cole Reaction’s Chevron Spinner with a Tote .

3. Make a list and check it twice

As with so many essential life tasks, writing out what you need is never a bad idea. “Create a packing list that includes all of your essentials, and then separate ones that are customized to your [trip's] relevant needs,” say the women of The Home Edit , Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin. One of the biggest mistakes people make, they say, is “just throwing things in a suitcase without a system in mind.”

A list can help you take note of if you’re over or underpacking, Beldie says, adding that, “Proper packing requires time.”

“I recommend adding items to your suitcase about a week in advance—not earlier than that as it’s important to check weather conditions at the destination, which will be more accurate closer to the trip,” she says.

If a handwritten list isn’t your speed, let your items be your visual list. “Lay everything out and start editing,” McAlpin says. “Hang outfits together, so you don’t forget anything.” She says to start two weeks ahead of time and to try everything on. “Part of the stress of packing is deciding what to take and what fits,” she says.

4. Find your own formula

McAlpin says she’s been recommending her packing ratio—three to one, with three tops for every bottom—for more than 25 years. Most trips work with nine tops and three bottoms, especially when they’re in basic colors that mix and match. She also says not to exceed three pairs of shoes: running or exercise shoes, walking shoes, and a pair of sandals or flip-flops.

On the other hand, Beldie is about the twos. For each day of the trip, she says to think of two tops, two shorts, two T-shirts, two pants, and two undergarments . “For a business trip, packing two shirts per day is a good idea—one for meetings during the day, the other for dinner and night events,” she says.

For organizing guru Marie Kondo , it’s less about numbers and more about categories. “I recommend that you lay everything out first and categorize by type of item to give you a comprehensive look at how many items you have for each category,” she says. “Then fold everything into its smallest possible size. At that point, before you start filling the suitcase, pare down and be honest with yourself about what you really need for the trip.”

The most important aspect of the equation is simplicity: “What do you really need to have a joy-sparking trip? If your trip is for leisure, this is the opportunity to free yourself from everyday decision making and perhaps experience a simpler lifestyle. The fewer clothing options to choose from, the more you can focus on the joyful experience ahead,” she says. But there is one number she says to follow, “Leave 10 or 20 percent empty space so you can buy souvenirs and pack them for your return trip!”

Image may contain Clothing Apparel Pants Shorts Human Person and Skirt

Experts recommend laying everything out before packing your bag.

5. Consider clothing material and colors

Eva Air senior assistant purser Jennifer Liao says to select the most packable clothing so you’re not constantly thinking about ironing. “Most flight attendants travel with clothes made from wrinkle-free fabrics such as synthetics, wool, denim, and knit—we don’t pack linen because it wrinkles so easily,” she says. Hues can also make a big difference. “The colors we pack are important. The darker the color, the fewer visible wrinkles,” Liao adds.

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Tifsit Teferra, a Delta Air Lines flight attendant, says to focus on a wide range of choices, too. She avoids packing too many of the same thing: “Why take up space with six tees when you can bring a variety of tops—variety is the spice of packing!”

6. Less is more

McAlpin’s packing motto is: “Less stuff, less stress.” She once traveled 21 days in a 21-inch carry-on that was less than 21 pounds—covering diverse climates from India and Jordan to New York City. That pack light mentality is echoed across the board.

“People tend to, quite literally, weigh themselves down when traveling,” Kondo says. “Remind yourself that traveling is temporary and should be about the actual trip itself rather than extensive wardrobe selections. Packing just a few outfits that you absolutely love will make getting ready each day a breeze. Select clothes that are comfortable, do not wrinkle easily , and that make you feel good about yourself.”

“Not all items will apply to all people, and not all items will apply to all trips,” Shearer and Teplin say. “So if you absolutely, without a doubt, cannot live without an item, then by all means, bring it! Just remember: You get the item or you get the space, but you don't get both.”

7. Organize your clothes vertically and tightly

Though some packers prefer laying clothes flat, the experts we talked to agree that rolling is key to save space. “Clothes should be folded into their smallest possible size,” Kondo says. “Thin fabrics are best to roll to prevent wrinkles. Another tidy trick is to tuck your folded underwear into bra cups within your suitcase—it keeps the undergarment category together and saves space.”

Think of your suitcase as a table of contents of sorts—you want to be able take one look and know everything inside. “The key here is to pack your items vertically so you can see them all at one glance,” Kondo says. “That way, you don’t have to take out everything to find the one item you are looking for.”

8. Categorize your contents

Take that idea one step further with packing cubes. “They will help use vertical space and adhere to a tidy routine while on the road,” Kondo says. KonMari partnered with Paravel on the Packing Cube Quad, a set of four that makes categorizing easy on the go. Kondo suggests using the smallest one for underwear, the largest for bulky items like outerwear and towels, one of the middle ones for clean clothes, and the other for dirty ones. “What’s great about the packing cubes is that you can place your vertically folded clothes into the cube from your drawer at home, then transfer them straight into the drawers at the hotel, so it’s easy to unpack at the destination,” she says.

The Home Edit team put a different spin on them in the form of pouches. “Packing squares are the real game-changer,” they say of their Zipper Pouch Set . “They are so versatile, which is key when you're needing to pack different items for every trip. The trick is finding packing squares that fit what you regularly pack. We designed our own set with Calpak because we wanted a version that was large enough for storing shoes as well!”

If you want to give your items an extra squeeze, McAlpin suggests Baggallini’s long compression packing cubes , which fit right into that awkward space between the handles of most luggage to maximize space.

Tech cords and chargers might need a slightly different method to remain neat. Kondo’s shop sells a Bellroy Tidy Tech Kit , while Teferra goes more homemade: “I fold cords and then use Velcro tape to secure them.”

9. Wear your bulkiest clothing

Though we’ve heard those infamous stories of people layering on clothes to save on baggage fees, there is a time and place for wearing some of your essential needs on your back. “If you are going to a cold weather location, I suggest wearing your bulkier items like a coat and boots, and always carry your water bottle,” Teferra says. If you do need to put them in your suitcase, Teferra says, “Bulky items should always go at the bottom of your suitcase, and it’s best to layer them flat—never fold or roll them.”

10. Keep travel essentials packed

“We always say, if you stay ready, you won't have to get ready,” The Home Edit women say. Especially for frequent travelers, instead of constantly packing and unpacking, keep the items that you always take with you packed. “It helps to organize your travel toiletries and accessories ahead of time so your packing routine is essentially grab-and-go,” they add.

Liao agrees, admitting that the Eva Air team travels so much that “some of us keep essential items that we never unpack in our luggage.” The advantage can shave tremendous time on packing for your next trip. “All we need to do before each flight is pack clothes.”

How to travel on a budget: Here are our 22 top tips

Editor's Note

"How can I travel on a budget?" is one of the top questions we receive at TPG.

There's no question that travel is expensive right now as millions satisfy the itch to travel more. Demand has been through the roof. Inflation and correspondingly high hotel, rental car and airline ticket costs have many would-be travelers throwing up their hands in frustration.

However, there are still many ways to save. In addition to using reserves of points and miles to book hotels and airfare, TPGers have many budget travel tips to help stretch your dollars when traveling.

Here are 22 ways to travel on a budget.

Use membership codes to save on car rentals

If you're a member of AAA or AARP, have a Costco membership, are a veteran or work for a large company with a car rental discount code, pull all of these levers. You might be eligible for discount codes you didn't even know about. A few examples from AARP include 30% off a car rental at Budget or Avis.

Related: How to never pay full price for a rental car

Look beyond traditional car rental companies and locations

Most people search for rentals at the airport with standard companies like Hertz and Avis. If you don't find good results, consider off-airport locations or try alternatives like Kyte , Turo and Silvercar.

Related: Delta and Turo launch partnership, allowing travelers to earn 2,000 SkyMiles on 1st rental

Check credit card merchant offers

Before booking your trip, review your credit cards' special merchant offers. Multiple issuers offer this option (although American Express is a leader in the category).

Every program works similarly: Log in to your card account online or through your banking app, review the offers available to you, add the ones you want and make a qualifying purchase using the card for which the offer is registered.

There are no promo codes to enter at online checkout or coupons to print to take to the register. There are likely offers you can activate that will provide discounts on dining, gas and entertainment.

Related: How credit card merchant offers can save you hundreds of dollars every year

Take advantage of free days at national parks

Every year the U.S. National Park Service sets aside several days when entry is completely free ; options include Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, the first day of National Park Week in April, National Public Lands Day in September and Veterans Day in November.

Visiting a national park on one of the NPS' free-entry days can save you up to $35 per vehicle at some of the most popular national parks, such as Glacier National Park and the Grand Canyon .

Stay outside the national parks

You might dream of a night in a rustic cabin inside a national park, but getting that reservation could be challenging or costly — especially if you can't pay for it with points.

However, just beyond the park, there's probably a hotel you can book with points. For example, you could stay at the Holiday Inn in West Yellowstone with IHG One Rewards points; the SpringHill Suites just outside of Zion National Park is a great property if you have Marriott Bonvoy points to spend.

Related: The best campgrounds, hotels and lodges near Yellowstone National Park

Download the T-Mobile Tuesdays app

If you're a T-Mobile user, you're in luck: This app is a major perk that will put money in your pocket just for checking your phone on Tuesdays.

To participate, download the T-Mobile Tuesdays app , check the app on Tuesday and claim your discount code. We've seen weekly discounts on everything from rental cars to gas, hotels and theme park tickets.

Related: T-Mobile expands travel-focused 'Coverage Beyond' benefits

Get discounted gas at Shell through the Fuel Rewards app

At TPG, we love to stack savings. The Shell Fuel Rewards app is a good one to pile on the discounts.

You can link it to other loyalty programs — including American Airlines AAdvantage, Giant Food, Stop & Shop, Advance Auto and more — to receive extra discounts. Also, if you purchase through Fuel Rewards, link to partner retailers such as Petco, Bed Bath & Beyond, Office Depot/OfficeMax and many others to save even more.

Don't forget to use a credit card that gives bonus points or discounts at gas stations for even more savings. TPG likes the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees ), which awards 3 ThankYou points per dollar at gas stations, and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express , which also gives 3% back at U.S. gas stations.

Related: These are the best credit cards for gas purchases

Save on theater tickets in New York and London

Check TodayTix for cheap Broadway and West End tickets if traveling to New York City or London.

The TodayTix app has discounted tickets to various shows available. Prices vary, but most of the top shows currently playing are available on the site and the app.

While not all shows are hugely discounted, TodayTix often runs no-fee promotions. Keep in mind that for some shows, you won't be able to choose your precise ticket location. Instead, you will pick a section you'd like to sit in.

Related: On with the show! How to get a great deal on Broadway tickets

Save on entrance fees with Bank of America

Bank of America cardholders can enjoy free general admission to more than 225 cultural institutions in dozens of U.S. cities on the first weekend of every month just by showing their cards. It's through the Museums on Us program that's been going on for 25 years. It's open to Bank of America, Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank (U.S. Trust) credit or debit card holders.

Related: 5 reasons to get the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

Use your library card for museum entry

Another way to get free museum admission is with a library "lending ticket" — a program where libraries will lend museum passes for a set amount of time.

Also, check if your local museum's membership comes with ROAM (a reciprocity program across North America). It's an easy way to get maximum value from a regional (and usually less expensive) membership.

Take a free walking tour

Sign up for a free walking tour on your first day in a new city. It's an inexpensive way to learn about the city and orient yourself.

Look online for options before traveling and sign up in advance if necessary. Then, all you need to do is show up with comfortable shoes and enjoy your free tour.

Although tipping is suggested, you'll spend much less, even after generously tipping your guide, than you would with a standard tour option. You will likely also meet other like-minded travelers, which can be welcome if you're traveling alone or looking to make new friends.

If you're interested in seeing what's available on your next trip, Google the city you'll visit and the phrase "free walking tour" to see what comes up.

Dine on the cheap with Seated

Here's a fun one: The Seated app allows you to dine out and get paid for it.

The app rewards diners who sign up and eat at designated restaurants with cash they can redeem through gift cards. All you have to do is let the app know you'll be dining at a location before you take a seat. You can also get gift cards for Uber, Amazon and Starbucks.

Fly on weekdays

Flexibility on which days you fly is one of the keys to getting the best airfare prices. Leisure travelers most commonly book weekend flights, while many business travelers fly on Monday. So, the midweek days — Tuesday and Wednesday — have lower demand and are often the best days to travel for lower prices.

Related: When is the best time to book airfare?

Book vacation packages

Airlines that bundle airfare and hotels as vacation packages can offer better deals thanks to their vast buying power and inventory. These bundles can offer savings of up to 40% off. Savings on business-class plane tickets and high-end hotels can offer some of the best deals.

Also, purchasing directly from the airline gives you a one-stop shopping experience. You can even add a car and activities to your trip at the same time. Plus, you'll often be able to take advantage of special sales and bonus points and miles offers.

Related: Everything you need to know about saving money with vacation packages

Use a price monitoring tool

Airline fare monitoring sites such as Hopper and Google Flights ensure you get notifications when your trip's best and lowest prices become available. Set up as many combinations as you're considering, including different departure and return dates, so that you can get alerts for all possible fare reductions.

Be flexible on destination

If you're not locked into a fall or winter vacation location (like you would be for a destination wedding or family reunion that you can't change), try an alternative to find better prices. For example, consider subbing Quebec City in for Paris if you want Old World charm. For scuba diving enthusiasts, skip the expensive long-haul flight to Australia and the Great Barrier Reef and instead head to the second-largest barrier reef in the world in easy-to-access Belize.

Related: 5 key tools and tips for cheap airfare

Hold your deal

If you see a great deal but are not yet ready to book, hold it . For example, Hopper's Price Freeze allows you to lock in the price of a flight for up to seven days to take more time to finalize plans before you book. Some airlines will also let you hold flights for a small fee. (Remember that all U.S. airlines, by law, allow you to hold and cancel a flight booking within 24 hours without penalty as long as you book more than seven days in advance.)

Re-price your flights and hotels

As long as you've booked a hotel, car or flight that can be canceled without penalty, you should make it part of your weekly routine to check for price drops. If you find a lower price, rebook. You can use these same rebooking strategies with points to make dynamic pricing work in your favor for hotel stays so you can save on award nights.

Related: How I saved 33,500 points on upcoming hotel stays

Consider alternative airports

With prices high, now is the time to be flexible and check all nearby airports. For example, Houston and Chicago have two airports, while the New York City area has three, including Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey . In Southern Florida, you could easily fly to West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale or Miami. It works internationally too: Try Gatwick Airport (LGW) instead of Heathrow Airport (LHR) when flying to London.

It may even make sense to get to one city by flying to another city and then taking a short train ride for the rest of the journey. For instance, you could fly into Philadelphia and catch a train to New York. Strategies like this can help you get to your destination on a flight with better pricing or award availability.

Use positioning flights

Positioning flights are unrealistic for every situation or trip, but they can often offer better award availability or pricing than those from your home airport. Can you reach your destination for a lot less by starting in Seattle or Chicago? Would adding another flight to a different airport save you money or miles? Just ensure you leave enough time between flights to avoid unnecessary travel headaches.

Related: Use positioning flights to get amazing deals

Use points and miles when appropriate

Since you are reading TPG, you may also want to earn points or miles through your everyday spending that you can use to pay for part of your trip. Some credit cards — like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card — can help you earn airline miles or hotel points that you can redeem directly with the airline or hotel. Cards such as the American Express® Gold Card earn transferable points you can redeem for travel or transfer to various travel partners.

If you have a stash of points and cash fares are high, it makes a lot of sense to use those points instead. For example, I recently priced a trip to San Francisco and found a flight over the Fourth of July weekend; it should normally cost about $400, but for this particular weekend, it was going to cost me at least $621. I used 46,000 Delta SkyMiles instead. While it wasn't the best redemption in the world, it was better than shelling out all that cash. Most of those SkyMiles came from credit card spending on my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card .

Related: Why I'm keeping my Delta Reserve card even when I'm flying less

There are many strategies for getting the most out of your credit card . You'll generally get the most value when redeeming for premium-cabin flights or luxury hotel stays. However, you may prefer to book economy award flights or lower-category hotel stays using your points to stretch your points further.

You can join AARP for discounts even if you are not retired. The advocacy group for older adults offers all kinds of cool discounts, including $60 to $200 off British Airways flights and 10% off Hilton hotels.

Related: How to use AARP discounts on travel

Bottom line

Spending a small amount of time researching the best ways to travel on a budget could easily make a dream trip, like a Paris vacation, more attainable.

It's possible to take an excellent vacation on a budget. You just need to put in the time to plan your trip, budget your expenses, download a virtual wallet of money-saving apps and consider using points and miles to decrease your out-of-pocket costs.

Some of our top budget travel tips include shopping around, signing up for deal alerts through websites like TPG and using points and miles. Opening a credit card or two for the sign-up bonus once or twice every few years could make your trips even cheaper. Don't forget to sign up for our daily newsletter , where we teach you how to travel better for less. At TPG, we make traveling on a budget easy.

What to know for booking summer travel: Expert tips on airfare, destinations and more

Where to score flight deals during the prime summer travel season.

As the surge of summer travel draws near, the race to book a great vacation is on.

"If you're looking to travel domestically within the U.S., I think you should be booking now for summer travel," Clint Henderson, travel expert and managing editor of The Points Guy, told "GMA."

Earlier this month while reporting quarterly earnings, Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian projected "record advance bookings for the summer," telling CNBC that the carrier's credit card data and bookings show customers are highly interested in air travel.

An increase in budget airline routes that has created more competition, paired with an easing of the post-pandemic revenge travel surge, means travelers could see more deals.

"Overall prices are down from where they were when we just had that boom out of the pandemic," Henderson said. "So things are more reasonable."

Hopper, the flight booking app, has shown predicted fares for flights to Europe will be down 10% in price from the same time last year.

Google recently announced its top 20 trending summer destinations , which saw a few newcomers on the list and Paris rose to the No. 2 spot.

With the Olympics taking place there from July 26 through Aug. 11, an uptick in airfare and hotel pricing is expected during the Games.

But those willing to wait out the Olympics could find big savings for flights to the host nation.

The Points Guy has featured deals from Atlanta, Dallas and Charlotte to Paris for as low as $515 from August through the fall.

Amsterdam, Prague, Spain and Iceland are among the most reasonably priced European destinations, as seen on Hopper.

Tips for booking summer travel

Don't forget to stay flexible with travel dates and keep midweek in mind for possibly lower fares.

There's also a time during the post-summer rush known as "shoulder season," between September and October, when fares could drop by as much as 30%.

When it comes to airfare purchase timing, the experts at The Points Guy have found prices dip eight to four weeks before the outbound flight, but after the one-month mark, prices will creep back up.

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Travel Expert Rick Steves' Top Tier Travel Tips

For decades, travel writer, activist, and TV/radio personality Rick Steves has carried his love of travel through homes all over the world. Having fallen in love with travel as a child, Steves' tenacity for the world is up there with that of the late, great Anthony Bourdain. In that time, Steves has doled out quite a few pieces of golden travel advice .

Some of these pieces of advice may seem obvious or simple, but often, those are the tried and true bits of learned experience. Making travel more efficient, easy-going, and simpler isn't always an action-packed endeavor, after all. Now, thanks to the beauty of the internet, a lot of things like booking tours in advance are easily done. Alas, some tasks like packing light take finesse and experience — and oftentimes a bunch of handy luggage cubes. Either way, here are our favorite travel tips from traveler extraordinaire Rick Steves.

This advice isn't unique to Rick Steves, though it is no less important — especially if you aren't a frequent traveler, the art of packing light is one that needs practice. If you're able to bring only a carry-on bag, you won't have to wait for your checked luggage, which means you can start your trip even sooner once you land.

"You'll never meet a traveler who, after five trips, brags, 'Every year, I pack heavier,'" Steves told Business Insider. "You can't travel heavy, happy, and cheap. Pick two." Steves' advice is even more prevalent if you go somewhere like many cities in Europe that are loaded with stairs around every corner. That's probably one of the myriad reasons why Steves' European tours only allow travelers to have a carry-on bag.

Also, if you pack light and leave room in your bag, it gives you some parameters for spending money at your destination. If you have a ton of room between a carry-on and a checked bag, you're more likely to overspend because you can. When you don't have a lot of luggage space, you don't have much choice unless you pay to ship it home.

Remember that time is money

Budget travelers often butt up against the notion that saving a few dollars might cost them more time than spending the money. That's why Rick Steves encourages you to consider how much your time is worth in those scenarios. "Shrink and tame big European cities by hopping into the occasional taxi or using a ride-sharing service," Steves explains. "By knowing when a private ride is the best way to get somewhere, you'll save time, money, and energy."

There are a lot of times when a $15, 10-minute cab ride will save you ample time compared to the few dollars you'd save by taking a train or bus for 45 minutes. It's important to acknowledge that the more time you spend trying to get places on your trip, the less time you can spend doing things you wanted to on your vacation. You can help offset that sticker shock by setting money aside ahead of your trip for unexpected travel fees.

Plan to avoid needless lines

Avoiding lines is a two-fold scenario. The easiest way to free up your excursion time is by reserving tickets or entry times online ahead of your visit to a place like The Louvre or the Vatican Museums. When these kinds of tourist-heavy locations suggest getting tickets ahead of time, they mean it. Even with those recommendations in mind, you may be surprised how few people actually buy their tickets ahead of time or make attendance reservations.

"It's not uncommon to find hour-or-more waits in ticket-buying lines and rooms packed shoulder-to-shoulder with visitors and intercontinental B.O," Rick Steves explains. "So it's up to smart tourists to do whatever is possible to minimize hassles and maximize their experience." Even if you purchase tickets ahead of time, you may have to wait in a short advanced reservations line, though it's nothing in comparison to the line of people who didn't buy ahead of time.

Try local accommodations over familiar chains

Opting for hostels or micro hotels isn't the only way to save money on accommodations when traveling. If you decide to stay somewhere local over a major hotel chain you're familiar with, you may save some money and get a better experience in the process. Non-American hotels outside of the United States are frequently more expensive than their local counterparts because a lot of American tourists would rather have familiarity than save money.

Going local over national is highly recommended by Rick Steves. "I look for places that are clean, central, relatively quiet at night, reasonably priced, friendly, small enough to have a hands-on owner and stable staff, run with a respect for local traditions, and not listed in other guidebooks," Steves says. "If I can find a place with, say, six of these eight criteria, it's a keeper." Staying in a place that is more connected to the local culture and community is going to give you a more genuine experience of that location anyway, so you're bound to leave with a deeper understanding of the place you've visited.

Look into less visited cities

There are cities that people wait their entire lives to visit, like Paris, London, or Rome. However, there are so many other cities in those countries that can showcase other sides of the place that could save you money and bumping elbows with millions of other tourists. Why not save some money seeing a gorgeous place like Oberammergau instead of just Berlin in Germany?

"One thing I would remind people of is that, a lot of times, second cities are a good idea," Steves argued to the Seattle Times. "Everybody goes to 'the first city' of Seattle. Why not check out Tacoma? Everybody goes to Lisbon, why not check out Porto? Everybody goes to Madrid; why not check out Cordoba?" Steves' point is that the larger cities aren't more worthy of a visit than smaller ones. These "second cities" aren't lesser than their larger counterparts; they're simply either smaller, less heavily populated, or less touristed than the others.

Prioritize what you need to see or do

Particularly if you are visiting a massive metropolis, you are not going to be able to see everything the city has to offer in a single trip. Even if you plan out every single second of every day (which you shouldn't do), you'll run yourself ragged before you visit every museum, site, or restaurant on your list. Once you accept that fact and prioritize what you absolutely need to see or do, you can enjoy the adventure without regret — so says Rick Steves.

"You can't see it all, especially in one trip, and that's a blessing," Steves told Business Insider. "Enjoy seeing what you can and be thankful you have important experiences left over to enjoy on your next adventure." When you free up time in your schedule, you open yourself up to the idea that you can come back. If a place truly captures your heart, having a list of things you want to return to do will make the pain of saying goodbye for now a little less painful. Plus, it'll encourage you to plan your next trip right away.

Embrace local cuisine

From dining where the locals eat to understanding seasonal cuisine in your destination, eating well in any given destination takes several factors into consideration. One way to do that is by visiting restaurants that don't translate the menu back to English, meaning they don't specifically cater to mostly tourists. Another way is to see what's on the menu itself beyond the text. Though specifically talking about Italy, Rick Steves' cuisine advice works on a larger travel scale as well.

"I always like to say a good traveler can go to a good restaurant and look at the menu and know where they are and what month it is by what's being served," Steves told Eater. "They will eat the local specialties and they will eat them in season." If a seasonal menu in Italy is full of root vegetables and tubers seasonally appropriate, you have a hint that the place will give you a more authentic experience.

When eating, make it a family affair

It can be difficult to decide what to eat when you're trying to sample as much local cuisine as possible. That can be difficult at a restaurant, especially if you don't eat a lot at meals or all at once. One workaround that Rick Steves suggests is eating family style and sharing food with your travel companion(s).

"Whenever possible, I order family style so I can eat my way through more of the menu," Steves told USA Today . "Sometimes, rather than getting two main courses, my travel partner and I share a little buffet of appetizers or first courses — they're filling, less expensive, and more typically local than entrees." This tapas style of eating might be uncouth in some circumstances, but who cares? If you and your travel companion share similar tastes, it only makes sense to try a little of a lot rather than attempt to eat through a ton of food on your own. Besides, it's also less wasteful since you aren't ordering more than you can eat.

Don't get distracted

This advice goes beyond not getting too distracted by your phone or social media-worthy photos to experience a place truly. This is about safety. Even some of the best-traveled people, like Rick Steves, are not immune to the occasional pickpocket. Whether successful or not, pickpockets target heavily touristed areas in part because of the constant chaos, crowd, and easily distracted travelers.

"Tourist attractions (especially ones that are free to see and are out in the open) and places for transportation tend to be targeted more," Steves told Inc. "Places like parks and national monuments, subways/metros or train stations, and even churches may be targets. Once, one person who was traveling in my group had her stuff stolen during Palm Sunday mass in Germany." Do yourself a favor, keep your phone close to your body, don't constantly look down, and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Allow room for spontaneity

Even for the most rigid travel planners, you need to give yourself a little room for joyful surprises. If you don't over-plan your entire trip, you won't be stressed out, and you'll have time for spontaneity — which could lead to your favorite memories of the adventure. That's why one of Rick Steves' biggest pieces of advice is to leave space in your trip open for the unexpected.

"If a serendipitous opportunity presents itself, the answer has always got to be 'yes,'" he stated to Travel+Leisure . "...[Overplanning] takes away some of the joy of travel, which is letting things unfold in an unpredictable way." Without planned breaks in your itinerary, you're closing yourself off from random happenstances that could completely change your life. Take this writer's advice on this one, having been forgotten by a tour company in Ireland. Instead of going back to the hotel, they hopped onto a different bus tour that offered their two available spots. That ended up being one of the best memories of that Ireland trip.

Travel on a Budget: 8 Money-Saving Tips from Finance Gurus & Travel Experts

If 2024 is the year you plan to check off some places on your travel bucket list, this post is for you.

Whether you want to see the orangutans in Borneo or climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower, learning how to travel on a budget means you can visit more places and get the most out of your travels.

So, we've asked five finance gurus and travel experts to share their top tips for traveling on a budget to help you book your next vacation without breaking the bank.

Book Last Minute

Booking a vacation months in advance has its perks; you can take your time finding the perfect hotel, you'll have more flexibility around flights, and you get longer to be excited about your trip!

The downside is you'll spend more. Holiday packages tend to cost more the further out you book because there's no urgent need to fill spots yet.

However, if you wait until 2-4 weeks before you plan to travel, you'll often find last-minute deals from providers trying to fill up those empty spots.

If you're going traveling and you're happy to take some risks, wait to book your flights and hotels until the last minute to save yourself a chunk of your budget.

"It can be nerve-wracking leaving your travel arrangements until just a few weeks before you plan to leave, but you can still do plenty of research in advance to get prepared. Set up price alerts on your phone so you can keep an eye on those last-minute deals." – Kelly Ann Duhigg from Girl with a Passport

Look For Alternative Accommodation

Popular hotels are easy to find on booking sites, which means they're also the most expensive option. If you're willing to try something a little different, look for local Airbnbs, house shares, and hostels to save serious cash while traveling.

"Staying with locals who host tourists or in local Airbnbs is a fantastic way to explore somewhere new, and you'll save money by avoiding the large hotels. Plus, you'll help support locals – win-win!" – Fiona Spinks from FollowingFiona

Don't forget to do your research when booking alternative accommodation. Make sure it has good reviews and you are totally sure about the hosts. Safety is the number one priority, especially if you're traveling solo.

Eat Like a Local

Any restaurants or cafes in the main tourist areas are notoriously expensive because vendors know tourists have no other options. Or do they?

If you take a stroll just a few streets from the main drag, you'll find plenty of local eateries frequented by locals. These are much cheaper, and the food is usually home-cooked and delicious.

Consider a Cruise

It's true that cruises aren't a budget-friendly form of travel on the face of it, but if you're planning a trip around the world, this could be a great option.

If you're savvy about sales, choose an inside cabin, and you're not too picky about where in the world you go, cruises can cost under $100 a person per day, which is an exceptionally cheap way to travel.

"Booking a cruise is an easy way to affordably see the world. Your accommodation, food, and entertainment are all included, and you'll get to visit some of the world's most popular destinations without worrying about hotels or transfers. " – Hannah Dorling from Love Cruise Ships

Use Local Transportation

Most tourists use taxis to sight-see, which are expensive and hard to get in popular cities. Instead, use the bus or train.

It can be daunting getting on public transport in an unfamiliar country, especially if you don't speak the language, but it's a rewarding experience and will save you some serious cash.

Find Travel Coupons

Plenty of travel sites have discount codes that not many people know about. A quick Google search before you commit to a deal could save you up to 40% off the normal price.

"There are so many websites with hidden coupon codes, you just need to be willing to find them. Most last-minute booking sites have discounts, but you might also find them for the large airlines and hotels." – Yiannis Zourmpanos from Bountii

You can also sign up for free email alerts from Google Flights, Scott's Cheap Flights, or Airfarewatchdog to get last-minute deals and discount codes. This will help you get a great deal and set a good point of reference for your travel costs.

Go For Free Activities

It's easy to get sucked into paid excursions while you're traveling, but some of the best experiences you'll have are totally free. From hiking and nature walks to wandering around the most iconic museums in the world, you don't need to spend money to have fun while traveling.

You can even turn this into a challenge – see how much you can do in a day without spending any money, or set yourself a low limit for food only and don't go over it. You'll be surprised how much fun you can have on travels when money is out of the equation.

Start a Travel Fund

No matter how much money you save on your trip, traveling is never free, so it's time to start factoring it into your budget.

Set up a separate savings account for travel, and aim to put a set amount away each month. When you treat your vacations like a necessary expense, you'll find it easier to save up.

"The easiest way to stock your travel fund is by making extra cash. Whether you go for a side hustle or investment strategy like day trading, it's incredibly rewarding to watch your savings account grow for your next trip." – Steven Kibbel from Day Tradingz

Enjoy Your Trip!

Contrary to popular belief, traveling doesn't have to cost a fortune. With some savvy planning and clever money-saving tips, you can check off your bucket list on a tight budget.

The key is flexibility. The more you're willing to stray from the beaten path and travel outside of the norm, the more money you stand to save.

This article originally appeared on TheRoamWild and was syndicated by MediaFeed.

Where to fly on a budget this summer

Airfare experts share their forecasts for summer vacation destinations that won’t break your budget.

This summer is shaping up to be another scorcher , and the demand for summer travel is piping hot, too. If early 2024 trends are any indication of what’s to come, “it’s looking to be busier than 2023,” said Katy Nastro, spokesperson for the flight booking site Going . Recent airport passenger volume numbers have regularly exceeded last year and pre-pandemic levels.

Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com , says airline capacity has rebounded from pandemic complications, but strong travel demand means summer flight prices can be high, depending on when you’re hoping to go. Flying in June, July or early August will be more expensive than later in the season, according to the company’s summer forecast .

“And it’s not just the airfare,” Klee said in an email. “Expensive hotel rates and crowds everywhere make Western Europe tricky for the summer.”

Despite the price tag, “people are going to go,” said Melanie Fish, the head of global public relations for all Expedia Brands, including Vrbo, Expedia and Hotels.com . “When we look at searches for destinations, they are definitely up year over year.”

For popular destinations like Europe , Klee and Fish say to push trips later into August, September or even October. Not only will prices soften, but you’ll alleviate some of the strain of overtourism .

“My number one tip is go ahead and take that summer vacation, but maybe hold on to take that big, big trip in September,” Fish said.

According to Expedia’s summer 2024 travel outlook , we’re currently in the sweet spot for shopping for early summer flights at the best rates, as Fish says lower fares tend to pop up 21 to 60 days out. It doesn’t hurt to start your search even earlier, setting up price alerts to flag when airfare drops. If you can swing it, look to fly on a Monday for international trips or a Tuesday for domestic trips to save up to 15 percent on fares, Fish added.

It’s not impossible to find good deals on airfare, whether you’re looking for a tropical beach trip , a mountain adventure or a vibrant city. Here are places that are trending cheaper — and the destinations you’ll want to avoid.

Go to Mexico

Sun, surf, culture, chilaquiles — Mexico is always a good idea , but particularly so this summer. With the opening of the new airport in Tulum , U.S. airlines have been adding gobs of new flights to Mexico, particularly to beach regions. “We’ve seen a healthy amount of deals down to Mexico resort areas like Cancún,” Nastro said.

Laura Lindsay, global travel trends expert at Skyscanner , says three Mexican cities — Cancún, San José del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta — are among the top 10 destinations offering travelers the best bang for their buck in 2024.

To escape the summer heat, Phyllis Stoller, president of the Women’s Travel Group , recommends high-altitude destinations like Mexico City or Ixtapan de la Sal, a town near Mexico City with thermal springs.

Avoid European port cities

If you’re considering a visit to a popular European city that’s also a cruise hub, beware. Not only will you be battling the usual summer crowds, you’ll be joined by thousands of day-trippers flooding into the ports — meaning Barcelona, Venice , Athens and Santorini.

Sandra Weinacht, who co-owns the tour company Inside Europe Travel Experiences , says you can avoid some of the madness in these hot spots by staying in neighborhoods away from the typical tourist zones. You can also visit top sites in the late afternoon or evening, after cruise travelers have returned to their ships.

Better yet, wait to visit until the shoulder season

Go to Colorado

Epic hiking, breathtaking nature and more craft beer than you could ever try in a lifetime: The Centennial State is a domestic gem. Ashlee Collins of Inspirato , a luxury travel and lifestyle subscription service, says Vail is popular among members this summer. Not only is the ski resort beautiful sans snow, it’s drivable for many, cutting a significant cost for travelers.

Airfare to Colorado is looking more reasonable than other domestic vacation hubs. Nastro recently spotted a Miami-to-Denver, round-trip fare over the July Fourth holiday for just $199. She says an average round trip from major U.S. cities is running between $173 and $250, but those prices are expected to climb upward of $350 the closer we get to summer.

Avoid places at risk for wildfires

Wildfires have become an unfortunate fixture of summers in the Northern Hemisphere. Last year’s fires in Europe — including those in Cyprus and Greece — were among the worst so far this century, the European Commission reported .

Stoller says fire risk has been a factor in her summer travel planning; she nixed a New England cruise after remembering how bad smoke was last year because of the fires in Canada . “None of us can predict everything, but that would be something I would be aware of,” she said.

Extreme heat is also an issue. Last July, Southern Europe experienced excessively high temperatures from a “heat dome.”

“There’s a concern about heat,” Stoller said. “Last summer was really painful.”

Go to the Caribbean

The Caribbean has its peak tourist season during the winter, when Americans flock to warmer waters. That means summer trips to the region tend to be quieter and cheaper.

“You can go under $300 to pretty much all of the islands: Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Aruba, Dominican Republic,” said Lindsay Schwimer, a consumer travel expert at Hopper . She’s seen similar price point flights to Colombia.

Lindsay of Skyscanner also said Puerto Rico and the Bahamas offer some of the most affordable flights from the United States this summer.

Avoid Paris

Unless you’re going for the Olympics , skip the French capital this summer.

“Paris is always a top destination in the summer, but this summer … it’s going to be on another level,” said Madison Pietrowski, head of U.S. brand at GetYourGuide .

Not only are hotel prices high, “we’re seeing that some of the top attractions like the Louvre have raised their ticket prices,” Pietrowski said.

Nastro says the crowds are going to be “bananas” during the Games, and not just in Paris. Olympic travelers are likely to add on other French destinations to their trip, like Nice — which will host soccer games — or the Côte d’Azur, which already gets popular in the summertime.

Even if you try to get ahead of the rush by visiting before the July 26 start date, you may still have some Olympics-related headaches in the French capital. As the city races to finish prep, “you might find that there’s going to be eyesores and scaffolding and loud noises early in the morning,” Nastro said.

Go to rural Europe

Interest in Western Europe has not slowed down, and Americans are expected to surge back en masse this summer. If you’d like to avoid them, put rural European destinations on your radar.

Weinacht is bullish on Spain’s Rioja region , the Basque countryside and the central Italian region of Umbria, which borders Tuscany but does not see the same levels of tourism. She’s also a fan of Carinthia, the least-populated state of Austria. “It is castle- and lake-dotted, doesn’t get too hot, and oh, the food and stories the cities and villages can tell,” Weinacht said in an email.

Weinacht says she’s been getting more requests from Americans for trips to her homeland, Germany. The country is easy to navigate with its high-speed trains, and offers a mix of small and big cities spread across powerhouse wine regions, UNESCO World Heritage sites and many food festivals . According to Skyscanner, airlines in the United States have been increasing their flights to Germany — namely, Frankfurt, an international business hub — meaning you may be able to find more deals.

Avoid Sicily and Amalfi

If your dream Italian destination has been featured on TV lately, that’s a red flag. The last season of “The White Lotus” spurred an interest in already popular Sicily ; the same is happening to the Amalfi Coast thanks to the new Netflix miniseries “Ripley.”

“They’re really going to be the most expensive and they’re going to be pretty crowded for the summer,” Schwimer said.

Where to go

Our favorite destinations: These 12 destinations are at the top of our wish list for where to go this year, without crowds. In 2023, we explored an Alaskan bear paradise, Brooklyn’s famous pizzerias and a hidden gem in Italy, among other highlights .

Travel like a local: Residents share their favorite places in our top city guides: New Orleans , Rome , Tokyo and Mexico City .

National parks: This comprehensive guide has details on all 63 U.S. national parks. For a deep dive into five of the most well-known, you can listen to the Field Trip podcast . Then explore tips from locals for visiting Yosemite , Glacier and Everglades .

Tales from the road: Dolly Parton has opened a new resort at her theme park complex in Tennessee, while “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have a new hotel in Waco . Road-trippers may be just as excited to see the cartoon beaver at Buc-ee’s , and bargain-hunters should consider a stop at the Unclaimed Baggage store in Scottsboro, Ala.

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North Carolina

10 Best Mountain Towns to Visit in North Carolina, According to Local Experts

From Highlands to Boone, these are the best mountain towns in North Carolina.

It only takes one trip to Western North Carolina to grasp the magnitude of its appeal. Home to several subranges of the Appalachian Mountains, most notably the Smokies, this region of the Tar Heel State brims with natural beauty all year round. A combination of spectacular peaks, bubbling creeks, vividly colored wildflowers, and acres of towering pine, oak, poplar, and maple trees, the mountainous landscape has an almost spiritual quality, one that people have been drawn to for thousands of years. This powerful allure eventually led to the creation of various mountain towns — from Highlands in the south up to Brevard, Waynesville, and Banner Elk.

“North Carolina’s westernmost mountain towns are where mountains and Main Streets meet,” Steven Reinhold, the adventure team leader at Cataloochee Ranch , tells Travel + Leisure . “[They] embody an environment where folks can escape their day, even for just a moment, to watch the trees sway in the breeze all within view of the Great Smokies .” For Paige Tillung, hotel manager at Half-Mile Farm , there’s also “the beauty of four very distinct seasons,” as well as the convenience of location. Most of the state’s mountain towns are within driving distance of a major airport — either Asheville Regional Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, or Piedmont Triad International Airport outside Greensboro.

If the only thing stopping you from planning a trip is deciding where to go, this expert-curated list should help. Read on to discover the best mountain towns in North Carolina.

“Brevard is located in the heart of the ‘land of waterfalls’ and [it’s] mountain biking’s East Coast mecca,” says Reinhold. “Trailheads are interwoven around town, giving visitors quick access to the Pisgah National Forest, Dupont State Forest, and Gorges State Park.” While your trip should have plenty of outdoor adventure, make sure to leave time to explore Brevard’s art scene. If you’re in town in the summer, try to time your visit with an open-air show at Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium at Brevard Music Center ; otherwise, a stroll through the downtown art galleries and artisan boutiques is a must in any season.

Named T+L’s Best Small Mountain Town in 2023 , Highlands has all of the necessary characteristics and features for a picture-perfect getaway. It has “the charm of a small mountain town with all the luxury needed for a great vacation,” says Tillung; plus, she adds, there are “some of the best trails in the world,” and “the food and culture are the best you can find in the South.” Start your trip by checking into any one of the top-rated hotels in town: Old Edwards Inn & Spa , Half-Mile Farm, Highlander Mountain House , Skyline Lodge , or the recently opened Outpost Inn . Then, spend a couple of hours along Main Street, making sure to stop in Mountain Fresh Grocery for a quick breakfast or lunch. Other can’t-miss points of interest include the area’s many waterfalls and The Bascom , which hosts art exhibitions, lectures, and various classes and workshops.

Just 10 minutes down the road from Highlands sits Cashiers, a mountain town best known for stunning scenery; golfing, fly fishing, hiking, and antique shopping opportunities; and High Hampton , a much-loved luxury resort that underwent a modern redesign in 2021. Those staying at the resort may be tempted to stay on property the entire time — the Adirondack chairs and lawn beds are rather comfortable — but they’d be remiss to not explore other aspects of the tiny town. Family-owned and operated Cashiers Farmers Market , for instance, is an excellent choice for a barbecue lunch, and you’re bound to purchase something special at Vivianne Metzger Antiques , The Village Hound , or Zoller Hardware Gift & Gadget Mercantile .

Waynesville

According to Reinhold, Waynesville is the “crown jewel of mountain towns,” thanks, in part, to the destination’s prime location by Great Smoky Mountains National Park . To get your heart racing, he recommends “an unforgettable adventure” (think forest bathing or overnight backpacking) with The Appalachian Adventure Company . If you prefer to stay closer to town, browse the art galleries and antique stores along Main Street, and follow that up with a beer at Boojum Brewing Company or a coffee from Smoky Mountain Coffee Roasters . Come nightfall, there’s nowhere more luxurious to get some shuteye than The Swag , one of the best all-inclusive resorts in the South .

There’s a lot more to Boone than Appalachian State University, although cheering on the Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium is certainly a must-do activity in this college town. Families with younger travelers will embark on hours of entertainment at the famous Tweetsie Railroad , with its themed train rides and live shows, and Daniel Boone Park , where the Hickory Ridge History Museum showcases what mountain life was like in the late 1700s and early 1800s. In the summer months, cool off by floating down the New River with Wahoo’s Adventures , or find a swimming hole along Crab Orchard Falls Trail. For accommodations in Boone, you have a few choices — ranging from hotels to vacation rentals — but you can’t go wrong with Rhode’s Motor Lodge , a boutique property that opened in the fall of 2023.

Like many North Carolina mountain towns, Sylva (population: 2,623) is known for its breweries, art galleries, culinary hotspots, and proximity to hiking trails. “My favorite hike in the area is Pinnacle Park , which is home to North Carolina’s only certified forest therapy trail,” says Reinhold. Here, you’ll grab a brochure at the trailhead, then enjoy a relaxing, self-guided walk in nature. With a newfound appreciation of your surroundings, make your way to Main Street, which he says “has a seemingly infinite selection of dining options, notably Ilda , Meatballs Pizzeria , and recent James Beard [nominee] Dalaya Thai .”

Hot Springs

George Rose/Getty Images

“I believe Hot Springs might just be the hippest town in Appalachia,” says Reinhold. “The Appalachian Trail passes right through the town — utilizing one of the sidewalks on Main Street — and its throngs of thru-hikers have left their mark on this tiny town.” To prepare for hiking, mountain biking, rafting, or llama trekking in the area, or to pick up any gear you may have forgotten, pop into Bluff Mountain Outfitters . After a long day outside, refuel with pizza at Vinyl Pies , baked goods from Artisun , or a taco and beer from Grey Eagle Taqueria and Big Pillow Brewery . As the name suggests, Hot Springs is also known for its geothermal waters; visitors can head to either Broadwing Farm or Hot Springs Resort & Spa for a rejuvenating soak during their travels.

Bryson City

The title of “Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Great Smoky Mountains” goes to Bryson City, North Carolina. While small — only about 1,500 residents call it home — this is a town that goes above and beyond when it comes to mountain charm. To start planning your trip to Bryson City, book a room at the Fryemont Inn or The Everett Hotel , then begin to plot out your ideal itinerary. If you’re visiting in the summer, you’ll want to hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, and then spend a day on the water, whether you’re white-water rafting on the Nantahala River or taking a paddleboard out on Fontana Lake.

When visiting Banner Elk, Tillung says you’ll find “small mountain town life [paired] with big luxury dreams and ideas,” as well as a “growing food scene, great golf courses,” and several places to “reconnect with nature.” In the winter, Banner Elk is particularly popular, as it’s located between two large ski resorts: Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain. Year round, travelers can ride the Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster , cozy up at The Lodge at River Run , or walk along the town’s Greenway Trail System. Dining options include Artisanal , Stonewalls Restaurant , and the Banner Elk Cafe & Lodge — although be sure to check each restaurant’s website for seasonal closures.

Little Switzerland

There are few North Carolina mountain towns as unique as Little Switzerland, a seasonally open, Swiss-inspired destination on the Blue Ridge Parkway . You’ll need to plan your trip in the warmer months, anytime from mid-April through early October, to get the full Little Switzerland experience, which includes a stay at the historic Switzerland Inn , a visit to the North Carolina Mining Museum , a stop into Little Switzerland Books and Beans , and a night of live music and dancing at Geneva Hall . Just be sure to leave a moment, whether it’s closer to sunrise or sunset, to take in the spectacular views granted by the town’s elevation of nearly 3,500 feet.

Protect Your Trip »

The 9 best airline-approved pet carriers of 2024 + tips from experts.

Find the purr-fect travel carrier for your favorite furry travel companion.

The Best Airline-Approved Pet Carriers

A dog in a red pet carrier with its owner standing beside it.

Courtesy of Sleepypod

Flying with your pet requires its share of homework. Regulations on bringing your pooch or feline aboard an airplane include providing updated paperwork as well as picking a pet carrier that adheres to baggage requirements and size restrictions . (For other things to consider when flying with a pet and advice from animal experts, jump to the tips section .)

If you plan to bring your cat or dog with you on your next flight but aren't sure which pet carrier is best – or allowed – U.S. News is here to help. Start with this list of the top airline-approved pet carriers for your jet-setting four-legged friends.

Best Overall: Henkelion Pet Carrier – Medium

Jump to features and traveler insights ↓

Best Overall, Runner-up: Sherpa Original Deluxe Pet Carrier – Medium

Best expandable: petsfit expandable pet carrier – medium, best convertible: natuvalle 6-in-1 pet carrier – small.

Best Pet Carrier Backpack: PetAmi Backpack Pet Carrier

Best Luxury: Away The Pet Carrier

Best compressible: sleepypod air, best for dogs in cargo: sportpet rolling plastic kennel.

Best for Cats in Cargo: Petmate 2-Door Kennel

(Note: Prices were accurate at the time of publication; they may fluctuate due to demand or other factors.)

What sets this carrier apart: Designed with airline approval in mind, the medium size of this traveler-favorite carrier accommodates cats or small dogs with its spacious interior. Mesh panels zip open on three sides of the carrier as well as the top, ensuring a well-ventilated bag. The outer material is a lightweight and durable polyester. A removable, machine-washable woolen mat makes the interior comfy for your pet; there's also a safety leash you can use to secure your pet inside.

You can use the connectable loop handles and padded shoulder strap for easy carrying, and this carrier bag folds up when you're ready to store it away. The Henkelion Pet Carrier even comes in several fun colors, such as purple or green.

Travelers appreciate: "I have used the Henkelion soft-sided carrier many times," says Robbie Parker of travel blog Expat in Paradise , who travels with his small dogs. "These are great carriers as they are hardy for travel, collapse for storage, and fit perfectly under the seat for in cabin travel. Also, I like that they have one side that is mesh and the other side is solid with a pocket. You can face solid side toward the aisle so people walking around the plane don't upset your dog." He adds, "Overall, I would recommend it for in-cabin plane travel."

Frequent traveler and luxury travel advisor Ashley Les, founder of Postcards From , also appreciates that the design puts her cats at ease when flying. "I find that with more mesh, cats are exposed to more light and sight – it gets them more anxious," she says, adding: "There are multiple ways to get my cats in the carriers, from the sides or above, as well. I love that you can take out the bottom to wash it separately."

Price: $28.99 or less for medium

Sherpa's Original Deluxe Pet Carrier – Medium in black against white background.

Courtesy of Sherpa

What sets this carrier apart: Beyond a patented, crash-tested flexible wire frame that keeps your little buddy safe, Sherpa provides a Guaranteed on Board program that offers a refund for your flight and airline pet fee if you're denied boarding because of the small or medium sizes of this carrier. This mesh and polyester bag is an industry standard with good airflow. The front and top entries have locking zippers, and this collapsible carrier also features a removable (and machine-washable) faux-lambskin liner, a rear pocket for storage, and a seat belt safety strap that doubles as a luggage strap.

Travelers appreciate: This Sherpa carrier is renowned for its reliable functionality and amazing value. Recent travelers say the medium carrier fits well under the seat and keeps their pet comfortable in transit.

Price: $70 or less for medium

What sets this carrier apart: This Petsfit carrier's medium size adheres to most airline requirements (as does the small carrier). One of the mesh windows can be unzipped to form an extra compartment, expanding the carrier by 9.4 inches for an extended width of 20.4 inches. This product is a great option if you need a carrier for air travel but still want your pet to enjoy a bit more space to stretch out when not tucked under the airplane seat.

The sturdy solid wire construction ensures the bag won't collapse but is flexible enough to tuck into a small space, though you may need to remove the rods on either side if the carrier is too tall to fit easily underneath. There's a side pocket for storage, double zippers and a water-repellent inner cloth.

Travelers appreciate: "The Petsfit carrier was flexible enough to squeeze under most airplane seats, but still was sturdy enough to hold," says Alexandra Lauren of the travel blog The Bucket List Mermaid , who has used this carrier to fly with her cat. "My kitty could look around the airport with the built-in leash in the carrier. The expandable portion was an added bonus because it allowed for more room for my pet when on long layovers or when I had an empty seat on the airplane." Lauren also recommends Petsfit's expandable backpack-style carrier for a hands-free option.

Price: $56.99 or less for medium

Natuvalle 6-in-1 Pet Carrier – Small in blue against white background.

Courtesy of Natuvalle

What sets this carrier apart: For travelers seeking versatility, this Natuvalle cat or dog carrier can be used like a backpack, shoulder bag, tote with carrying handles or even – if worn on your front – a baby carrier. This convertible choice can also be used as a car seat crate with built-in seat belt loops, and you have the option of using it either in the upright or side position. Other features include zipper locks, mesh panels, reinforced stitching, two walk-through doors and a photo ID tag. The carrier is foldable and has reflective stripes for night travel. While there are medium and large size options, the extra-small and small sizes are your best bet when it comes to fitting under an airplane seat.

Travelers appreciate: Pet owners like the versatility of this bag; some travelers say the carrier fits best under the seat when on its side, as the upright position can be too tall.

Price: $119.90 or less for small

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Best Backpack: PetAmi Backpack Pet Carrier

The PetAmi Backpack Pet Carrier in black against white background.

Courtesy of PetAmi

What sets this carrier apart: Go hands-free with this PetAmi backpack-style carrier. A sturdy frame maintains its shape while you traipse through airport terminals, with chest and waist buckles for extra support. Four-sided access makes loading easy, and a rollaway mesh top means your furry friend can stick their head out the top when you're not in the air. The safety strap and buckle are designed to thwart even great escape artists, and a sherpa-lined bed entices fur babies to relax. The backpack carrier color options include red and purple.

Travelers appreciate: Pet owners like the easy carrying this style provides, though they advise that you'll need to store this bag on its side in the plane cabin, and it won't fit on every airline.

Price: $39.99 or less

Away's The Pet Carrier in light blue against white background.

Courtesy of Away

What sets this carrier apart: It's a splurge, but this cat and dog carrier is made by Away, a popular luggage brand known for its sleek design and functionality. The same applies to this nylon and leather tote, which comes in black or a coast blue. The water-resistant lining is paired with sherpa bedding and exterior pockets that can hold a phone, keys or waste bags. If you already have an Away suitcase, this carrier will fit seamlessly over the handle with its trolley sleeve.

Travelers appreciate: Pet owners who travel with this bag like that it's roomy, saying their pets seem comfortable inside. This carrier fits pets up to 18 pounds but is a bit on the larger side of an airline-approved carry-on, so be sure to research your airline's policies before taking it aboard.

Price: $225 or less

Dog inside a blue Sleepypod Air against white background.

What sets this carrier apart: The Sleepypod Air is designed to compress to fit under the seat during takeoff and landing; when the seat belt sign is off, your pet can enjoy slightly more room (but be aware that it doesn't hold its reduced size in a freestanding position, only when tucked into a small space). This unique carrier employs sturdy luggage-grade ballistic nylon for its base, with a panel of mesh running along the front, top and back. A removable privacy panel can be slid over part of the mesh. Available in multiple colors, this crash-tested model also has a seat belt strap, a trolley sleeve and a comfortable shoulder strap for carrying it.

Travelers appreciate: Users like the carrier's many features and say it's a good option especially for larger cats traveling by air, but some pet owners felt there was not enough airflow (especially with the privacy panel) for longer flights.

Price: $199.99 or less

What sets this carrier apart: Any furry friends larger than about 20 pounds will likely have to travel in the cargo hold if they're not a service animal. You'll want a very sturdy dog crate for the journey that meets every regulation, and SportPet's kennel passes the test for many travelers. This carrier meets International Air Transport Association guidelines with two snap-on water dishes and four stickers that indicate a live animal is inside; a "floor gutter" contains messes for easy cleanup. The durable plastic frame is connected with metal nuts and bolts and features airline-required tie holes for bungees.

This travel crate comes in six sizes, from small up to XXX-large, so be sure to determine the right size for your pet. A cushioned bed is not included and costs extra. For more information on pets traveling in cargo, consult the FAQ section at the bottom of this page.

Travelers appreciate: Pet owners like the sturdy construction and the compliance with airline regulations, but the traveler-favorite feature is the removable wheels, which are included with the carrier (except with size small).

Price: Ranges by size from $76 to $385

Best for Cats in Cargo: Petmate Two-Door Kennel

Petmate's Two-Door Kennel in pink against white background.

Courtesy of Petmate

What sets this carrier apart: This option made of hard plastic and steel wire is tough enough to protect your cargo-contained cat, according to recent travelers. (Keep in mind that airlines do not recommend hard-sided carriers for in-cabin travel, and this kennel is too large to fit under airline seats.) The two front and top doors assist with entering and exiting, and color options like hot pink or blue will make this kennel easy to spot. The carrier comes in small (24-inch) and extra-small (19-inch) sizes, so choose accordingly based on the measurements of your cat. As with most hard-sided crates, you will have to purchase a plush bed separately.

Travelers appreciate: "I haven't traveled by air with this carrier, but I've owned it for years and really appreciate how sturdy it is," says Catriona Kendall, associate editor of travel at U.S. News. "The assembly of the carrier is straightforward, and my cats feel safe enough to hang out in it at home."

Price: $66.99 or less for 24-inch

How to choose the best pet carrier

There are a few major points to consider when choosing a carrier that will serve as your pet's safe space during a flight:

Size: Selecting the right carrier size for your pet is essential not only for your pets' comfort but also for their safety, according to Sara Hogan, hospital manager at Clarendon Animal Care in Virginia. "Please ensure the measurements for your carrier meet a standard that allows for your pet to comfortably turn around AND lay down," she says. But be aware that if the carrier is too large for your furry friend, they could end up injured in transit. The best way to determine the right size is to take measurements of your pet; to be as precise as possible, use the IATA's formula .

Keep in mind that only carriers able to fit under the seat in front of you are allowed in the plane cabin – a space that will vary by airline. Consult the next section on airline policies for more information.

Airflow: Don't underestimate the importance of adequate airflow. "Carriers and crates really need to have proper ventilation for short or long-term travel," Hogan says. "There IS a difference between taking your pet down the street to a friend's house or the vet and taking your pet on a trip with any sort of additional time involved."

Stability: Check the quality of all the zippers and materials − you want this to be an escape-proof carrier, and any malfunction can put your pet at risk. "If something has previously broken or fallen off the carrier or crate look to replace the piece or the entire crate/carrier," Hogan advises.

Soft-sided vs. hard-sided: If your pet is small enough to fly in the cabin, most airlines highly recommend a soft-sided carrier, which gives the most flexibility. Airlines are often slightly more lenient with the dimensions for soft-sided carriers in the cabin as long as they are able to fit underneath the seat without blocking the aisle of the airplane. Another bonus: Soft pet carriers often come with removable fleece bedding for extra comfort.

Note: Crates and carriers destined for the cargo hold of the plane must be hard-sided. Find more details on carrier specifications for the cargo hold in the FAQ section at the bottom of this page.

Airline pet carrier dimensions

Each airline sets its own specifications and safety rules for pets in the plane cabin with you, so be sure to check with your intended airline for dimension limits, breed restrictions and other guidelines. Be aware, too, that most major airlines based in the U.S. do not offer an option to transport animals in cargo.

Use the links below to find more information on the specific pet policies for the following U.S.-based airlines. Each airline's size limit for soft-sided pet carriers in the cabin is also listed, with dimensions given in length by width by height.

Alaska Airlines : 17 x 11 x 9.5 inches
Allegiant Air : 19 x 16 x 9 inches
American Airlines : 18 x 11 x 11 inches
Delta Air Lines : 18 x 11 x 11 inches
Frontier Airlines : 18 x 14 x 8 inches
Hawaiian Airlines : 16 x 10 x 9.5 inches
JetBlue : 17 x 12.5 x 8.5 inches
Southwest Airlines : 18.5 x 13.5 x 9.5 inches
Spirit Airlines : 18 x 14 x 9 inches
Sun Country Airlines : 16 x 10 x 8 inches
United Airlines : 18 x 11 x 11 inches

How to prepare to fly with a pet

Help your pet acclimate.

When preparing to travel with your furry companion, planning ahead is key, especially if your pet isn't used to being confined in a crate or carrier. "I recommend buying the carrier as far in advance of travel as possible to allow your dog to become comfortable relaxing in the carrier in a familiar home environment before traveling," says Amanda Farah, CPDT-KA, national training and behavior coordinator for Best Friends Animal Society.

Some pets are sensitive to loud noises, so one way to prepare them for the journey is by playing recordings of sounds they might encounter in transit, Farah says. "I'd say a good general rule is that because so much of what they encounter during air travel will be new and potentially stressful, you should familiarize them to many factors as possible in the weeks or even months leading up to travel."

Book your travel far in advance

Keep in mind that airlines limit the number of pets allowed on a flight, so book early and try to secure a direct flight to cut down on travel time.

Familiarize yourself with your departure airport

Before you set off on your journey, familiarize yourself with the airport you're departing from – such as where to find a pet relief area – and how to go through security with a pet in tow. For example, you must never place your pet on the security conveyor belt (only the empty carrier goes through the X-ray tunnel).

Research your destination

This is a crucial step. Some countries will not allow pets in at all, while other destinations (such as Hawaii) may have strict rules about rabies vaccines or require all animals to travel in cargo. Christine Barton, a veterinarian with The Vets , recommends checking the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website to learn about requirements for health certificates, vaccines and more.

Other considerations will depend on what type of vacation you're planning; if it involves hiking or camping with your dog, Barton suggests checking the expected weather, making a small emergency kit for you and your pet, and considering a GPS tracker for remote areas. Wherever you're headed, locate the closest emergency animal hospital just in case and make sure to book pet-friendly accommodations .

Consult your vet

Once you've done your research, your veterinarian can help ensure your pet has everything you both need to travel, such as microchipping, required or recommended vaccines (and proof of them), testing, and health records, Barton says. A vet can also address any health concerns. "Doctors can discuss risks, precautions, and things to monitor while traveling," Barton explains, adding that you should make sure your pet is up to date on needed preventive medications, such as treatment for fleas or heartworm.

If your furry friend struggles with anxiety, your vet can prescribe them a medication to make the journey less stressful for both of you. "Talk to your veterinarian before administering any sort of medication to your pet, but definitely consider it for future travel," Hogan says.

Frequently Asked Questions

A carrier being "airline-approved" typically means it adheres to the airline's size requirements, is leakproof, provides adequate airflow and keeps your pet securely inside.

You can find a pet carrier on wheels, such as the Snoozer 4-in-1 Roll Around Pet Carrier or the SportPet Rolling Plastic Kennel , but keep in mind that most wheeled pet carriers are too large to fit under the seat on most airlines, even with detachable wheels. Wheeled options can make your furry friend easier for you to transport, but they also tend to make for a bumpy ride for your pet, so consider carefully whether a carrier on wheels is right for your cat or dog, especially if they're easily frightened.

Most major airlines in the U.S. do not allow pets to travel in cargo; some, like American Airlines, only offer this service for active military or diplomatic personnel. Of the major U.S. airlines, only Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines currently accept animals in the cargo hold, so keep that in mind if you have a medium or large dog – or if your intended destination does not welcome in-cabin pets.

Most animals who fly in the cargo hold are fine, but there's still a risk of your pet being killed, injured or lost, according to the Humane Society of the United States. The most common dangers are excessively hot or cold temperatures, poorly ventilated crates, and rough handling. Be sure to follow all IATA guidelines for cargo crates to ensure your pet's safety. Before you book a flight, you may also want to research the airline's history with companion animals in the cargo hold.

The kennel you choose for cargo travel must allow your pet enough room to stand, sit upright, turn around while standing and lie in a natural position, according to the IATA. Carriers must made of rigid materials and include a solid roof, a leakproof base, a door with well-maintained hardware, working handles and ventilation on all four sides. Labels that say "Live Animal" and "This Way Up" are also required by the IATA.

A water dish must be securely affixed to the inside of the carrier, with open access for your pet to drink and for someone to refill it from the outside without opening the crate. A food container can either be inside the carrier if it's sealed or attached to the outside.

A pet carrier usually counts as either a personal item or a carry-on. Depending on the airline policy, you may be able to bring either a personal item or a carry-on bag (not both) in addition to your carrier. Check your airline's carry-on luggage allowance and pet policy to see what you can bring.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture requires puppies and kittens to be at least 8 weeks old to travel, but airlines may impose their own age restrictions on top of that. On Delta, for example, companion animals must be at least 10 weeks old for domestic flights. United Airlines says your pet should be at least 4 months old for international travel to comply with rabies vaccine requirements.

Your furry friend will incur certain fees for flying, but the cost will vary by airline. American Airlines, as an example, charges a $125 service fee for a carry-on pet, while Allegiant's fee is $50. Cargo fees may depend on trip details: Hawaiian Airlines charges $60 in fees for domestic flights and $225 for flights between Hawaii and North America, while the cargo fee on Alaska Airlines is $100. Service animals typically fly at no charge as long as they meet the airline's requirements.

It depends on your pet, according to Hogan. "If they're quite anxious you may want to offer food with a bit more advanced time prior to the flight to avoid vomiting in the carrier or on themselves, however, not too much time where they'll be hungry throughout the travel day," she advises. "Water is important to offer as often as possible in any setting. Access to using the bathroom more than once prior to travel is also advised so as not to miss an opportunity for output!"

Conveniently, some airports may have pet relief areas your dog can use either before or after you go through security, but that's something you'll have to research beforehand.

No. Unless your pet is a service animal of a certain size, airlines typically require pets in the cabin to be secured in their carrier and stowed under the seat in front of you.

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Catriona Kendall is a frequent traveler and longtime cat owner who knows the importance of a sturdy and secure pet carrier. Her cats haven't managed to damage or escape from the Henkelion and Petmate carriers she's owned for years (despite their best efforts). She also recommends this pop-up Pet Fit for Life carrier for road trips. Kendall compiled this list of airline-compliant carriers using her experience as a pet owner, advice from animal experts and extensive research.

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27 Travel Experts Share Their Best Travel Tips

27 Best Travel Hacks and Tips from Travel Experts

1. Start a Travel Savings Fund

2. Use a Digital SIM Card

3. Apply for a Travel Credit Card

4. Use the Wise Mobile Banking App

5. Purchase Travel Insurance

6. Create a Packing List

Download the International Travel Planner

Check out the Domestic Travel Planner

7. Choose the Right Size of Backpack

8. Pack Solid Toiletries

9. Travel with Carry-On Luggage Only

10. Pack a Travel First Aid Kit

11. Keep a Digital Copy of Documents

12. Use a Water Filter Bottle

13. Bring a Wheeled Cooler on Road Trips

14. Check Hotel Room Amenities Before Packing

15. Find FREE Campsites

16. Travel as the Locals Do and Save Money

17. Access Airport Lounges

18. Practice Self-Care to Reduce Stress While Traveling

19. Learn Basic Phrases

20. Work with a Travel Agent

21. Research Your Destination

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