From planning, to packing, to finding your way, here are the top tips I’ve discovered over a decade of travel.
1. Travel with realistic expectations
Don’t travel expecting everything to be the same as in your home country—isn’t the point to have different experiences? You won’t be able to eat dinner at 6:00pm in Europe, and your servers won’t continuously check on you they do in the US. And “Island Time” is a real thing! Do a bit of research before you go and, most importantly, be prepared to go with the flow.
2. Pack only a carry-on bag and a backpack
Only take baggage you can carry yourself. There will always be situations where you can’t roll your suitcase, including down plane exit stairs, across sand, and over cobblestones. If you are like me, your suitcase will be packed to the gills, so it’s important that you choose a lightweight one that won’t be too heavy to lift once packed. After a lot of research, the winner by a landslide is the Lipault Cabin Spinner. It weighs under 5 pounds empty, and the seams are incredibly forgiving. You may be able to find a lighter carry-on, but the added ease of a spinner and the ability to put your heavy backpack on top sets this one apart! Mine is 4 years old and still in perfect condition.
3. Be cautious about group tours
Planning a trip to a new place can feel overwhelming. When I was planning my first trip to Greece, I found a a tour with a generic tour company and I was tempted to go that route for ease. I asked about the hotels in the TripAdvisor forums and got many responses telling me the hotels were the “cheap seats” and that I could plan a better experience for less money. I took that advice and in 1 day, I was able to plan my trip using the tour as a template: First fly to Athens, then take a plane immediately to Santorini. Stay in Santorini for 4 days, then take a ferry to Mykonos. Stay for 3 days then fly back to Athens for the last two nights of the trip. Using these transportation plans, I then researched lodging in each place using the next two tips below. This is not to say that there aren’t great tours out there, just be discerning and do your research!
4. Use TripAdvisor to for research and planning.
TripAdvisor.com is a wealth of information. On this site, you will find places to stay, restaurants, and things to do—all with with reviews. For me, the most valuable information is found in the travel forums. Search on the site for the the travel forum for the location you plan to visit. For example, here is the Cinque Terre Travel Forum. I’ll tell you, these people know what they are talking about! They are other travelers, some who have visited the area recently, others are experts who have visited many times or may be living there. It’s good etiquette to spend time reading and searching for questions you have prior to posting your own question. Remember to be polite and don’t forget to say thank you and give back by posting your own experiences or answering questions after your trip.
5. Stay local
If you stay in a typical American chain, it’s going to feel like the typical American chain. While I get our human tendency to gravitate toward the familiar, shouldn’t travel be about experiences that are different?? Local hotels have more charm, connect you better to the culture, and are typically much cheaper. In 2024, I stayed directly on the beach on Isla Isabela in the Galapagos Islands in a private room with a private bathroom and balcony for $69 USD per night. Which brings me to the next tip…
6. Make cancellable reservations
Many local hotels have generous cancellations policies. Some allow you to cancel up to 2 weeks prior to your trip! I typically book a couple of places in each location as I’m planning my trip. I track bookings and cancellation dates in spreadsheet. This greatly cuts down on the stress of finding the perfect accommodations early in your planning. I start the reservation process on TripAdvisor.com and then use one of TA’s reputable booking engine affiliates or book directly with the hotel. I have used Booking.com for years and never had an issue. Cancellations within the hotel’s policy have always been easy through them. As with any internet transaction, be a smart consumer. Don’t book places that look shady or have no online presence or reviews. Some very small hotels may not accept credit cards and you will have to pay cash upon arrival.
7. Natural hair, don’t care
Whatever your hair does naturally, that’s what it should do on vacation! There will be wind and water and humidity. You have much better uses of your time and luggage space! If you have curly hair all you need is a small comb, a good curl cream, and a variety of hair ties. And hats. Many hats!
8. Use TSA approved reusable quart bags
All quart bags are not created equal. If you are using a Ziploc bag for your toiletries, you are missing out on a lot of space. These TSA approved bags are square and they don’t taper at the bottom. Also invest in these leakproof bottles for your toiletries. Even if you buy travel size toiletries, you’ll never fit everything you need if you use the original packaging. Using the small refillable bottles also makes your “go-bag” always ready to “go”! I find I only need 1oz or 2oz sizes.
9. Find a laundromat
Pack half the clothes you need and do laundry on your trip. There have been inexpensive laundromats everywhere I’ve traveled. Typically you drop off in the morning and pick up later in the afternoon—easy peasy and inexpensive as well!
10. Don’t be afraid to ask locals for help
I tend to be independent to a fault, but I have learned through experience that locals will have better answers than you will find on your own. They know the local taxi drivers who will pick you up quickly and on what day “the egg guy” comes to town. I was once at a winery in Greece with a dead cell phone and only 30 euro cash. I needed a taxi to the beach that was my next stop, but figured I’d also need a stop at an ATM for more cash to pay the cab driver. When I explained the situation to the hostess at the winery, she not only called a cab, she negotiated that the trip would be only 30 euro! People are willing (and in most places eager) to help, you just have to reach out.