Travel Tips
Travel can be daunting and overwhelming, but doesn’t have to be at all! Here are some tips from me to you, they may not be relevant or may be exactly what you need to know. However you take them please know I am not an expert, I just know what makes me happy when travelling and what things have made travel so much easier and fun. Sharing is caring so here is some knowledge I am sharing with you :)
If you are not too familiar with the travel game or just want some handy tips before you embark on your next adventure, then you have come to the right place! Ever since I was 6 months old I have been travelling around the world, either with family, friends or alone.
Half of my family are from Austria (in Europe) and so majority of my family holidays when I was a kid were going to Austria. It is a 24 hour flight to Vienna airport and I have never gotten used to it haha! Flying is the worst part about travelling, especially for anyone who is my height (5’10) and taller as economy seats are not made for us. This is why I always love getting the emergency seats and can stretch my legs out, or even the aisle seat is nice and can stretch in the aisle. Over the years, I have learnt new things to make the flight more comfortable and not that bad, well a little more comfortable anyway haha.
Travel can be daunting and overwhelming, but doesn’t have to be at all! Here are some tips from me to you, they may not be relevant or may be exactly what you need to know. However you take them please know I am not an expert, I just know what makes me happy when travelling and what things have made travel so much easier and fun. Sharing is caring so here is some knowledge I am sharing with you :)
Booking
When booking your holiday, it is best to search around for the best deals and not just cheap but also quality. Go to multiple booking agencies and also multiple online. Compare all the prices and quality. Even if you don’t want to book it online yourself, show your research and deals to a travel agency in person and they will help you.
Budget! Give yourself a budget of what you want to spend and try to stick with it. The majority of the time you can and then you can splurge a bit on a nicer hotel or dining. There is always a better and cheaper price, just look for it.
Use somewhere like Skyscanner or Tripadviser so search for flights instead of booking through the actual flights company as this can save you alot of money!
Chose an airline you feel comfortable with. If you are a first-time traveller, there are definitely a top few airlines that are amazing. Emirates, Etihad and Qantas are a definite top three. Yes they can be expensive but actually always have sales and booking up to a year in advanced is always half the price. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are normally the cheaper days to fly out, so even changing the date you leave can save you hundreds.
Book a flight with a short stopover! Aim for a 1-3 hour max stopover, otherwise you will just be sitting in an airport exhausted for hours and it’s not worth it. Yes sometimes the cheaper flights have long stopovers but actually these days you are able to find flights with shorter stopovers for the same price. Again, you need to just look for it and compare.
If you have any dietary conditions or requirements you are able to go online or ring the airline company and you can request a special order. For example if you are vegan you are able to just select the special order option online and then chose the vegan option.
Book accommodation in a location that is nearest to the attractions and places you want to see. This makes it easier for you to get to. If you can’t then look for accommodation with transportation close by.
Look for accommodation with free wi-fi! Also look for things supplied like fresh linen, a hair dryer, kettle and/or coffee machine to make your own tea/coffee, a little fridge, etc. These will make your holiday so much better.
Airbnb is another great option if you are wanting a private room/bathroom but cheaper then a hotel. Search around and look through the reviews of each place you find. There are some amazing AirBnb’s that are in great locations and way cheaper than hotels and nicer than hostels. A lot even have there own parking spots. The hosts are always super kind and always willing to give advice and suggestions on places to go in the area.
Hostels are also great if you are into meeting new people and love to party! They are cheap too!! But they are normally rooms sharing with 6+ people and some, depending on the location, can be a little dodgy. Just look for things like location, reviews and ratings, free breakfast, if it has a kitchen, linen provided, near transportation, look clean and sound worth the price.
If you're looking to stay in certain countries over long periods of time, or you're a little short for cash but don't want to go home just yet, try volunteering at a hostel in exchange for a bed/food! It's the easiest way to make friends, score free accommodation and have fun!
OR… STAY WITH FAMILY!! Always say yes to staying with family!! No need to pay for accomodation, always have a room, bathroom, laundry, kitchen and that homely feeling. Is also comfortable with family and they would love to show you around!
Packing
Packing is one of the ‘not so fun’ parts of the travel experience. For some it can be very difficult and stressful. Planning ahead and making a list of what you need then slowly ticking them off is the best way.
Make sure you check how many kilos you are allowed to take and don’t go over! It is dependent on the airline and what class you fly, but for economy it can be roughly between 24-30 and then an added 7 kilos for hand luggage.
If you are going on a bus tour for example, double check there luggage allowance and luggage size restriction before packing to make sure you have the correct sized luggage.
Check the seasons you will be travelling in, in the countries you're going to, lay out what you think you'll take, divide it, then quarter it. You'll outfit repeat constantly and no one cares
Leave a set of clothes out for the plane the night before you go. This is so you don’t need to stress about what to wear on the plane the day you leave and/or you don’t need to fish through your already neatly packed bag.
Roll your clothes! Or fold them in a way so they won’t go all over your bag and get crinkled.
Packing Cubes save space and the anxiety of a messy bag.
Pack toiletries last! This is because you will most likely need to still use some of them before you go/the day of, for example your tooth brush or make-up.
Plastic zip lock bags that are used for sandwiches and food are ideal to pack toiletries and liquids in! This way they don’t leak all through your bag and make a mess.
If you're taking a hat: fill the hollow of your hat with a piece of clothing, wedge the hat in between clothes face down and then continue to layer over it. This will keep your hat in shape, with no disturbance to your packing space.
Have a carabiner hooked onto your day bag to carry your water bottle, saving room inside your bag and making it easily accessible.
Microfiber towels are perfect, especially if you are going on a tour and don’t have much room in your bag. Tesalate towels are a little pricey but really do the job perfectly and come in a range of different colours and patterns.
Get a couple of power point adaptors. There are a lot of countries that have different power outlets so it is best to get an adaptor that is universal with multiple converters on the single adaptor.
Don't take a blow-dryer/hair-dryer! Even if you think you really need to don’t! The majority of hotels and hostels have supply them. And you are on holiday anyway, no one knows you are cares how your hair is!
Always take a pair of thongs and swimmers! Even if you are going to the snow there are thermal swimming places and baths that are amazing. You also may need to share a public bathroom.
If you are going away for a long time, take a little sealed bag of powder laundry detergent! Fill your bathroom sink with hot water and pour some laundry powder in. Then you can wash your clothes. Keep in mind it may take a while for pants and shirts to dry and this method is really best for socks and underwear.
What to pack for the plane
WATER – Buy yourself a bottle of water after going through customs and keep it for the plane. This will keep you hydrated and feel comfortable on the long journey.
SNACKS – Snacks or anything you like to nibble on and is packaged (and legal haha). For example, I like to take: chips, pretzels, biscuits, nuts, chocolate and/or lollies.
CHEWING GUM – Get yourself a packet of gum. This is perfect for when you are taking off or landing in the plane and the chewing helps to pop your ears whilst changing altitudes. Also after eating the plane food and need to freshen up.
LONG SOCKS – Take a pair of long socks as you will not only be cold but need them to help your feet not swell too much... even get a pair of compression socks but normal long socks I find perfect.
JACKET/JUMPER – Again, it will be cold and a warm jumper will make the trip so much better.
PHONE CHARGER – Yes a lot the majority of new planes now have USB ports and you can charge your phone so make the most of it.
HEADPHONES – A pair of good headphones make the trip so much more comfortable! Especially a noise cancelling pair. They are way better than the ones they provide on the plane and allow you to block out a lot of the aeroplane noises too. I treated myself to a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless headphones and they are amazing! You don’t even have to use them wirelessly, yes turning them on and using them wireless are next level, but you simply can use the aux cord and don’t need any power and they work almost as good as the wireless function which is still amazing! I have used them that often and had them for that long that the material of the cushion ear pieces was deteriorating. Instead of having to get new headphones, for $39.95 AUD you can buy a cushion kit and replace the ear cushions and basically have brand new earphones again! So I definitely recommend Bose headphones!
BACKPACK or DUFFLE BAG – Take a backpack or duffle bag as on-board luggage rather than a mini suitcase on board luggage. They are so much easier and able to fit on the plane better.
Plane - In the Air
Depending on the airline, the plane food is pretty ordinary. However, I have had some really good plane food before and they even gave out Weis Bars! It is just dependant on what airline you are with and that depends on how much you are wanting to spend.
The majority of airlines now provide meals for all different conditions. There are normally the basic three main meal options on the flight for those who don’t mind or have any preferences. These normally consist of two meat based and a vegetarian option. When you book your flight you are also able to select a special option if you have any dietary conditions or requirements.
Each airline comes from a different base country and therefore some foods are more cultural depending the airline. For example if you fly with an airline from Japan, they normally have Japanese snacks, foods and beverages as obviously this is the food they have in Japan and most of the people who fly with them are Japanese. Basically the airlines try to provide for the main culture of the people who are flying with them / food from there based country.
All airlines have a huge list of movies and entertainment so if you are worried about a long flight, don’t be because after watching a few movies and eating your meals you will be landing in no time.
Food - cafe’s/restaurants
Research everywhere you’re visiting, use google maps to search the area and find cafes and restaurants. Then go onto the cafe/restaurants websites and Instagrams and kinda do a major stalk to find out exactly what they are, where they are, what food they have, how popular they are and the quality. A nice website and instagram page can be both beneficial and misleading at the same time. They could be very aesthetic but not have food you like. So is best to always look through there menu’s and try and match the foods with what they show on there Instagram and websites. Also look at what they are tagged in and what people are sharing. make a list of places you find and decide whether you would have breakfast, lunch or dinner there. This way you will always have a plan of where you would like to go on each day. Even have backup places just incase your first choice is shut. It is simple smart acts like this that will make your travels much more rewarding and less disappointing.
If you’re allergic or have dietary requirements and are in a foreign country that doesn’t speak your natural tongue. Screen shot or print off a translation of what you require and show it to the server every time you eat out.
If you are like me, you will be super hungry on the plane and/or on your travel journey. I, for example, like to take: chips, pretzels, biscuits, nuts, chocolate and/or lollies. But basically, anything you can nibble on and is packaged (and legal haha) is perfect. My personal tip is to always have snacks on you, no matter where you go just in case. You never know when you may need that packet of chips as a life saver.
Be open-minded and don’t be scared of trying new foods. You are on holiday and not on a diet! Make the most of the new culture and all the different foods you most-likely don’t have access to at home!
Apps
Google Translate – seriously a life saver when there is a language barrier! You are able to download an entire language so that you don’t need wi-fi and can translate anything… obviously sometimes it is wrong but it is the most effective language app there is whilst travelling. (Apple Store Download | Google Play Store Download)
Maps Me – You can download the map of the area/location you are going and then able to use it offline when you have no wi-fi. Perfect for travelling and there is no internet connection, just download the maps before you leave wi-fi! Maps Me has also had a new update which shows you the subways/metros of the area! This is a super cool feature and has made the app even better! Is a free app: (Apple Store Download | Google Play Store Download)
What’s App – messaging/texting using wi-fi. (Apple Store Download | Google Play Store Download)
Netflix – download what you want to watch and then watch on demand. Perfect for bus tours! (Apple Store Download | Google Play Store Download)
Uber and Uber Eats – If you need a quick ride to somewhere then Uber is the app! If you want a quick takeaway meal delivered to you, Uber Eats is perfect! (Uber: Apple Store Download | Google Play Store Download) (Uber Eats: Apple Store Download | Google Play Store Download)
Lime (city scooter/bike) - Now all across major cities Lime is taking over with there scooter and bike hire. I have used the scooters and they are amazing and so much fun! I was in Paris when they had a public transport strike, meaning no metro or buses were operating, and had to walk everywhere. So for a long distance or to break up the walking, I would find a scooter on the side of the road and with the app I would connect with the scooter and then could ride it. It charges you for how long you ride it for time wise, so the faster you are the less money it takes. It can be quite expensive though for a long distance or if you use it often so is a good idea to no go overboard haha! I also a good idea to set the app up when you have wifi before you go anywhere as you have to add payment details. Some cities have other versions of Lime so the have other apps depending on what brand/service that city has available. (Apple Store Download | Google Play Store Download)
Happy Cow – For those vegetarians/vegans who are looking for food in the area. (Apple Store Download | Google Play Store Download)
Metro/Subway Map Apps - These apps come in handy when in a city with a metro/subway that you’re not familiar with. As I said above, Maps Me has also had a new update which shows you the subways/metros map of the area. This is a super cool feature and is something that should have been available ages ago! Now I don’t need any other metro/subway map app. You just have to make sure you have pre-downloaded the map of what ever area you are in, whilst you have wifi, then you can go and explore! If you don’t have maps me or the maps me app doesn’t have the subway/metro map for that area, just look up, on what ever app store you use, the city name and then metro or subway (depending on where you are is what they call it). Majority are free, they have some annoying ads, but honestly they are such a help when you need to know what station you need to be at to get to where you want to go. For NY the ‘New York Subway MTA Map’ is great and free (Apple Store Download | Google Play Store Download). For Tokyo the ‘Tokyo Metro Subway Map’ is great and free (Apple Store Download | Google Play Store Download).
Washing / Laundry
Just a reminder that you can get away with wearing everything a few times before washing, unless you really smell, sweat a lot or just don’t wear deodorant.
The SINK METHOD – take a little sealed bag of powder laundry detergent! Fill the sink up with hot water and pour some laundry powder in. Then you can wash your clothes. This method is really best for socks and underwear. You can wash other clothes this way, they just take longer to dry.
SELF SERVICE LAUNDROMAT – a coin operated laundry service that you do yourself. This is great if you have a bit of free time and have a lot of washing. Take a book or something to entertain yourself as it is not a good idea to leave your clothes alone.
LAUNDRY SERVICES – if you are staying in a place for more than a couple of days then a laundry service is perfect! They will wash, dry and fold your clothes! May take up to 24 hours but is worth it when you have heaps of clothes and can wash in one go. Are also cheaper than the hotels laundry service.
That’s it! Well for now this is all I can think of haha! If you have reached this point I want to say thank you for taking the time to read all this, hopefully somethings were helpful. If not I am so sorry this wasted your time and hope you can find what you need on the vast web cause I can assure you someone out there has written about it haha! Safe travels!
Nav
xx