22 Tips for every Traveller

1) Learn to say „no thank you” in the local language.

2) Grocery stores are a traveler’s best resource. Cheap food, local flavors. Find the nearest hotel and save yourself a heap of cash. Have a meal outdoors every day.

3) Learn to swim. You never know when you may need to use this skill.

4) Have an emergency supply of money. If you lose your wallet, you will still have to eat.

5) Wash your clothes in the sink or shower. Use hotel soap. Or take a small travel bottle of laundry detergent with you. This is much easier than finding a washing machine in a foreign country.

6) Carry facial tissues. You can use them to feel clean when there is no shower. That’s just the way it is, sometimes there are no showers.

7) Always carry a printed map of the city you intend to reach. You never know when your phone might break down or you might not have reception.

8) Make sure your bank cards work. There is nothing more annoying than spending hours on the phone to your bank.

9) Register with your doctor and insurer. Double check and make sure you have all the appropriate vaccinations and renew all necessary prescriptions. Also ask if the policy is valid abroad in case of an emergency. If it does not and you want to add additional coverage, consider additional insurance.

10) A copy of your passport. If your passport is stolen or lost, you want to make sure you can still return to your country or prove your citizenship. For an extra copy, leave a copy of your passport at home or with a trusted person. Consider making an electronic copy, which you can also store in your email account.

11) Register with your embassy. If there is a problem in the country, this will make it easier for the government to contact you and provide additional security.

12) Check currency conversions before you leave. Be sure to check where the best place to convert currency is before you travel.

13) Walk to a bank or ATM in the country you are visiting. Costs at or around the airport are usually huge.

14) Check entry/exit fees. Some countries require travelers to pay entry or exit fees. In Europe, this will not be necessary.

15) Buy tickets in advance for places you know you want to visit or see. By buying in advance you will be able to find more deals aimed at you.

16) Guidebooks usually contain maps, key words or phrases, and give enough detail about certain regions so that you don’t have to buy a brochure at the destination. Download relevant apps before traveling. Avoid charging your carrier for downloading apps during your trip.

17) Check the events that take place during your stay. This will help you make sure you don’t miss out on the best events taking place in the city – such as festivals, celebrations and outdoor events.

18) You should also try your hand at trying some regional dishes. You don’t want to leave a country without experiencing what it’s known for.

19) Always have spare plastic bags for dirty clothes/shoes.

20) Do you know how much a cab should cost? Take a card with your hotel address and a map. Ask cab drivers to use a meter. Make sure they are legitimate cab drivers.

21) You don’t have to take 20 kilos for a week’s travel. You can wear pants for two days in a row or longer. The less you have to carry, the happier you will be on your trip. And if the French metro goes on strike on the day you need to get to the airport – you’ll thank us heartily.

22) Learn how to say „no thank you.” Most travel guides will tell you how to say „yes, please,” „Thank you” and „do you speak English?” But in some countries you really want to be able to say, „No thank you.” Knowing how to say „no thank you” in their language gives you much more peace of mind.