I was cleaning out the pages on this site when I stumbled on one that was buried deep—travel tips that I had written back in 2012. Naturally, I clicked through to it to mock my younger, new-to-traveling self. But as I read through, I just kept nodding. Turns out, my mid-20s self actually was pretty decent at travel! So, I wanted to re-share:
- Thinking about travel, even domestically? Get your passport now (or make sure it’s renewed), just in case.
- Traveling abroad? Check into things like visas and how your phone will work in that country well in advance. You don’t want to be sprinting through Times Square to pick up your visa from the embassy at 4:55 on a Friday when you’re flying on Saturday. Trust me.
- Get a freaking flu shot. The last thing you want is to come down with the flu, and traveling opens you up to a lot of germs. Personal experience here: a 104 degree fever alone in a hotel room sucks. (This is one that I’ve come back to year after year.)
- Pockets and compartments and small separate bags are your friend, especially on long trips where keeping things organized is key.
- Pashminas are maybe the smartest thing you can pack: warm, stylish, and can double as a skirt or a shirt in a pinch (and for $5, it’s a no-brainer.)
- Check local weather but be prepared for anything, always.
- Travel as light as possible — leave room for souvenirs (think weight limits when flying — a $7 luggage scale could save you a $50 overcharge)
- Bring a spare empty totebag or stuff-able backpack. If needed, you can use it as a carry-on to avoid going over weight limits, and when you get to your destination, it’s nice to have a bag to tote around that doesn’t need to be unpacked and repacked before you leave
- When packing, make a list of what you’ll be doing where you’re going, and make a list from that of essentials. You may not want to wander around town in your running shoes, for example.
- Say it with me again: Flu. Shot.
(I just wrote about my best cheap healthy travel hacks here, if you want some more in-depth travel tips!)
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