Practical Travel Advice

1. Pack light

Do all you can to travel with just hand-luggage. Avoid back pain, check-in luggage fees, travel faster and easier.

2. Avoid kids

Never go to the security queue where there are kids. The one with the 'suits’ will move much quicker.

3. Learn some words

Wherever you go, locals tend to be warmer to the tourists that know even a few words in their language. Memorize a few common phrases and you'll see a great difference.

4. Don't open your mouth

If you are in a country where it is unsafe to drink the water, don't open your mouth in the shower.

5. Forget hotels

Don't spend to much money on overpriced hotels or stay in noisy hostels. Apartments or rooms in private homes are where the sharp travelers are sleeping now.

6. Bring a sarong

They’re light and multifunctional: something to lie on at the beach, a cover for when you’re cold, a towel, a curtain, a skirt, a dress, even an emergency bandage.

7. Look behind

Whenever you get up to leave somewhere, be it a chair at the airport, a café, or a bar, always turn round and make sure you haven’t left anything behind.

8. Roll your clothes when packing

Once you roll, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered to fold. They occupy a lot less space and don't get so wrinkled.

9. Pack a pack

A game of cards is not only useful to while away the hours during the inevitable delays, but also a great cross- cultural barrier breaker.

10. Don’t plan

It might be tempting to have every step of your trip planned carefully, but unplanned days are often those that leave the most lasting, and fondest memories.