20 Essential Travel Tips

20 Tips for Frugal, Fun, and Successful Travel

Enjoy the journey

Plan to go and follow-through. If you plan to go, you will. First-time planning is best done in stages and baby steps. Many websites and YouTube videos exist to help. You are also welcome to email me.
Make sacrifices. Travel is a matter of priorities, and if you want it bad enough, you will make it happen – even if it means foregoing a major purchase. Like, do you really need the $50,000 new vehicle? Or will the $10,000 solid used one work just as well? If your budget for a vehicle was $800/month, but you only spend $250/month, in several months the savings would leave you with enough money for at least one nice trip just about anywhere in the world!
- This tip also extends to while you’re traveling. Although the penthouse suite at the Waldorf might be what your company books for you back home, the two star Hotel Acueducto may be the only thing in your price range (or available) when abroad. Travel should be a cultural experience, and that involves unfamiliar things, even the Hotel Acueducto. Be brave. Try local things once in a while (see 12, below).
Be flexible! Step outside your comfort zone. Be daring and adventurous, but careful and not paranoid. Just use common sense (like, if the alley is dark, avoid it...)
Spend time reflecting quietly (perhaps solo) during your travels. Just make sure you use common sense (see previous tip).
Figure a budget for your trip and stick to it. If you can only visit one place this time around, then visit that place. Just be happy you are traveling. If you enjoy traveling, you will keep doing it. The travel itself is what’s important. For example, unless it is your sole reason for visiting, not seeing The David in Florence, Italy won’t ruin your travel. There are hella other amazing things to see in Florence. And if you enjoy yourself, it’s likely you’ll return. And you can see The David then...(I visited Florence three times before seeing The David).
Travel to the place (or places) where airfare is cheapest. For example, if you’ve always wanted to see France, but airfare is much cheaper to Amsterdam during the time you want to (or can) go, then go to the Netherlands. There is plenty to see in and around the Netherlands (France is an easy a side-trip from there). If travel is your goal, focus on that instead of a specific location perhaps (see previous tip).
Watch the Internet for travel specials, and especially cheap airfare. Set-up a farewatcher at a couple of travel websites (like kayak.com, flights.google.com, or even your preferred airline) for when and where you want to visit. Do not overlook open-jaw flights (flying into one city and out of another), as they can save you money by not having to return back to where you began. If you’re looking to travel cheaply, you also need to be okay flying economy and perhaps being cramped and less comfortable. But if travel is your goal, start there. Many YouTube vids and vlogs outline tips (“hacks”) for flying in economy class comfortably.
Travel with more than one person. A group of 4 people, while sometimes fun, will always cut-down the overall cost (especially if you can share a quad room or apartment and split the cost of a rental car).
Learn about the place(s) to which you are traveling. Why do you want to visit Italy? For the art? Wine? Architecture? Nude beaches? Whatever the reason for your desire to visit, learn about that...and whatever else you can. But keep an open mind and learn along the way. It will make the trip much more memorable.
Learn basic survival phrases if traveling to a foreign-speaking country: yes, no, hello, please, thank you, “where is...” and “I would like” are useful and easy to learn in any language. I also like to learn “what’s this”? in the local language so I can expand my vocabulary. Smiling and nodding also helps, even if you don’t really understand.
Speak to others who have been to the place(s) you’re going, and get their opinions. But remember, opinions are like armpits: we all have them, and at one time or another, they stink. Get the information and then make your own judgments based on the evidence.
Eat like a local, drive like a local, and live like a local while you’re there. Who knows what you will learn?
Travel during the off season. You get a different sense of place when it’s off season and see things others never would.
Avoid (or spend less time in) tourist havens when it’s high season. Christmas markets in Munich are wonderful. But they can be more magical in less-touristed towns like Oberammergau or Regensburg.
Leverage credit cards for travel perks and use points and/or miles to help off-set associated travel costs.
Never be afraid to ask a question (but always begin it in the native language...I use please to begin every sentence and say thank you a lot).
Be open-minded, strive for understanding, and be humble. Just because something is different to you, does not mean that it’s wrong (or right). If you don’t understand something, ask. Learn that there are more ways than only your way. Be challenged by others’ beliefs and be respectful of them.
If something isn’t to your liking, then change your liking (this is a Rick Steves quote, and it’s helped me and countless others have a richer travel experience).
Take at least one day to relax for each week you travel. For example, if you have a two-week trip planned, have a minimum of two days to just be. Don’t plan anything for those days. Chill in the hotel room and watch local TV, lounge at a park, wander around your neighborhood, take a nap, sit at a cafe and watch people. Just slow down and relax. You’ll be surprised how much it enhances your travel.
It’s okay if you don’t see everything your first time visiting a place. Leave something for next time. If you have a good time, you will return. Sometimes what you see is enough, and that “enough” is just right.