Travel tips
We have done a lot of traveling and we are quite seasoned. We'd like to pass on some travel tips for anyone who dares to do what we did and take an ultra extended time away from the dull and dreary and explore the world. We hope you find the tips useful!
If you have a smart phone, obtain a SIM card for the country you are traveling in. Buy a pay-as-you-go plan with lots of data. If you don't have a smart phone, get one! And make sure it is unlocked so local SIM cards can easily be used. On the first day of arrival in a foreign country, find out which Telecom company has the best coverage for the area you will be traveling in.
Use Tripadvisor (or other rating type websites) to check out hotels, restaurants and activities in the area you are staying before you book or buy. This is invaluable. A 4 out of 5 rating is minimal and ensure that there are many reviews and they are recent.
Explore new places and try things that are not rated on Tripadvisor or other recommendation type websites. Be the first to explore a place! If it's a place that you don't want others to find out about, then don't rate it on Tripadvisor!
Booze. Booze. And more booze. Sometimes life just feels better when a little drunk. I'm not saying that you should become a drunk, but when traveling with a child (or children), enjoy a few pints or a few glasses of wine and let the kid (or kids) go at it with the Ipad or Smart Phone. This allows you and your spouse to enjoy some quality time together. Of course, be responsible if you have to drive, limit your intake to the max allowable blood/alcholol level in the country you happen to be traveling in (which is usually one glass).
When traveling by car, make use of McDonalds Restaurants for their free WIFI internet. There are McDonalds in just about every country on the planet and they all have free WIFI. As a bonus, most McDonalds also have a play area for kids so you can grab a cheap (but usually good) coffee, use the internet (on your smart phone) and allow your child to expend some energy at the play area.
Ask for corporate discounts when checking into a hotel, especially with the big chain hotels. Even if you don't work for a large corporation, hotels will often grant you the discount without you having to provide identification. Just say you work for IBM but you forgot your badge!
Don't be afraid to drive while in a foreign country. Having your own mobility enables you to see more things, especially the non touristy areas. If the area has motor scooters for rent, rent one. This is a cheap, easy and fun way to see many sights. In Asian cities, 3 or 4 people (or more!) travel on one scooter. 2 adults and one child on a scooter is quite easy to do.
Before traveling to a new country and, if you are driving, check out the local laws regarding tolls. Some countries have no toll stops but instead have automated tolls which require you to purchase a sticker for your car and display it in the window. You risk very large fines if caught traveling without the sticker.
Before traveling to a new country, check out their Visa requirements. Some countries require you to purchase a Visa before entering and sometimes they only accept cash (either in their currency or US dollar - no credit cards) if purchasing the Visa when you land.
When renting a car, it's not necessary to take out the extra insurance as long as your credit card covers damage to the vehicle. This can save a lot of money. Ensure that your credit card offers this extra insurance as not all of them do.
In large cities, utilize the hop-on/hop-off bus tours. Also utilize any available subway, buses or public transit systems. Parking is a major issue in almost every major city. Public transport, in a large city, is usually cheaper and easier than having to drive. It's also a good way to experience how the local people get around their city.
When traveling by car, buy an electric cooler with the available car adapater plug. Having snacks and lunch items on hand is a great way to save money. The cooler can also be plugged in to a standard electrical outlet at the hotel you are staying in. Keep the cooler stocked with ice (from the hotel) so that it still remains cool when no power is available.
When traveling by car, get a portable GPS (like a Garmon). This is an invaluable tool when driving in a foreign place. It will steer you wrong sometimes, but will eventually get you to your destination.
When traveling by car, buy a multi cigarette plug in adapter. This way multiple electronic devices can be plugged in at the same time. Most cars only have only one cigarette plug.
If possible, instead of staying in a hotel, try camping for some nights. This means bringing a tent, sleeping gear and other items for non-hotel stays, but it can save a lot of money and is a lot of fun to do.
Pack a sleeping bag when traveling, even if you will not be camping. Sometimes you will end up at a gross hotel and a sleeping bag comes in handy if you don't want to sleep on the sheets provided by the hotel.
Travel with a portable burner and pot to boil hot water for tea or coffee. Many dollars can be saved by making your own brew.
Avoid buying alcohol at dinner, or limit to one drink (drink soda or water instead) and buy bottles of wine or beer which you can drink later on back at the hotel. This can save a lot of money as restaurant alcohol is very expensive.
Pack a corkscrew and bottle opener (but be sure to put these items in your checked in luggage when flying).
Pack your own shampoo and conditioner. Sometimes hotels do not provide very good quality personal items in their rooms.
If traveling in a foreign country, buy an adpater that will allow you to plug your electronic devices into the local electrical outlets. North America, Europe, Asia and Australia all have different electrical outlets.
If possible, book hotels that have a kitchenette available. This way you can cook your own meals sometimes. This saves you from relying on restaurants all the time. Plus, it gets boring eating out all the time. Pasta or rice dishes are so easy to cook, all you need is a burner, water and a pot.
If possible, book hotels that have self laundry facilities. When traveling for extended periods, doing laundry is a necessity and outside laundrymats might not be conveniently located.
Pack plenty of extra underwear and socks in case laundry services are not available for many days.
When traveling, try to patrionize one of the large chain hotels (like Marriott or Hilton). The Rewards programs that the big chains offer can save a lot of money with incentives like free nights, free breakfasts, free internet and free upgrades to larger rooms.
Obtain a credit card that offers reward points for one of the big chain hotels (like Marriott or Hilton). When traveling for an extended period of time you can earn a lot of reward points. Plus putting all (or most) of your expenditures on a credit card (rather than an cash debit card) gives you better protection in case of fraud. Also, credit card statements (online at least) seem to offer a greater amount of detail for each transaction so you can more easily recall and reconcile your expenditures.
Have at least 2 different credit cards, like a Visa and an American Express as there is a good chance that while traveling one will become compromised.
Always have some local currency cash in your pocket. Sometimes credit cards don't work (credit card companies tend to scrutinize every transaction and will sometimes deny a transaction even though it is legitimate) or the place you are buying something from does not accept credit cards. When landing in a foreign country, withdraw some local currency at the airport. In most places, cash is king and, sometimes, services, like taxis, only take cash.
Before landing in a foreign country, research the local currency's exchange rate as compared to your home country's. This way you will know exactly how much you are spending on each transaction in the foreign country
Set up a PayPal account. If you will be doing any short term rentals of apartments or vacation homes, the owner usually wants you to send them a deposit via PayPal. If you link your bank account to your PayPal account (which is free) then you can avoid the fees that PayPal imposes if you send cash via your credit card.
When traveling to a foreign country, buy some memorabilia to bring home. Make sure the memorabilia is easily pack-able and not fragile, like prints of memorable sites you have seen, or postcards.
Send postcards to friends and family back home. It takes a little effort, but is much appreciated.
If traveling with a child, make sure you have a good stroller that is easily collapsible. On longer walks/hikes kids often get tired and this saves you from having to carry them, plus you can use the stroller to store items in.
Get an IPOD or other music device (MP3 player as an example) that can be plugged into the auxiliary outlet of your car. Music is very important on long drives and radio stations are not always available in remote areas. If traveling in a foreign country, this is especially important as the radio stations won't be in your language. Make sure to download plenty of songs of different genres on your device. Create personalized play lists for the kids, they love to hear the same songs over and over again.
Purchase 2 IPADS or Tablet Computers. These are excellent devices to keep kids busy and if you have 2 of them, then you can use one at the same time. The device can be "tethered" up to a smart phone (if you have a data plan) and then internet will be available on the device as well. A tablet computer or IPAD is a great way to entertain a child during lunch or dinner and gives the adults some breathing time, but use it sparingly if possible. These devices are like crack for kids. Colouring books or small toys are a great alternative to always using high-tech devices. Reward the child with use of the IPAD by having them provide you with a picture that they have to colour first.
A laptop computer is also invaluable. Sometimes a tablet computer just doesn't cut it when you need to do some more serious computering. Again, if the hotel you are in does not have internet (or the WIFI signal is poor), then you can use a smart phone to "tether" and then have access to the internet.
Buy a good quality camera. If possible, make sure it is waterproof. Take plenty of pictures and videos during your trip.
Bring your hobbies with you. If you like to read, bring plenty of books (if traveling in a foreign country realize it's hard to buy books in your language). If you like to fish, bring your fishing rod (a telescopic one if possible for easy packing) and fishing lures. If you like to paint, bring your paint, brushes and paper. Whatever your hobby is, bring it with you as it will give you entertainment and pleasure while traveling.
Dedicate one bag (preferably a knapsack) to all the electronic devices and documents (like passports). This is the most important, and valuable, bag of travel. If you have many electronic devices then you will have many chords to carry so dedicating one bag ensures you know where all your gadgets and chords are.
When traveling for an extended period, keep a log (daily if possible) of all the things you saw and did recently. This is a great memento and keepsake. It is hard to remember details of experiences if memories are not recorded within a few days.
Build a website and upload your logs, pictures and videos so that friends and family can see and enjoy your travel adventures as you are experiencing them. It's so easy to create a website these days and you don't need to be a web master. An interactive blog is a also a great way to keep in touch with family, friends or to share your travels with the world.
Use Skype to stay in touch with friends and family back home. Skype (as well as other similar applications) allows you to call mobile or land lines in your home country for an extremely low, flat, monthly fee. Skype (or the like) can be used from any device you own including your smart phone, tablet or laptop device. It's so easy and ridiculously cheaper than calling from a foreign country's land line system and using calling cards where you pay by the minute for time used.
If traveling with a child, always have water, snacks (healthy ones as well like fruit and granola bars) and entertainment (like colouring books, reading books, toys, etc.) available.
If traveling with a child, and if possible, on a daily basis, seek out parks or areas where they can expend their energies. This will help to tire them out and make it easier to put them to bed.
If possible, do no book hotels or activies too far in advance. Sometimes you end up in a place that you want to stay longer in but if you've booked other places already, then this might not be possible.
If breakfast is not included or not available at a hotel, pre-buy easy breakfast items like fruit or yogurt. Many hotel rooms have a mini bar fridge which can be used to store perishable food. This also applies if the hotel breakfast is too expensive.
Make use of the discount airlines (like Ryanair or Air Asia for example). Expedia does not always list the discount airlines so it is necessary to check the discount airlines own website for available flights.
When traveling with a child, take turns with your spouse for babysitting for a couple of hours every so often. Free time away from the child (or children) (and the spouse) is a necessity if you are all traveling together for extended periods. Some hotels also offer babysitting, so take advantage of it!
When traveling for an extended period, encourage (or entice) family or friends to visit you during your travels
If you want to minimize the hassling of aggressive street vendors, avoid eye contact with them. As soon as you make eye contact or acknowledge them, they will approach you and push whatever it is they are selling. If approached and you are not interested, be polite, just say no and walk away. This same logic applies to street beggars as well.
Never accept anything free from anyone and expect not to have to pay for whatever it is they are giving you. Nobody gives you anything for free and you will, eventually, either pay in cash or your time.
Always carry your valuables (like your wallet, smartphone, etc.) in your front pocket or zippered or closed pocketed purse, especially when in crowded places and never in your back pocket.
Always, always haggle with street vendors and don't be afraid to walk away from the purchase. Never accept the first price. In most cases, the same item you want to buy is available in the next stall. This is especially true in Asian market places.
Before traveling, get the required vaccinations or shots for the country you are traveling. This might mean be being very proactive as, sometimes, the shots need to be taken well in advance or over the course of several visits.
When traveling with kids, try to book hotels that have swimming pools or hot tubs. Most kids love swimming and this is a nice treat, especially after a long drive.
Purchase travel insurance before traveling. Nobody expects to get sick or to have to use the health care of a foreign country, but sometimes it is necessary. When traveling for an extended period, it's practicaly a guarantee that there will be at least one hospital or doctor visit (especially when traveling with children). Also, expect or assume to have to pay cash, up front, when using the health care system of a foreign country.
Pack plenty of acetaminophen (Tylenol or the like) or paracetamol (children strength for children if applicable) when traveling. You never know when you are going to need it and sometimes it's hard to get at the time you need it.
Always have some pre-filled bottled water on hand when on a walk or hike. Buying bottled water, especially in touristy areas, is extremely expensive. Pre-buying bottled water at a Supermarket is far cheaper than buying it a small convenience store or restaurant.
When traveling for an extended period, have your home mail forwarded to a trusted family member or friend.
Before traveling, scan and email yourself snapshots of your important travel documents (like your passport and drivers license). This can become invaluable if you happen to lose your original documents while traveling.
Just like back home when you are at work, not every day traveling will be a good day. Just remember than when traveling you are not working, so that's already a bonus. Bad days enable you to relish the good days even more. Extended traveling is all about seeing, experiencing and trying new things.