What’s your non-obvious travel tip that makes every trip better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoid any type of gimmicky activities that pose as educational experiences. I include in this category food tours, pasta making classes, any staged activities in which the locals fight each other (Mexican wresting, Thai boxing, Japanese sumo, Bolivian chola wrestling, etc), chopstick making classes, and so many more. What a waste.

I don’t know, our chocolate making class was so fun and yummy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid any type of gimmicky activities that pose as educational experiences. I include in this category food tours, pasta making classes, any staged activities in which the locals fight each other (Mexican wresting, Thai boxing, Japanese sumo, Bolivian chola wrestling, etc), chopstick making classes, and so many more. What a waste.

What's wrong with food tours and pasta making classes?

Ima guess you're one of these people who sneer at "tourists" and call yourself a "traveler?"

I am with you.

Like in China we went night fishing, and saw they use cormorants to catch fish. This practice is now mostly for tourists, but it was a fascinating tradition to observe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a carryon traveler.

Before longer trips, I often set aside the socks and underwear that are getting worn, toothbrush and mascara that need replacing, etc. Take them on the trip and just toss by the end.

I do that with paperback books.

[Anonymous]

My travel hack, when you need to change a hotel selection within the cancellation window - call the hotel, pretend to be an EA, and state you booked the wrong week. Apologize profusely, ask for help so you don’t get in trouble and push the date a week or two out.

Then wait 24-48 hours and cancel on the app for a no charge cancel.

[Anonymous]

This isn’t the most exciting tip, but I’ve started traveling with a small CO detector that will detect even low levels of PPM. I’ve read too many sad stories in the news about people going to sleep and not waking up in a hotel or house rental, so this makes me feel better from a safety perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a stressful job. I always plan to take another day or two off after traveling so I don’t start dreading going back to work while I am still on vacation.

+1 and always get my house cleaned right before I go so I come back to a sparkling home

+1 to both of these. Makes a huge difference.

Love that idea!

[Anonymous]

After my phone got stolen in another country, I now bring a second unlocked phone that I have WhatsApp and uber downloaded on.

I talk to everyone to get their suggestions on what to do- cab drivers, people in stores, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t the most exciting tip, but I’ve started traveling with a small CO detector that will detect even low levels of PPM. I’ve read too many sad stories in the news about people going to sleep and not waking up in a hotel or house rental, so this makes me feel better from a safety perspective.

Good tip. What exact product are you using? Can it be used for international trips? Battery operated?

[Anonymous]

[img]

Anonymous wrote:I always plan vacation from vacation days. No more than two or three sightseeing days in an in a row and then a full on nothing planned go to a beach relax at the hotel pool etc. day. I found that having too many sightseeing days in a row wipes out the group in the trip is much more fun when we plan nothing days.

I don’t like to drive in other countries, so in Europe, I usually spend 2-3 nights in each location. While there I walk a ton, but often that is followed by a full day on trains …which provides the rest this older traveler needs !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have a toiletry bag that’s always packed
Ziplock bag for chargers etc
One pair of sneakers that I can run in and walk around during the day.
Global entry
Bring ABX in case of food poisoning. Plus Benadryl, advil etc.

How do you get antibiotics? That is prescription only

when travelling, you can tell your dr about your plans and they will write the rx for the abx for jic situations.

i also get my travel immunizations done if i am going to certain parts of the world.

+1

My doctor wrote me a prescription for antibiotics just in case I got travelers' diarrhea on a trip to South America, and indeed, that is exactly what happened. I was so happy to have that medication.

I do this with Paxlovid—and it saved me in Croatia (where they only give Paxlovid to people who are hospitalized)

[Anonymous]

If our trip is multiple stops rather than packing a suitcase per person I pack a suitcase per hotel/city.

[Anonymous]

For walking heavy trips, good socks are as important as good shoes.

[Anonymous]

Aggressive hustle hack: “Where are you from? / I’m homeless”

When the aggressive hustle progresses to “Where are you from?” (universal language for “I’m determined to hustle you despite your repeated ‘no thank yous”) we deliver “I’m homeless”.

“I’m homeless” disrupts the aggressive hustler’s hustle rhythm; they don’t expect it. This reliably works for us in the most hustle-heavy locations (Morocco, Egypt, Nepal, India, D Republic, etc…). Caveats are the obvious: you aren’t wearing a hotel wrist bracelet, displaying wealth, etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aggressive hustle hack: “Where are you from? / I’m homeless”

When the aggressive hustle progresses to “Where are you from?” (universal language for “I’m determined to hustle you despite your repeated ‘no thank yous”) we deliver “I’m homeless”.

“I’m homeless” disrupts the aggressive hustler’s hustle rhythm; they don’t expect it. This reliably works for us in the most hustle-heavy locations (Morocco, Egypt, Nepal, India, D Republic, etc…). Caveats are the obvious: you aren’t wearing a hotel wrist bracelet, displaying wealth, etc...

Wow, great suggestion - I hate those “Where are you from?” and now I will be using your hack, thank you!

Great thread - appreciate everyone’s ideas!

[Anonymous]

A couple ones --

1. Always pre-book your transport for your arrival. It will cost you more but it is much easier than waiting in line to hail a cab after a long flight

2. Keep a change of clothes in your carryon for long haul flights (and obviously toiletries). Feels so much better putting on fresh clothes upon arrival.

3. Bring Electrolyte mixes and high fiber snacks for the flight.

4. Compression socks for the long haul flights help too.