8 Travel Hacks To Make The Best Of Your Next Trip

Pre planning is everything when it comes to taking maximum use of your limited time during travel. This doesn’t mean sticking to a strict time table or a schedule. It’s about knowing where you are heading, what you are doing and what you are going to do when you meet the unexpected. All of this is applicable for any type of travel whether it is solo, family or with friends. So read along to make your next vacation a stress free one.

1. Buy a travel guide book

Investing a few bucks on a guide book is always a good idea. It will be most useful if you purchase it the moment you decide you are going to visit a new destination or else if you get your hands on one during your trip, there will be no time for you to go through it. Most travel books including The Lonely Planet (personal favourite) does not focus on limited content, rather it is authored by multiple travellers which gives a great combination of things to do and places to visit which will make it easier for you to choose according to your preference. It will also provide you with restaurant and accommodation suggestions based on personal experiences but the most useful section of a travel book is the summary of the destination. These mostly include how to get transportation, general visa requirements, local festivals & holidays, currency, language tips and also minor yet important details such as what kind of electric sockets are used in the country. As The Lonely Planet calls it, it is a Survival Guide.

2. Watch travel videos

Internet is your best friend when it comes to gathering up your knowledge on your next travel destination. With hundreds of travel bloggers and vloggers adding new and interesting content on destinations around the world, it is a good source of information and a definite help to get some planning done. Many popular vloggers give a good insight to all the dos and don’ts at the destination and also some locations which are in the path less travelled. If you are into photography or all about getting that perfect insta photo, there is enough and more content which will give you more tips on how to get there and what to expect.

3. Mark places to visit on Google Maps

Google Maps is your best friend during your trip and if the country you are visiting has public transport details updated (transit feature) on Google Maps, life becomes even easier as it will show how to make the connections. But one thing to be aware of is that sometimes the transit feature works using public transportation time table provided to Google rather than a live feed which might not give you the fastest and the best option. Once you have decided on the places you want to visit use the save option to make a list. When you are done, it will show all the places you have marked and will be a great help for you to manage by visiting the close by attractions in one go which will save both your valuable time and money spent on unwanted commutes.

4. Make a list of things you want to carry on any trip

This does not include basics such as clothing and shoes. Items such as your passport, currency, any type of tickets, power bank, camera, extra batteries, travel adapter, portable speaker and even a padlock can be items among this list. Some items will not be essentials but it can always come in handy in case you require them. Also you can use this as a checklist, especially when you change your accommodation while travelling and you will not have to worry about leaving behind your valuables and nonreplaceable items.

5. Keep hard copies of your documents

Make it a habit to always carry printouts of your travel related documents which may include boarding passes, flight bookings, travel insurance, accommodation bookings, tour bookings etc. Keeping one or two copies of your passport information page might also be useful in case you get unlucky of loosing your passport. If you are travelling with a visa this habit will definitely be useful when it comes to dealing with immigration as it is your proof of travel. Even though we have all of these in our smartphones now, you never know when your smartphone will start acting funny, run out of battery or have bad internet. Basically, this can be a backup plan to avoid trouble and disappointment.

6. Always carry less than your baggage allowance

Different airlines have various baggage allowances. For example budget airlines such as AirAsia and Thai Lion Air will allow only a hand carry but normal airliners such as SriLankan Airlines and Singapore Airlines will allow between 25kg-40kg. No matter what, it is wise not to fill up your bags just because you can, especially if you have a limited allowance and most of the time your run out space rather than the weight allowance. As you go your journey, it is guaranteed that you will purchase a few souvenirs, local memorabilia or even clothing items. You will also notice that your existing items need more space than when packed on the first occasion. This is because you are not able to repack efficiently during your time away from home. Therefore by leaving some space in your backpack or luggage, you can avoid some packing trouble.

7. Make a habit to always carry the essentials

You might wonder what other essentials are there other than the passport and travel documents. Well, these are the minor things which many forget to take with themselves and that is to carry a pen. With all types of embarkation cards, landing cards and other forms, it will make your life easier if you have a pen anywhere you go. Being the smart one, you can fill your details while you stay in the immigration queue and others are still looking to borrow someone else’s. They say, work smarter not harder. Keeping an extra change of clothing in your hand carry might also become useful. Carrying a toothbrush won’t hurt either, specially if you are on a long haul flight or on the road continuously.

8. Go visit tourist hot spots at odd times

Visiting places popular among tourist can be a hassle sometimes due to the never-ending crowds, but you have to experience these places in order to learn about a countries’ culture, history and uniqueness. One major way to avoid the crowds are to visit these hot spots very early in the day as majority of the tourists want to rest well and start the day. Some places might have specific opening times which you will have to adhere to, or else you are good to go. This will also guarantee that you will get that perfect holiday photo without random strangers in the background. Pro tip: maintain a background check when visiting religious places, especially find out whether it is a religious holiday which will cause an influx of people. But if you are planning to visit just for the festivities, it wouldn’t be a problem at all.

Happy Travels!!!

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