As you know, I LOVE to travel. I wouldn’t say that I love the security line or the actual airport or that anxiety of landing in another country and having to figure out a taxi to the hotel or that kind of stuff…but it all goes with the territory of exploring new countries and getting to know new cultures. I DO love to plan and prep for a trip. I love to research all of the places and things I want to do or try. I love to figure out what to pack and what to purchase. Most of all, I love the feeling of LIVING in another place for a period of time, whether it is one night or two weeks. The establishment of routines like ordering a mango smoothie every morning for breakfast in Chiang Mai, Thailand or doing sink laundry in a riad in Fez or watching a movie on my phone in Ethiopia or simply getting familiar with new streets and establishments. I love meeting people who have a vastly different perspective from mine. I love taking a million photos on my phone but also recording memories and impressions in my mind and in a journal. I love buying that special thing that will always remind me of my time in “fill in the blank”.

That said…in order to really enjoy travel I have discovered through trial and error that there are things I MUST do in advance to make my trips as smooth as possible. There will always be hiccups with travel. ALWAYS. Maybe your flight gets delayed or your reservation lost or you get food poisoning or a terrible cold or you realize that this city/town/village really isn’t your jam after all. I say control what you can control and do a little leg work in advance of your trips and you can avoid at least SOME travel travesties. Here then is my always growing list of tips for international travel:

Airplane Tips

1. In recent years we have discovered the goodness of Comfort Plus/Premium Economy/Elite Economy depending on the airline and how they brand it. This is typically a section that is in between Coach/Economy and Business Class. It costs more than Coach/Economy but considerably LESS than Business Class. The seats are larger, there is quite a bit more legroom, often a footrest, usually a better menu, amenity kit (on international flights); the whole experience is just a bit upgraded. If you can financially swing it, DO IT. We especially like Premium Economy on EVA Air and Comfort Plus on Delta. Both have been worth the extra $$ and we have felt more relaxed/rested as a result.
2. Bring your own small pack of tissues. The ones in the bathroom always run out early and if you have a sneezing fit you do not want to be doing business with your drink napkin.
3. Try to ONLY drink water while flying. You get really dehydrated when you fly so drink more than you normally would and your body will thank you after you land.
4. Bring pair of cozy socks JUST for the plane; you will relax right away. I also bring my own Flight 001 Travel Blanket (it packs up SO tiny) and my Cabeau pillow whenever I fly. Finally, I always bring an eye mask. I like having my own tried and true flying accessories and these have been with me for many years now.
5. I have found that I get really stuffed up every time I fly…which contributes to a headache and an overall feeling of bleh. SO! I now have a cocktail that does the trick: I take a Sudafed and 400mgs of Ibuprofen about 30 minutes before my flight (usually right before boarding). This helps with the stuffiness and the inevitable headache. If I am on a LONG flight where I would like to sleep I will take a Unisom along with these other two but I only do this if I am going to be up in the air and sleeping/trying to sleep for awhile.
6. Bring a few of your own snacks. I always have a protein bar or some trail mix in case there are delays or if I am short on time and unable to grab food to take onto the plane. I also bring gum and mints and keep a refillable water bottle attached to my little carry-on backpack.
7. I never want to be at the mercy of the airline for my entertainment so the day before I travel I download a series or several movies onto my iPad. I also keep one or two books I am reading on there as well. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised by the airline entertainment offerings…but I like to have my own backup plan.
8. I prefer window seats only. I like to use the restroom before boarding and then settle in without worrying about people in my row needing to climb over me. That’s just my preference though.

Money Tips

1. Call/contact your banking institution a day before you are scheduled to travel outside of the US so that your card will not be denied (unless you run out of money in your account. Then it will totally be denied) while you are traveling. It takes about five minutes and will save you plenty of headaches. Trust me; I have learned the hard way.
2. Don’t worry about changing currency before landing in your destination; just do it at the currency exchange in the airport.
3. Speaking of currency, download an app to show you up to date currency conversions. It is preferable if this will work without WiFi. I use this one on my iphone and have been very satisfied. It is one of the best rated so check it out.
4. Don’t carry all of your cash on your person all at once. Divide it up between a hotel safe (if it is trustworthy), your travel companion or hidden in your toiletries. When we were in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, we actually split our cash into three ziplock bags and then duct taped one bag to the back of our dresser, one behind the headboard and one somewhere else. WE LITERALLY ALMOST FORGOT ONE OF THE BAGS when we were preparing to come home and thankfully we did not. Those were kind of extreme measures but we were in the middle of an adoption of our younger two and did not want to leave anything to chance…like losing our cash. Which we almost did because we planned TOO carefully! Hahahahah!

Document Tips

1. Take a photo of your passport main page with your phone and then send it to Dropbox or Google photos. You want to be able to access that photo from an app or your computer should something happen to your passport. IF you lose your passport, having an image will at least speed up the process (but don’t think that photo is going to get you on a plane. You still need your ACTUAL passport).
2. If you are at a trustworthy hotel leave your passport in the safe. Otherwise carry it on your person. Your passport is your most important document and you DO NOT want to lose it.
3. I still print out my boarding pass and have hotel directions/reservation numbers written down JUST IN CASE something happens to my phone. I like the comfort of paper just in case.

Navigating and Language Tips

1. Years ago we when we were on a train from Tangier to Fez we became friends with some fellow travelers who shared a valuable app with us. It is called Map Me and has saved my bacon in more than one situation or country. Map Me is fast, free, and works entirely without WiFi or hotspot: no internet or data required! Best news ever, right? It allows you to download a map of the city/area you are in (I try to download while I am in Wifi but you don’t need to) and then you are able to drop pins in places you need to get to or your hotel/train station. Then it allows you to route from point to point with turn by turn directions. You can follow your little dot live and see instantly if you missed a turn down an alleyway in Bangkok LIKE I DID. I am a huge fan of Map Me. Get it. Thank me later. ALSO. I always drop a pin in the US Embassy wherever I am. Just in case :).
2. If I am staying at a hotel in another country I always get a business card from the front desk so that I can show it to the taxi driver if need be. Take a photo of that business card to; it may come in handy.
3. I try to pick up a few phrases that are helpful if I’m going to a country where English isn’t going to be as prevalent. Pleasantries, basic directions, take me to the US Embassy…you get the picture :). Try using the app Duolingo (I find this is helpful if you already have a base in the language you are trying to learn) or you can skip learning those pleasantries altogether and use Google Translate. I haven’t used that one yet but certainly would if the situation arose. When we spent two weeks traveling around Morocco it became evident quickly that my brushing up on middle and high school French was going to come in VERY handy. We heard little to no English in Casablanca or Tangier, only some in Fez and finally when we got to Marrakech we heard English more than French. For those first 10 days, though, I needed my French. I brought a simple travel dictionary with me and referred to it at night to prep for the next day and I can honestly say I used a TON from that book. Duolingo also helped me in the months before our trip.
4. Don’t be afraid to hire a guide (that is very proficient in your native language)! Or even better, a guide that also functions as a driver. This way you can navigate around with a local who can help with translating. We had a driver who served as a translator for our entire 10 day trip to Ethiopia and we could have NEVER done that trip without him. Tesfaye ended up becoming friend; we were so grateful for his insights, his translating capabilities and his knowledge of the best places to visit while in his homeland. Hiring a local guide means that you are also investing in local commerce, which is a great thing for the person/people you are working with.

Technology Tips:

1. I highly recommend these noise cancelling earbuds. Whether on a noisy plane, crowded train or just in your hotel at the end of a long day these are such a pleasure to use. They aren’t cheap but they are worth every single last dollar/Euro/Yen.
2. White noise app. Whether I want to fall asleep on a plane or in my hotel I really like to have white noise. At home I have a great white noise machine but I never travel with it because it is too bulky. Instead I have a white noise app that I’ve downloaded and BOOM I’m good to go. There are quite a few to choose from in the App store so just find one that sounds the most soothing.
3. Make sure you bring a power adapter that will work for the countries you are visiting. Most hotels will have a few adapters at the front desk but I wouldn’t count on them always having one for you. I have an adapter with one plug and two USB ports and that’s all I need.
4. Bring a cord for each device you will need to charge. I find that after being out all day my phone is drained because I am using it to take photos and my ipad will need to be charged as well. I like to get phones/ipad/camera batteries charged at night so that they are ready for me the next day. Bring enough cords and then you won’t have to choose between who your favorite device is for powering.
5. Bring a small portable battery to charge your devices when you are without a plug (ie: taxi/train/bus stop/plane without outlet). Make sure you bring the USB cable to RECHARGE your portable battery after you inevitably drain it (I’ve learned this the hard way).

Hotel Tips:

1. Sometimes I bring a simple rubber doorstopper wedge to slide under my hotel door once I am in for the night. This makes it darn near impossible for someone to get into the room.
2. I usually bring a pair of simple flip flops or use the hotel slippers to walk around in my room. Flip flops take up almost no space; this is an easy item to bring.
3. Unless you have very specific color treated hair that requires special shampoo don’t bother bringing your usual stuff from home. Just use the shampoo and conditioner and shower gel at the hotel and you will save yourself packing space. Same goes for a hairdryer; nearly all hotels have a hairdryer so no need to waste valuable packing space by bringing your own.
4. To get your hotel curtains to close completely and not let in any light through gaps use a hotel pants hanger to secure drapes together. BOOM. No light.
5. Location is everything. If it means you spend a little more for a great, central location just do it. Also, I will sometimes call or email ahead to ask about the beds – I like a comfy bed to come back to at the end of a long day. A hard bed will just about ruin your trip (I’m looking at you, Thailand AND Morocco hotel beds!).

Eating Tips:

1. Be ADVENTUROUS…but also be SMART. I generally do not drink tap water when I am out of the US, only bottled water and never with ice. Honestly, once I am in the country I usually drink Coke (again without ice).
2. Do not order salads in countries that you have any concerns about the water supply. Veggies will have been rinsed in water and you cannot be sure it was water that would be safe to drink. Stick to cooked food or unpeeled fruit.
3. Eat where and what the locals eat…within reason. Most of my favorite memories of traveling involve food that was sublimely awesome and very local.
4. Carry Immodium and/or Cipro. You never know when you might need it but you will thank the heavens above that you have it when you need it. Again, I have learned this from experience.
5. What’s the local drink? The local food or foods that this place you are visiting is known for? Find out and eat it or drink it! You will be so glad that you did!

That’s all for now but stay tuned because I am sure I will have more tips to add later on. Do you have any tips for me that I’ve missed? Comment and let me know. Now get that passport ready and HAPPY TRAVELS!