Travel Tips and Tricks

01 | buy travel insurance

Travel insurance is the most important thing you get that you never want to use. If something goes wrong, you don’t want to be out thousands of dollars in bills. It will be there if you get robbed, flights get canceled, you get sick or injured, or have to be sent home.

It’s comprehensive and, for just a few dollars a day (I’m talking Starbucks money), one of the best investments you can get for a trip. You may think you’re superman/woman but so did my friend who broke her arm, didn’t have insurance, and had to pay thousands out of pocket. Travel insurance is always there for you!

The is by far the most important travel tips and tricks from this post.

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I read this article to help me select travel insurance

and I went with this travel insurance plan

world nomads comes highly recommended too

02 | pack light and don’t check your bag

It’s OK to wear the same t-shirt a few days in a row. Take half the clothes you think you will need…you won’t need as much as you think. Write down a list of essentials, cut it in half, and then only pack that!

There is NOTHING worse than delaying your vacation trying to track down a lost bag at baggage claim. Keep everything with you at all times and get your vacation off to a great start. Carrying on your bag will forever be travel tips and tricks from me.

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more on my favorite and least favorite luggage brands here

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03 | invest in packing cubes

Packing cubes are the best way to keep your luggage organized while traveling. Whether you are packing a carry-on suitcase or checking a larger bag, packing cubes allow you to fit everything into your bag like a pretty puzzle. Separate your clothes from your undergarments and save one for dirty clothes that you can toss right into the laundry upon your return home. Does it get any easier than that?

My packing cubes have built-in compression and won’t break the bank at $22.99.

04 | travel by yourself at least once

You’ll learn a lot about yourself and how to become independent. It’s a cliché, but it’s true. Traveling solo taught me how to fend for myself, talk to people, and handle unfamiliar situations with ease. It’s made me comfortable with myself, helped me learn about what I’m capable of, and allowed me to be super selfish and do whatever I want! It can take some getting used to if you’ve never done it before but do it at least once. Make yourself uncomfortable and surprise yourself. You’ll learn valuable life skills when you push yourself!

05 | pack a god damn pen + belt bag

Any pen! Why am I constantly asking strangers for a pen on an airplane when I need to fill out my immigration paperwork? Put a pen in your travel bag now! You won’t regret it.

When it comes to travel bags hands-free is the way to be!

This $38 belt bag can hold all of your essentials: phone, keys, wallet. Keep them close in this belt bag that helps you get out the door and on to your next adventure.

06 | sign up for CLEAR, TSA pre-check, and Global Entry

JUST DO IT!

I’ve paid for CLEAR for years and have never regretted it. Truly the best service and they are expanding to more and more airports!

07 | mask up, vax up

Face masks aren’t going anywhere just yet—especially while traveling. All major U.S. airlines currently require face masks for travelers ages 2 and up, even if they’re fully vaccinated and have a booster shot, falling in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance that fully vaccinated people continue to mask up indoors as the highly contagious Omicron variant continues to spread. If you have plans to travel, it’s important to take proper precautions to minimize your risk of getting infected, and one crucial thing you can do is wear a mask that keeps you as protected as possible.

The SupplyAID KN95 Face Mask is the most highly rated mask on the market and is what I choose to use when I am flying. With more than 56,000 five-star ratings, SupplyAID’s KN95 masks are one of the best-rated protective face masks on Amazon. They also come at a great price. Reviewers say these coverings hold up to hours of travel: “The masks were comfortable to wear for a 10-hour commute on planes, trains, and buses, even with a second mask on top.”

The CDC website says that you should not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated. Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself from severe disease, slow the spread of COVID-19, and reduce the number of new variants. The CDC encourages you to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose if you are eligible. People who are not fully vaccinated should follow additional recommendations before, during, and after travel.

find out which countries require a vaccination here

08 | learn the local language

I started using Duolingo and I love it!

Why Duolingo?

• Duolingo is fun and effective. Game-like lessons and fun characters help you build solid speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills.

• Duolingo works. Designed by language experts, Duolingo has a science-based teaching methodology proven to foster long-term language retention.

• Track your progress. Work toward your language learning goals with playful rewards and achievements when you make practicing a daily habit!

• Every language course is free. Learn Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Ukrainian, Esperanto, Polish, Greek, Hungarian, Norwegian, Hebrew, Welsh, Arabic, Latin, Hawaiian, Scottish Gaelic, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, English, and even High Valyrian!

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There’s no need to be fluent in order to visit a foreign country. However, one tip I’ve learned is to master a few phrases in the local language can improve your travel experience. Hello, please, thank you, nice to meet you, excuse me, and sorry are some of my favorites.

Not being able to communicate while traveling can be frustrating, but remember that this is your problem, not theirs. Try hand signals, images on your phone, or Google Translate!

09 | stay hydrated + healthy

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Snag a LARQ self-cleaning water bottle! Endlessly innovative, this USB rechargeable water bottle is designed to purify water in 60 seconds every two hours, neutralizing up to 99.9% bacteria using UV light. Crafted from durable, food-grade stainless steel, it minimizes the need for single-use plastic bottles and ensures pristine drinking water with every sip. Better yet? It’s insulated to keep drinks cold for 24 hours, or hot for 12 hours.

Sip on immunity tea! This immune-supporting drink mix has a refreshing lemon-ginger flavor and is made with real Vitamin C, Turmeric, Zinc, Ginger, and Echinacea. It tastes great and makes me feel oh-so-good!

and

Sip on chlorophyll water – full blog post here.

10 | buy these shoes and walk as much as possible

These are the ultimate travel sneaker! Modern, minimal design meets all-day comfort. This clean leather sneaker is updated with ultra-soft, flexible leather and a shockingly light-weight rubber sole. A bonafide closet staple that requires absolutely no break-in period? Walk this way and save $60 with the code: KAT60

Besides being free, these tours will give you a good orientation and background of the city you are visiting. I love, love, love taking walking tours when I travel. You pass the time, you get to ask the guide questions, and you get to learn so much about where you are! Take a walking tour when you travel!

Did you find my ten travel tips and tricks for 2022 to be helpful? Let me know in the comments.