10 Travel Tips & Tricks I Live By

Trying to avoid unnecessary stress, enjoy your trip as much as possible, and reap the benefits of spending money? Me too, and it's simple! Below are 10 travel tips I live by in order to do so:

1. AirTags go in my wallet, purse, carry-on, and checked bag (a pack of four costs $80 and you never have to worry about losing a checked bag again)
2. Three small items that have been added to my list this year: shower shoes, an eye mask, and ear plugs. These are great whether you’re staying at a hostel, Airbnb, or hotel because they’ll keep your feet clean and ensure you get some sleep sleep wherever you are (especially fabulous on a long flight)
3. Bring cash in the local currency for small purchases, and because there's always a spot that's cash only
4. Always pack clean socks, underwear, and an extra change of clothes in your carry-on in case your bag either doesn’t make it, or you spill wine in your lap in hour one of an eight hour flight
5. I've made a habit of asking friends for recommendations if they've visited where I'm going. Using those suggestion, I make a list of 5-10 places (bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants, museums, bars, etc.) I plan to visit
6. I put just about everything on my credit card for two reasons: so that I get points, and because credit card companies almost always reimburse you in the event that you get scammed or charged multiple times
7. That being said, I like to come up with a budget prior to traveling so that I spend more intentionally (I used to be bad about buying crap I didn’t care about and then I'd wonder where all my money went)  
8. Pack using a checklist so that I never forget the important stuff that can’t be purchased while away (or it can, but it’s easier to just not forget it in the first place). Some of those items include my contacts, prescription medication, passport, Invisalign, phone charger, adaptor, and jewelry. 
9. Another credit card tip: I rarely (if ever) spend money at the airport before a flight or during a layover. I get a complimentary Priority Pass membership with my Capital One Venture X credit card (I wish this was sponsored), which means I have access to thousands of airport lounges worldwide. The credit card ($395 annual fee) pays for itself in many ways, especially while traveling!
10. I started a new tradition a few months ago and I’m excited to continue doing it whenever I travel because it has brought me and my friends so much joy! I have two pages in my journal for each trip and on the last day, we fill the prompts out together. While traveling, I think it's really normal to squeeze a lot into a short amount of time, so it can be hard to remember everything the way you want to. That’s why I love this small practice, because it gives us time to slow down and reflect on what we ate, saw, talked about, smelled, bought, heard, and so on. Some of the prompts include: a good laugh, something surprising, favorite 10 minutes, best drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic are separate), a disappointment, describe the accommodations, rate the weather, best purchase, favorite conversation, best meal, most interesting person we met, and the list goes on.

Happy traveling!