4 Travel Tips for Planning Your Next Stress- Free Adventure
In the past two years, I’ve traveled all over North America from Mexico to Hawaii. Through my travels, I have discovered that people often spend more time planning their trip than enjoying their vacation. I have gathered a few tips and tricks to get the most out of your experience whether it’s a day trip or a week-long adventure.
- Deals, deals, deals
Deals are everywhere! While many advise to buy your tickets on a Tuesday weeks in advance, that’s not always necessary to get a good deal for a trip. Do your own research and find what fits your needs the best. Some of my favorite sites are Airbnb, TripAdvisor, Trivago and Expedia. If you are flexible on your travel dates, Groupon often has some amazing bundles to exotic places for decent prices.
- Tours aren’t always your friend
Tours are a great way to check out historical spots and get some background information on the site. But often, they aren’t necessary to get an amazing experience. For example, in Rome there are hundreds of tour companies that say you need to take a tour of every historical place to get the true experience. While many tourists fall for their trap, it’s best to pick a couple of places like the Vatican or the Colosseum that are worth hiring a professional to guide you around. Places like the Spanish steps or Trevi fountain can be enjoyed without a tour guide and with a quick google search you will know everything.
- Ask the locals
The locals know best! These people have lived there all their lives and they know what magic lies in their city. They know exactly what will match your interests and can personalize your travels plans to fit you. What can be better than that! I mean can TripAdvisor or Yelp do that? Not only will you be able to connect to an actual human being but you get recommendations with local pride.
- Pack Light
Save yourself of the headache of extra baggage. You are on vacation, enjoy it! Pack only the essentials: jeans, some tops and maybe a cute outfit for a night on the town. Take light, cotton clothes that handle wrinkles well. Remember everyone in the world washes clothes so there will be laundromat nearby for a clean shirt. If you can travel with just a carry on the better.
For those who need an extra hand with ideas on how to pack, YouTube has some great tutorials available.
