I love doing collaborative posts. Honestly, I learn so much from asking experienced travelers in-the-know the right questions, that it wouldn’t be fair if I kept that information all bottled up inside – and didn’t share.
So, for the next two weeks, Travel Tip Tuesday will feature a little mini series on Travel Advice. I reached out to the travel blogging community and asked them to offer up their Best and Worst Travel Advice. Most like to save the best for last, but I like to be different. Today, I’m covering the best first!
Here is what they had to say:
Janice Waugh of Solotraveler:
I’d have to say that the best travel advice I ever received came on my very first trip. I was 15 and going on a cycling tour. I had to carry all my gear myself. They provided a packing list and I discovered how little you really need to travel – even for a very physical trip that lasted a month. I’ve changed the packing list over time but I am still a very lean packer.
Erica Berman of Hip Paris Blog:
Photo copy your documents and also put them on a USB key. Don’t carry all your money and credit cards together when you travel in case you lose your wallet. Leave your passport in the hotel safe, your room or at home if you rent a flat. You don’t need to carry it around with you and you could easily lose it.
Lisa Bergren of The World is Calling:
Rent a villa. By far, our apartment and villa stays have made for our best travel experiences as a family. Settling in, grocery shopping, taking 1/2 day trips helps you really understand a place and feel a part of it, and the kids are more relaxed with a “home” to return to.
Andy Hayes of Sharing Travel Experiences:
Best advice ever: Pack half of what you think you will need.
Barbara Weibel of Cultural Travel with Hole in the Donut:
Before I took off on my first round-the-world trip back in 2007, a good friend sagely advised me to “stay in the moment.” Although I try to be present at all times in my life, his reminder resonated with me so strongly that it has become my travel mantra. When in the present moment, I am not obsessing over the past or worrying about the future; rather I am fully open to experiencing and enjoying what is happening right now.
Evelyn Hannon of Journeywoman:
The best travel advice I’ve ever received was something I read (can’t remember the source) that said something like: When you are a solo traveller, the best way to unravel a new culture is to leave their famous landmarks for last. Those will be overrun with tourists just like you are. Instead stay in the neighbourhoods, eat in local pubs, see what the locals are wearing, go swimming at the sports center and pop into their library and university to see ‘what’s up.’ It’s advice I try to use, over and over again and I’ve never forgotten it no matter how long I’ve been hitting the road on my own.
Jeff Titelius of International Travel Examiner:
One great piece of advice is to purchase advance tickets to museums when it’s possible. I saw the queues in Florence and at the Vatican and THANK GOD I had advance tickets. Front of the line baby!
Sonya of Traveling Greener:
My best travel advice is to travel wireless, light and paperless. A few years ago, a close friend introduced me to the BlackBerry and it changed how I live, work and travel. Now, I mostly use an iPhone and iPad for everything from travel planning, books, apps and guides to entertainment.
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A huge thank you to all of the contributors! Stay tuned for the Worst Travel Advice coming up next Tuesday.
So, now it’s your turn to share. What is the Best Travel Advice you’ve ever received?