A user asked the forum, what is your most obscure yet vital travel tip?
CARRY MONEY IN SEPARATE POCKET
“When traveling off the beaten track where personal safety is less certain (basically anywhere that you’re not supposed to be out at night), carry at least $50 to $100 in cash in a separate pocket from your money/cards/etc.
That’s enough to give a potential assailant that warm feeling of achievement, so they will let you go.”
CLIP YOUR NAILS
“Clip your nails before the trip. Toes and fingers.”
SUNBLOCK AND MOSQUITO REPELLENT
“For some reason, it’s often difficult to find sunblock and mosquito repellent in countries with lots of sun and mosquitoes. Take them with you!”
CARRY A LIGHT RAIN GEAR
“Having light rain gear on a rainy day can make normally packed activities wait-free.”
CARRY TOOTHPASTE AND BRUSH
“Brushing your teeth is the quickest way to feel human again after long flights.
Have toothpaste and brush ready so you can do this before you leave the airport.”
GOOGLE LOCAL SCAMS
“Google local scams in the area before visiting somewhere new. It’s helped me not fall for a few.”
TRAVEL MEDICINE KIT
“My travel medicine kit: the stop and go set (imodium and senna laxative), along with a blister pack sheet each of paracetamol, Rennie (i.e., tums), and chlorphenamine (antihistamine for allergies).
Fits in a tiny makeup bag and has saved me loads of trips to foreign pharmacies to attempt to make my way to some common medication for a minor complaint.”
COPY OF PASSPORT AND LEARN FEW WORDS IN LOCAL LANGUAGE
“Two things:
- Make a color photocopy of your passport to carry with you and leave the original in your hotel safe.
- Learn a few simple words in the local language. Hello, goodbye, thank you, at a minimum. It will go a long way to making people friendly to you.”
SCHEDULE A QUIET DAY
“Always schedule a quiet day after you arrive, especially if you’re coming off a long flight; jet lag is a real thing.
And always have spare days in your itinerary for either weather events or just things you discover while you’re there.
Carry more than one credit/debit card.”
CHECK THE REFUND AND CANCELLATION POLICY
“Always check the refund/cancellation policy of any booking before making payment.”
DON’T BE STRESSED OUT
“Don’t be too stressed out about the culture shock.
The internet seems to be drowning in scare stories about you doing the wrong thing and causing an international incident. But if you aren’t an obvious jerk tourist jumping into water fountains or something, you are going to be fine.
You might have a waiter rolling his eyes behind your back about your lack of proper local etiquette, but most people know you are a tourist and give you the benefit of the doubt.
This isn’t to say you shouldn’t do a bit of research beforehand.”
CARRY SANDWICH BAGS
“I always take some sandwich bags. There’s always a half-eaten pastry, or leftovers, etc, when you’re out. That way, I can pop it in my bag for later.”
GET UP BEFORE SUNRISE
“When visiting a city, get up before sunrise and walk as the city wakes up. I did this in Venice, and it was magic!”
AUDIO MESSAGE RECORDINGS TO YOUR RESCUE
“If you are in a country where you don’t speak the language and might be taking taxis, have the staff at your hotel record a voice memo on your phone explaining how to get back to the hotel.
Then just play it for your taxi driver. Or use this strategy for allergy messages to play in restaurants, or basically any message you can anticipate needing.”
CARRY SOLID SHOWER PRODUCTS
“Almost all shower products come in solids. Some people hate them, but I love them: Bar soap, shampoo bars, face wash, etc.
I never have to worry about spilling, not having enough because I’m limited to 3.4oz, or having to find products that work for me abroad.
If it’s a shorter trip, you can also cut the bars even smaller and stick them all together in one soap container.”
GO FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
“If you need to poo in the center of a city, search for a public library and enter confidently. Library toilets tend to be much cleaner than those in other public buildings and are free.”
GOOGLE LOCAL HOLIDAYS
“Google local holidays/festivals on your period of travel.
Sometimes a bunch of businesses you expected to be open will be closed. Sometimes the main square or a central road will be closed. Sometimes hundreds of people will douse you in water if you are anywhere in public.
Of course, there’s an opportunity as well as risk. You may want to amend your plan to enjoy the celebrations.”
CHANGE IN YOUR CLOTHES
“If you are traveling with someone, put a change of their clothes in your checked bag and a change of your clothes in their checked bag.
Then put a change of clothes for you in your carry-on, and they do the same. This way, if one of you gets your luggage lost, you at least have two days of clean clothes.”
More From Mrs Daaku Studio
18 Things You Never Realized the Pandemic Has Completely Ruined. Read here.
21 Things You’re Saying That Make People Dislike You “Instantly”: Guilty of Any?
21 Things You’re Saying That Make People Dislike You “Instantly”: Guilty of Any? Read here.
17 Places That’re Popular For Travel But is NOT Worth Visiting Even Once
17 Places That’re Popular For Travel But is NOT Worth Visiting Even Once. Read here.
12 Traits Women Find “Creepy” – Are You Guilty of Any?
12 Traits Women Find “Creepy” – Are You Guilty of Any? Read here.
13 Things You Pretend You Don’t Do, But Secretly Do It: Are You Ashamed of it?
13 Things You Pretend You Don’t Do, But Secretly Do It: Are You Ashamed of it? Read here.
The article was originally published on Mrs Daaku Studio.