There’s nothing quite like the thrill of planning and booking your next trip, but for a lot of us that moment is so few and far between. The time we have away is so precious. That’s why we’ve put together these 21 simple ways to make the most out of travelling.
These simple but unique travel tips are useful for all travellers with some specific travel tips for beginners. We’ve covered some of our best travel tips including tips for packing, tips for flying, what to plan for when you’re there, and even tips for travelling plant based or vegan.
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TRAVEL TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
Setting a Realistic Budget
Travelling can be so expensive these days, but the way we like to think about it is ‘the less we spend this time, the more holidays we can have!’. There are so many ways to keep costs down. BUT, by far the best way to spend less is to set a realistic budget, and then to stick to it.
Try to make the budget as exhaustive as possible. It can be hard but if you do a little research you can go beyond transport and accommodation costs to include food, attractions, and sundry items like local taxes and visa costs.
Don’t forget to budget for tipping! If you’re not sure how much something will cost just put an estimate in. But keep these to a minimum as it’s an easy way to go over. You can also simply include a really healthy miscellaneous category as a percentage of your total budget.
Accessing Travel Money
It may seem like a very basic thing but how you access money abroad can make a big hamper your time away, and cost you dearly. Research the best solution for your chosen destination.
There are some destinations where cash is king – Morocco is one of these places.
Obviously, safety is an issue here so make sure you have somewhere secure in your accommodation, and only go out with what you are going to need. Finally, avoid exchanging money at the airport as much as you can, the exchange rates are terrible!
Other options include prepaid travel cards such as Revolut, and travel debit and credit cards. Just be careful of the exchange rate offered, fees, and limits.
Get Travel Insurance
It’s one of those things that most of us begrudge paying for. But should we ever need it, it would make all the difference.
Travel insurance is primarily to cover things like medical treatment and repatriation, but can also include expensive equipment, money, and the cost of your holiday.
Here is an extensive guide that goes through what to look for in a plan, what’s not covered, as well as some recommendations.
Make Copies of Your Documentations
This is self explanatory really, but could make all the difference if your belongings are lost or stolen. Save a cloud based copy of your documents or email them to yourself so that you can download copies in the case of an emergency.
Get the Necessary Shots
Speak to your health practitioner at least 2-3 months before your intended travel date to discuss which travel vaccines you may need. Alternatively, visit the NHS website for more information if you’re UK based.
TRAVEL TIPS FOR PACKING
Pack for Comfort
Tempting as it might be to be your very own version of Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City on your next trip to Alicante, comfort is its own reward!
What that looks like depends on your destination, but think of layers for changing climates, comfortable footwear for exploring, and maybe even a multi-purpose wrap for the beach and for religious and cultural buildings.
Invest in a Few Travel Accessories
This isn’t the time to go mad and bust the budget, but a few wise investments can really make a difference.
Packing cubes can really help to keep everything organised and perhaps fit just a little more in your suitcase.
Similarly, travel vacuum bags help make the most of your travel allowance. Simply put your clothes in, seal and roll out the air, and voila! These really come into their own if you want to save time and money by travelling with hand luggage only.
Hanging travel toiletry bags keep everything neat and organised, and frees up precious vanity top space.
Finally, who in their right mind would travel without at least one travel adapter? There’s so many on the market but we’ve invested in a couple of worldwide sets.
Go Green with a Refillable Water Bottle
Beyond the environmental benefits, having a refillable bottle is just more practical and cheaper. So many places, including cities and airports, now have water fountains so refilling is not an issue. Exploring is a thirsty game, and this is a great way to stay hydrated.
Use Protection……for the Sun!
Hats, sarongs, sunglasses, and sunscreen are your allies. Apart from the health risks of skin damage, sunburn is just jolly uncomfortable and can really hamper the rest of your holiday! At worst you may even require medical treatment.
TRAVEL TIPS FOR FLYING
Avoid Busy Times
High seasons such as school holidays, as well as festive periods and special events (i.e. sporting events) can have a huge impact on flight prices which can really put a dent in your budget.
Busy periods also mean longer queues for security and passport control, longer waits for baggage reclaim, and a harder time getting to and around within the airport. Best to avoid it altogether if you can by doing a little research.
This doesn’t just apply to flying. Other forms of transport as well as accommodation, attractions, and even entire cities can be affected. Think about travelling off-peak and during shoulder seasons
Not All Flights are Made Equal
Be very clear about your requirements. If, like us, time for exploring is the most important thing to you, then we suggest paying a bit more for a direct or a short single sport flight. If money is tight, consider flights with more or longer layovers.
Equally, flying when others would rather not, like at night or on New Year’s Eve (as we recently did), is a great way to shave a few pounds off the price tag.
Travel Light When You Can
The price of checked luggage has been steadily increasing over the last 15 years or so and no doubt will continue to go up.
Time spent at baggage reclaim also equals less exploring time, and that’s ignoring the potential horror of lost luggage!
Finally, let’s face it most of us only ever wear half of what we pack. Getting to your destination is tiring enough as it is without lugging around massive suitcases full of things you do need.
Bring Your Own Snacks
The costs of snacks and drinks on flights can really mount up. So save your Euros for when you land, your budget will thank you for it.
Snacks are especially useful for those who are plant based or vegan. Airlines are not particularly known for their culinary delights, and this is never more true than when it comes to plant based options. Sometimes it’s bring your own or go hungry!
TOP TRAVEL TIPS FOR WHEN YOU’RE THERE
Put Together Realistic Itineraries
Doing your research and having an idea of what you really fancy doing means that it’s far less likely you’re going to miss out. It also means that you can plan around opening times and avoid busy times.
Building realistic itineraries however, also means that you’re far less likely to need to skip a day to rest because you’ve burnt yourself out.
Finally, when putting together your itinerary always remember to build in mindful moments. Travelling is as much about experiencing as it is exploring, so make sure to allow time for that coffee in the central plaza!
Plan Your Routes
Having done your research on the things you’d like to see and do, don’t forget to plan your routes to make the most of your time by avoiding doubling back on yourself.
We frequently use Google My Maps when researching our destinations, which also allows us to plan what order we will do activities in, and how we will get from one to the other.
Pre-book When You Can
By doing so, you avoid the potential to miss out if there is limited availability. Quite often it also means skipping the line to the ticket office.
You may even pick up a cheeky advance booking discount if you’re lucky! Train tickets for example are often much cheaper when booked say 3 months in advance.
Discover Unique Experiences
Make the most of local tour guides, activities and unique experiences. We’ve been booked some excellent activities through operators such as Viator.com.
There’s all sorts on offer from guided tours, to wine tasting, to gourmet experiences and flamenco shows.
The other great thing about pre-booking is that you can keep a much closer eye on your spending.
TIPS FOR TRAVELLING PLANT BASED OR VEGAN
Plan Ahead for More Plant Based Options
Whether you’re a vegan junk food fiend or a green vegan goddess, a little planning ahead of time can unearth some gastronomic gems. So do some research before your trip! Most of the time you’ll find that someone has done the hard work for you. A quick google search will produce either great local food blogs or even better a super helpful vlog on YouTube.
Beyond that, HappyCow is a great way to find both restaurants and store that cater to alternative dietary needs. Similarly, review sites such as Tripadvisor and Yelp allow you to filter reviews using keywords such as ‘vegan’, ‘vegetarian’, or ‘plant based’.
RELATED: 9 Tips for Travelling Vegan or Plant Based
Get Creative with Menu Options
Don’t assume that you have to stick to what is on the menu. 9 times out of 10 establishments will be flexible about tweaking a dish to suit your dietary needs.
Ask the serving staff whether the kitchen would be open to making some changes to a specific dish. Or perhaps if nothing is suitable, throw together some ingredients already on the menu.
Pick Up Vegan on the Go Food
This one is self explanatory and again is likely to save money. Most supermarkets have delicious plant based sandwiches or salads that you can pick up at the start of your day.
That way you can avoid the issue of finding a place with plant based options. Plus you avoid the lunchtime rush leaving more time for exploring.
Avoid the Tourist Traps
Who doesn’t love the idea of a Paella – a vegetable one for us plant based folk! But trust me when I say you can do much better than the fare offered by some of the eateries in central Valencia.
Again, try to do some research beforehand to avoid being disappointed, and wasting your time and money.
The other thing you can do is try to figure out where the locals go.
And finally, we find the best way to avoid disappointment is to get recommendations from people you know.
So that was our top travel tips to make the most of travelling. Check out our other posts for more travel tips and destination guides. Now it’s your turn….where are you going for your next adventure and how are you going to make the most of your time away? Let us know.
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