Never before in the history of humankind has it been this easy to travel. We can literally get to the other side of the planet in around a day, for a relatively low amount of money. The result is that more people, like us, are starting to travel on a regular basis than ever.
That doesn’t mean that travelling is always easy or hyper-convenient. There are definitely some things you can do to make the jet-setting lifestyle a lot easier and improve your overall experience as a result.
Book in advance
We find that unless you have money to waste, or you don’t know when you’ll be able to take time off from work, it’s important to book flights and accommodation well in advance. It works for us, and we’ve always saved money by planning ahead.
Not only will this make things a whole lot cheaper, but you’ll also have way more options to choose between. That means you probably won’t have to take a flight at 5 am, or stay in a grotty hostel with a window that won’t open. We’ve been there, done that, and we don’t fancy repeating the experience.
Get high-quality luggage
Whether you prefer backpacks or suitcases, if you’re going to be travelling on a regular basis, it’s important that you invest in your luggage. If it’s a backpack, make sure that it fits you properly, and that it’s comfortable enough to wear for relatively long periods of time.
If, like us, you’re more of a suitcase person, then make sure that the wheels and bearings are high-quality, and that the zipper won’t break on you when it’s least convenient. We also recommend getting a hard case to protect belongings from damage in transit.
Plan in advance, but be adaptable
Plan for the worst, but hope for the best. Try to have some kind of idea of what you’ll be doing and where you’ll be going, and try to think about some of the issues that could pop up.
Things can go wrong when travelling though, and even if you think you’ve planned for everything, something will still pop up and surprise you. Try to remain adaptable in the face of these issues, so that they don’t end up ruining your holidays.
Ask for advice
While you can find a lot just by searching the internet, it’s worth asking for advice from people who know the area. Whether you post on a Facebook forum or call a friend who’s been to where you’re going before, these bits of advice have the potential to totally transform your experience.
Make sure you also ask people when you get to your destination. For example, if you’re staying at an Airbnb, your host might have tips on where to eat and what to do – carry out a little further research as well, but you’ll often find these tips can result in all kinds of exciting new adventures.
Exactly what you need to consider will obviously differ slightly depending on where it is you’re going. Make sure that you keep your research relatively specific, but also develop an idea of what kinds of travel strategies work for you. We all have slightly different preferences, and it’s important that we tailor our travel to fit our specific needs.
