Tips For Stress-Free And Affordable Travel

1.

“Schedule your arrival at new destinations during weekdays and daytime hours. You never know when you might need help, and a lot of places like visitors centers and banks aren’t open late or on the weekend. I arrived in Geneva on a Sunday, and nothing was open. The only place I could get dinner was at the train station, and I was very lucky to get that.”

2.

“Street view on Google Maps can be your best friend. If you’re a visual learner like I am, it helps to really see the places you’ll be driving or walking before you get there. It helps you to actually envision turns or buildings, which will look familiar when you see them for yourself and you won’t look lost or out of place.”

3.

“If you’re traveling somewhere new, sign up for a cooking class. It’s a great way to learn more about local cuisine and the kind of dishes you should be trying. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other people and exchange travel intel and recommendations.”

4.

“Think about safety first. Share your itinerary with a few others back home (including your Airbnb host’s info if you’re staying at one, and hotel phone numbers). Or, share your location on your phone with a friend.”

5.

“Open yourself up to new flavors and culinary experiences. Whenever I travel, I try to eat pretty much whatever presents itself, even if it’s not a part of my ordinary diet. If I’m trying a tasting menu or sitting at the chef’s counter, I say I have no dietary restrictions, and if a waiter or local suggests I try the local specialty, I am always game. I’ve eaten some of the most delicious meals of my entire life by being more adventurous than usual. Being open-minded also gives you a better look into the local culture and cuisine. Plus, it makes for some pretty memorable culinary experiences to look back on later.”

6.

“If you’re queer or trans and traveling, I can’t stress enough how important it is that you do your research. It will keep you out of unsafe places and educate you about your rights before you get on the road or arrive at the airport. In my experience, the TSA can be a very hairy situation for trans people in particular.”

7.

“Take some time to plan out your itinerary ahead of time. Someone once gave me some great advice for mapping out what you want to do and see. For every destination you’re visiting, make a list with three sections: one ‘must see,’ a second ‘would like to see,’ and a third ‘if there is time’ section. Then plot all of these spots on a custom Google map and plan your days based off of their locations. This trick allows me to cover so much ground and still have time to relax because I’ve figured out how to efficiently visit the places I want to see.”

8.

“If you’re flying, do your best to avoid checking bags unless you absolutely must (aka you’re staying somewhere for weeks). You can carry on a small suitcase or weekender bag and a personal item like a purse or computer bag. Not only does this save you time at airports, but it also ensures you don’t have to deal with the hassle of lost luggage.”

9.

“Bakeries are the best place to eat amazing local food for cheap, especially in Europe. Whether you get a freshly-baked croissant, a bread roll stuffed with olives, or a flaky cheesy pastry, nothing will cost you more than a couple of dollars. Bakeries are your friend, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

10.

“My best tip is don’t be afraid to wander around aimlessly. When I travel, I choose two activities I definitely want to do. As for the rest of my trip, I just wander and see what I find. It adds more excitement and adventure; plus, you don’t feel like you’re confined to a tight schedule.”

11.

“If it’s a special trip, consider hiring a travel agent. Most people don’t realize that a travel agent can do all the research and find the best deals, best resorts, and best flights, and many agents are structured so that they don’t cost the traveler a dime. They get commissions from resorts. So, why not let them do all of the busy work for you?”

12.

“If you’re planning a trip to Europe and aren’t fixated on a direct flight, find the cheapest city in Europe to fly into from your home airport. Then, book a cheap flight on a European budget airline from that city to your destination. This can save you so much money.”

13.

“Research where you’re going and how you can get there upon arriving at a new destination. I always make sure I know what train lines to get on before arriving at the station so I don’t look like a tourist trying to figure out the system and so I don’t have to deal with the fear of getting lost in a strange place.”

14.

“Stay somewhere with free breakfast and/or a kitchen. One of the best parts about traveling is trying new food — but eating out for three meals a day can get pretty pricey. Staying somewhere with a kitchen is key, whether it’s a small apartment kitchenette or a shared hostel kitchen. Of course, free breakfast is also a major plus I look for when booking a place to stay.”

15.

“When it comes to finding great restaurants in a new place, I always ask the locals where they take visiting relatives or friends from out of town to eat. That’s how you truly uncover the best places.”

16.

“Give yourself at least a week or two to track flight prices before actually pulling the trigger. Prices are constantly changing, and airlines even use dynamic pricing in order to adjust fares based on your search history. Sometimes, I’ll check a flight on a Saturday and then find that it’s hundreds of dollars cheaper on a Tuesday after clearing my cookies. As a result, I never immediately book a flight. There are some studies that show booking two to three months out is the sweet spot for finding the best flight deals. I use this as a general rule, but then I spend about two weeks tracking flight prices before I actually book. If I notice that the price of my desired flight dropped on a Tuesday and went back up the next day, I’ll look the following Tuesday. If the price is still low, I’ll go for it.”

17.

“Try all different types of restaurants in the city you’re visiting. I remember telling my parents about how cool it was to go to a Chinese restaurant while living in Rome, and they scoffed at the idea. ‘You’re in Italy, you should be having Italian food!’ But experiencing Chinese food through an Italian lens was really different and interesting. So, now I always try to hit up globally-inspired restaurants in all the places I visit.”

18.

“This is my favorite travel advice. I always carry a power strip with my own country’s sockets and one power adapter.”

19.

“Buy passes and combo tickets for museums, attractions, and public transportation. If you’re getting a ticket that allows you to see more than one spot at a time (like an observatory and a museum), then it’s worth it! All-day or week-long passes for trains and buses are especially useful. It usually costs much less than buying separate tickets for each journey.”

20.

“To eat well on any budget, forego a restaurant in favor of street food. The moment you sit down at a table, the prices go up (and depending on what country you’re in, you may have to tip). So, why even bother with a fancy restaurant sometimes when you can have delicious — and often more authentic — food at a street vendor or counter-service spot? Grab-and-go is almost always cheaper, and there’s something oddly romantic about scarfing a falafel sandwich on a curb while shooing away pigeons.”

21.

“I was visiting Acadia National Park, and my kayak guide told us that if the view is great, the food doesn’t have to be. I’ve stuck by that philosophy for 15 years now.”

22.

“Travel during shoulder season, the month or two that envelopes the high season. If you go to any destination during peak time, everything is more expensive and crowded. Going the month before or after provides a little budget relief and fewer crowds.”

23.

“If you have a student ID, use it to your advantage! I don’t think people realize how many discounts on museums and attractions you can get with a student ID all over the world. I paid half-price for almost every single thing I did in China, from national parks to botanical gardens to educational things. Always bring it if you have one.”

24.

“Always book hotels directly rather than through third party sites. This gives you more recourse if things go wrong. Most hotels will be able to offer more flexibility if you need to cancel than if you booked through a third party, even for ‘non-refundable’ rates. And if something goes wrong, you have a better chance of getting the room at a discount or comped if the hotel booked it rather than trying to get the money back from Expedia.”

25.

“Book a street food tour! I usually schedule one of these for my first day in a new place. Not only does that give me the lay of the land, but a local tells me about the dishes I should eat and how to figure out where is safe to eat. The one time I got food poisoning while traveling was from a high-end restaurant that catered to tourists in Mexico. But I’ve never had an issue with the stands selling elotes, tamales, and salteñas.”