I’m a big proponent for the “just wing it” style of travel. Sometimes it costs an extra dollar or two, but it means that I don’t have to plan anything, which leaves the potential for my journeys wide open. When I have a plan, it means that everything must go according to it. Without one, anything is possible. The stories are always better and, somehow, things always work out.
I arrived in Colombia two weeks ago and, though I had some rough ideas about what I would do and where I would go, the only thing I had planned was my first night’s accommodation. People usually look at me like I’m crazy, but I always just grin and nod.
Having done this more than a few times, it’s definitely my preferred approach. I try not to stress about planning things, specifically my itinerary. People ask what my plans are, and the answer is almost universally, “I don’t have a clue.”
There are, however, a number of ways to make the planning stage of your travels easier. Though I don’t map out much of my itinerary, the planning stages are actually the most important. When it comes to things like insurance, vaccinations, visas and documentation, packing, and financial planning, it’s really important to make sure everything is in order.
I’ve compiled my best travel tips for the planning stage of your travels and reached out to some other bloggers for some insight.
Thanks for including my tip Jeremy. Despite being pretty organised and well travelled I learnt a thing of two from my fellow “seasoned pros”.
I think we’re all a little disorganized in some way or another. That’s why I wanted to put together this list…if it can be used to check items off before we travel, we’ll all be able to travel smarter!
Super helpful article, Jeremy! Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic tips, especially those about preparing well for every occasion by saving your documents somewhere safe online, plus buying travel insurance too.
The tip I appreciate the most is the one about using Duolingo to learn a little of the language before you arrive. Just a few words and knowing how to say ‘beautiful smile’ in the local language can go a long way.
I love that idea, Dale! I hadn’t thought to learn a few nice compliments in the local language. Is that how you wooed Franca? 😉
Just make sure it’s “beautiful smile” and not “pretty mouth,” because things could get awkward.
Great tips Jeremy! Agreed fully on both exit tickets and visa requirements. For many trips we weren’t asked for proof of exit and then, 2 years back, I recalled a Jet Blue flight to Costa Rica. We couldn’t board the plane without proof of exiting the country so we found a WiFi hot spot at JKF in NYC and bought 2 cheap tix out of the country. Piece of cake. We were also asked a few more times, once when flying from Sydney to Bali, and again, I get the reason why.
As for visa stuff it always pays to pay extra to do it legitimately or to avoid corrupt guards. Also, do your online research to find silly little rules. For example, after doing the visa run from Chiang Mai to Myanmar about 5 times, paying in Baht, we were told we needed to pay in USD. We had the money, but in Baht. Guard wouldn’t budge. I was very nice, and conciliatory, but I simply sat in the guard house for like 15 minutes, not saying anything other than smiling, and he finally gave in. So from then on out we always had USD on us for the visa. Lesson learned.
Ryan
Yeah, paying USD to enter Cambodia was really strange. I didn’t quite understand that either, but it always pays to do a little bit of research ahead of time. Exit requirements are a big one, though, especially if you’re flying one way!
Jeremy, we paid our exit from Cambodia in US$, all in well-used $1 bills. The officer was a little taken aback by the mountain of bills, but grumpily accepted it!
Excellent set of tips, thanks for including ours! I definitely agree on memorizing your passport – I also scan mine so that I’ve got access tot he information at all times regardless of what happens – thankfully have never needed the scanned copy yet but you never know! Reconfirming the passport expiration date is also a fab tip – I had a scare last year regarding this! Will need to get a new passport within the next few months :D!
I always bring a scanned copy of my passport with me. That way I can leave my real passport locked up at my accommodations and just use the copy when I’m out in a city.
Hahaha you left the condom thing in…that was a joke! …sort of.
Wow,
Jeremy you are a genius! An excellent post! I have to double check for visas before travelling. Thanks for this Have a good time in Colombia, it is a beautiful country.
Yes, don’t ever forget to double check your visas!
Great tips! thanks 🙂
Some fantastic points here, especially to check the exit requirements and to keep documentation backup – I once used that when my passport got stolen!
Great tips. I’m all for travel insurance. We’ve always travelled with it, but after Dave broke his back in the Amazon this year and had to be airlifted out of the Amazon to a hospital in Peru. After a week there, he was air lifted home via air ambulance and that would have cost us a fortune as well as taking a risk with his health. Travel insurance saved our bacon.
Yeah, you guys are VERY lucky you had travel insurance. I never used to have it when I traveled, but now I won’t travel without coverage. I’m so glad Dave is okay, and he definitely wouldn’t be if you didn’t have insurance.
Great great tips – especially regarding memorizing your passport and storing documents in a cloud. Those documents are your identity and your lifeline when you’re traveling!
Great list of tips. I’ve never heard of the ESTA visa before, so that mention had me a little confused and worried and panicked that maybe I didn’t know about something which could make my transits and visa issues easier… it’s only for non-Americans.
If you have an American passport there’s nothing to worry about 🙂
All great tips. I think people often underestimate the value of trying to speak some of the local language when they travel; it’s a great way to make friends and really does enhance the trip.
I’d like to mention two other programs as well: TSA Precheck, which expedites passing through some security lines, and Global Entry, which enables qualified people to zip through border control in a number of countries.
Both are great options for people who travel a lot! That being said, I should probably apply for mine…
Hi Jeremy. Great list of tips. One that I might add is to include a sheet of heat repelling packing in your bag, in the event that you want to bring back something that is very sensitive to heat — like chocolate!
At the rate I eat chocolate, it’s definitely not making it as far as another country! I didn’t even know they made that. Thanks for the tip!
Excellent tips, Jeremy. I never thought of memorizing my passport. It would be very difficult though (please don’t look down on me for that!) I have a very bad memory. I do most of the things you list here, except buying travel insurance and I have to say that once, but only once, I regretted it. My father in law passed away unexpectedly and I had to cancel a $4000 trip on the spot, with no refund. But I still didn’t learn my lesson. I still keep pushing my luck with that. Very useful post, thank you.
The travel insurance is seriously worth it. Sounds like you found out the hard way. I really recommend getting some. World Nomads is a great option.
And oh, don’t buy /use black suitcase/backpack. Everyone has one at the luggage claim. :)) Takes time.
I personally like muted colors for bags because they’re less conspicuous. Bright colors stand out very easily, especially if you’re carrying expensive items in poor countries.
I have a brightly-coloured lockable luggage strap on my black suitcase, which makes my case immediately recognisable on a crowded carousel.
Great planning tips – having the passport info memorized is key! As I’m based in Africa, the whole “on arrival” visa is never a certainty and can be a big hassle, especially for those traveling overland.
Yeah, it really sounds like it!
Winging it might save you money, too. I find incredibly lodging deals at last moment; easier to negotiate.
That’s a good point! I often find that I spend a little more because I don’t do my research, but it also gives me more freedom to do as a please, and I always score last minute deals!
Great information from lots of people that would know. Our planning tip would be to make sure you have a hundred dollars or so in a few places as an emergency (e.g. in your backpack, suitcase and laptop bag).
That’s a great tip! I try to keep money in two or three places whenever I’m on the move (hidden in multiple bags, hidden on my person, etc).
Such great advice! I’ve been traveling for a long time and haven’t thought about a few of these. A small first aid kit is another tip that I usually recommend.
The refundable return ticket is a great tip! I never thought about that possibility and I could definitely have saved a few hundred dollars if I knew this before!
Thanks for a good post!
Yeah, this is a really handy trick. I know more than a few people who’ve gotten held up at airports because they didn’t have a return ticket.
Great reminder about the vaccines/medical records. I think a lot of people overlook that.
Great info Jeremy, thanks. It can be daunting at times, but planning the trip feels like starting to travel already (and its nicer than to get your shots ;-))! We use Google Maps as well to create interactive maps to plan our trips and we share them afterwards so that our readers can benefit from them. And they are compatible with maps.me, a fantastic free app thanks to which we never get lost and never pay roaming fees to find our way!
How to feel like a local with our interactive maps on your phone for free: short tutorial: https://bestregardsfromfar.com/2015/10/25/interactive-maps-on-the-go/
My best tip is to bring a multi-outlet powerboard. That way, you only need one adapter to use a few of your own plug-in’s.
That’s a good one!
I was planning to write the same article for my blog! I mean, I chose the same topic. Most likely, now I will not do this. You already said everything 😀 Despite the fact that you left me without an idea for the next post, I still like yours 😀 Thanks for sharing tips and your personal experience with us!
Haha! Sorry?
OK. All right 🙂
Agreed! Good stuff. Here are a few extra things I suggest and a couple elaborations on what you already covered:
– On your 1st point regarding returnable tickets, buy them on Expedia. They have a 24 hour return policy and it’s really easy. I’ve done it for Colombia and Costa Rica already this year.
– On your 4th point, I suggest giving Google My Maps a try. It’s even more customizable and saves on Google Maps too
– Facebook groups – Look up and join local expat Facebook groups of the places you’re visiting to find insider tips, ask questions, and discover events going on while you’re there
– Check the type of plugs they use there and make sure you have adaptors
– Check the current currency exchange rate so you can ensure you don’t get ripped off when you get there
– Check if Uber is legal in that country/city and if not what alternatives there may be. Get the app beforehand if there is one