If you are traveling with your husband/wife, pack one or two of your outfits in his/her bag, and vice versa. That way, if one of you loses a bag, you'll both still have a change of clothes.

loletto , Holiday Gems/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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ThisIsMe

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I feel stupid for never having thought of this LOL

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Never forget your Towel.Just about the most massively useful thing any interstellar Hitchhiker can carry. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the beady sea vapours; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a miniraft down the slow heavy River Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand combat; wrap it round your head to ward of noxious fumes or avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (a mind-bogglingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you — daft as a brush, but very very ravenous); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course you can dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.

More importantly, a towel has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (strag: nonhitchhiker) discovers that a hitchhiker has his towel with him, he will automatically assume that he is also in possession of a toothbrush, washcloth, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet-weather gear, space suit etc., etc. Furthermore, the strag will then happily lend the hitchhiker any of these or a dozen other items that the hitchhiker might accidentally have "lost." What the strag will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the Galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through and still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.

Hence a phrase which has passed into hitch hiking slang, as in "Hey, you sass that hoopy Ford Prefect? There's a frood who really knows where his towel is.

A proud salute to the all-mighty Douglas Adams.

thisisnotmyrealemail , Nick Webb/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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towelie-66...4bbfc.jpeg

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Clean up your home/room before you leave. Once you return home, possibly exhausted from all the travelling - you can just crash.

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JoNo

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I agree with this! It's enough having to unpack, without having to clean the house as well.

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Try the local food! I can't believe how many people are travelling to foreign places and mainly eat McDonald's etc.

DerThan , Vasile Cotovanu/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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Mimi La Souris

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try local cooked food, bacteria are not the same from one region to another and stomachs can support them differently.

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If someone tries to hand you something on the street, IT IS NOT FREE. They will expect payment.

[deleted] , Garry Knight/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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If you do end up with something in your hand, put it on the ground or a ledge and just walk away. The scammer won't take it back from you and they can't claim you stole it.

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Make sure you know what vaccinations you might need before going to a foreign country. Trust me...

IoSonCalaf , Sasha India/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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JoNo

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In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade website, "Smartraveller Advice" is a wealth of information for travellers. An important reason to have a look is the travel warnings - perhaps your destination is a no-go zone!

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Don't be of those jerk tourists...respect the local laws, rules and customs.

Leave your stupid selfie stick and drone at home.

skinnypup , César/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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Marianne

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While I don't like selfie sticks, it's not against laws and culture to use them in typical tourist spots. (Of course it's different when you're at a place of worship or remembrance etc.)

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For a trip of a week or more, sit down and figure out what clothes you'll need and how much money you should bring.

Then bring half the clothes and twice the money. You'll probably still bring back unworn clothes, and be out of money.

Note: This does not apply to underwear. Bring all of those.

Wadsworth_McStumpy , Can Pac Swire/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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Trillian

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Bring fast drying T-Shirts and some travel detergent.

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My tip is to download the map of the towns you are visiting. You can do that easily in the Google Maps app. If you have the map downloaded on your phone you can easily find your way around town even if you don't have any internet connection. It won't show you the route you should walk from A to B, but through the magic of GPS you will still see where you currently are and if you are moving in the right direction.

TheBassMeister , Daniel Flathagen/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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If you have offline maps loaded you don't need a connection for directions, either for a new trip within the same area or for live updates on your cirrent trip.

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Never keep your wallet in your back pocket.

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Just-4-2day

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Don't pat your wallet when you see a "Pick-Pocket Alert" sign. All that does is tell them where you keep your wallet.

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I know I’m going to get slack for this because Walmart. But I like to put in an order at the Walmart for pick up when we go to Orlando. I order diapers, snacks for the kids, sun screen etc. I pick the order up when we get there. We save $$$ because we have snacks and breakfast at our hotel. Plus then we don’t need to pack diapers and other baby items.

Mary_Jayni , Mike Mozart/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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Annik Perrot

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That's what we do when we rent a holiday place. Put in a to-go order of groceries at the local supermarket, and pick it up on the way. Saves us having to go out again after arriving in our rental, and trudging through the crowded aisles of an unfamiliar market with all the other people who also rented from saturday to saturday, and have to shop because it's closed on sunday.

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If you're traveling in the US and want to find a good place to eat, ask a cop. They eat out every day, usually at smaller non-chain places.

crocoduckhunter , Sam Felder/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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pep Ito

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In any Spanish city, if you see public workers (police, ambulance crews, street cleaners, etc...) having breakfast in a certain bar, they are eating well and cheaply. If you see it full of tourists and non-Spanish compatriots, well, you know.

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For international travel, I'd say call your credit card/bank ahead of time to let them know what country you'll be staying in. Make copies of your passport, and know where the embassy is located. Make sure you know the rules, customs and laws of the country you're visiting. And never put your money in one place, split it up and put it in your front pockets.

keluvsorangesoda , Lawrence/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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Zadigrim

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You can also get a money belt to stash your cash in. Be sure it's one that looks like a normal belt.

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Always be aware of your surroundings. If someone/somewhere gives you sketchy vibes, there's a reason! Don't ever go near places/people that make you feel uneasy.

madboredyo , Rosanetur/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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Dress like a local and keep away from places where people are just slacking off for no reason (unless it's obviously an upmarket restaurant). Don't flash jewelry, cameras, phones. Keep in your tour group. Preferably drive everywhere with the window up and a/c cranked. Seriously. South african here.

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Pack a complete outfit in your carry-on. Delayed baggage is extremely common and it's best to ensure you have backup clothes so you can at least wash them without having to hang around a hotel in a robe half of the day just to have some clean undies.

Ashiiiee , Adriano Gasparri/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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goldenwood_cottage

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Pack the outfit you want to arrive in! When going from someplace cold to someplace hot, I pack a simple, light weight outfit and change the last hour of the trip. who wants to arrive from Michigan to Kona in January in pants and a sweater?

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Be early. Wherever it might be, show up early.

[deleted] , Jirka Matousek/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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yep, I hate missing flights. My SO once made me miss a flight because she was f*****g around in a bookstore. I made her pay the tarrif to change the flight / ticket to a later flight and glared at her for five hours while we waited for the carrier to re-open their desk.

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Learn a few key phrases in the language of the country you're in. Ex: hello, thank you, I am lost, where is the bathroom, etc. Have a phrase book handy. Many countries now have a high English-speaking population but you never know. And it makes you look like a more considerate tourist.

alexiagrace , Ian T. McFarland/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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Guess Undheit

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Lonely planet phrase books are cheap. And pre-print a LOT of phrases (via google translate) for things you need specifically, not general phrases in books. Also, many countries offer free PDF phrasebooks for download. These were readily available: English to Samoan [ https://www.mpp.govt.nz/assets/Resources/2023-Language-Cards/Samoa-Language-Card-web-Mar2023.pdf ] English to Fulani [ https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED403752.pdf ]

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For photo equipment or all kind of expensive stuff: put some duct tape on it. If it looks broken, nobody wants to steal it.

p0mmesbude , Teresa Trimm/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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Jan Rosier

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Yeah right, mess up your gear with tapeglue which will never come off. Picture shows masking tape btw, big difference.

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I recommend shopping in Supermarkets when traveling internationally. You get to understand what the locals buy for their daily groceries, get to discover new foodstuff, and get much cheaper souvenirs to bring home.

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Guess Undheit

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Some have takeout precut fruit and vegetable places. Buy a container's worth and keep it in the hotel fridge for breakfast along with bread and deli meats, instant oatmeal, and other in-room breakfasts or late night snacks.

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When in unfamiliar places use your phone to take pictures of landmarks that stand out. That way if you want to get back to a certain place you have a picture on your phone.

anon , Mussi Katz/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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JoNo

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Take photos of place names and street signs. Most importantly, either take a photo or get a business card for your hotel. It's priceless for cab rides back to where you're staying, particularly in countries where the language is not your own, both verbal and written.

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When you pack, roll your clothing. I can fit 10 t-shirts, 12 underwear, 2 sweaters, 3 pairs of pants, a hoodie, socks, and pajamas in a carry-on bag and still have room for books and toiletries.

EthelredTheUnsteady , Ansy Dupiton/Flick (not the actual photo) Report

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Just-4-2day

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Once you roll your clothes, put them in the travel compression bags. Then put them in your carry-on.

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If you're taking a taxi, always agree on the price before you get in. Cab drivers will sometimes try to rip you off just because you're a foreigner.

Cubanise , Kevin Gessner/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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ALWAYS carry small bills, NEVER expect them to have change. They'll lie and say "I don't have any".

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If you wear prescription eyeglasses or contacts, bring an extra pair in case you lose or break them during your travels.

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Glasses, AND contacts. You don't need special solutions with disposable contacts, a bottle of sterile saline solution (like an IV drop bottle) will do. You can find them in most pharmacies.

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Toilet paper. Always have an extra roll in your backpack, you'll be a hero at least once a month. Also extra socks, dry clean socks are an amazing luxury when travelling.

Outspan , HS You/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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Just-4-2day

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Hand Sanitizer + Toilet paper. If they don't have TP, don't count on being able to clean your hands.

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Put a big ribbon on your big black suitcase to distinguish it from all the others at baggage claim.

anonymous:

My parents used to travel a lot, and every piece of luggage they owned was emblazoned with a wide strip of bright yellow duct tape. Headed off a lot of problems that way.

Scrappy_Larue , liz west/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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JoNo

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Here on BP I've seen suitcases emblazoned with a photo of the traveller's face in all it's full sized glory.

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Give yourself breaks when traveling. A lot of people try to pack everything in and all it causes is stress.

If you are traveling in a group, give yourself breaks from others. Some people want to do everything together, and that can lead to a lot of fighting.

HobbitFoot , wamdé/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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goldenwood_cottage

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I plan one day 'off' every forth day of vacation. Or if gone a week, a day in the middle.

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Always bring baby wipes. They saved my life in China.

Mr_Pat_Bateman , Kevin Jump/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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pipboo@live.co.uk

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Love the name of that product!

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ALWAYS have a list of the belongings in your checked baggage, and make two copies- keep one with you, and leave one sitting on top of your items inside your bag so it's clearly noticeable to anyone who opens your stuff.

perseus287 , Karl Baron/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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your stuff WILL get stolen in african airports (speaking as an african) so make sure your bag is vacuum sealed and don't put anything special in there. Take leather shoes and electronics onboard with you. Cargo hold only stupid things like jeans and teeshirts.

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I've got a couple,

1. Always make a photocopy of your passport.

2. For tall travellers. Try get the emergency row seating, I know this one is obvious for frequent flyers but for those who are less experienced, the emergency row seating has more legroom, and will make the flight far more comfortable.

Globeninja , sean hobson/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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I usually choose the bulkhead seating, there's generally a much bigger gap between the chairs and the toilet than the other rows in cattle class.

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Mine is to never use the coffee makers in hotels!

As a former airline crew member - I can't tell you how often we would use those to wash a pair of socks or underwear. The women routinely washed their pantyhose in them. Gross!

americano22 , Moresheth/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

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Ace

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I frankly never believe these tales - why would anyone use the kettle or coffee machine instead of the bathroom sink? Much more difficult, you're gonna get water everywhere, you'll need several trips to rinse them and wring them out in the bathroom... naah, I'm not buying it.

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