Travel Tricks to Make Your Next Trip Much Easier
Preparing for the adventure of a lifetime can be very painful. We will tell you how to travel economically and safely.
There's an easy way to save a ton of money before you even get to the airport: travel during the off-season. Avoiding peak times means less crowds, better room availability and more attentive staff. In many directions, the rainy season is September-November and March-May.
When searching for flights online, airlines use cookies to track your behavior and may increase the price as you search. To work around this, change your Internet settings from "Public" to "Private Browsing".
Lay dry sheets among your clothes when you pack. They will help get rid of the unpleasant smell of the aircraft, which inevitably penetrates into all your clothes, and will keep it smelling fresh for the entire duration of the trip.
Use packing cubes when packing your suitcase for the road. These zippered contraptions look like small bags, but they can fit your clothes and free up more space in your hand luggage. As a bonus, they also keep things organized if you group clothes (shirts, trousers, toiletries, etc.). Also, don't forget to fold your clothes when packing - this not only saves space, but also reduces wrinkling.
Being robbed is scary enough, but it can also wreak havoc on your travel plans, as your wallet can often contain your passport, your only credit card. To reduce the risk, carry a fake wallet with you. Throw in things like a deactivated bank card, travel card, some small paper bills, and give them back if you get robbed. It will likely look believable enough that a burglar won't waste time checking the rest of your pockets.
Carry a shawl with you when you travel. Thanks to its versatility, pashmina makes the best use of the space in your bag. Use it as an airplane blanket, a shawl or hat if you're cold or in a conservative place, extra protection to wrap your camera around, or even as a towel.
Always carry small change with you when traveling. When you withdraw foreign currency, the bank will most likely give it to you in large denominations. Break them down as soon as possible. Not only will you need change for things like tips or bus fares, but it can save you money in the long run.
A map should be in every traveler's arsenal, but sometimes the electronic version is easier to understand than the printed copy provided by the hotel.
But if you don't want to run into crazy roaming charges or upgrade to a data plan, enabling GPS on your phone is sometimes out of the question. Sign in to Google Maps. Just open the map when you're connected to free Wi-Fi and you can access it even when you're roaming around without an internet connection.