52 Wanderlust Travel Tips
What does it mean to have wanderlust? Wanderlust is a strong desire to travel. More and more people of all ages are planning gap years to see more of the world. Here are our favorite tips to satisfy your wanderlust and travel more!
You finally booked your ticket, still waiting on packing, and now you need some travel tips? Look no further as we have a list of 52 Wanderlust Travel Tips.
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Top Wanderlust Travel Tips:
1. Always purchase plane tickets on a Tuesday or a Wednesday. We know it sounds pointless, but take our word for it, the tickets really are cheaper on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
2. Fairs will be even less expensive if you wait until after 3pm to purchase. Airlines usually lower their fairs at this time.
3. Make sure to enable private browsing when you are trying to book flights or hotel rooms. Travel sites are able to track your visits, and if you have already used the site before they will raise the prices to try to make more money off of you.
4. Scan your important documents before you leave. It is always a smart idea to have extra copies of everything, such as your passport, license or visa, just in case. Email them to yourself so you can access them from anywhere.
5. Make a list of all of the things you will need on your trip, before you start packing.
6. Don’t like it when your clothes smell like your suitcase? Snag a dryer sheet from your laundry room, and put it at the bottom of your suitcase before you leave. This will keep your clothes smelling ‘laundry-fresh’ for days.
7. Skip restroom lines at the airport. The first restroom in the terminal is always the most crowded… that’s logical, isn’t it? Walk a little further and you won’t have to wait.
8. Carry a pen with you when you travel. You will need it for miscellaneous things, such as filling out customs forms on the plane.
9. Save room in your suitcase, practice rolling your clothes instead of folding them. You can fit a lot more in this way. You still want to keep in mind how much your suitcase weighs though.
10. Reserve the aisle and the window seat on a plane, if you are booking for two people. Other travelers will be less likely to choose the middle seat this way, and you may get the whole row to yourselves.
11. Unscrew the lids on all of your liquids, and cover the top with saran wrap before securing the lid back on. This is an easy way to keep liquids from leaking all over your clothes.
12. Need Wi-Fi, but don’t want to spend any more money at cafes? You can usually find the password if you check under the comments on FourSquare.
13. Didn’t bring a journal with you to document your trip? Send yourself a postcard from each city or country that you visit. Your ‘journal’ will be waiting at your doorstep by the time—if not, shortly after—you get home.
14. Collect your loose money at the end of your trip and give it away to the homeless.
15. Always call your credit card companies and banks before you travel. Let them know the dates that you will be abroad so that they don’t turn off your card due to “fraudulent” charges made in a different country.
16. Buy a portable phone charger or a charging case for the times that you will not be next to an outlet. This will also keep you from having to carry an adapter, along with your phone charger, everywhere that you go.
17. Planning on bringing back some foreign wines? Wrap wine bottles in inflated pool floaties to keep them from breaking in your luggage.
18. Separate your money. Don’t keep all of your cash, coins, and credit cards in the same wallet as you would back at home. Separate them into different wallets, and if possible, try not to carry them all at one time. This is a safety precaution, just in case, so you don’t end up without any money.
19. Check with your insurance companies if you think you will be operating motor vehicles, or taking any risks. Not all activities in certain countries are covered by your insurance. Know your limits when you are abroad.
20. Wake up early and skip crowds in popular places. This is also the best way to make the most of your day, especially in the winter months when daylight hours are much shorter.
21. Don’t be critical of yourself. You’ll probably stand out because you are somewhere new, but that’s ok! Learn to laugh at yourself, and don’t let this distract you from your adventure.
22. People watch. Ok, so maybe it doesn’t sound like the ‘most’ fun activity, but if you truly want to get to know a place, the best way is by watching its residents.
23. Want to skip time waiting for your luggage? Simple tip: put ‘fragile’ stickers on your bag. These almost always come out first, because they are kept at the top of the pile.
24. Use hanging organizers to keep your stuff packed up from place to place. Just fold them up and put them in your suitcase will all of your things already in them. This is a fast way to pack on the go.
25. Use ATMs to take out money, instead of exchanging money at foreign currency kiosks. This will save you a lot of money in fees.
26. Stay hydrated. It is so easy to get dehydrated when traveling. It is a good idea to carry a refillable water bottle with you at all times. Hydration is said to also help with jetlag.
27. Keep your skin hydrated as well. Carry travel size moisturizers, lip balm, and always wear sunscreen!
28. Try to hop on the first plane of the day. They are usually the least expensive, and rarely experience delays.
29. Carry hand sanitizer. You will come in contact with a lot of germs on your journey, and you never know if you will be able to wash your hands.
30. Do you get motion sickness but aren’t a fan of pharmaceuticals? Try popping 1,000 milligrams of ginger root before getting on the boat, or in the car. You can take this every four hours, if needed.
31. Cancel hotels and car rentals for free. If you already missed the cancellation time-window, push your reservation out several weeks later. Call back and cancel with a new phone representative. Super sneaky, but it totally works.
32. Put a shower cap around the bottom of your shoes to keep the rest of your belongings from getting dirty.
33. Carry spare plastic bags with you, just in case. You never know when they may come in handy.
34. Looking for the best places to go, and the greatest hotspots to see? Reach out to your community, join a travel forum, and read traveler reviews. These are all great ways to learn about where you are going.
35. Be open to all travel methods. Don’t forget about public transportation, buses, and trains. Especially in Europe, there are usually cheaper ways than flying to get from country to country.
36. Use your frequent flyer miles. There is no reason to hold on to them, and oftentimes they expire within a year or two of earning them. If you have them, book a trip and go. No need to wait!
37. When buying travel insurance (which is a good idea for expensive airfare), always purchase from a third-party vendor. Don’t purchase from the same company that you got your ticket from.
38. Pack light. Try to limit yourself to only one bag in order to avoid baggage fees. Also, make sure you leave room for all of the shopping you may want to do while you’re abroad.
39. Be open to new things. You are experiencing a different culture, do not expect things to be the same as they are back at home. Be happy to try new foods, and gain new experiences.
40. Don’t get too caught up in your planning. Sometimes it is nice not to know what is on the agenda.
41. Don’t be shy. Everyone knows what it is like to travel and to feel alone. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or help, while you are abroad.
42. Download Yelp if you are traveling domestically. It really is a great resource if you don’t know where to go… for pretty much anything.
43. Take only the necessities out of your bag while in your hotel room. This makes packing easy, and you have less of a risk of leaving things behind.
44. Save money on food by eating what is local, always. Foods that remind you of the home may be comforting, but oftentimes cost way more money than they should. Enjoy the cuisine of the country, and eat your heart out upon your return.
45. Unpack immediately when you get home. Sure, no one really wants to do this, but the faster you do it, the faster you get it over with!
46. Educate yourself on any vaccinations you may need before traveling. You definitely want to avoid picking up any foreign illnesses while you are away.
47. Carry excess cords and headphones in an old glasses case.
48. Stuff all of your small items away in your backpack before going through security. This will save you a lot of time.
49. For longer flights, bring a change of clothes, a toothbrush, and maybe even some pajamas in your carry-on. It is always nice to be comfortable when you are sleeping and to be able to freshen up when you have arrived.
50. Did you forget your phone charger? Head to the front desk at your hotel. They usually have a stockpile of chargers, leftover from previous guests.
51. Want to use Wi-Fi for free while at the airport? Add “?.jpg” to the end of any URL to get around airport fees. You also may be able to get free Wi-Fi if you sit right outside of the lounges.
52. “Keep calm, and carry on!” Be flexible while traveling, and remember, whatever happens, it is all part of the travel experience.
