22 Great Travel Tips Everyone Should Know
As a frequent traveler, I often get asked for travel tips and hacks. Here are some of my favourite ones that I’ve learnt over the years.
Click here for some great airport hacks.
- Before travelling, scan all your important documents like passports, visas, drivers’ licences as well as air tickets and itineraries (if you do not already have electronic copies). Then email copies to yourself and / or upload to Dropbox. That way, if your documents get lost or stolen, you still have the electronic copies which will make it easier to replace them.
- Always compare prices. I use Skyscanner and Travelstart to compare flight prices and Booking.com to find the best hotel deals. Here are more tips on how to find cheap flights.
- Call your bank/credit card company before travelling to let them know that you will be using your bank cards overseas.
- Many medical aid companies offer free travel insurance. If yours does, take advantage of it. Just confirm with them before you travel.
- Keep a packing list on your phone. You can add things on as you remember them before you actually do the packing. If you're not sure, what you should be packing, check out these great packing tips and this packing list.
- Try to get suitcases in unusual colours. You will be able to find them more easily when looking for your luggage at the airports amidst hundreds of black ones. If you are saddled with a black set, then tie a bright coloured ribbon around the suitcase or the handle, in order to identify yours more easily.
- Travel light. Use a backpack if possible.
- When packing, if you are travelling with your family, then spread out your clothes amongst each other’s suitcases. It may be a schlep but, that way, if one suitcase gets lost/stolen/broken into at the airport, then you will still have some clothes to wear. Also keep a change of clothes in your hand luggage. If your luggage is delayed or you have an “accident” like I did, when my 2 year old son got plane-sick on me, then at least you’ll be able to change.
- Roll your clothes when packing. It allows you to fit more in and also reduces creasing. Pack socks and other small items inside shoes.
- Keep dirty laundry in a separate bag. I usually carry new dustbin bags for dirty laundry because they are big.
- Keep a portable luggage scale with you when travelling and weigh your luggage before going to the airport – to avoid nasty surprises and penalties for overweight luggage.
- Take a collapsible bag with you when travelling. That way, if you do a lot of shopping, you won’t have to buy a new bag.
- Roll up plugs and adaptors and put an elastic band around them to avoid a huge tangled mess when you get to your destination. You can also use sunglasses/spectacle cases for smaller plugs. Or you can use ziplock bags.
- Keep travel sizes of your favourite toiletries instead of big containers.
- Store jewellery in a pillbox to keep items separate.
- ALWAYS keep your valuables in hand luggage.
- Put your phone on SMS roaming to avoid international roaming charges. Use a local sim card, Skype or Whatsapp to make phone calls. You can also use Airalo. Get $3 off your first purchase when you sign up here and use code SARA5435.
- Always sign up for free loyalty cards when using an airline or hotel chain. You may be able to do something with your points eventually.
- If you are an adventurous eater like me, ask the locals – like your taxi driver and hotel staff, what their favourite local food is and where they like to eat it. Then, be adventurous, and try it out. I’ve eaten some of my best dishes ever, this way. If you are prone to digestive problems, or scared of a Delhi belly, carry Imodium with you.
- Check Tripadvisor for other travellers’s reviews and recommendations when travelling. I have found many good hotels and attractions this way – and been dissuaded from visiting those that weren’t that great. Download Tripadvisor on your phone too.
- If your ears ache when landing or taking off, carry chewing gum and chew vigorously – but discreetly off course. Use pacifiers for babies.
- Wander off the beaten tourist path and take a walk where the locals live and shop – unless you’re in a high-crime area. It will give you a better feel of the area.
For more money-saving travel tips , click here.
For tips on travelling with children, click here.
What are your favourite travel tips ?
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
Great tips, thanks for sharing such nice info.
Thanks for this wonderful guide! I badly needed this for my itinerary.
Hi
Thank you so much for this awesome tips. This is very use for everyone.
Thanks so much for the tips. Although I'm sure I will always fail the "travel light" tip because I love bringing things along, sometimes even unnecessary ones.
You are welcome. The "Travel Light" tip is difficult for me too because I have to pack for my husband and two kids too 😀
Thank for sharing the post.For those who like to travel, this post is great.
Awesome tips. I will keep them in mind while planning my next journey.
Great post! I’m a big advocate for solo travel. It’s such a big self-confidence booster, as well, that people should definitely do it at least once. Although I doubt that, after they’ve done it once, they won’t repeat it!
Tips are amazing, people should keep in mind these tips while traveling to enjoy more.
Very good article
Thank you inafricaandbeyond for giving me wonderful information
I really liked reading your article.
Keep writing, you are doing a great job.
I love how you can ask local people what the best food is where you're staying. Recently, I learned of some family who live across the country from me and I want to go visit them. Because they don't have a lot of space, I'll have to book a hotel and see what people like to eat around there.
Nice Post! This blog covers all the important tips that a traveler should know before going on a holiday trip.
Thank you for your tips and the good one is 21st tip, very nice. you inspire me to travel ans make blogs habitual.
Amazing blog and ya thank you for letting us know these great tips on travel. I love reading this blog. I just love this article. These tips are very easy to apply and understand. I am planning a trip next month, at that time I will definitely use these tips at that time. Thank you for sharing this blog with us.
Your post are very interesting.I really liked the way you have represented them.
Very helpful tips. Everyone should follow these tips before going somewhere for travel.
Whenever I visit your website I enjoy reading your content because of the good articles.
Thanks for this. I really like what you've posted here and wish you the best of luck with this blog and thanks for sharing.
The 6th tip is a great idea. I will apply this trick on my next tour. Thanks a lot.
I'm am planning to go to Greenland on my vacations. I feel so lucky I came across your article. these tips are very good and I hope they will help me on my trip. Thanks
Thank you for sharing this very useful article. I think it will help many people who want to travel the earth and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Very nice information. Love your creativity. I want to get more future updates. Love from India. Keep it up.
I love the stuff so much.
Hi, I am Deepak here, I am planning for a new trip. Please guide me a few places where I can utilize my holidays.
Hey, I m rohan I want to tell you that your tips are very helpful and your content is great. keep it up
These articles really impressed me. This useful information is a help for those who are searching for best tips before travelling to anywhere.
GREAT WORK
18 tips of this blog would help me next month in Moscow <3 I am traveling first time in my life no idea what should be taken when you are going for the trip. Thanks for sharing these amazing ideas <3
Enjoyed reading the article above , really explains everything in detail. It is very interesting and effective.
So Helpful, Thank You!
Hi Thanks for the post this post is useful and important tips for travellers .
Thanks for this amazing information.
I like your blog and you did a great job. keep sharing with us.
These bag packer tips are indeed a great source of information.
Excellent post, very interesting to read. Thanks for the useful tips.
Hey, It's a very useful blog post for all kind of travelers. Detailed travel tips are presented in a beautiful way. This article will be very helpful to everyone who likes to travel. This 22 tips are very important. Thanks for sharing it.
Excellent blog post, and thank you for sharing some very helpful thoughts!!! Useful for all travel Lovers...
Great article guys, This is one of the best reads that I have had in a long time and I highly recommend everyone to follow all of these 22 Travel tips...well done guys
Best tips for traveling! I will surely refer this blog to my travel mates so that they can also learn about these tips.
Nice Post! Some of the great but very important tips mentioned. The most important tip I found is of Documents and money, we must keep copies of our important document it's very important and of course, money is a must in today's life, without that we cannot suffer at any place in the country. Other aspects are also very important like luggage, valuables, medicines, food, etc. we must follow all these rules while traveling. Thank you for sharing this great content.
These are the best tips for traveling. I will also remember these tips when I go for a trip. Thanks for sharing.
Wow this is really a good article. I have really benefited a lot from it.
Thanks for the information on traveling
Hey,
Nice tips thanks for sharing.
When I used to travel what I did to find my Bag easily is I stick a small paper on all the tag of all the bags.
Other than I would like to travel with fully charged power bank and I put my phone on superpower saver mode.
Other than that I prefer to keep some medicine in my travel kit like for vomiting, fever, painkiller, Antibiotic, etc for a worst-case scenario.
I always prefer to take a package instead of buying tickets separately, then searching for hotels and destination lots of headaches. It keeps me calm and let me enjoy my trip to the fullest.
Hi..
Thanks for the information on traveling. This article is amazing and helpful.
Hi..
hey you know your travel article is it's beautiful. you know i love traveling and i think life is cool so i think traveling is most important in your life. so your article is helpful for everyone...
Great Post! thanks for spreading this informative travel tip.
Point no 16 is the best for me because every time I leave an important thing in another bag. So from now I try to remember this point too.
I wanted to thank you for going over these traveling tips. I didn't know it could be good to have suitcases in unusual colors so you can find them easier. I wonder if it could be good to customize it in a way that you know it's your's, maybe based on where you decide to go.
Thanks for the information
Nice blog. even I love travelling because it's always fun with family and friends also the more you travel the more you explore.
Those are great experiences to pocket today. Thank you
Hi Kha. It's a pleasure. 🙂
I loved your tip to scan all your important documents like passports, visas, licenses, and air tickets, as it will help protect you if they get stolen or lost. My aunt and cousin would love to go to France sometime, so these tips could really help them prepare. Thanks so much for all the great travel tips.
Hi Bethany. Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you find the tips useful.
Thank you, the article helps me be more fully prepared when traveling.
Nice article and very well written with the information.
Thank you Amit!
The best advice is definitely nr 20
Check Tripadvisor for other travelers’s reviews and recommendations when travelling. I have found many good hotels and attractions this way – and been dissuaded from visiting those that weren’t that great. Download Tripadvisor on your phone too.
We always advice our clients this - great article 🙂
Thanks for sharing such useful information.
Yes, this is the most complete post about travel tips I’ve read so far! 🙂 I can’t think of anything more to add, and I agree with most of them! Great post! Thanks
I love traveling and I make 2 family overseas trips a year.
I thank you for giving incredible advice on every single detail of traveling.Despite my own travel experience, I have learned so much from your article. The most useful is the first one (to make traveling top priority). I have 2 kids, and my next trip will be very much different with your great tips. Please Keep writing.
Thank you so much John. Happy traveling,
Hi. Thanks for the information.
This is an amazing article. Its realy helpful for travelar. Finally i want to say it is good !
Yep, This is really great travel tips. There are more effective information about travel. It's a very helpful and just wow and amazing article! Thank you for giving this post.
You have mentioned very interesting points! P.S. nice site.
Thanks for the great travel tips!
It's a pleasure Mike. Hope you find them helpful.
Great tips! Pleased to say I already do most of these! I never take a luggage scale cos I never have that much stuff though haha. I always pack cable ties, you never know when they'll come in handy!
Thanks Abbi. Cable ties are a good idea too. I can imagine a few good uses for them 🙂
Great tips! Thanks!!!
Thank you Penelopi . I'm glad you like them.
Great tips! Thanks!!
Thank you Sara very useful tips. I must invest in a portable luggage scale. That'd save me so many tears ? I like point 1. I use an app called TripIt that saves my important travel docs in one place. It's free and so handy to use!
Thanks Jacqui . The portable luggage scale has saved me a lot of hassles at the airport. Tripit sounds very useful. I'm going to check it out.
Great post you captured most of my tips. I guess I would add bringing a neck pillow along. It makes a big difference in the quality of sleep I get on the plane which helps me not be so tired when I get to my destination.
Thanks Anisa. Oh yes, I forgo to mention the neck pillow even though I do carry one with me when I travel. Thanks for reminding me.
Thank you Foz. If you have tips that I haven't mentioned, please do share them.
Some great tips. We fly regularly too to see the family and do most of the stuff you have listed!
Thank you Ummbilalo1. I thought it was a great idea when I first heard about it too!
Awesome tips. Like the pillbox idea. It has never crossedone my mind. Barakallahu feeki
Thank you S. Malik - I'm glad you find them helpful.
Quite helpful tips, thank you.