BEST TRAVEL TIPS FROM 21 YEARS OF TRAVELING THE WORLD

It all began with a five-week trip to Thailand in 2000. We fell in love with travel and have had many mishaps. We made many travel errors, from being airlifted by the Amazon to getting lost on Switzerland Rail. We’ve compiled this list of the best travel tips we have learned from 21 years of traveling the world.

Don’t Go Into Debt

This is one of the best tips we can offer for traveling. When you travel, stay within your budget. If you return from your trip of a lifetime to find yourself in debt, you will regret it all.

You can only travel abroad if you can afford it. Explore your local area. Dave and I explored much of Ontario, Canada, when we were dreaming about traveling the globe. We could get out of our ruts and try new things by spending weekends in nature. You can save money by exploring your backyard and home. We saved a lot by having adventures near home, and in less than a year, we were on a world trip.

Always get travel insurance

This is one of our best travel tips. Make sure you have travel insurance before leaving home. Many think they only need travel coverage if they’re off the beaten track. But this is a mistake. Accidents can occur anywhere. A few years back, Dave and I were on a luxury cruise, and he fell on a set of stairs. He suffered a broken back and would have had to pay nearly $100,000 for air ambulance and hospital bills. We will purchase travel insurance.

Hiring local guides

We recommend hiring a local guide as a top travel tip. Local guides can be employed to support the local economy. This cuts out the middleman and supports local families. Hiring local workers will save you money. You pay the tour operator and rent expensive offices when you book online or overseas tours. If you book locally, the money goes directly to that person. It’s also an excellent way to meet new people and learn about the local culture. They have often invited us to their homes, giving us a more meaningful experience.

Get a Rewards Travel Credit Card

We know we didn’t say to go into debt, but credit cards can be a great way to travel in style and increase your travel budget. A good rewards credit card can help you save money on travel. You can save a lot on travel expenses by getting rewards. Many travel credit cards also offer large signing bonuses, which you can use towards your flight to travel the world. Regarding travel tips that save money, we recommend getting a car. However, you must make sure that you pay it off.

Debit and Credit Cards

Let your bank and credit card companies know your plans before traveling. They may also lock your credit cards if they notice that you have made a purchase abroad. You should also make sure you have several cards. Our debit card was blocked in Cuba after eating at an Istanbul ATM. Our Sudanese bank account was blocked in Sudan despite informing them about our travel plans. We tried three different credit and bank cards in Sri Lanka before finally being able to withdraw money from the ATM. Having several cards from foreign banks is a good idea to be ready for everything.

Cash in small bills

Canadians have several hundred dollars in small bills to tip our staff at the hotel and for transportation from the airport. US Dollars are accepted everywhere, whether you’re traveling to Africa, South America, Africa, or Europe.

Enjoy Free Walking Tours

We love to share our favorite travel tip with people: the free walking tours you can take anywhere in the world. We always join a walking tour when we travel to a new place. This is an excellent way for you to get around the city. This is one of our favorite travel tips we discovered after traveling for several years. These free walking tours are unique! The free walking tours are usually better than those you book online. You only pay for what you find comfortable in the end. They are led locally. We recommend $10 per person.

Get a City Pass

We recommend getting a city card when visiting any city. They are used to bundle attractions and save money. A City Pass is an excellent option if you spend a few days in one town and visit all the main tourist attractions. You can use public transit and skip lines at tourist attractions with the City Pass. Our Favorite City Pass Bundles include CityPass in the USA and Canada and Leisure Pass in Europe.

Choose Tours Wisely

These were some mistakes we made in our first years of travel. We wanted to share them with you. Make sure to choose a responsible company when choosing tours. Ask questions, and feel free to ask them questions if they aren’t answering your needs.

Do not swim with dolphins or ride elephants in captivity. We searched for an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, and all claimed they were one. We asked questions and discovered that tourists could ride elephants, but they were not a sanctuary.

It would help if you were not allowed to go on a tour with a guide who is unethical or hurts the environment or culture. Many guides believe they must chase dolphins or pick up turtles to make tourists happy.

Respect local culture

One of the best tips for traveling to a new place is to research the culture and customs before you go. Learn about how people dress and behave in public. It will make you feel more at ease if you can blend in.