Are you in the process of planning your next travel adventure? This post is for you!
This is a frequently asked question put to me often:
”What travel tips can you share from your extensive travel experiences?”
The awesome travel tips in this post are designed to help you avoid common mistakes travelers make and make you a better more prepared traveler!

This post includes affiliate links to trusted partners I think you’ll like.

Top 24 X travel tips every traveler needs to know

Make sure you are fully prepared in case of disaster: The first step is preparing good health & travel insurance!

Pack light! I admit that packing is an ongoing challenge for me...I'm sure you ladies understand where I’m coming from, right? Packing the right way and taking only what you truly need for your journey will have a huge impact on the quality as well as the comfort of the journey ahead. Always write down a list of essentials and what you think you’ll need for your trip, then when you start packing, trim it down by at least one-third.

PRO PACKING TIPS

• Toiletries: I use mini versions of deodorant, body wash, and body lotion.
  I take my shampoo & conditioner in small reusable bottles. This will save you room and impact weight.

• Clothes: Before choosing clothes for your trip, think about the weather at your destination and what type of trip is it ~ Is it a city break? Are you planning nature hikes or camping perhaps? Once you have answered these questions, you will know what you need.

• Choose items of clothing that you can mix & match. This way you can have multiple outfits in one. Aim for one pair of shoes that match all, plus one pair of sneakers so you are comfortable while walking/hiking. Make sure you have a jacket and a scarf with you. You’ll thank me when you’re freezing on the plane, and you will. The scarf will come in handy for you ladies when you visit holy religious sites where you need to cover up.

  Click to read & save ~

  The ultimate travel packing list

  The ultimate flight packing list

Make sure you have all the documentation you need well ahead of time: These days it is very important to be familiar with all the Corona restrictions, guidelines, and requirements at your destination. Think about PCR tests, vaccination proof, and other requirements.
Do you need an entry visa? When I traveled to Cabo Verde for the first time, I didn’t realize Dutch passport holders required a visa...it was truly stressful fixing that with two days left before the flight. Avoid unnecessary stress and problems by checking what documentation you need enough time in advance.

Make sure you know whether you need to get vaccinated. Especially when traveling to Africa and Asia.

Keep all your travel documents and money in a safe place, and use a travel wallet for him or for her!

Make an extra copy of your passport, plane tickets, vouchers, hotel reservations, and other important documents in case one is lost or gets stolen.

Prepare a list of emergency numbers before your departure.Think about your embassy, bank, credit card company, and insurer.

Make sure you don’t keep all your money in one place!
PRO MONEY TIPS! It is handy to have an emergency credit card & cash set aside from the rest. Take advantage of travel credit card benefits and always use no-fee bank cards!

Pack a small medicine bag: Think about first-aid items such as painkillers, motion sickness pills and pills against worms. Add wound-cleaning gauze, sterile dressings, bandage tape, plasters, tweezers, and scissors. Don't forget sunburn treatment, insect repellent and bite treatment.

Pack enough sunscreen with you! In the Maldives we ran out of sunscreen halfway through our vacation, so we went to the store on the island (There was only one by the way.), they charged $50 for a small bottle!

Use a reusable personal water bottle and stop buying plastic ones. This is not only cheaper for you, but you will also contribute to bringing down the plastic pollution our planet is suffering from. Refill your bottle instead of buying plastic bottles each time you're thirsty when on the go and you will feel it in your wallet!

Head to Reismonkey.nl, choose your bottle and then use my personal code MYTRENDYTRAIL and get a 10% discount

There is no such thing as a ‘MUST VISIT' destination. We are all different people with different wants, views, likes & interests. Visit the destinations that speak to you, regardless of what other people say.

Get off the beaten track, that is where the magic of your destination is!

Once you have your destination picked, do your homework. I don’t believe in creating a full travel itinerary in advance having said that; I do like to know where I’m going and what I can do there. In my travel plan, there's always room for spontaneous decisions and the freedom to make choices/changes in real life as well as a basic outline of my stay.

Want to do it like a pro?

Purchase my Ultimate Travel Planner for a FAB price of only 5 euros!

Want to pay less for your flights and accommodations? Read this post ~ 30 X Hack to travel cheaper!

A great resource to you is the local tourist information office & the hotel concierge! The local tourist office can give you info about ‘here and now’ options such as discounts, free walking tours, free entry to museums, public transportation hacks, and special events taking place.

A good concierge knows everything that goes on in town worth knowing that is and all the right places. Many travelers skip it and end up losing out on great activities and special prices. The concierge in my Saint Trope hotel, for example, was able to get us reservations at the exclusive Club 55. In addition to other beautiful and fun places along the Cote d’Azur. I wouldn’t have been able to do it myself.

Don’t connect to every free wifi option you find! Take a load off, recharge, and truly enjoy. Allow yourself to also disconnect. I highly recommend it!

Don’t fall for the tourist traps, avoid eating and drinking in tourist areas and cafes in museums, you are guaranteed to overpay.

Use common sense! Take care of yourself, explore but don’t put yourself in harm’s way. If you don’t go to bad areas in your home town at night, please don’t do it during your travels!

Trade taxis for Ubers if you need a ride.

Have respect for the people and culture you’re visiting. Obey the local rules and laws, especially in holy sites.

Flexibility is your friend, trust me!

Interact with the locals. This is the best thing about traveling, meeting the local people. This way you will truly get to know the country, its people, and culture.

Travel by yourself at least once in your life! Don’t be afraid to travel on your own after all, you will never really be alone. It was one of my best trips, traveling alone through Europe and Scandinavia for close to a year. I met beautiful people along the way and most importantly, got to meet me.It definitely is a character builder.

Keep a journal. It is always fun to look back on your travel experiences when reading how you captured and wrote down your travel tales.

Don’t be afraid and just experience all your destination has to offer, let loose, and enjoy the ride!

Before you go, don’t forget to follow me on social for more awesome travel content, tips, guides, and hacks ~ @mytrendytail

Yours,

Diti