ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TIPS: MAXIMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE

PLANNING

• Budget: This is mission critical if traveling with others. Understand what people are comfortable spending (including yourself) as this will dictate hotels, food, activities. Get ahead of it, so it's not a surprise or issue later. Clarity is kind. Check your travel card/ points to make staying nice places more accessible.

• Score a Steal Through Charity Auctions: We snagged our stay at Pineapple Beach Club through a charity auction—and it made the trip incredibly affordable. If you’re looking for unique travel deals, check out local nonprofits you love and keep an eye on their fundraising events. Many host online auctions with amazing travel packages. Supporting a good cause and getting a dreamy getaway? Win-win.

• Plan based on cheap flights and optimal weather: Maximize your travel experience by securing affordable flights and visiting during the best weather conditions. Use travelarrow.io for international flights. Travel during shoulder seasons for better prices. It also helps to research optimal time to spend in a destination- is 1 day per city good, or do you need a week?

• Wee Ones: If traveling with kids (or pregnant), understand what level of family friendly a destination is. This doesn't mean you can only go to Disneyland, live your best life and bring them along! We went on multiple flights our babies first year, you can do it too.

• Use Pinterest and add to Google Maps: Organize must-visit spots for easy navigation during your trip. Typically I search "instagram picture" spots on pinterest and that leads me to cool restaurants and destinations. Download google maps area for where you are traveling.

• see a ☆ on this blog? its a see or experience must

• Google Translate: Download local language for where you are traveling.

• Cuisine: Look up the local cuisine must haves ahead of time so you will recognize and can order it on the menu. Its fun to know the local grocery stores/ local store bought items to keep an eye out for.

• Michelin-Star Dining: Enhance your culinary experience by dining at least one top-rated restaurant wherever you are visiting. You might need to make a reservation in advance, but sometimes these are hole in the wall gems.

• Itinerary: Keep it simple. We learned this the hard way while roadtripping through Ireland. Trying to cram a million things into one day while spending 6+ hours driving lead us to being hangry and exhausted. We like having a general game plan of area, and one planned activity per day. This allows for "spontaneity", but you have your google maps saved and can reference while there. Then when you are there, you can plan a little more each evening and not be stressed.

• Look up cultural norms: Understanding local customs ensures respectful and smooth interactions. This include tipping, payment methods. Good to know a few local phrases/ greetings.

• Keep a generic packing list for destination: Simplifies preparation and ensures you don’t forget essentials. Pack light, typically I try and get it into the smallest / easiest to carry bag possible. This is esp. crucial if planning on using public transit as your main source of getting around.

• Hospitals: Have a general idea where you can receive emergency care, on the off chance its needed. Randomly in Greece we needed one when I slipped near the hot tub and luckily we knew the spot to go.

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• Phone Service: Depending on where you are going, wifi might be sufficient. If not, we typically have at least one person in the group who gets a sim card for their phone. We use air-lo. 

• Travel Card: If paying with a card, always charge in local currency. This is typically a better exchange rate.

• Enable "Wheelchair Accessible" in Google Maps: Make travel with a roller bag or stroller hassle-free by finding accessible routes.

• Fancy Hotel: Call me tacky, but if you are staying at a nice hotel they often have fancy tea, coffee, and soap in the room. I collect these, and room service restocks daily. In Singapore and Canada I was able to collect a good stock. So bad, but so good. Check your travel credit card for hotel perks, it makes staying in nice hotels more accessible. 

• Listen to local radio: Immerse yourself in the local culture through music and language.

• Buy a Vogue: Gain insight into the destination’s fashion and culture. 

• Local Souvenir: Research top unique souvenirs for the region you are visiting. We like to buy a local tea, chocolate, sweet treat (ie is honey popular there, think outside the box), coffee, spices (inc extracts) or beauty products (if location is known for clean products- think deodorant, toothpaste, soap, the basics) as our souvenir. Typically can find a better price at local grocery stores. See my favs here, to buy for yourself or bring back a fav for me (I'll pay for it, and no this is not a joke)