I wanted to share with everyone a few things I’ve learned over the last few years traveling abroad. I hope these tips help you with your next trip.
1. Get a Travel Credit Card
On my trips abroad, I take my Capital One Venture card because of the zero transaction fees. I’ll typically take that and one debit card. It’s actually more cost efficient to take out cash at an ATM rather than exchanging it at the airports or at an exchange stand. I’ve found that exchanging currency elsewhere normally comes with higher fees.
Note: Make sure your debit card works outside of the country before traveling.
2. Look for Travel Deals
I always use europeandestinations.com when I’m looking to travel abroad. This travel website is the reason I can afford to travel as much as I do. They have package deals for as low as $700 for flights and hotels depending on the time of year and destination. It’s a great way to explore the world at a low cost. Recently, I traveled to Paris and Amsterdam for 6 nights and spent around $800-$900 per person for hotels and flights out of Jacksonville.
3. Research the Country You’re Traveling To
This is a no brainer and is important because it gives you insight into the country you are visiting. One thing I’ve discovered is that some countries might frequently use credit cards while other countries almost only take cash. For example, when we traveled to Japan we had to use cash pretty much everywhere, but when we traveled to London, credit cards were widely accepted.
It’s also important to research the activities you want to do and on what days. Some attractions are closed on Sundays and Mondays. When traveling to Berlin over a weekend, I found that most of the restaurants were closed on Saturday and Sunday. It sucked because we didn’t get to try some of the foods we wanted to. This could have been prevented if I had done a little more research ahead of time.
4. Pack Light
The first time I traveled abroad I packed way too much and had to lug around a giant rolling bag. The second time around I wanted to give backpacking a try. Backpacking makes traveling easier and makes you more mobile.
I purchased an Osprey 46 bag around 5 years ago and I highly recommend this bag because it’s still going strong, fits all of my essentials, and is super comfy while wearing.
So what does my typical bag look like for a 10-12 day trip? See below:
- 1 pair of jeans
- 3 pair of leggings
- 1 pair of cute flats for nice dinners (Note: Wear heavier walking shoes on the plane)
- 5 pairs of underwear
- 4-5 pair of socks
- 2 bras (Wear one, pack one)
- Makeup, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, Tylenol, etc.
- Empty water bottle (This helps save money in the airports where bottles of water can be 5-7$)
If it will be cold where I’m going, I will attach a thick, waterproof coat to the outside of my backpack. Along with my carry-on, I also take a larger purse (see picture above) with my camera, iPad and phone chargers.
Note: I do not pack shampoo, condition, hair dryers etc. These items are typically at the place I’m staying.
5. Stay at an Airbnb
There are many benefits to staying at an Airbnb. It’s great because you can split the costs with other travelers, it makes you feel more like a local, and you can stay close to main attractions.It’s also my secret to packing so light on longer trips. I take less clothes and wash what I need to at the Airbnb.
These are the top 5 things I’ve learned over the years and I hope these tips help you on your next adventure. If you have a question or want to share your experience please do so in the comments. I would love to hear from you!