Travel Tips

Having been to more than 35 countries and all 50 states, along the way, I've learned a thing or two about making travel just a little easier for myself. Here are a list of considerations for your next journey.

The more I travel the more I learn and improve what I am doing. So check back once in a while and see if I have learned something new.

Before you leave:

Take a picture of your passport and save it to a cloud where you can access without your phone.
Know where the nearest US embassy is located and their phone number. I always have this information before leaving and handy just in case. You never know when you might need to get in touch with them (ie. lost passport).

Packing:

Handbag, any bag you carry should have a zipper that can fully close in case it falls over, so you won't have to worry about spillage. (I had a friend who lost ALL of her prescription drugs because she did not notice that it had fallen out of her bag.)
Luggage - never pack more than you can carry up 2 flights stairs. There are many places where you will have to go up steps of some kind, despite listing an elevator. And if you are in a developing country, it may not always be working.
- Packing cubes will help you organize and make things easier. They are also helpful for carry on bags and TSA when they want to search your bag. Lastly, if there are items that will always get tagged, having it in a packing cube or the like allows me to easity remove it out for the x-ray machine and repack it. That way, they only go through that one article.
Toiletries should be in travel size! Do a test run before you start your trip. Fill up a travel size shampoo, lotion, hairspray and keep track of how much you have consumed in week. This will tell you how much you will need for your trip. My goal is to always come home with little to nothing. This will allow more weight for souveniers!
Medications, of course bring your prescriptions. Always pack them in your carry-on, your purse would be even better. Tip: Look up rules on narcotics specific to the country you are traveling to, this could really be critical. Some countries have a ban on them. CBD and THC also have some of the same rules.
- Consider packing the following.
  - Prescriptions: Cipro or antibiotics just in case I get food poisoning.
  - Over the counter to consider: aspirin, ibuprofen, antihistamine, Abreva for cold sores.
  - Things that make me feel better when I am tired and have had too many days without a break: vitamin C, magnesium with electrolyte powder or tablets, glucose tablets.
  - Meds for motion sickness. I personally don't like them, so I will pack an inhaler with peppermint and lavendar essential oil, this helps clear my head.
Shoes - always take two pairs of shoes in case one gets wet you will always have a second dry pair.
- Sandals if you are going to some place that will be wet, especially rubber because you can just wash them off in the shower and they will dry by morning. I don't generally wear sandals when I am walking all day because they do not have enough support and I get dry heals.
- Mole skin, band aids, and if on hand, kinetic tape which can be used like a layer of skin.
Clothing pack as light as possible, mix and match to create outfits, wear layers. Look up the local laundry service for anything over a week. It is cheaper than the service at the hotel.
- Always, always, always pack a scarf. Cotton or silk is preferred. There are about 100 uses for a scarf. When you need to cover up to enter a religous site, when there is a draft, when you need something to sit on, as a pillow, to cover your eyes for a nap...the list goes on. Pack a scarf!
Power convertors vs adapters - anymore convertors are not necessary for your electronics as it it built in. Consider traveling with adapters as they are much lighter. That being said, blow dryers, curling irons and electric shavers are a different story. Take time out to look this up before you leave.
A mosquito net, this may ore may not be needed depending on where you are going. I know I look completely ridiculous wearing one, but boy did it make more more comfortable. And that is what it is all about.

What to pack in your carry on:

I learned this the hard way when our luggage was lost, never to be seen again.

Prescriptions, cash, memory cards, camera, dental appliances, anything that can not be replaced easily.
Consider packing one set of clothing and a few essential toiletries in case your luggage is lost.
Extras - safety pins, electrical tape, 2 USB cords, eye mask, bug spray.

Money:

When using a credit card, always accept the charge in the local currency if your credit card does not have a foreign exchange fee.
Using an atm card to pull out cash is usually cheaper than the exchange counter.
There are many countries where the local banks will exchange money at a much better rate without additional fees. There are also places where there are government run exchange desks which are safer and again with much better rates.
Never accept money that is torn, locals will not accept it. Always ask for smaller denominations leaving the airport, this will help with tipping. Unload coins as soon as possible; they are heavy and you will not be able to exchange them if you have left over money.

Phone service:

If you do not have an international plan, it is most cost effective to get either a simms card while in country or an Esimms. If using an Esimms, make sure that your phone has the technology and is unlocked. It is best to check with your cell phone carrier.
Set up a Whatsapp account before you leave and have it in place.
Before you leave the airport on arrival, make sure you connect to the airport wifi and ensure that everything is up and running. If you leave the airport without service, you will have to wait until you find a wifi signal.
How much data do you need? Well, that all depends on how you use your phone. For a 10 day trip, I generally use about 3GB on a 10 day trip, that includes web browsing for travel information, mapping directions, and going live on FB. When I make phone calls I will use the hotel/cafe wifi as this uses a lot of data. On the last trip I forgot and made a 1 hour video call and it used up about 1GB.
I use the app Airalo

What NOT to bring:

You should not be bringing your entire purse from home. Seriously, do you really need the frequent buyer card from your supermarket? Do you need the keys to your other car? If it can not be use outside of your home area, don't bring it.

A water filter, unless you are in the woods hiking or in the bush, bottled water is available everywhere.