The excitement of an upcoming international trip can make it easy to overlook the practical side of getting ready. Flights and hotels tend to get booked early, but the smaller logistics, the ones that actually determine how smooth those first few days abroad will be, often get pushed to the last minute. Here’s a practical checklist of things to take care of before heading to the airport.
In 2017, airline passengers paid around $4.2 billion dollars in baggage fees which amounts to about $1 million a day! If you’re a frugal frequent flyer, you know the importance of cutting costs where possible. One of the easiest and most effective ways to save money when traveling is to know how to pack. With the right tips you can avoid overweight luggage that results in excess fees and charges.
Only a couple of weeks ago I returned from a backpacking trip that was like no other I have ever been on, exploring the Caribbean island of Cuba! Arriving in Cuba was like taking a time machine back to the 1950’s, which is probably why travelling there was such a different experience - and such an unforgettable one.
While you are traveling, either for business or pleasure, it is always important to keep your luggage and personal belongings safe. Theft is always a risk, but more often, sometimes things just get lost. Listed here are various ways to keep your belongings safe whenever you’re traveling.
Planning a weekend camping trip with a young child (or more than one) can be a real challenge, as we know. So when we set out to take a multiple-month road trip across the country, our tripathalas (the region of the brain devoted to travel) went into overdrive for several weeks. How can we possibly do this? We can't just take a tent and some toys! We actually have to keep another human being alive!
Despite the sense of wonder and adventure associated with a trek through the Himalayas, the journey does not have to be as rough as you would think. Surprisingly, trekking in Nepal does not have to involve any camping. Due to the frequency of small villages and "tea houses" along many popular hiking paths, most visitors and trekkers stay the night in small hotels or guest houses which provide a comfortable stay, meals, and even toilets. So, if we're not camping, then what do we need? Some basic outdoor equipment is necessary, as are good shoes and clothing for multiple climates. We're talking about the Himalayas, where high altitudes can mean cold weather and rain (but not always). Food and water are also readily available, but a reusable water bottle and water purifiers can save you some cash along the way, too.
I asked a group of experienced travelers how to go about packing for a trip. When I reached out to this intrepid group of travelers for their advice, one key theme emerged: take only what you really need. Also, I asked them about the common concept of "packing light." I asked these travelers if they pack light, and most said they do, but many still struggle with the concept. So how do we pack light and what does that really mean? What have these expert travelers learned over the years, and how can we benefit from their advice?
Going on a long term trip, for multiple months, or even a year? When we planned our first multi-month adventure, our friends and family kept asking us "how do you pack for a trip like that?" Our answer: "Well... uh... I have no idea!" Now that we've done it a few times, we know how to answer that question. And we're not the only ones. We've assembled some of the best packing list items and advice from people who have actually survived their trips.
In 2009, we spent 11 months traveling through Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. We want you to learn from our experience, so we put together a trip planning guide: How To Plan A Trip Around The World. We cover everything from budgeting to packing, route planning to insurance, safety to vaccinations, and visas to round-the-world plane tickets. Combining our first hand experience with tips and resources from other travelers, we leave no stone unturned.
