This month I am going to share some of my favorite travel ‘advice’ classified into three categories. Not everything will apply to every trip and this is obviously not a complete list but these are some things I have found that make my travel experience a little easier.
1. Things to do before you go.
When you are looking for flights you can go to google flights to look based on your dates and destinations. It will also tell you if prices are low, average or high. Also, the date grid will tell you if the prices are lower on different on different days if you have some flexibility regarding when you travel. If you have enough lead time click on the ‘track flights’ button and you will get emails when the price changes in either direction.
If you have to use your laptop or computer when you travel I think it is a good idea to buy a subscription to a Virtual Private Network or VPN. A VPN can help with internet security by encrypting your internet traffic, masking your IP address, and protecting your online identity, making it harder for third parties to track your activity and access sensitive data while you browse the internet. I use Express VPN but there are many providers.
Finally, you can download a google map of the area you are going to use offline if needed once you get there.
2. Things to pack.
I got one of those reuseable shopping bags that fold up really small from my friend Sharon that I use all the time. It seems like a little thing, but it comes in sooo handy! Here are some beautiful ones.
Bring a couple of resistance bands! They don’t take much space, they are very light and can be pretty inexpensive. You will want them to take my classes while you are away and you can use them to stay strong.
Shampoo and soap can be bought anywhere and are often supplied in the hotels or airbnbs you may stay in but… I am loving the shampoo bar I brought with me this time. You can use it for cleaning your whole body and it obviously doesn’t count as a liquid in your carry on. The one I have is no longer available but these are the ones I will buy for next time.
3. Useful apps for your phone.
A translation app! If you are like me and are travelling in a non-english speaking county this is a life saver. Google translate is pretty good but there are many.
A currency converter app can come in handy. I have one called Xe that is good but again, there are many.
One app that can help you take some good selfies is called Lens Buddy. You can set up your phone and then go pose and your phone will take the pictures for you. It will take as many pictures in a row as you set it for. No need to find someone to take the pictures for you! Good photos on vacation? priceless!
Do you have any good travel tips? Share in the comments below!