Enjoy where you are at now and spend less time taking pictures (that you will likely never look at).
Offline Google Maps and offline Google Translate language packs are key technology tools.
I always go to a grocery / market / shopping area, a library, and a park in every town I visit to get a feel for what it is like away from the xyz main tourist attractions.
I think for some not taking photos is great, but for me it is part of the joy of traveling and I do like looking at the photos afterwards, even years after.
I read this on someone’s blog I don’t even remember but it has been a true game changer— pack a Turkish towel. They’re thin and lightweight, and come in handy for so many different things. I’ve used mine as a blanket on the ground in the park, a seat cover for wet benches, a blanket/wrap for cooler weather, and an emergency shower or pool (or beach!) towel. Keeping a Turkish towel in my backpack has let me say yes to so many spur of the moment things I otherwise would have felt unprepared for. Even on trips when the only time I use it is as a blanket on the plane/train/car, just knowing that I have it in my bag for whatever comes up gives me an extra little bit of peace of mind.
I'm a bag checker so when traveling with a partner or friend, we split up our clothes between the bags. That way, if one bag is lost or delayed, we both have at least one fresh, clean outfit to wear.
Bring some duct tape - can patch a tear, act as an emergency bandaid, wrap around a broken travel bag, use as a light blocking strip at the bottom of the hotel door. Duct tape.
Wear a very bright colored scarf/wrap - you (or a travel companion) is easy to spot in a crowded place if you have a bright colored scarf on. Also, you can tell an uber driver, “I’ll be wearing a bright green (yellow, pink, blue, orange - your choice) scarf.
I so wish I could do this! But how do you manage the toiletries? I can't use just any old hotel shampoo/conditioner and the thought of having to buy it all when I arrive is too much. But I envy those who can manage it! :-)
I had a HORRIFIC experience with a large, heavy suitcase on a trip to Berlin a few years ago and vowed 'never again.' I invested in generic (not cute, nor expensive) toiletry bottles, a quart-sized translucent travel bag, and packing cubes. It took some but not a lot of effort to get everything sorted out, and now I can use a carry-on for a trip up to about 10 days. More than that, I would either need to buy toiletries in our destination to top off, or go to a checked bag. But the freedom of the carry on feels so good! If you want specific tips, email me! I'm happy to share. mel@strongsenseofplace.com —Mel
Yes, you should post photos of how you pack a carry on for 10 days. I am a terrible packer and bring tons of stuff I never use! I have yet to learn from this. Just my bathroom stuff alone....ugh.
Agree. In addition to our carry on our personal items are backpacks - we pack one full of snacks, books, etc and the other with our toiletries. Love not having to wait for or worry about checked bags.
And I just thought of another my mom always did growing up— our first dinner back at home was always the same, every single time. For us, it was takeout from a particular restaurant. As kids, it felt like one more little piece of vacation even after getting home, but as an adult I can see the value was less in giving us something to look forward to, and more about having one less decision to make on a long, hectic travel day. Now, as an adult living in the town where I grew up, I still get the same takeout when I return home from all my own travel, and even though I eat at that same local restaurant often in normal life, the blackened chicken sandwich is only a homecoming meal— it would feel wrong to order it any other time!
This is such a good, comforting idea! We usually get delivery from a local restaurant — we place the order on the app at the train station/airport, and then it arrives just a few minutes after we get home. We get to sit with our kitty Smudge, watch Jeopardy, and relax with dinner.
Related (and I have never done this), you can schedule one of those easy dinner boxes to arrive when you get home. I knew of someone who did this and I thought it was brilliant.
I love this! I read about Alice Waters who always made “coming home pasta” with what she would always have in the house. We do that now! Pasta, parmaggiano, herbs, onion , garlic, red pepper flakes!
One of my friends has always recommended buying underwear in a new destination as a way to get a handle on the gestalt of a culture. I like doing laundry at a local laundromat for a similar result as well as shopping for groceries to make a picnic. Practicalities for traveling: secure your checked luggage with twist ties; security personnel have the keys to all luggage locks, but they tend not to want to fuss with twist ties. Also, 2.5 gallon ziplock bags work just as well as the pricier packing cubes. You can pack like items in each one, folded into each other, and they help protect your clothes from the weather, errant perfumes from other luggage in the hold and creepy crawlies. I’ve also found it useful when you are faced with lugging a suitcase up 5 flights of stairs in a pensione sans elevator: you can remove and carry your ziplocked clothing in your arms up the stairs and return for the much lighter, empty suitcase for the final trek.
When I use a checked bag, I LOVE to use ziplocks! I label them with a Sharpie because all my clothing is black ;-) So convenient and easy to repack. I think they're especially good on long trips. —Mel
I love ziplock bags! I always have one to snag a snack from any breakfast buffet I might happen on. My kids are embarrassed until they love the snack later.
1. Get rid of the idea that there things you "have to do." It's your vacation--do the things you want to do. If you pay for entrance to a museum and feel done after an hour, then move on to the next activity. You don't have to see every single piece of art.
2. Okay, this is a little TMI, but I can't stress this enough: Poop when you have to poop. You may feel shy about using that crowded train station bathroom, but it could be the only chance you get for hours. Your digestive track will thank you and you will be much more comfortable for your whole trip.
Traveling between multiple times zones? Hit the floor running. Adjustment is easier the sooner you adapt to local time. This meant dragging ourselves out of the hotel in Lisbon to walk a mile to eat with the locals in the museum cafe and tour the exhibits afterwards. Give yourself something to look forward to when battling sleep deprivation. The Gulbenkian was amazing!
Skip the cheap “all you can eats” and try the local cuisine. Do not judge a restaurant by its price. For example, in the south some of the best southern cooking is served in a cafeteria. Pack food and meds and portable phone charger in a carryon when flying. When flying to and from Hawaii from the east coast, leave early morning from the east and near midnight from Hawaii. Ship certain items that you buy as souvenirs back home as it makes it easier than lugging it through airport. Don’t travel with anyone. Just go and enjoy your vacation rather than trying to work around other peoples schedules. That’s my personal preference.
I love all these travel tips! This list is amazing! My best and favourite tip is one from my husband -- "You see what you see." Don't stress about seeing or doing the "Musts" on a list. Just enjoy what you do see and if you can't make it to the top of the Eiffel Tower or scuba off the Great Barrier reef, enjoy the croissant in the tower's shadow and the amazing fish and chips at the seaside spot in Cairns.
It feels like a corollary to Rick Steves' advice that you should always assume you'll be back. Takes the pressure off and helps to stay present. Love it.
If you are checking a bag make sure to pack the essentials in your carry-on like your toothbrush, toothpaste, a change of shirt, a change of underwear and of course the obvious medications, vitamins etc. (Let's just say I learn this the hard way.)
Wear comfortable shoes when touring a city, at an amusement park, doing museums, etc. Always! Forget about fashion...comfort and the ability to keep going are far more important. No one else is looking at your shoes and they rarely show in pictures (or you can crop them out! :-) ).
Do some basic research about the places you will visit and what there is to do there before you go. It might save time if you have a basic lay of the land and know what options you have, especially if you are visiting a lot of locations in one trip and/or have a short amount of time. But also...
...be open to that unexpected detour or unscheduled stop. Sometimes those are the best parts of the trip!
If staying somewhere more than a day or two, try to stay in a hotel room with at least a fridge, if not a kitchenette. We like to have breakfast in our room, with our own cereal or toast, instead of springing for an expensive breakfast that's more than we need or settling for the subpar free hotel breakfast.
Enjoy where you are at now and spend less time taking pictures (that you will likely never look at).
Offline Google Maps and offline Google Translate language packs are key technology tools.
I always go to a grocery / market / shopping area, a library, and a park in every town I visit to get a feel for what it is like away from the xyz main tourist attractions.
I think for some not taking photos is great, but for me it is part of the joy of traveling and I do like looking at the photos afterwards, even years after.
YES to grocery store! So much fun!
I read this on someone’s blog I don’t even remember but it has been a true game changer— pack a Turkish towel. They’re thin and lightweight, and come in handy for so many different things. I’ve used mine as a blanket on the ground in the park, a seat cover for wet benches, a blanket/wrap for cooler weather, and an emergency shower or pool (or beach!) towel. Keeping a Turkish towel in my backpack has let me say yes to so many spur of the moment things I otherwise would have felt unprepared for. Even on trips when the only time I use it is as a blanket on the plane/train/car, just knowing that I have it in my bag for whatever comes up gives me an extra little bit of peace of mind.
Excellent tip!
Roll your clothes when packing your suitcase it saves lots of space. Wear layers if traveling by plane or train.
I'm a bag checker so when traveling with a partner or friend, we split up our clothes between the bags. That way, if one bag is lost or delayed, we both have at least one fresh, clean outfit to wear.
YES. This is what we do. No one wants to be the only person wearing the same clothes for three days.
Such a clever idea!
Bring some duct tape - can patch a tear, act as an emergency bandaid, wrap around a broken travel bag, use as a light blocking strip at the bottom of the hotel door. Duct tape.
Wear a very bright colored scarf/wrap - you (or a travel companion) is easy to spot in a crowded place if you have a bright colored scarf on. Also, you can tell an uber driver, “I’ll be wearing a bright green (yellow, pink, blue, orange - your choice) scarf.
When my kids were little we'd buy them new tie-dyed t-shirts for traveling. Couldn't miss them.
And I need to mention I got those 2 tips from Samantha Brown-she has a travel show and IG. Lots of good ideas from her.
Carry-on luggage only. It’s liberating!
I so wish I could do this! But how do you manage the toiletries? I can't use just any old hotel shampoo/conditioner and the thought of having to buy it all when I arrive is too much. But I envy those who can manage it! :-)
I had a HORRIFIC experience with a large, heavy suitcase on a trip to Berlin a few years ago and vowed 'never again.' I invested in generic (not cute, nor expensive) toiletry bottles, a quart-sized translucent travel bag, and packing cubes. It took some but not a lot of effort to get everything sorted out, and now I can use a carry-on for a trip up to about 10 days. More than that, I would either need to buy toiletries in our destination to top off, or go to a checked bag. But the freedom of the carry on feels so good! If you want specific tips, email me! I'm happy to share. mel@strongsenseofplace.com —Mel
Yes, you should post photos of how you pack a carry on for 10 days. I am a terrible packer and bring tons of stuff I never use! I have yet to learn from this. Just my bathroom stuff alone....ugh.
I'll be packing for our trip next week. If I have time, I'll take photos of everything I'm bringing and how it all gets packed into my carryon!
Agree. In addition to our carry on our personal items are backpacks - we pack one full of snacks, books, etc and the other with our toiletries. Love not having to wait for or worry about checked bags.
And I just thought of another my mom always did growing up— our first dinner back at home was always the same, every single time. For us, it was takeout from a particular restaurant. As kids, it felt like one more little piece of vacation even after getting home, but as an adult I can see the value was less in giving us something to look forward to, and more about having one less decision to make on a long, hectic travel day. Now, as an adult living in the town where I grew up, I still get the same takeout when I return home from all my own travel, and even though I eat at that same local restaurant often in normal life, the blackened chicken sandwich is only a homecoming meal— it would feel wrong to order it any other time!
This is such a good, comforting idea! We usually get delivery from a local restaurant — we place the order on the app at the train station/airport, and then it arrives just a few minutes after we get home. We get to sit with our kitty Smudge, watch Jeopardy, and relax with dinner.
Related (and I have never done this), you can schedule one of those easy dinner boxes to arrive when you get home. I knew of someone who did this and I thought it was brilliant.
I love this! I read about Alice Waters who always made “coming home pasta” with what she would always have in the house. We do that now! Pasta, parmaggiano, herbs, onion , garlic, red pepper flakes!
One of my friends has always recommended buying underwear in a new destination as a way to get a handle on the gestalt of a culture. I like doing laundry at a local laundromat for a similar result as well as shopping for groceries to make a picnic. Practicalities for traveling: secure your checked luggage with twist ties; security personnel have the keys to all luggage locks, but they tend not to want to fuss with twist ties. Also, 2.5 gallon ziplock bags work just as well as the pricier packing cubes. You can pack like items in each one, folded into each other, and they help protect your clothes from the weather, errant perfumes from other luggage in the hold and creepy crawlies. I’ve also found it useful when you are faced with lugging a suitcase up 5 flights of stairs in a pensione sans elevator: you can remove and carry your ziplocked clothing in your arms up the stairs and return for the much lighter, empty suitcase for the final trek.
When I use a checked bag, I LOVE to use ziplocks! I label them with a Sharpie because all my clothing is black ;-) So convenient and easy to repack. I think they're especially good on long trips. —Mel
I love ziplock bags! I always have one to snag a snack from any breakfast buffet I might happen on. My kids are embarrassed until they love the snack later.
1. Get rid of the idea that there things you "have to do." It's your vacation--do the things you want to do. If you pay for entrance to a museum and feel done after an hour, then move on to the next activity. You don't have to see every single piece of art.
2. Okay, this is a little TMI, but I can't stress this enough: Poop when you have to poop. You may feel shy about using that crowded train station bathroom, but it could be the only chance you get for hours. Your digestive track will thank you and you will be much more comfortable for your whole trip.
Re: #2. If you change time zones, it's really important to listen to your body and go when you need to go! Good reminder, Caroline!
That is also my bathroom policy when traveling!
Traveling between multiple times zones? Hit the floor running. Adjustment is easier the sooner you adapt to local time. This meant dragging ourselves out of the hotel in Lisbon to walk a mile to eat with the locals in the museum cafe and tour the exhibits afterwards. Give yourself something to look forward to when battling sleep deprivation. The Gulbenkian was amazing!
I agree, this is key! Not easy, but extremely beneficial. My well-traveled aunt taught me that tip, too!
Skip the cheap “all you can eats” and try the local cuisine. Do not judge a restaurant by its price. For example, in the south some of the best southern cooking is served in a cafeteria. Pack food and meds and portable phone charger in a carryon when flying. When flying to and from Hawaii from the east coast, leave early morning from the east and near midnight from Hawaii. Ship certain items that you buy as souvenirs back home as it makes it easier than lugging it through airport. Don’t travel with anyone. Just go and enjoy your vacation rather than trying to work around other peoples schedules. That’s my personal preference.
When looking for the best place to eat, ask a cab driver.
#this.
I love all these travel tips! This list is amazing! My best and favourite tip is one from my husband -- "You see what you see." Don't stress about seeing or doing the "Musts" on a list. Just enjoy what you do see and if you can't make it to the top of the Eiffel Tower or scuba off the Great Barrier reef, enjoy the croissant in the tower's shadow and the amazing fish and chips at the seaside spot in Cairns.
YES! This is such a good one.
It feels like a corollary to Rick Steves' advice that you should always assume you'll be back. Takes the pressure off and helps to stay present. Love it.
If you are checking a bag make sure to pack the essentials in your carry-on like your toothbrush, toothpaste, a change of shirt, a change of underwear and of course the obvious medications, vitamins etc. (Let's just say I learn this the hard way.)
Wear comfortable shoes when touring a city, at an amusement park, doing museums, etc. Always! Forget about fashion...comfort and the ability to keep going are far more important. No one else is looking at your shoes and they rarely show in pictures (or you can crop them out! :-) ).
Do some basic research about the places you will visit and what there is to do there before you go. It might save time if you have a basic lay of the land and know what options you have, especially if you are visiting a lot of locations in one trip and/or have a short amount of time. But also...
...be open to that unexpected detour or unscheduled stop. Sometimes those are the best parts of the trip!
If staying somewhere more than a day or two, try to stay in a hotel room with at least a fridge, if not a kitchenette. We like to have breakfast in our room, with our own cereal or toast, instead of springing for an expensive breakfast that's more than we need or settling for the subpar free hotel breakfast.