10 Travel Tips You Need To Know
It has now been just over a year since I got rid of my apartment, car and most material possessions. Since April 2022, I have been fully nomadic while spending 1-2 months in different locations such as Istanbul, Venice, Lisbon and so on. During this time I have learned a lot about travel and in this blog I want to share 10 lessons that will improve your next trip, make things go smoother and reduce the chance of things going south.
Have a travel day
I totally understand the desire to combine travel days with exploring days. Dedicating an entire day for travel may seem like a waste of time. After all you can always go and explore somewhere new just before your flight home or as soon as you land.
However in my experience I found this practice has added extra stress and reduced the quality of the day as a whole. For example if my flight is in the afternoon, I could spend the morning exploring somewhere new. However in the back of my mind I would always be worried about getting back on time. On top of that I would need to explore with my travel bag unless I leave it in a hotel or a locker. Every time I have done this, I just ended up a little more stressed and did not enjoy the activity as much as I would have done otherwise.
Now I dedicate a whole day just for getting from A to B. If my flight is in the afternoon, the morning is spent chilling out in a coffee shop before slowly making my way to the station or airport. This sets a relaxed tone for the day and overall I have a more pleasant experience.
Arrive during the day
It may be tempting to take a red eye flight or go straight to the airport after work and arrive at midnight. In most cases this could be fine especially if you’re picked up from the airport or station. However if you have to make your own way to your accommodation, especially using public transport, may I suggest not arriving when it’s dark or at awkward times.
The first reason is safety. You don’t want to navigate a new city at midnight. Second reason is that during the day it is easier to get around, ask for help and find your accommodation. This goes hand in hand with the previous point therefore try to time your travel so you arrive at your destination during the day.
You need less than you think
When I first went on a trip, I severely overpacked. My two bags were bursting at the seams and I could barely lift one of them without making some kind of noise. As time went on I quickly realised that I didn’t need anywhere near as much as I assumed.
I started a new note where I wrote down what I use frequently, what I used now and then and what I barely touch. With each trip, I would leave the stuff I haven’t used behind. Of course now and then I realised I actually need it and on the next trip I would include it. However In general I managed to reduce my gear from two extremely overpacked bags to one backpack at 80% capacity and a sling.
Specifically I found that If I am travelling to a city, I don’t need two pairs of trousers and two pairs of shorts. One of each would suffice and if one rips or stains, I can just replace it on the road. Same can be said for a large tripod. Instead of a huge tripod, I only bring a small one that goes up to waist level. This is more than enough. Instead of a shotgun microphone, I bring a lav. You get the idea. The lighter you travel the better.
A huge caveat to this is if you’re going somewhere remote or would need specialist gear. Another tip is to pack items that will have a dual purpose such as my camera cube in my backpack doubling up as my sling.
Backup for mission critical Items
To slightly contradict what I have just talked about, I would add that for mission critical items, it is worth having a backup. Not an identical backup, one that can serve a slightly different purpose but also replace most of the functionality of the original item in a pinch.
A mission critical items is one that is 100% required for the trip or to carry out a task. For example if you work remotely, then a laptop is mission critical. If you’re a pro photographer, a second body is essential. For some people having a second smart outfit is mission critical. Everyone is different so this will differ from person to person.
For example I always travel with a laptop and an iPad Pro. The laptop is my main workhorse and is what I run my business on therefore it stays in the hotel. The iPad is my laptop and will come with me to the cafe or the beach. The iPad also doubles as a book and entertainment device for long flights. However the iPad is also a backup for my laptop and my phone. If I were to break my laptop I could still do 80% of all the work on the iPad and keep things ticking over till I get home.
Carry on only
By packing efficiently, this means you do not need to check any bags for a flight. You also don’t need to put your bags in the luggage compartment on the bus or in the racks on the train. you can keep your bag always with you. This makes everything more efficient, simple and secure. I love the peace of mind that my bag is always with me. Not to mention it is cheaper. So try your best to only travel carry on only, it will save you time, money and headache.
Sling
The typical items you would keep in your pockets would be much better off being in a small cross body sling on your chest. I am talking about your phone, wallet, passport, hand gel, headphones, charger etc. This sling will always stay on you and you know for sure where all the essential items are. There are countless times when I stood up and my phone slid out of my pocket. Or when I pulled my wallet out and it accidentally dragged the passport along with it. This also provides peace of mind knowing all your essentials are in one place. A sling is a game changer.
Quality over quantity
In the age of cruises, cheap European flights and popularity of weekend city breaks, it has never been easier to visit a new city each weekend. Couple that with the desire to tick off places and we find ourselves mindlessly travelling to complete a list. Having done a lot of that myself, I found that after a while I felt empty and tired from this type of travel. Instead I just saved up my holidays and took one long trip that allowed me to slow down and properly soak in where I am. Although the number of trips reduced, the quality increased. Of course some people have more flexibility than others. Some can travel for months on end while others only have weekends if they are lucky. Either way, try to focus on quality over quantity.
Learn basic phrases
Yes, English is an international language that is spoken in almost every country. However it does not mean that every person you meet abroad will speak or understand English. Even if they do, approaching someone in a non English speaking country and assuming they will understand you is pretty arrogant. Instead, learn some basic phrases such as hello, please, thank you and do you speak English. If you open with “Hello, do you speak English?” in that persons native language, you will get a much warmer and better response. Even if they don’t speak English, they will usually be more helpful. Try it next time and see.
Always have a plan B
Travel is unpredictable. You can plan everything as much as you can but something almost always can trip you up. For example the time in Istanbul where I developed a bad allergic reaction to a deodorant. Or the time in Lisbon when I arrived only to find that my Airbnb would not lock and the host was not bothered to fix the issue leaving me without a safe place to stay.
A plan B simply means asking yourself what would I do if this goes south? What would I do if this Airbnb or hotel has issues? What would I do if the flight is cancelled or delayed. You get the idea. I am not saying be a negative pessimist, but always have a plan B. For some people it could be returning home. For others it could be having an emergency fund. Either way, have a rough idea of what you might do if things don’t quite go your way.
Spend money on location
The final tip is to spend the bulk of your budget on a good location. Travel can be expensive and choosing a cheaper hotel / Airbnb is one of the most impactful ways to save on your trip. However if you can, try to save money elsewhere. Perhaps on flights, eating out, attractions etc. Try to not save money by staying somewhere far out or in a worse area.
First of all it’s for your safety. Staying somewhere central or nice will just mean less risk when you’re coming back late at night. Secondly it’s distance to where you want to spend most of your time. If you now need to catch a one hour train into the city, this will waste valuable time and cost more money. Instead save elsewhere but prioritise your budget on a good area. This will make your stay more enjoyable, safer and productive.
All the photos in this blog are from Hallstatt in Austria.