#TravelHacks : Part II

READY, SET, GO: TRAVEL HACKS

Part II

If you are on this page then that means that I have your attention. Maybe you are an avid traveler. Maybe you are heading out on your first ever big trip and are looking for some tips and tricks to make it easier. Maybe you are just curious.

Well, I will let you know that in either case, you are in the right place.

Now in the first post, we saw rule #1 being pack LIGHT! You have packed the bare essentials, rolled up those shirts and shorts neatly into your backpack and exclaimed at how much space you have saved.

Monica’s expert tip: Packing clothes into large Ziploc bags and sitting on them to create a makeshift vacuum sealed bag is a real space saver!

The next step:

GET READY

You may not be on the plane yet, but for any trip to go off smoothly you have to be prepared, and this means knowing what you are in for. Key thing is to research!

• Visa checks: Especially if you are doing long term travel -look into all possible onwards travels, not just the first destination. I have seen people get to the airport after traveling in the same continent thinking it would be ok to just cross a border and get stuck because they don’t have a visa. Remember, each country in the same continent will still be different, and trying to organise a visa with limited or no internet is near impossible. Save the stress and get it organised before. Also a random tidbit that is sometimes forgotten – vaccination requirements. Always good to check up on those.

• Mobile data: This one depends on what type of travel you are into and where you traveling to. AJ and myself generally only need minimal data, enough to be able to do the occasional update on social media or to check a map. Well, the Snapchat app is usually always on the go with AJ documenting all our travels, but with the right settings it doesn’t take up as much data as you think. AJ’s expert tip : make sure to turn Snapchat on Travel Mode! You will thank us later. Go online and see what the destination offers, this way you have an idea of where to go to get the best deal. Too often you get off a plane and are overwhelmed with options and are too tired to go around and shop to get the best deal, best coverage, this saves that stress and it means you won’t be ripped off. For instance, AJ researched and found that Fiji offers every visitor a 24hr data sim on arrival from Vodaphone, at the time we were travelling. This was quite handy. Remember though that most places you stay will have wifi, it is 2017 and quite a few “third world” destinations surprisingly have better connections than Optus sometimes.. That being said, the whole part of travel is to discover, so sometimes it’s ok to be disconnected from the world.

• Airport transfers: Now this already may be included /arranged when you have booked accommodation, and then there is no worries, but if not you

will want to find some options before you leave. When you walk out of those gates everyone will want to take you, and it can be overwhelming and hard to say no, I’m sure everyone has found themselves in a situation like Bali – all of a sudden someone comes up grabs your bags to help you and boom now they expect a tip. It’s important to be vigilant of small situations like this and be able to navigate your way around it. Most times, a government approved taxi is the safest bet, however, every place is different so it is essential for you to research this before you leave to minimize any stressful hiccups on your journey.

These are just some of the most basic tips that you can follow to ensure that you are ready to board that flight. The littlest of things can quickly turn that trip of a lifetime into a nerve-wrecking misadventure. So my advice to you is to always be prepared, keep an open mind, and enjoy the chaos!

Till next time.

#TravelHacks