Small Travel Tips That Make a Big Difference

Let’s be honest: traveling to a completely different country can be daunting. Depending on where you go, the norms and customs will different from what you’re used to in your home country, and there are so many little things that you need to consider both when you’re packing for your trip and when you’re there.

For example, one thing I had to find out the hard way the last time I traveled to Switzerland is that a majority of restaurants close their kitchens a whole hour before their listed closing time. It was the end of the day and I wanted to treat myself to a nice dinner. It was nearing the evening and I thought I was good on time since Google Maps was telling me that every restaurant nearby was closing within the hour. I unfortunately had to end up eating McDonald’s that night!

Knowing small things like that can really help you plan and prepare for wherever you go, so let’s go over some small actions to take to make your trip run smoothly!

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Organizing Your Documents

The first thing you should prepare before you even start traveling is your passport validity! A majority of countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, even if you’re staying for a short amount of time. Forgetting this can lead to being denied boarding at the airport. I recommend that you check your validity at least three months before whenever you travel because the processing and mailing times combined can take up to eight weeks. In some cases, doing online renewals can be faster, taking up to 20 days. You can also choose to do an expedited renewal which takes up to seven weeks which includes processing and mailing time. 

Packing

Before you even step foot into your destination, you have to know what to pack! There are a lot of things that you may not even give a second thought but can make a big difference when you arrive. Firstly, power adapters. Your phone will especially be helpful during your trip whether it may be searching for directions, translating signs, or contacting whoever you’re traveling with. It’s important that you stay charged up, which is why it’s important to remember that all countries have their own outlets that you may need to adapt to. It’s better to buy these from websites such as Amazon as the ones you may find at airports may be significantly more expensive.

Secondly, travel locks are especially handy. If you’re staying at a hostel or a hotel where your luggage may not be secure at all times, it’s good to lock up your belongings next to your bed to avoid theft while you’re out and about. Lastly, a basic med kit is great to have in the case of emergencies. Whether it may be bandages, medicine, epi pens, or pain killers, it’s good to have items you can rely on rather than guessing if the drug stores in the country you’re visiting have what you need.

Next, it’s important to discuss how much you need to pack. When you buy your plane ticket, make sure you double check how much luggage is included in your ticket. Most of the time, tickets come with one checked bag and one carry-on. However, cheaper tickets may not include one or the other (Checked bags are weighed and what you retrieve after your flight and carry-on bags are the ones you can bring with you to your seat). You should also be mindful of the weight of your luggage as this can incur fees. You’ll probably buy souvenirs for friends and family so you may need to consider bringing a second checked bag which will need to be purchased.

As for clothing, you should generally pack seven days worth of clothes, even for longer trips. Remember that many hotels offer places where you can do laundry so you can wash your clothes while on the go so it’s good to pack travel-sized laundry detergent accordingly. 

When you’re passing through TSA, there are many items that can delay your arrival to your gate. Water and other liquids being the biggest one. Remember you should be putting these items inside of your checked bag, not your carry-on. 

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Hitting the Road

Now that you’re here, what are some good things to remember? First, you should be coming into your destination with at least some of the local language memorized. Phrases such as asking for directions, ordering food, greetings, and thank you are vital to getting by. Yes, there are some countries that have more people that may speak English, but you can’t assume every encounter you have will be fine in English. Also, it shows to the locals that you respect their culture and that you took the time and effort to communicate with them which can only help you become friendly with them. 

Next, it’s important to ensure that you have multiple methods of payment on hand. Having at least credit/debit cards, the local currency, and even a little bit of the US dollar is nice to have at all times. You should avoid carrying too much cash with you though in the case that thieves try to pickpocket you. Avoid exchanging currencies at the airport because they typically have worse rates than at local exchange booths.

Also, be sure to contact your bank that you’ll be traveling internationally because if you try to make a purchase with a credit/debit card, it may be denied. Not a mandatory tip, but when you get a new credit/debit card, try to see if you have the option to get a card that doesn’t incur international fees. Although it’s a small percentage, the cost eventually adds up. These cards are especially helpful for people that travel frequently.