My top travel tips for your next vacation!

Is there anything more exciting than traveling?! I could travel for months straight and be happy. I’ve been lucky enough to do quite a bit of traveling in my life, and I’ve been able to really gather up some of my top travel tips to make your next vacation so much easier! Also, if you are afraid of overpacking, check out this post here!

1. Have hard copies of everything

I know that we are all obsessed with the internet, and there is nothing wrong with that. When I’m heading out for my next big vacation, I always make sure I have hard copies of anything and everything that I might need. Not only is this a good idea for your own personal records, but electronics can die or not work if you’re visiting an international location! Out of everything, this is probably my top travel tip!

While it has never happened to me, I’ve heard horror stories about hotels or taxis having no record of reservations that have already been paid for! I don’t know about you, but I want to spend my vacation exploring, learning, and relaxing, not stressing about it! When I make reservations, I will print the confirmation email or ticket copies and keep them in an envelope designated for the date I need them.

2. Buy a phone power bank

I literally have no idea how I used to travel without one of these! Like I mentioned earlier, phones die! I picked this one up from Amazon, and it has been a lifesaver for over four years now! It has multiple outlets so everyone in my family can charge their items without fighting over the cords. They make power banks that can basically fit into your wallet now, so it depends on what you want to carry around during your travels. For us, the larger one solves the battle for the charge, lasts a long time, and charges everything quickly!

3. Check the weather, seriously!

I’m one of those weirdos that really loves packing. It is fun to just plan out what you need, get everything together, and head out for your trip. What is not fun is to get to your destination and the weather is a lot different than you expected. I’ll start checking the weather way before I leave. Especially if it is a location where I need to pick up some clothing or accessories for. Personally, I have found that AccuWeather is more accurate than other weather outlets!

4. Know a little about the culture

Since I was little, my family always instilled the importance of understanding other cultures. There is nothing on Earth that makes me angrier than when I see people disrespecting others in their own countries. When it comes to my top travel tips, it really boils down to being respectful to others. If you aren’t aware of how a certain culture differs from your own, spend a few minutes learning about where you’re traveling to.

5. Make arrangements at home!

I can’t tell you how long it took for this to become one of my top travel tips. I’m almost embarrassed! As much as none of us like to talk about it, the world is not always the safest place. I’ve had automatic lights in my house for years. It makes it look like I’m still home which can help reduce break-ins. Shout out to my grandmother for this tip!

If you have pets, then please make sure you’re either setting aside enough money for a pet resort or boarding facility. I have one that I use, and my dog loves it! If you are lucky enough to have roommates, nice neighbors, or a lot of family members, ask them!

Last small quick travel tip: let the post office know if you’re going to be gone for a long time! I can’t tell you how much of a pain it is to go get your mail from them, and have them give you a speech about why you need to put your mail on hold.

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What are your top travel tips?