Traveling for some people may feel like going through the 5 stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Whilst we dream of and imagine the amazing adventures we’ll be having and the friends we’ll be making, the journey to that point may come with a case of angst. 

Thankfully, there’s plenty of advice out there for the weary traveler, trying to find the safest path to adventure. A TikToker, known by her username Yaimam, has been sharing all the tips and tricks nervous and inexperienced travelers could ever need. Since 2019, she’s gathered up a following of 166.8k, with multiple videos going viral with millions of views. From packing to dealing with turbulence, she’s got you covered!  

Alongside Yaima, we have Justina, a Lithuanian travel-enthusiast, who’s found her little slices of Heaven-on-Earth in Georgia and Arctic Lapland, Finland. She went off traveling independently after finishing school, visiting 60 countries on a budget. 7 years ago, she and her friend opened a small tourism agency, called Magical Caucasus Travel, to help people discover Georgia and Armenia! 

If there’s anyone who knows how to travel well it’s these two! 

One of the biggest mistakes novice travelers make is not doing your homework before a trip. “Spending more time doing research before your vacation will make it easier and even cheaper,” Justina told Bored Panda. “If you wanna be a tourist, you will pay a tourist price which will save you from hassle. However, if you would like to be a traveler, do your research, make a plan, and take pride in how you manage everything.” 

So let’s start at the very beginning—the packing stage! Justina noted that you should pack clothing items that you can wear on multiple occasions. “Try to pack outfits that complement one another. Never forget that hotel/hostel sinks can be used to wash small items! A wide scarf is one thing that I usually find to be quite helpful, both for handling weather conditions and for adding some privacy in hostels.” 

Yaima revealed that the best way to fit all your clothing in as nicely as if playing a game of Tetris is to roll them up. However, there is a special way to do this, and it’s called Ranger Rolling. 

As stated on Travel And Leisure, to properly roll your clothes, lay them out flat. Then fold the bottom two inches of the item inside out so it creates a type of pocket along one side. From the opposite end, roll the item tightly until you get to the pocket you’ve created. Fold one side of the pocket over the roll, securing it tightly. It may take some practice, but it’s worth it. 

Next come the shoes. If you’ve got some shower caps handy or you find them in the hotel room, take them with you. Yaima advises placing those shower caps (unless you’re intending to use them for their intended purpose) over your shoes one by one to avoid any dirt getting on your clothing.

Last but not least, cosmetics and liquids. Universally, the sizes of those items are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. Yaima advises all to bring a refillable water bottle (empty, of course), so that you can fill it up once you’re done with security and avoid paying extra for bottled water. 

And for the cosmetics: go to your favorite beauty shop, such as Sephora, and ask for samples of your favorite products, as they’ll most likely be the perfect size to take on trips. Then you can keep the containers and refill them as you see fit. Easy! 

Remember, if all else fails, have your airline ticket and your passport; that’s all you need to travel! Or is it? “I usually say that if you lose everything but your passport and bank card, you can still survive,” Justina stated.  “The second charger, though, is one of the things I find to be most helpful on all of my travels. Finding another one can be difficult and a fully charged phone is the most essential travel item.”  

Now that you’re all packed and ready to hit the road (Jack), let’s see what hacks Yaima has for the airport. In one video she explained that each airport will be different from the last, depending on the threat levels in the area. Regardless, it’s best to prepare for the strictest circumstances to have the easiest time in security. 

So, wear easily removable shoes with socks underneath; the floor is gonna be nasty, you don’t want none of that. Place your liquids and creams into a clear ziplock bag. Many airports will provide them free of charge. Keep your electronic devices separate, as you’ll most likely be asked to remove them from your bag. 

The one thing that slows everything down in security is if you keep things in your pockets. You’ll be asked to take them out, and you fiddling around your trousers for minutes on end as you try to dig out every knick-knack may be anxiety-inducing, especially when you’re being closely observed by a guard and a line of impatient travelers. Just put everything in your bag. 

Now, for those of us who fear flying (that would be I), Yaima has some tips. Oftentimes it’s the turbulence that causes a lot of distress: the sudden and violent shifts in airflow that vibrate the plane, often caused by changes in temperature, storms, and nearby features such as mountains. 

Pilots and traffic control do the best they can to manage turbulence. Yaima explained that there’s a device used to specifically determine the locations of pockets of turbulence, as well as to determine which of the 3 categories it’ll be in: light, moderate, or severe. 

If it’s something that significantly affects your well-being, avoid traveling in summertime and winter, as the turbulence is the worst during those seasons. But, with the technology available, and with planes communicating with each other as well, discussing the safest routes and altitudes for travel, try to fear not. 

In a lot of situations, that’s easier said than done. Yaima advised getting to the airport early to prevent adding further angst. “Listen to your favorite music, and when you’re on the plane, keep your headphones in, and breathe,” she said in a video. 

“If you have a big fear, communicate with the flight attendants and let them know, as they’ll check up on you every once in a while,” she continued. Avoid alcohol, as it tends to raise your anxiety levels, and if it’s debilitating for you to fly, consult with your doctor or consider getting a certified emotional support animal. 

Finally, Yaima assured that pilots and wait staff are trained to handle turbulence and a lot of other issues, and are there to help as needed. If they’re not panicking, you shouldn’t be either! “Remember, we’re here for you,” she said. 

Now that you’ve gone through all of that, Yaima has some tips for your hotel stay. “Use a little bag for the ice for the remote, as it’s the nastiest thing in the hotel room,” she stated in a video. “Check for bedbugs. During the day they’re usually against the headboard, or in between the mattress seams. Don’t use the coffee makers,” after which she proceeded to gag. 

She did encourage using the free sugar packets and mixing it with your face wash to create an exfoliator. Although this point in particular caused some discussion, Purvisha Patel, M.D. and board-certified dermatologist, reassured everyone that physical exfoliators are indeed not the Devil. 

“If you have oily skin it is safe to exfoliate in the shower every day,” she said. “Those with combination or dry skin may only be able to tolerate physical exfoliation every two to three days.” And a final word of advice from Dr. Patel: “When exfoliating, rub in a circular motion and rinse off well, so the dead skin cells are taken off.”

The final bits of advice from Yaima regarding hotels: Use hotel laundry bags to separate your dirty laundry in your luggage, always double-check if the bottled water is free, and donate unused toiletries to local shelters. And of course, use all the locks provided on the door. If you forget to put your ‘do not disturb’ sign on, the bottom lock can keep housekeeping from coming in and seeing you in your birthday suit.  

People have absolutely loved this series, offering their own bits of advice for travelers. “Don’t stay on the first floor. And avoid staying above the 7th floor, so you can be rescued by the fire department,” said one. “Pick one hotel chain and increase hotel points!! Don’t stay in old hotels... might be haunted!” said another. 

Some last bits of advice from Justina: “It's normal to feel worried when experiencing anything new. How can one feel better? Read about other people's first-time experiences, their suggestions, and, most importantly, never be hesitant to seek help when confronted with unexpected situations. Whether it's an airport staff member, a local, or another traveler, people are helpful and kind!” 

Make sure to follow Justina and her adventures on her Instagram page. If you’d like to check out more of Yaima, don’t hesitate to follow her on TikTok! Let us know your thoughts on these tips and share your own in the comments below! Until then, I wish you all safe travels and a beautiful day ahead!