Traveling tips

Some of my favorite traveling tips.

🛄 Only bring carry-on luggage.

It’s usually cheaper and you can check in online. For most airlines this means this mean you don’t need to go to airport counter and go straight to the gate. It also saves you time when you arrive at your destination as you don’t need to wait for the slow luggage belt.

🛒 In case of doubt, don’t bring it.

The less luggage you bring, the less hassle. Smaller chance something gets lost, and less weight to carry around. If you’re unsure about whether to certain item, consider that you can probably just buy it at your destination as well.

🎫 Flight ticket prices vary wildly.

Prices can change a lot depending on when you travel, with which airline, in which class, etc. If you’re traveling on a budget, make sure to do your research. Typically the more time between when you book and when your flight is, the cheaper. Use sites like Google Flights and Kiwi to compare different airlines.

💬 Meeting people.

It’s great if you can travel with friends. But if that’s not an option, there’s a bunch of different ways to make new friends at your destination. Joining a co-working place is one way. But also meetups through sites like Meetup.com or Nomad List. Dating apps like Tinder and Bumble can also be good ways to make new friends (or more).

📅 Stay flexible

If you’re visiting a new place, it’s hard to predict if you’re going to like it. And which area to stay at. So I try not to commit too much in advance and keep my options open. For example I might book a one-week hotel stay even if I plan to stay a few months. That gives enough time to explore the area IRL and pick a permanent spot.

💳 Use Revolut

Traditional banks can charge a lot for international credit card payments and ATM withdrawawls. Newer banks like Revolut have a lot lower fees, and make it easy to order multiple cards so you always have a backup if you lose one.

✅ Make checklists

I’ve created a bunch of check lists for myself for travel. I’ve got a list for “what to look when booking an accomodation” (I have quite a few requirements 😅). Prep for a flight (including a packing list, etc). I even have checklist with what to do when arriving at my destination. It includes things like getting protein powder for exercise (as I usually find it too bulky to travel with) and properly unpacking rather than living out of my suitcase.

🍛 Select specific in-flight meal during check-in.

You’ll get food first + your choice. AFAIK there’s never an additional cost for choosing beforehand

🎧 Noise-cancelling

headphones for flight

🗺 Nomad List

Add trip to https://nomadlist.com to receive arrival email with local tips (which sim card to get, tipping percentage, etc)

👕 You can wash clothes during travel.

No need to pack weeks worth of clothes.

💺 SeatGuru

Use http://SeatGuru.com to find the best seats in plane

👍 Enjoy

Yes

I learned many of these tips from @levelsio (@nomadlist), and @jelmerdeboer’s book: https://thuisblijvenisduurder.com