Travel Tips 101

We’ve all been there – staring at your unpacked suitcase, wondering which clothes to bring, losing an item while overseas you knew was just there a while ago, or even realizing that you’ve exceeded your budget for the week. Well, worry no more, because today we’ll be bringing you the top travel tips for women, by women.

1. Pack light, and pack early – by Brooke Saward from http://www.worldofwanderlust.com/

Admit it, many of us tend to procrastinate with many things, including packing for our vacations. But even if you love the rush of working under pressure, you need to quit this bad habit, or you’re bound to never be able to find anything in that luggage and even forget something in the laundry. Don’t forget to do all your laundry in the basket beforehand for squeaky clean clothes, and always pack light.

A good strategy would be to remove half of everything you want to pack. Trust us, less is more (plus you’ll have more room for more purchases). To save space, avoid clothes that wrinkle easily, and if you really need to, roll it. For hats, pack the headspace with small clothing items (T-shirts, undies,etc.) and voila! Also, consider buying a hard suitcase. No broken items, no worries!

2. Enjoy yourself – by Anna from www.crazyintherain.com

Many times when on a holiday, we forget the reason why we’ve taken time off work and just start stressing out on where to go next, how close the deadline for that assignment is due, or how many calories that extra snack you ate contained. Stop! Take a few deep breaths, slow down and relax. Take pictures of the scenery, laugh with your friends and try out as many new things as you can while you’re at it. You can go back to work after this, but for now, learn to enjoy yourself.

Treat yourself to some of the local cuisines as well; you never know when’s the next time you’ll get the same thing to eat. A quick tip – bring along baby wipes in case there are delays and you can’t take a shower, so you’ll never feel sticky all over. Remember to charge up all your devices on the night before, too, because nothing is more frustrating than watching your camera battery die. If you’re prone to falling sick, consider packing a few on-the-go medicines as well.

3.  Save whenever you can – by The Blonde Abroad from https://theblondeabroad.com

Whether you’re a student or a working woman, many of us tend to give up on our dream vacation usually because of the price tag. While travel does involve costs there many alternative ways to travel that not only save money. One of them is to be patient. Do some research on which plane tickets are the cheapest at any time of the year.

Switch to a hostel, or look for hotels located a little farther from the city center as they are usually cheaper. Use the public transport or bike rentals whenever possible as taxis tend to get expensive. Of course, walking is also ideal to take in the scenery and local cultures. Be brave and skip those pricey tours, too!

Download audiobooks or guides, or consider Hop-on/hop-off buses that’ll take you everywhere. Remember to research free activities, check online for special deals and look for special rates for students, seniors, kids or groups, whatever might apply to you! Don’t buy all the souvenirs; find one special thing to bring home that really represents your trip and opt for stores unique to the country for truly special items. Lastly, remember to keep your receipts because you can often get tax refunds at the airport at the end of your trip!

4. Safety First – by Kristin from https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/

Maybe your own inner-voice is holding you back with visions of worst-case scenarios, or your family and friends are filling your mind with pictures of a big, scary world for girls. Whatever the case, there are many easy ways to stay safe. Firstly, cut down on the alcohol. It’s ok to have a couple of drinks but getting drunk in a foreign and unknown place could put you in danger.

Don’t flaunt your valuables too much, too, or you might attract some unwanted attention and try not to listen to music with earbuds in while walking around in a city as it makes you less aware of your surroundings. Dressing appropriately can save you a lot of trouble, as well as having connections in your destination country, so don’t hesitate to call up a local friend!

If you’re traveling solo after dark, stick close to a nearby couple or a family, and shoot them a smile to show that you mean no harm. If you ever do feel like you’re bringing followed, pop into the nearest restaurant or hotel. These usually have someone who speaks English and they’re more than happy to help. Lastly, when you’re traveling in a group, let others know of your travel plans and itinerary, too, so they’ll know something’s wrong if you’re not where you should be.

5. Last-minute admin checklist – by various from www.travel-break.net

1. Make sure to get travel insurance. If you can’t afford it, you’re probably not ready to travel.
2. Look up visa & passport information for the countries you’re visiting through your country’s consulate and contact your banks to inform them of the countries you are traveling to so you can prepare beforehand.
3. Consider getting a temporary phone card from the country you’re visiting. Alternatively, you can also stick to Wifi and keep your phone on Airplane Mode.
4. Figure out which once-in-a-lifetime events are worth revolving your trip around. For example, when traveling to Thailand, be sure to make it to the Full Moon Party and local sporting events which are sure to raise your spirits.
5. Learn as many photography and Instagram skills as you can, and read up on all your equipment functions.

If you want to enjoy your vacation to the fullest, you can’t afford to be lazy, so best get to it!