Travel blog & tips on a budget from a 30 year old blogger

Top Travel Tips for 2016

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Posted: December 31, 2015

I have been to nearly 40 countries and nearly 100 cities so I have a lot of experience in travelling and packing and moving from place to place. I wanted to share some of my tips with you. Please note this is not exhaustive and I would be happy to hear from you regarding other tips you may have.

1) Make a list

You need to create a list on what to bring on your travels. It might sound basic but if you want to maximize the space in your suitcase, this is a must. You should also ensure that what you pack matches with other items of clothing. Do not just take that one outfit only suitable for a rock party.

Hundertwasser House

2) Pack your bag then repack it the next day

Yes you heard correct. Sort out all your clothes and other necessities you want to take with you, then put it all in the one suitcase or backpack. Then go about the rest of your day, have lunch, work out, go have dinner, then go to bed. It is important to re-evaluate your bag the next day as you will realize in the morning you may not need half as much stuff as you packed the day before.

3) Minimise your tech

If you are a blogger and love to take your mac everywhere, try and see if you can live without it for this trip and perhaps take an ipad instead. I treated myself to one in the sale and took it on a trip to South America with me. As the iPad was not half as expensive as a laptop I was not as worried about losing it. Plus it was a great way to take awesome photos.

M&Ms store

4) Laundry Service

If you have access to a washer and a dryer (or clothes line) then you won’t need to take half as much stuff with you as you can wash it while you are there. If you are going for 2 weeks for example, you can take enough stuff for 1 week or even 5 days (depends on how often you want to wash your clothes).

5) Fold Aways

Girls can have a lot of bags which take up room. Instead of bringing one bag for each different occasion take a fold away (or compact) day bag and then bring one that can be used as a daytime or night time bag. I was given a longchamp bag (20% discount at UK airports) and this is perfect as you can fold it away and it works for both a smart day bag and night time one.

6) Tech Bag

For those techies, travelling can mean a lot of different chargers, adapters, phones etc. So in order not to lose your tech, pack a small bag to contain them all. I learned the lesson the hard way when I had way too much in one bag and my camera fell out, which meant it never got to come with me on my trip.

7) Currency

In an ideal world, we would have some Euros, some UK pounds and some US Dollars and perhaps some of your home currencies as well, just in case there are changes to the exchange rate. We can’t guarantee rates will stay the same but what you can do is order your currency in advance so you don’t pay commission. IN the UK, I went to Marks and Spencers and their rate is very competitive. For those with a Santander account and going to Spain, you might get a better rate taking money out in Spain. BUT when they ask you do you want the money converted, say no. Always chose to pay in Euros when paying with debit/credit card. If you chose to pay in your own currency, you end up paying a lot more.

Cool Britannia

8) Passport Holder

I never had one of these, until I started taking around 30 flights in one year (and the year had not even finished). It is expensive to replace a passport, so look after the one you have. Invest in a passport holder for as little as £5. I am sure you can get it cheaper in places like TK Max. If you are going to countries where you need vacinations, make sure you carry this card in the passport holder too.

These are just some of my travel tips. I would love to hear from you if you have any that I have not mentioned above.

Happy Travelling.

Sydney Opera House

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