Read on for some handy tips I go by when travelling!
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★ Always do your research on a country/area before you go!
I use the gov.uk foreign travel advice website to see if it is safe. It highlights anything important to be aware of before travelling somewhere including risk of natural disasters, terrorism, diseases etc. It is a good site and shows colour coded maps of areas where it is safe to travel and areas it is best to avoid.
★ Check in advance to see if you need any injections.
If you are leaving Europe, you quite often need injections and you can’t always get these done in a short space of time so best to look into it in advance. Some require a course of injections over a few months and for others the waiting list for an appointment might just be long so be prepared! I always use the NHS FitForTravel website to see what I need for what country.
★ Get your travel money before you go away and search around for the best deal.
Before Mexico I price compared on the money saving expert website using their travel money comparison tool and it actually allowed me to save a good £30! Don’t go for the first deal you see. I also prefer to not carry too much cash around with me when I’m away and would rather pay a few times to withdraw cash than constantly have a big lump sum on me.
★ Try to understand the exchange rate before you get there!
It has happened to me so many times where I have just touched down in the country, stepped outside the airport and hopped in the first cab I saw which turned out to be really expensive and I walk away feeling like the classic ripped off tourist. Be savvy with how much things cost and barter with the taxi driver before getting in. This also goes for shopping, definitely barter if you are in a market and never go for the first price they ask for. Wait a few days until you’ve got a better idea of how much things cost before you splash the cash!
★ Download useful apps before you leave.
There are definitely some useful apps to make sure you have before going away, I always have the XE currency converter to hand as it’s normally quicker than me working it out in my head and once you’ve refreshed the latest rates you can use it offline when you are out and about. The booking.com app is of course my fave! I would also recommend an app like CityMaps2Go which is an offline map so even if you don’t have data you can still work out where you are going which has been a life saver on a number of occasions! You can download whole countries at a time and then star places that you want to go and it uses GPS to track where you are.
★ Research using a variety of sources!
Being super organised I love to plan but when on holiday you don’t always want a structured itinerary. One thing I would say, is just make sure you look up what to do before you get there because you don’t want to miss anything cool! I love a Lonely Planet guide book to get familiar with the country, the different regions, suggested itineraries and how to get from place to place with estimated costs involved! I normally take it away with me too if it’s not too heavy as they have super handy tips like… don’t queue for a taxi to the right of the airport exit as these rip tourists off. Walk slightly further to this exit and get a better deal!
It’s always good to go into a travel agency and take a free brochure (I know STA travel do these) – they can inspire you with routes and places to go! I also love to get ideas from friends, blogs and the wonderful Instagram. It sounds cringey but I actually found so many cool places in Mexico through Insta research! Search for a place or hotel and see peoples photos of what it really looks like. Or see something cool and use the map to find out where it is!
★ Stock up on gadgets.
It sounds obvious, but check what adapter you need before you go, you can get one for really cheap on Amazon. I also never go away without putting my waterproof phone case on my phone – I would recommend LifeProof! It’s not just to protect it from water but sand etc. – better safe than sorry! A GoPro is always a winner on holiday too, especially for those action shots.
★ Take copies of your documents with you.
It’s always a good idea to have photocopies of your passport/drivers license and important travel documents with you just in case of an emergency!
Adventures with H 