Travel should be exciting, fun, a luxury, and a vacating of your norm …
But often travel plans are accompanied with lots of questions, and a little stress!
I’ve been writing/blogging about travel for almost 3 decades… yes, I started before social media and #travelblogging even existed! So I have learned a few tricks, hacks, dos and don’ts, several of which my travel companion/travel planner and husband would prefer I don’t share, and just keep for our own benefit -travel secrets! Well, I’m here to help a fellow frequent traveler out!
So here you go: Travel Tips from a Seasoned Travel Gal
Book airfare in advance – the sweet spot for best rates, availability, and flight schedules is typically 2-6 months. You can’t even book beyond a year out. Rates drop at a certain point, then go up again as you get closer to your trip. The exact metric is tricky since airline play fare games, which are not “fair” at all. Hot tip: launch a new browser or shop incognito so the airline (say American, ex.) isn’t tracking and caching your search and upping the price when you return to book.
Look to upgrade your seat last minute however, frequent flyer programs often allow you to improve your seat and economy class within the week of your flight for less than when you made your initial resy. You can do this online a day or two prior, or go to the gate agent and inquire politely. Its often far less money to go to United Economy Plus within their unsold seat inventory for example, than it would have been when you booked months ago.
Pledge allegiance to one airline, preferably a good spoke or hub near you, with good flight options This allows you to accumulate points with United, American, Delta… you’ll learn their nuances, and join their FF program, earn free bags, club status, and seat upgrades.
Avoid holidays and travel off-peak – for less money and less crowds at your destination. Mind you, that doesn’t mean go to Maine in mudseason, late April early May, or skiing the Swiss Alps in November when much of the ski terrain has not opened for the season. We biked the beautiful Netherlands in September and heard how busy the bike paths are during peak Tulip season in April-May. The Mediterranean is peak in July and August – when EVERYONE is on holiday there… its pricey and its really HOT in prime summer – go for June or September instead.
Do your homework in advance, versus just “winging it”. Plan where you want to tour, stay, sightsee, dine. Keeping it loose often means losing out on certain travel opportunities. You don’t have to reserve everything, but have your itinerary mapped out, hotels, and the top restaurants booked. You can always change, but you can’t always get in if you procrastinate.
Pack Light – its liberating versus schlepping heavy luggage or awaiting checked bags. Carryons are typically free of charge on flights, and you keep your possessions with you. A lightweight rolly bag plus a personal item – bag or backpack, and you are good to go! See our tips on how to travel carryon, look stylish, and have everything you need, nothing you don’t. Plan your outfits. Don’t over pack footwear, one pair of really comfy walking shoes, and an extra pair is plenty! Save a little space for a purchase – can you say Italian leather market, Parisian fashion, a coveted Swiss cow bell?!
Book museums and sightseeing you must see in advance. We learned the Paris Musee D’Orsay books a month in advanced, and was sold out when looked for tix a week prior. Van Gogh in Amsterdam conversely we had to book just 7 days prior, and its good we logged in on time – as it quickly sold out for the best visit times. Also look for freebies… Europe has many open exhibit holidays.
Mix up your overnight accommodations – hotels are lovely, but an occasional VRBO condo or apartment is a nice change of pace mid-trip so you can do laundry, and cook a healthy meal – breakfast at minimum – versus dining out which becomes expensive and a bit exhausting three times a day for over a week!
Use Public Transportation – particularly in Europe where its precise, affordable, clean, and organized. Trains, trams, buses, even ferries… You’ll be commuting with locals, who are “generally” helpful with timetables, platforms and ticket prices. Rental cars can be expensive, and driving in foreign countries can be “stressy” when you’d rather be focusing on the scenery than the road traffic and confusing signage. When you fly into a European city, most major airports have a train station within. Flying into Amsterdam, Zurich, Paris, you can hop on a train within the terminal and go. It may even make sense to fly into a particular city for the best direct rail connections.
Learn a few local phrases, please, thank you, hello, where is the ___? Locals will appreciate the effort, even if you mangle their pronunciation (the French may be the one exception – they are very protective, even pious about their Francais). Google translate on your phone is a super helpful app. You can even hold the phone camera over text and it will translate, or record a conversation for a live translation.
Read up in advance about the culture, history, traditions, food, so that your travels are more meaningful. Sure, Rick Steve is great, but there are many others too. Learn any cultural etiquette too, so you act respectfully where you go.
Pop into the Tourism Office, when you arrive in town, its typically on a Main Street. Here you can acquire free tips, maps, guides and find out about local events to enrich your experience.
Take a photo of your passport, and travel docs. Be sure your passport is not due to expire within 3-6 months as many countries will not allow you access if you delay your exit! Keep your valuables with you, and don’t bring too much stuff in the first place – revisit “pack light”.
Have the proper converters and, chargers for differing electric currency.
Notify your Bank and Credit Card company with a Travel Plans so you are not flagged for suspicious foreign charges. Do not exchange cash/money within the airport – you’ll pay a premium exchange and an extra “fee.” Instead find the first ATM in the city you visit with the proper Plus, Cirrus bank insignia. We suggest you always pay in local currency versus the merchant doing the foreign transaction currency multiplier for you. Your credit card company and bank will typically honor the best exchange rate, usually with no added fee. Our bank credits any ATM fee, afterall, they want to enable your spending!
Get a Travel Rewards credit card – we love Capital One Venture, Visa Sapphire… to earn more points to travel more. Or align with one airline and hotel brand to build loyalty rewards.
Have fun, keep a diary, take photos, leave only footprints and a lasting good impression on the people and places you visited.
See How to be a Conscientious Traveler.
“Travel is the one thing you buy that makes you instantly richer.”
