Travel like a pro with my top travel tips.
From my 20s backpacking around Europe, India and Asia to family adventure and more recently hosting foodies around the world with our bespoke food tours I have picked up a number of travel tips. Here are my top ten.
1-Pack Light
Trust me no one ever says, “I am so pleased I packed these extra cloths I never wore.”
Packing light takes some planning and some discipline.
Shoes
Shoes take up a lot of room so choose carefully, they need to be versatile go with most of your outfits) and comfortable. I try to limit it to 3 at the most: a comfy pair of sandals, a versatile pair of white sneakers that I can wear during the day and possibly at night.
And don’t forget to use up all the space inside your shoes when you’re packing!
Check out my shoe packing hack here
Versatile Wardrobe
Like shoes, the clothes you pack need to be versatile. Think clothes that can mix and match. Lightweight tops and dresses not only take up less room in your suitcase they also wash and dry easily!
Compression cubes
Using packing cubes helps you to organise your suitcase so you don’t have to unpack every time you try to find something. The only think better than packing cubes is compression packing cubes!
These have double zips and reduce your cubes down giving you more room!
Here are my must pack list for our Taste of Sri Lanka tour
2-Carryon some Murphy’s Law Insurance
I have never had my luggage go missing (touch wood, man I hope I haven’t just jinxed that!!). Even though it has never happened to me it is still a real risk, so I always pack some Murphy’s Law Insurance by packing in my carry-on at least a couple of changes of underwear, a change of clothes. And if you are going to a hot country make sure you include your togs. The last thing you want is to be at a resort in Thailand or Mexico waiting poolside for your luggage to show up and not be able to swim! And I for one don’t want to have to shop for togs on holiday!
3-Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a non-negotiable! Make sure you buy travel insurance as soon as you book your airfare or tour (whichever is booked first).
Check the details.
If you place to zoom around Bali on a scooter, make sure you are covered.
If you have parents or a partner older than 80 check you are covered if they take a turn and you need to return early.
Don’t fudge your pre-existing conditions!
Travel often
If you travel often like I do look at getting an annual travel insurance policy. This often works out very economical in money and time.
Extra tip – I don’t travel with much paperwork, but I do have a copy of my travel insurance policy number and contact details of the company as well as a photo and photocopy of my passport.
4-Money
I travel with at least two visa cards (a NZ bank one and a Wise card). Make sure they are payWave enabled as most countries prefer this method of payment. For instance in Singapore this is the easiest way to use the subway.
I use my Wise card as the go to method of payment as you can load local currency onto it and save the conversion fees with every transaction.
You don’t have to load you full holidays budget onto the card, you can transfer money over every week or so depending on how long your holiday is).
Keep the second card separate and as a backup in case you lose or have your first card stolen.
Finally make sure you tell your bank you are heading overseas.
5-Flights
A lot has changed in the past twenty years when it comes to airfares. The biggest would be the mitigation of travel agents and the ability for you to book your own flights direct. But beware a travel agent can offer you real value, especially when you have multiple or connecting flights.
When you book a flight with connection, booking it on the one ticket (something your travel agent can do) means if you miss your connecting flight because of delays the airline will sort things out for you.
Sometime you pay for what you get! Cheap flights will sometimes cost you. A great travel agent can point out the pitfalls of a cheap flight, i.e. long layover, or conversely a short transfer with no margin of error if your flight is delayed or you get lost in the airport.
Look at the flight times, when it leaves and when it arrives. I like to fly at night, making the most of each day I have at my destination. It also helps me sleep on the plane.
But if your flight arrives at 6am in the morning, what are you going to do before you can check in to your hotel at 2pm? Likewise, if your flight leaves at midnight, can you arrange or pay a small fee for a late check out at your hotel?
Click here to see my video on what to pack for a long-haul flight
Looking for a great travel broker? We love Trista Somervell.
6 – Flying
See my tips for surviving a long-haul flight here
If you are from New Zealand learning to survive long flights is essential if you want to travel the world, with any destination beyond the Pacific or Australia involves a 9+ hour flight.
My biggest tip is one most people hate. This is don’t eat on your flight. This is not as hard as you may imagine as even the longest flight I take (Auckland to Doha, 17.5 hours) is doable considering you sleep the majority of it. The key is to eat before your flight and eat when you get off or on your layover.
The reason I suggest abstaining from food on a flight is because your digestive system does not do well at such high altitude. Not adding to this stress on your body will help you recover more quickly.
If your fear of starvation outweighs your desire to avoid jet lag and a bunged-up system compromise is not fizzy drinks or alcohol. Instead keep well hydrated with plenty of water. Don’t forget to take your refillable drink bottle.
Noise cancelling headphones that connect to the planes entertainment system makes watching movies so much more enjoyable that the flimsy headphones provided. Plus help you sleep.
7 – Hit the Ground Running
If I only have a short time in a city (2-3 days or less) I always take an open-air hop on hop off bus with commentary. The with commentary is key as you learn so much. In Mexico we found this hard as many of the companies only offered Spanish commentary.
These ‘touristy” bus tours effectively give you a great lay of the land and some insights you wouldn’t get by walking the streets. Do a loop then decide where you want to get off and where you want to spend more time (if you have it) on your remaining time.
8- You can’t Beat Local Knowledge
I also always invest in a walking tour or local guide whenever I can. Sure, you can walk around the Colosseum yourself, but you’ve travelled all the way to Rome, not to see the Colosseum but to also learn about it, understand more of its history. You don’t even know what you don’t know, so how can your research or read what you will find out on a tour?
I love food so we always do a walking food tour, and inevitably this gives us an insight into the history and culture of the place, not to mention art and architecture. And it’s all the more memorable because of the food!
Taste of Tours always use local guides. We want our guests to get the most out of their holiday. To be able to ask questions, learn lots and understand the destination more. Nothing beats local knowledge!
9- Plan But Don’t Over Plan
The internet makes planning your trip very easy or possibly daunting! Too much information can overload and overwhelm you.
Remember you can’t do everything! Narrow down your list to must dos, and would like to do. Leave time for the unexpected, wandering, people watching…
And just because someone can create a great website and navigate the back end of google and TripAdvisor does not mean they offer the best tour or experience.
Taste of Tours are curated for curious Kiwi’s. Most of our guests are well travelled so we want to go beyond the tourist routes and must visits and give you authentic experiences with locals, from local cheese makers in Sicily, to staying on our villa to explore Emilia Romagna, making hoppers in Sri Lanka to swimming with turtles in Mexico
We pack in as much as we can while still giving you time to relax, be it by the pool or over an aperitivo.
10 – Travel buddies
Travel is always made better if you can share it with others. This doesn’t have to mean a loved one, it could be a friend, or it could be a small group of like-minded travelers.
Taste of Tours are small group tours made up primarily of New Zealanders. A shared background and interest in food means our groups always gel and within a few days are like a wonderful family. So even if you are travelling solo or can’t travel with your best mate, we are sure you will find great company to share your experiences with on a Taste of Tour!
What are your top travel tips?
