General Travel Tips

If you're a new traveler or just an unexperienced traveler, you might not be aware of some small little things about traveling. However, this page has all the travel tips necessary for a great trip, no matter where you're going.

Take note of the outlets.

For travelers that have never been out of the country before, they often don’t realize or forget that not every country has the same type of outlet! Be sure to have a converter on hand so that you can charge up your phone, camera, laptop, and other electrical things.

Unlock your phone for international use.

It's no secret that international calls can be expensive. While you're traveling internationally, your normal phone plan will not be able to cover the same functions. In order to get around this, you can unlock your phone. No, it's not jailbreaking, but it basically means that you have the ability to switch SIM cards for your phone and use different carriers. If you unlock your phone, then you can get a local SIM card from wherever you're visiting and put it into your phone so that you can use your phone no matter where you are. So how can you unlock your phone? Ask your cell company, they are usually able to unlock it after you've had that phone for at least a year. You also have the option of going to an independent phone store and have someone unlock it. Once it is unlocked, you can get a local SIM card from your travel destination. Unlocking your phone is often the least expensive method of using your phone while overseas.

Learn a bit of the local language.

Obviously you're not going to be fluent in that language, but it's nice to know a bit of the local language, such as commonly used words. This way, if you're ever caught in a situation where the people don't speak English, you'll have a little knowledge of the language.

Use the time on the airplane to adjust time zones.

While you're on the plane, keep in mind the time in the place that you'll be arriving in. Take this time to either sleep or stay up based on where you're going so that you can adjust to the time zone. Time your activities based on the time zone that you're aiming for. In addition, you can also use this time to battle jetlag by staying hydrated. Drinking water usually helps to cure jetlag. By taking advantage of your time on the airplane to cure your jetlag, you'll be less jetlagged when you arrive and feeling better to explore the destination.

Look up the local food before you go.

Research the local food in the destination you'll be going to so that you'll know what to expect while searching for restaurants. In a lot of different countries, the local food may be in another language, and by researching the food before you go, you'll know what's in the dish and whether or not you'll like it. In addition, you should be open to trying the food in whatever destination you're in, because you might find a new dish that you love. Try to stray away from the things that you're used to and try out the local food in order to get the full experience.

Take your time to soak it all in.

While it can sometimes be our instinct to try and fit in all the things that we want to do, you have to take some time to stop and smell the roses. If you rush through everything, you won't have time to experience it all and soak in all the joys that come with traveling.

Eat at places away from the crowds.

If you're looking for cheap eats, steer away from the touristy destinations while you're eating, since the places near the most popuar tourist destinations will have the most costly food.

Take an empty water bottle through airport security to fill up later.

This is especially useful if you're going through a budget airline. Some airlines make you pay for beverages at steep prices, including water, so it's nice to bring your own water. For the most part, domestic flights will have more things where you'll have to pay additional prices for extra items, such as food and beverages. International flights are more likely to have free beverages. Bring an empty water bottle with you in your carry on luggage and then fill it up after you get through security so that you can get free water from a drinking fountain and stay hydrated while on the plane.

Have some cash on you.

Depending on where you're going, most restaurants and shops may accept credit cards, but it could alos be that most restaurants and shops only accept cash. You may have to do some research on it based on the specific city and region that you are traveling to, but either way, it is always helpful to have some extra cash on you, especially ones and fives.

Note the bag sizes and weights on airlines

While the standard weight limit for baggage is 50 pounds (23 kilograms) and the standard maximum size for carry-ons is 27 x 21 x 14 inch, it can vary among airlines, especially based on where you are flying to and from. For example, in many of the smaller airlines or budget airlines, the planes are smaller, so your 27 x 21 x 14 inch size carry-on may not fit in the overhead compartment if you are not careful. If you are planning on taking a large carry-on onto a budget airline, stay on the safe side and bring a bag that is a little bit smaller than the limit.