Travel like a pro | The best tips & tricks

Traveling is great; whether it is a trip of several weeks, months or a complete one world trip is. You see beautiful places, meet interesting people and discover new cultures. You make memories that will stay with you forever. If you are traveling for the first time, it can be quite exciting. There is a lot involved, from booking your flight ticket to arranging transport and excursions on site. It is not without reason that so many people book their trips a travel agency or tour operator.

The more you travel, the more you learn. Have you ever? packed too much stuff, half of which you didn't use? Or was your itinerary jam-packed, meaning you could never really enjoy it? These are common 'mistakes' among novice travelers. We have been traveling for 20 years now and have already learned a lot. In this article we share valuable tips & tricks to make your travel experiences even better.

Tips for good preparation

Whether you arrange everything yourself or book your trip with an organization (here our travel organization overview per continent), it doesn't hurt to read up on the country you are going to visit. Think of nice sights, the best travel time and seasons, the local currency, language and culture. Many travelers like to keep a daily budget. The advantage of planning your own trip is that you can tailor it completely to your own preferences and interests. You have the freedom to choose where you want to stay, what you want to eat, which attractions you want to visit and how long you want to stay at each location. Some useful tips when planning your trip:

• Check the entry conditions for your destination(s) well in advance. In many countries your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of departure from the destination country. Also check immediately whether you have a visa, a return or onward ticket or health declaration / vaccinations Need.
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• Make copies of passports, visas, flight schedules and other important documents. Keep these in different places, including one digital copy in the cloud.
• take a credit along. All your purchases are insured and it is a handy backup if your bank card suddenly does not work while traveling. Please note: with some banks (such as Rabobank) you must set your debit card in advance for use abroad. If you forget this, you will not be able to pay by card at your holiday destination. Fortunately, this is easy to arrange online. XE Currency is a handy app to check exchange rates and convert currencies.
• Investigate the local culture, customs and rules to interact respectfully with the local population. If you give a thumbs up, it is meant positively, but in some Asian cultures it can be considered insulting.
• Learn basic words and commonly used phrases in the local language. This makes it easier to communicate and is much appreciated by the locals. Duolingo is our favorite app!
• Download Maps.me on your phone. This is a kind of Google Maps, but without the need for internet. Handy if you are riding your scooter in the middle of nowhere and need to get back to your hotel.
• Don't plan too much in advance. Recording your entire journey provides clarity and certainty, but leaves little room for spontaneity. Go with the flow!

Tips for searching and booking airline tickets

Once you know where you want to go and in what period, it is time to book a plane ticket. If you are stuck with certain dates, for example because you have to request time off from work months in advance, you don't have many options. You will find the best deals if you are flexible with your travel dates. Book early (six months in advance) is usually cheaper than a month in advance. But you can also be lucky here if there is just a promotion going on. Our tips:

• Use Google Flights or Skyscanner to find the best flights. You can quickly and easily see what the costs are. Also look at alternative airports near your destination. Then book the selected flight with the airline itself. This has the advantage that in case of problems you do not have to arrange everything through an intermediary. This is usually also the cheapest.
• In addition to the price, also pay attention to the travel time and possible costs stopovers or transfers. If the price of a plane ticket seems too good to be worth it, it usually is 😉 You think you got a good deal, but you suddenly find out that your flight has two stops and therefore takes three times as long. Oops…
• ask a price alert in. Of course, you don't have all day to look for cheap airline tickets. Do you have one or more flights in mind, but do you want to wait until the price drops before booking? If you set a price alarm, you will receive an email when the price has changed. Super handy!
• Fly up unusual times, such as very early in the morning or late in the evening. These flights are cheaper and less crowded. Direct flights are more expensive, but faster. It is usually a choice between price, comfort and time. What is worth more to you?
• Sign in to loyalty programs from airlines and earn frequent flyer points for future discounts or upgrades.
• Most planes have rows of three seats next to each other. If you are with two people, book a seat in the aisle and by the window, so that the middle seat remains empty. Since no one wants to sit in the middle between two strangers, there is a good chance that the seat will remain empty. This way you have extra space for free. Of course, this won't work if the plane is completely booked, but it's worth a try. Did not succeed? Then you simply swap places and sit next to each other. Check Seatguru for the best seats.
• Avoid jet lag by adjusting to the rhythm of the local time at your destination a few days in advance.

Tips for useful travel items

If you travel more often and for longer, there are a number of indispensable travel items that add a bit of convenience and comfort.

• Earphones and an sleep mask are really useful, especially if you're trying to sleep during a long flight. Some of the more luxurious airlines give you them for free as soon as you sit in your seat, but yours fit a little better. A neck pillow is also nice.
• Have you ever lost your suitcase? That can really ruin your trip. Immediately GPS tracker you can easily keep an eye on your suitcase. A suitcase strap, stickers or brightly colored flight bags help to prevent other travelers from accidentally taking your suitcase from the baggage carousel. And yes, that happens more often than you think!
• packing cubes are a great invention that we can no longer live without. They keep your clothes neat and organized.
• buy one dry bag to store valuables during boat trips or a day at the beach. This way you can be sure that your phone, camera and laptop will arrive dry.
• Are you in remote places without power? A Powerbank is the solution to charge all your electronic stuff. Also bring a travel plug with USB ports.
• Nobody wants to carry a heavy suitcase or overcrowded backpack when traveling. Choose lightweight items as much as possible, such as a quick-drying, compact one travel towel or hammam towel.
• Take your own (foldable) water bottle along. Sustainable and cheaper than buying bottled water.

Tips to save money when traveling

If you go on vacation once a year for two or three weeks a year, you may not pay much attention to how much everything costs. Above all, you want to enjoy yourself. If you are traveling for a few months or a year, it is interesting to see how you can save money without sacrificing too much in comfort and experiences. Our tips:

• Save on accommodation and food by working temporarily for expenses and board. You do not need a work visa for this construction and it is not subject to a maximum age. The most famous websites are Work Away en Wwoof. Would you rather not work, but want to spend the night cheaply? Try couchsurfing.
• Go look for travel buddies and share the costs. This way you save a lot of money on, for example, a rental car, accommodations and excursions. A luxury villa suddenly becomes very affordable and a private boat trip is therefore very easy to do.
• You pay a fee of a few euros each time you withdraw. Walking around with very large amounts of cash is not recommended, but be aware of this. A good party to arrange international money transfers at low costs is Wise. The best way to make cheap debit card payments is with one BUNQ of N26 prepaid credit card. read this article to find out exactly how that works.
• Search for free activities at your destination such as botanical gardens, walks, museums or city tours.
• In many countries it is normal to onderhandelen if you want to buy something. If you don't do this, you are almost certain to pay twice or even three times what it is worth. This is possible at local markets, but many options are also available at accommodations. Always remain respectful.
• buy one local SIM card of E-SIM to stay connected anywhere in the world at a low cost. Another option to avoid extra data charges when traveling is to use free WiFi in your accommodation, cafes and libraries. A VPN it is recommended for extra security.
• In some countries, eating out is almost as expensive or cheaper than shopping and cooking yourself. Avoid expensive restaurants in tourist areas and opt for places where the locals eat. View on Google Maps and read some reviews. Finished the food local markets is often very cheap and tasty.
• Use the local public transport instead of taxis. This can really save a lot of money and you can also easily get in touch with the locals. The only disadvantage is that it sometimes takes a little longer to travel. Another option is the transportation services of Uber, Lyft of Grave.

Tips for while traveling

Traveling is one big adventure full of great experiences, but also with challenges. You quickly learn to be flexible and look for solutions. Especially if you arrange everything yourself. With these tips you can get the most out of your trip:

• Be geduldig, many things you have no control over. Is your plane delayed? Bummer, but nothing you can do about it. Do you get seriously ill and spend days in bed? It's a waste of your holiday, but your health comes first. Try to make the best of unpleasant situations while traveling and stay positive.
• make a chat with locals. When you travel you mainly meet other tourists, but how nice is it to get to know locals better? This works best if you go outside the tourist areas, into local villages. Smile and wave at people, buy something in a shop or ask about their favorite places. Don't speak the language? Of Google Translate you'll come a long way.
• Seeking pristine locations? Look on Google Maps for places outside the tourist zones and zoom in a bit. There are all kinds of icons (camera icon), which indicate special places such as nature parks, waterfalls and other sights. Get off the beaten track and visit places where hardly any tourists come.
• Read up on the most common ones scams abroad. The chance of being scammed on holiday is a lot less if you know the tricks. Divide cash and important cards among different pockets and bags. Leave expensive jewelry at home and try not to attract attention with valuables.
• Get up early to avoid crowds at popular sights. This is also the best time to take beautiful photos with soft light (golden hour).

That was it! These were my tips for traveling like a pro. Do you have a great tip that should definitely be included in the list? let us know in the comments!