Most of us aren’t automatically savvy travelers, and after so long unable to travel due to Covid, we’re out of practice too. Being travel-savvy comes from mishaps like missed buses, cultural mishaps, and other mistakes. As you get more experienced, you’ll notice that you’re becoming more savvy. Speed up this process with these best travel tips for the ultimate adventures.
Photo by Chen Mizrach on Unsplash
How To Be A Savvy Traveler
Always pack a towel.
Even if you’re staying somewhere that provides towels, you never know when you might need an extra, whether to use it on the beach, as a picnic blanket, or to dry off.
Buy a small backpack or suitcase.
If you buy a small backpack, you’ll be forced to pack light and not take too much stuff. If you have a larger bag, you’ll fill it. If you pack less, you might even be able to avoid checking any luggage in the hold, so you’ll be out of the airport much faster.
Make extra copies of your passport and important documents.
Email a copy to yourself as well. You never know when you might need documentation, but you don’t want to carry your passport all the time. If your passport is stolen, a copy with you helps fill out the police report, too. If you need a new passport, such as completing Irish citizenship and passport application, get it down well before you travel.
Pack light.
Write a list of things you’ll need, then try to shrink that list down, and then only pack what you need. With your small bag, you won’t have room for extras.
Plan your itinerary
If there are specific things you want to do while you’re away from home, the best thing to do is to plan ahead and work out what those things are and when you’re going to do them – you can even book your tickets in advance to make sure you don’t miss out. After all, if you’re looking forward to a great NYC brunch cruise, for example, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a ticket so you can enjoy it.
Take extra socks.
Even if you’re packing light, pack more socks. If you’re walking all day, you might want to wear multiple pairs to prevent your shoes from rubbing, and it can be nice to change into clean socks in the evening after you’ve been walking around all day.
Buy good quality sunglasses.
Good sunglasses will protect your eyes from UV and bright sunlight. If you usually wear glasses, prescription sunglasses can be a godsend, so you don’t have to choose between being able to see in the sun or not being able to see without your glasses.
Take an extra bank and credit card with you.
Having a backup card with you is always a good idea if your primary card is lost or stolen. You don’t want to get stuck with no access to money. An extra card can be a help. Keep it somewhere safe and secure, away from your main cards.
The card should be something that anyone can send money to you on, and you can receive it anywhere in the world. Strictly for emergency purposes, it can be smart to put a small amount on there – but not too much!
Travel alone at least once.
Traveling alone can be an incredible experience. You’ll learn a lot about yourself and become more independent. You’ll learn to manage for yourself, talk to people, cope in new scenarios, and do whatever you want. It can take some time, but everyone should do it at least once. Get out of your comfort zone, and you might learn some essential life skills.
Plan Experiences In Advance
Next, you need to make sure that you are thinking about what type of experiences you want to explore when you are traveling. With the right plan in place, you can guarantee that you make the most of your time. There are lots of different activities worth exploring like inshore fishing. This is perfect if you want to try fishing for the first time.