My Journey Ideas After Touring To 100 International locations

This weblog put up is devoted to all my journey ideas that I’ve formulated after touring to nearly 100 nations. I’ve been all around the world in all capacities so I’ve undoubtedly realized fairly a couple of issues on my journeys. Whether or not it’s trekking with gorillas within the Congo, to diving with the bull sharks in Fiji, or island hopping in Greece, each journey made me somewhat wiser (or at the least I hope).

From primary frequent sense journey tricks to journey hacking and journey insurance coverage, this put up can have all of it. My travels won’t ever cease so this record will consistently be rising with issues I come throughout!

The Fundamentals of my Journey Ideas

Earlier than we even transfer onto the massive stuff, let’s get the small “frequent sense” issues out of the best way. These won’t be frequent sense for everybody however I might think about them to be in any case my travels.

Watch your stuff

When touring to a brand new nation, it’s at all times prudent to look at your stuff and have a common sense of your environment. Some nations are identified to have extra petty crime than others however you simply want that one opportunistic second in even the most secure of nations to lose your valuables.

I haven’t had many unhealthy experiences in my a few years of travels however even I used to be suckered into road thief once I was touring in Lima. Whereas at dinner, somebody got here as much as me to try to promote one thing. They pulled out {a magazine} in entrance of me to dam the view of my cellphone. After I politely refused, they left promptly however with my cellphone in hand. By the point I noticed it, they had been lengthy gone.

Know emergency contact numbers

Make sure that to jot down primary emergency numbers in a rustic earlier than visiting. These embody the police, hospitals, and different primary requirements.

Be good to everybody

Each tradition is completely different however you is likely to be pleasantly shocked at simply how pleasant among the locals is likely to be. I discover that that is particularly the case in much less developed nations. Plainly having much less doesn’t imply you might be much less blissful (as much as a minimal threshold after all).

Reciprocate the favor.

Put a smile in your face and be as open and pleasant as you may be with the folks you meet. Everyone seems to be happier and hopefully your karma will probably be excessive!

In fact, you additionally must know when to not be pleasant. That is particularly the case for those who’re a solo feminine traveler. Preserve your wits about you and know when it’s time to offer a correct F off to folks.

Keep away from leafy and unwashed meals

I’m an avid eater and half the rationale I journey is to eat wonderful issues. After I obtained COVID and misplaced my style, I rapidly descended into the black gap of Reddit studying how some folks misplaced their style for years. I used to be tremendous depressed and questioned why life was even price dwelling for those who may style? Fortunately, I solely misplaced my style for 2 days!

I’ve eaten all types of road meals all around the world. I don’t shrink back from attempting new issues and I nearly at all times discover a brand new nation by attempting their meals. I spent a complete week in Mexico Metropolis simply consuming tacos, ate unfathomable quantities of road meals in Bangkok, and attempting as many pizzerias in Naples.

I’ve gotten meals poisoning a couple of occasions as a result of it’s simply sure to occur. It’s one thing I simply settle for as a part of travels and seeing the world. Why many individuals turn into divas about this, I’m simply merely not bothered. My abdomen has definitely strengthened over time and I like to think about myself to have a sturdy abdomen.

These are an inventory of ever altering suggestions in relation to consuming whereas touring:

• Learn restaurant opinions on Google Maps or TripAdvisor as a low rating would possibly imply they’ve unhealthy high quality meals (or simply unhealthy tasting meals and customer support). If all else fails, go for meals which might be totally cooked like open hearth cooking or deep fried. These are good methods to do away with most bugs within the meals.
• I are likely to keep away from consuming leafy greens that aren’t cooked and fruits with out pores and skin. Persist with fruits like bananas, pinapple, dragonfruit, mango, watermelon and so forth.
• Know beforehand whether or not a rustic has drinkable faucet water. Typically occasions, growing nations have questionable ingesting water. This isn’t at all times the case as locations like Georgia, or South Africa. Conversely, first world nations may also have non-drinkable faucet water, particularly on distant islands just like the Cycladic islands in Greece
• All the time carry charcoal tablets with you simply incase you do get meals poisoning. These capsules will assist make the consequences extra bearable (however you’ll nonetheless endure after all).

Don’t pack a lot

Cease packing a lot stuff into your suitcases. There’s no higher feeling than touring gentle and never having to lug round an enormous suitcase when transferring about.

If potential, I might attempt to journey with out checking baggage as a result of this reduces your danger of dropping baggage and doubtlessly messing up your travels. This additionally permits you to make the most of cheaper costs like skiplagging your flights which entails reserving a flight with a layover however getting off on the layover metropolis.

I discover that packing much less can be liberating as you understand simply how few garments you want. After I lived in Bali for a lot of months, all my garments match right into a keep it up measurement backpack. It is because Bali is sizzling 12 months spherical so I largely wore shorts and tank tops. Everybody round me additionally dressed so casually that I didn’t put on pants for the complete period of the keep. I packed one good linen shirt with me for particular dinners and that was it. Throughout my keep in Bali, a few of my shirts ripped however it was really easy and low-cost to only purchase one thing new regionally.

Better of all, there’s laundry and fold service for about $1 per kg so my garments had been at all times clear!

Preserve your passport at dwelling

Go away your passports at dwelling and do go about your day along with your passport on you. There’s zero profit to having your passport on you and also you’re solely setting your self for enormous disappointment for those who lose it or get it stolen.

In the event you want the passport for a selected function, take it for that function solely and drop it off promptly at dwelling. This is likely to be if it’s essential lease a scooter in some nations the place they ask for the passport as a deposit (already an enormous pink flag). You probably have mulltiple passports, at all times carry each on you and use the passport that you simply didn’t enter the nation with.

There’s nothing worse than having to exchange a passport overseas.

Open An Account With A Good Financial institution

Having your funds so as is an absolute should when touring. Whether or not you’re touring for every week or for a 12 months, guaranteeing you might have the precise financial institution accounts and playing cards will make your expertise far more nice.

One in every of my necessities in relation to touring is a checking account that expenses no charges for overseas withdrawals in addition to refunding all overseas ATM charges.

These are two separate factors as a result of there are lots of financial institution accounts around the globe that may provide the previous and cost you no charges on their finish, however there are just a few financial institution accounts that I do know that may really refund you the ATM charges you incur from a overseas ATM.

Within the US, banks like Charles Schwab will fully refund you the ATM charges in addition to provide you with spot FX charges. In European nations, issues like Monzo or Revolut are nice for this. Fintechs are popping up left and proper lately providing nice journey providers so examine your native marketplace for what’s sizzling.

By no means settle for the ATM’s conversion price!

That is most likely the worst rip-off you possibly can ever come throughout in your travels as a result of it’s so rampant in every single place and most of the people don’t know what they’re doing.

Typically occasions, once you’re utilizing an ATM out of the country, you’ll be withdrawing money in a distinct foreign money. As soon as you choose your required withdrawal quantity and enter your PIN code, the ATM will give you a “conversion price”. They are going to show the quantity within the overseas foreign money, in addition to the quantity in your native foreign money (we’ll simply use USD for this instance).

For the monetary newbies on the market, you see your native foreign money and also you assume “oh sure that sounds good as a result of it’s a quantity I’m acquainted with”.

NEVER ACCEPT THE ATM’S EXCHANGE RATE!

Sure, by no means settle for their change price as a result of it at all times comes with an enormous margin. I’ve seen banks cost upwards of 14% per transaction for simply these ridiculous ATM charges! Let’s say you’re in Europe and the present EUR to USD change price is 1 to 1. Which means, you the financial institution will now provide you with an change price of 1 EUR to $1.14 USD! You might be simply giving 14% straight to the ATM!

What’s worse is for those who select to say no the ATM’s change price, it’ll present a scary message that you simply won’t be getting one of the best change price or one thing else ridiculous. In the event you adopted the steps above about getting a great checking account, then you possibly can relaxation assured that your financial institution is at all times going to provide the greatest price potential.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are essential particularly within the put up COVID world. Make sure that to analysis the vaccinations you want earlier than getting into a rustic. A COVID vaccine is after all nice to guard you from COVID however some nations will proceed to require you be vaccinated with a view to go to or apply for residence permits.

Some nations in Africa require yellow fever certificates however provided that you’ve traveled to sure nations. Different illnesses like Malaria are merely as much as you to plan for. For instance, many individuals really feel like they should take malaria medicine earlier than visiting South Africa however that is completely pointless.

Some vaccines can take weeks and even months to obtain so ensure to analysis the vaccines you want earlier than hand so that you may be protected earlier than going in your journey.

Analysis the journey advisories and understanding of your vacation spot

Earlier than you journey to a brand new nation that you simply suspect may need some risks to it, ensure to do ample analysis earlier than embarking in your journey. I feel the easiest way to do that is to hitch Fb teams associated to that vacation spot or just to ask a query in a spot like Each Passport Stamp on Fb.

For instance, earlier than I traveled to Lebanon in 2021, I knew that the nation was present process a extreme financial disaster and that you simply wanted to convey laborious money and change it on the black marketplace for one of the best charges. I didn’t know methods to really do that however a fast query within the Each Passport Stamp group on Fb gave me solutions immediately. I additionally requested if there was any civil unrest because of the disaster and shortly realized that life goes on.

Don’t blindly belief the whole lot the Authorities web sites inform you

I might keep away from studying an excessive amount of into official Authorities journey advisory web sites just like the US Journey Advisory Checklist. From my expertise, 90% of the advisories on this record are a bit nonsense and most of it’s simply unnecessarily scaring folks. For instance, take a look at this ridiculous journey advisory for Germany, a rustic I’ve lived in for 4 years.

The US Authorities is advising folks to train elevated warning for a rustic that’s 10x safer than their very own? I’m extra anxious about getting shot within the US than at any level in Germany that’s for certain.

Get a no payment Visa Credit score Card as effectively

Ensure you have a great stable bank card that’s Visa or Mastercard. I’m an avid fan of bank cards as a result of within the US, we have now so many playing cards that present so many advantages that vary from journey insurance coverage, to free lodge stays, to only pure laborious money. I’ve written in depth about my pastime of journey hacking.

Earlier than embarking on a visit, be sure to have at the least one bank card that you should use. This isn’t only for rewards or factors, however reasonably as a result of typically you don’t have any alternative however to pay with bank card. In the event you’re reserving a lodge or a flight, you higher have a great bank card as a result of there’s nowhere so that you can pay money. As well as, for those who lease a automobile, you’ll desire a good bank card as a result of some playing cards present free automobile rental insurance coverage. On high of that, some firms received’t even lease you a automobile and not using a bank card.

Ensure you get a bank card that additionally has no FX charges. FX (International change) charges may be upwards of three% of your transaction worth which suggests for those who pay $1,000 for one thing, you’ll pay an extra $30 in charges! There are numerous bank cards within the US that waive FX charges just like the Chase bank card suite.

No American Specific

American Specific is generally ineffective when touring overseas. Exterior of some nations, AMEX is sort of universally not accepted. Even inside nations that settle for AMEX, usually occasions it’s the fancier eating places and resorts that do. AMEX presents among the greatest rewards and advantages within the enterprise however sadly it’s simply not dependable in relation to being a go to worldwide journey bank card.

Discover ways to drive handbook vehicles

Indisputably, one of the best factor I did when transferring to Europe was learn to drive a handbook automobile. I had realized methods to drive a handbook many years in the past so the educational curve was not almost as steep as a beginner however this actually saved me some severe cash in Europe.

The most cost effective and most considerable rental vehicles in Europe are at all times a handbook, particularly once I did journeys to locations like Piedmont, Italy or simply about wherever within the Greek Islands. Computerized vehicles are after all obtainable however they’re usually extra premium vehicles and lease for considerably extra. If nothing else, automobile firms know they Individuals and Canadians can’t drive handbook in order that they purposefully jack up the costs on Automatics to make the most of this.

Studying methods to drive handbook will not be straightforward so this received’t be an choice for most individuals however for those who someway are ready to study Handbook, undoubtedly get that discovered earlier than renting a automobile in Europe!

Journey hacking is your pal

This subsequent part is primarily for American vacationers as we merely have one of the best bank cards on the earth so far as journey rewards go (we have now a number of issues however bank card rewards will not be certainly one of them). In the event you’re an avid traveler like myself and prefer to e book wonderful travels for affordable (or free), then you need to completely look into journey hacking and understanding methods to churn bank card rewards.

I’ve written about this a lot on my weblog and in a lot element so I’ll preserve this part quick. Take a couple of hours to actually perceive the facility of bank cards and the way you should use them to save lots of hundreds of {dollars} on journey. I’ve flown enterprise class flights all around the world and stayed in among the nicest resorts on the earth like my journey to the Ritz Carlton Maldives all without spending a dime.

The secret is to open bank cards to get the signal on bonus. Bank cards within the US provide the very best signal on bonuses on the earth and it’s not even shut. These signal on bonuses can typically be upwards of 100,000 factors or extra! After you get one bonus, you open one other bank card to acquire one other signal on bonus earlier than repeating the method over once more. You’ll be able to earn factors extraordinarily quick; a lot quicker than merely spending cash on a bank card.

You would possibly really feel intimidated and not sure of your self which is likely one of the important causes folks by no means begin journey hacking, however maybe that is the second to start out one thing new!

Purchase native sim playing cards

These days, it’s laborious to think about touring with out being related. You would possibly romanticize the previous days of touring off the grid and away from all of it however that may all change the second you get ripped off on the airport since you couldn’t name an Uber.

Cellular knowledge is important for my travels now, primarily due to Google Maps and experience hailing apps. There’s nothing extra silly than paying for roaming packages out of your cellular supplier again at dwelling. For instance, AT&T within the US expenses one thing like $10 per day for roaming which is absolute madness. In the event you journey in Bali for 2 weeks, that’s $140 in roaming charges which is madness.

Merely go to the native cellular store and purchase a neighborhood Telkomsel SIM card the place you’ll have the ability to get 20GB of knowledge for ~$5. It will greater than seemingly be sufficient on your total two week journey! You’re unlikely to want a lot calling time as a result of let’s be actual, who will you name in Indonesia? You’ll additionally want 0 textual content messaging as a result of nobody exterior of the USA makes use of historical SMS know-how anymore. Simply ensure your cellphone is unlocked.

Keep away from shopping for SIM playing cards on the airport

Keep away from shopping for SIM playing cards on the airport as a result of they’ll greater than seemingly rip you off with “vacationer packages” which might be merely bundling a bunch of stuff you don’t want and charging you more cash.

Merely go to a cellular supplier of your alternative when you get into city and also you’ll save a lot more cash. In the event you’re confused on the place to go and didn’t do analysis earlier than hand, merely ask your lodge/guesthouse/Airbnb host for one of the best cellular retailers close by.

Don’t over-plan your journey

I’m an enormous planner of my travels as a result of I need to maximize my time. Everyone seems to be a planner to a point as a result of it’s essential maximize the way you’re going to see what you need to see within the time that you’ve got. Since I retired early and have been in a position to journey so freely, I’ve realized that it’s higher to do much less.

Much less is extra.

Don’t try to pack an excessive amount of into your journey as a result of I firmly imagine that high quality beats amount. Certain it would impress your mates to say you went to France, Italy, and Germany in your journey. However did you actually see something for those who simply spent 3 days in Paris, Rome, and Munich? Certain you noticed a couple of locations, however you actually simply hopped round a couple of cities the place you’re roughly doing the identical factor.

As an alternative of jamming as many issues into one journey, think about staying the entire time in a spot like France the place you possibly can simply spent weeks touring by. As an alternative of flying from Paris to Rome, think about going from Paris to the Provence area the place the small villages and wineries actually spotlight what France is all about.

As well as, some issues simply can’t be booked correctly out of your pc at dwelling. In much less developed locations, you’ll usually must e book issues once you arrive. Issues like practice tickets for sure itineraries haven’t been blessed with fashionable know-how.

After I was attempting to e book my Kandy to Ella practice ticket in Sri Lanka, there wasn’t any straightforward strategy to do it. Seems, once I arrived in Kandy at my lodge, they booked it for me on the spot. The identical goes for my Belgrade to Bar scenic practice within the Balkans. I needed to really go to the practice station the day earlier than to e book my ticket with money. Completely old skool however that’s simply the way it goes.

Be conscious of the web sites you utilize

Be conscious of the web sites you utilize to e book and pay for sure issues. These are very true round Authorities and official processes that relate to immigration.

As know-how improves, we’re consistently doing extra on-line which incorporates paying for visas. One of many best errors folks do is clicking on the incorrect supply for making use of for an e-visa, which have turn into more and more extra in style.

For instance, Cambodia, dwelling to the well-known Angkor Wat temple, lately instituted an E-Visa which lets you prepay your visa with a bank card so that you don’t must do it once you arrive on the airport. In the event you seek for “Cambodia e-visa”, you’ll see the leads to Google:

As you possibly can see, the primary few outcomes are sponsored and so they direct you to varied journey companies that declare to be the house of the Cambodian E-Visa however in actuality, they’re only a journey agent that may upcharge you a hefty payment to get the identical visa you can do your self.

The pink arrow is the official Authorities web site of Cambodia and you may at all times confirm this by the URL. Something that ends in .gov is a legit Authorities web site and what you need to use. For Cambodia, the URL ends in .gov.kh with the KH half being Cambodia. These are official Authorities web sites so nobody can create a random web site utilizing these URLs.

Get Journey Insurance coverage If You’re Touring Lengthy Time period

Embarking on a journey, whether or not it’s a leisurely escape or an adventurous expedition, is a plunge into the unknown. Whereas the joys of exploration is plain, it’s equally important to acknowledge the potential uncertainties that lurk beneath the floor. Journey insurance coverage is right here only for that and I’ll contact upon a couple of explanation why it’s a good suggestion to purchase some earlier than you go in your journey.

As a seasoned traveler, I’ve realized that well being emergencies can strike on the most surprising occasions and locations. From a sudden bout of sickness in a distant village to a minor accident on the ski slopes, journey insurance coverage offers a reassuring protect. It covers unexpected medical bills, guaranteeing that the pursuit of latest horizons will not be hindered by the burden of hefty hospital payments.

Air journey, with its intricate net of connections and schedules, is inclined to disruptions. Flight cancellations, delays, or missed connections can simply throw a wrench into the smoothest of itineraries. Journey insurance coverage acts as a buffer in such conditions, providing compensation for added bills incurred resulting from flight disruptions and guaranteeing that your journey stays on track, even when the aviation trade takes an surprising flip.

The thrill of reaching your vacation spot can rapidly dissipate if you end up standing on the baggage carousel solely to comprehend your baggage has taken an unplanned detour. Journey insurance coverage steps in to alleviate the stress by offering protection for important gadgets and clothes, permitting you to deal with the journey at hand reasonably than worrying in regards to the whereabouts of your belongings.

Mom Nature, in all her glory, often throws surprising challenges our means – be it a volcanic eruption, earthquake, or tropical storm. Journey insurance coverage not solely safeguards your monetary funding by compensating for canceled plans but additionally assists in navigating the logistical challenges that come up from unexpected pure disasters, guaranteeing your security and well-being within the face of adversity.

Being in a overseas land may be each exhilarating and disorienting. In occasions of disaster, getting access to a dependable help system is invaluable. Journey insurance coverage usually contains 24/7 help providers, offering a lifeline that can assist you navigate unfamiliar healthcare programs, language boundaries, or authorized issues, fostering a way of safety and help irrespective of the place you might be on the map.

Automobile Leases

We love renting vehicles when touring. It offers us the liberty to go off the overwhelmed monitor and discover on our personal. However when renting a automobile, it’s essential to be savvy and to observe these security ideas.

• We normally e book upfront. Reserving a automobile rental with our flight in a bundle has saved us huge time.

Automobile Insurance coverage

Buying insurance coverage is at all times a tough resolution. Automobile leases are normally fairly affordable, however when you add on their insurance coverage, it might add up rapidly.

I take advantage of my Chase Sapphire Reserve for many automobile leases and so they have full insurance coverage, which suggests I by no means get extra insurance coverage. The Sapphire Reserve additionally has major automobile insurance coverage which covers injury to the automobile in addition to injury you would possibly inflict onto one other automobile whereas most different playing cards don’t provide this.

Leases – Scooters

In relation to journey security, lots of people get into hassle when renting scooters. However for those who don’t have expertise driving one, or don’t have the suitable worldwide allow or native license, rethink your selections.

For me, a scooter is a should have in locations like Bali or Thailand because it permits you to discover the nation with out having to attend in loopy visitors on a regular basis. I wouldn’t go to Bali ever once more with out renting a scooter.

Not everyone seems to be snug with a scooter nevertheless and I wouldn’t suggest driving a scooter with out some kind of coaching. Despite the fact that Bali required zero verifications of my scooter abilities, I rented one with none prior information and lived to inform the story. Actually, I used to be simply high-quality and obtained the cling of it inside a couple of minutes. Others usually are not as fortunate as you at all times hear about folks that get into loopy scooter accidents.

Be taught from Your Errors

It was years of trial and error that helped us lastly study our lesson to have secure and wholesome travels. So hopefully it is possible for you to to journey safely proper from the beginning!

Now that I observe these journey security ideas, I normally have a secure and wholesome journey. Or at the least we’re ready when emergencies do occur. Furthermore, I study one thing new on each journey that I financial institution and apply to my future travels.