5 Essential Travel Tips

Sometimes you have to learn tips the hard way, and a lot of these I did! However I've compiled this list of travel tips so hopefully you don't have to. If you're organising a holiday for the first time these are all really helpful things to bear in mind as it can be a bit overwhelming.

5. Weigh up the Pros & Cons of a Package Holiday vs. a DIY

Going down the 'package holiday' route is obviously more convenient as you don't have to worry about getting the cheapest flights and then finding somewhere to stay that fits around it or about arranging transport from the airport to your accommodation. However, is it worth the cost? Sometimes package holidays are much cheaper depending on where you're going, especially if it's a last-minute deal, however sites like Wimdu and Airbnb have really changed how we look at travel accommodation. For those of you who don't know: people who own apartments, villas and B&Bs list their rooms or properties on these sites and you can arrange a 'short let' for the duration of your holiday. You can read reviews of the place and your host and find a wonderful place to stay for as little as £20 per night. Obviously you need to do your research and the nature of it means everyone has a different experience, however when I used Airbnb to go away with friends I paid under £50 for 4 nights and we had a really helpful host who had loads of information about the area and was happy to arrange excursions for us. That meant that flights and a place to stay can easily come under the £200 mark.

4. Make Sure You Have Everything

I cannot stress enough from personal experience the importance of getting things like your currency sorted far in advance. Make sure you can get to a post office that stocks the currency you need and don't assume your local place will if you're travelling outside the Eurozone. Yes, if the worst comes to the worst you can change your money at the airport but the exchange rate is dreadful. I find Marks & Spencer and the Post Office generally offer the best rates. Also, make sure you've sorted out your passport well ahead of your trip, as during the height of summer there can be a long wait to replace a lost or damaged passport as well as to get a new or first one. I would also recommend checking ahead how much your bank charges to use your card abroad as well as the roaming restrictions your phone network have in place to make sure you don't get caught out and hit with a hefty bill when you get home. Speaking of smart phones; most airlines now have apps, which means you can download your boarding pass to Passbook and simply scan it at the airport, which gives you one less thing to worry about!

3. Plan What You Want to Do

I'm not saying have an itinerary you stick to rigidly, but especially if you're not going to be in one place for very long, have an idea of what you want to see whilst you're there. Have a look on Tripadvisor or pick up an old-school travel guide and pick out a few things you definitely want to do. Have a look at where they are in relation to each other and how long you think you'll need to get the full experience and plan your time like that. Especially in a city with lots to see like Rome or Paris, it can be a bit overwhelming as there's so much to do!

2. Stay Safe

This is an important one; make sure you ask around where your staying to get an idea of how to stay safe where you are. Make sure you find out the emergency services number of the country you're in and if there are any places tourists are advised to avoid. As well as this, be wary of pick-pockets, especially on public transport. My friends may laugh at it but I've never been robbed whilst wearing my trusty bum bag... Also, food poisoning or just reacting badly to a type of food that's different to what you're used to can be a risk. To be honest, in my experience when you're eating out a lot food poisoning can happen from street food or in one of the best eateries in town. Just make sure you take some medication and antibacterial hand gel with you!

1. Make the Most of It!

The most important thing is to make the most of it. See, do and experience as much as possible and make some memories! You'll look back and be really glad you made the effort to see sights.

What are your top tips for travelling abroad?

 

Don't forget to follow me on:

Twitter | Bloglovin | Instagram