My Generic Travel Tips

Everyone has their own travel tips and personal quirks. The following are a few of the ones that have helped me along the way.

 

• Make a digital copy of your passport, save it in the cloud and also email it to yourself.

 

• Arrange visas before you leave your home or country of residence. 

I suggest you do this even if they can be purchased on arrival. I have arrived late at night in countries and there have been long queues to get them. I also did a land crossing (from Thailand to Laos) and the exact money was required in local currency, which caused significant delays. If you can’t organise them on-line or get to the embassies, research agencies who will manage this for you. While they charge a fee, it can be well worth it to avoid delays or issues crossing borders.

 

• Research the best way to get to your first hotel or hostel.

Prepare directions from your first arrival destination (airport, train station etc). If you are walking, do not rely on the GPS on your phone working immediately. If I know my phone will be charged, I take screenshots of the directions and save them to photos on my phone. If I think my battery could have run out, I print them out. It’s rarely advisable to walk anywhere new late at night, especially carrying luggage, so don’t take any unnecessary risks. 

If you are taking local transport (bus or train) ensure you know where and how to purchase a ticket. Research if you can pay by card or require local currency. 

If you need to take a taxi, only take one from an official taxi rank. Ensure you know the estimated journey time and show the driver (in the local language) the destination, directions and estimated drive time. Prepare this in google translate, before you leave and have a paper or accessible saved copy available. I also, always take a photo of the car number plate before getting into the car. I do this as discretely as possible in case I upset the driver.

 

• Research if cash is required for some goods or services and get it in advance

Always check the quality of any paper (notes) of local currency you pre-purchase. I have had merchants refuse to take torn / well worn notes in several countries as they may be forgeries. Also, try and get some small value notes in case it is hard to use large denominations. 

I appreciate most people prefer to use cards when abroad, but do consider that smaller merchants will appreciate you paying small amounts by cash so they avoid bank charges. I personally don’t want to see local establishments swallowed up by global brands everywhere around the World !

 

• Bring an additional small padlock 

While most people will have a padlock for luggage they are checking in, I like to bring a spare one also. I use this to secure the main pocket on my backpack when on public transport, or if I store my luggage in baggage areas. I also will lock important items (small electronics, passport, spare credit card, cash etc) in my case or backpack if the hotel doesn’t have a safe. 

• Bring an electronic reading device

Paperwait Kindle is my favourite and I always download a large number of books before I leave home. It can be challenging downloading books sometimes from private WIFI services. Books take up a lot of space when travelling and it can be difficult getting some new ones in your preferred language.

 

• Have a subscription to a streaming service available on a device (Phone or Tablet)

If you are travelling for several weeks or months, I guarantee you there will be an evening you (a) don’t want to eat out or (b) want an early night so having access to something to watch will be a godsend. 

 

• Have a plan to back-up photographs while travelling. I have done the following over the years, select which you prefer:

 

• • Transferred and saved them to a device (phone or tablet) using a hand-held device

• • Transferred and saved them to a device via WIFI from my camera

• • Uploaded them to a website like “Snapfish”

 

• The following are my essential items to bring (excluding clothes and essential toiletries) :

 

• • Small hand held charger

• • Electronic converter

• • 2 sets of small headphones 

• • 2 usb cables

• • 2 camera batteries

• • Reusable water bottle and coffee container 

• • Supply of vitamin C

• • Sun tan cream with high SPF

• • A small first aid kit or a supply of a few essential items  (Antiseptic ointment, Plasters / band-aids, bandage, Oral analgesic / painkiller etc)   

• • Antiseptic wet wipes (recommended pre-COV19 !)

• • Multiple SD cards for your camera 

• • Waterproof jacket which can be folded up

• • Cover for my backpack

• • Additional bag, I always take a small pack or reusable bag which can be rolled up and stored in the pocket of my suitcase. It’s always proven handy to have bags of different sizes when going out on day trips or to store food when travelling.

 

• I never bring the following with me:

• • Shampoo, shower-gel or body creams. Must hotels supply them. You can take unused items with you, if needed, to your next destination

 

• • I waste nothing when travelling. I always take unused paper napkins / serviettes with me, when leaving an establishment. They can come in very handy so I always have a spare few in my bag. I also fill my water bottle with any unused water, I purchase, when eating out.