A straight-up list of travel tips I heard along the way or figured out for myself.
- Call your bank and give them your itinerary
- If you’re using a credit card — check on those international fees
- Use Google flights if you’re not airline loyal
- Buy an international data plan beforehand or a local sim card
- Download a GPS app that doesn’t require data (Maps.Me, Sygic)
- Use Hostelworld for hostel/B&b references, but book with the property directly
- Download Tripadvisor & Yelp apps
- The weather channel app lets you “plan your trip” and save temps for specific places/dates
- Save documents with iBooks if you have an iPhone, print as well if you’re old school
- It’s cheaper to get cash from an ATM there than exchange money at the airport
- Churches usually have free bathrooms!
- Buy a liter of water and a smaller bottle and refill the smaller one to carry & avoid paying for water at restaurants
- Invest in good walking shoes, for real
- Don’t forget to bring dry shampoo, face wipes and sunscreen
- Also: bleach pen, hand sanitizer, Tylenol, bug spray <– if you’re a sucker like Nic
- Ladies, buy this scarf. A blanket on the airplane & infinity on the street
- Bring your own umbrella!
- Bring toiletry/make-up you could ditch at the end if space is an issue
- Research if it’s usual to tip at your destination – or else you may end up paying a fee & tipping
- Cobblestones + rolling suitcase = don’t be cheap or you’ll be missing a wheel or two
- Services like Uber are available overseas and awesome if you’re staying in a far-out Air BnB
- Bring portable phone chargers and the appropriate adapter!
- Put your bills on autopay – the last thing you want to do is make international calls that involve being on hold
- Turn off cellular data for all of your time/data killer apps before you board the plane.
Happy travels!