7 Essential Travel Tips You Need to Use on Your Next Vacation

For even the most experienced travelers, there are always new ways to travel more efficiently to and from your destination. And we’ve gathered a handful of essential travel tips you simply must use on your upcoming vacation.

Pack strategically

Packing everything you’ll need for your vacation is important. But, it’s equally as important to pack strategically. By this, we mean to pack items you may need while you’re traveling in easy-to-reach places. For example, your boarding pass or passport shouldn’t be packed under jackets and shoes. Keep it in an easily accessible place to ensure you’re not holding up any lines in the airport.

Strategically packing means also choosing the right suitcase which can make all the difference. Take, for example, the Eminent small suitcase with wheels, the compact size and convenient wheels of which provide a perfect combination for efficient travel. Such wheeled compact suitcases allow you to carefully consider your packing decisions and maximize space utilization.

They happen to be with various compartments and smart organizational features, ensuring your belongings are well-arranged and easily accessible throughout your journey. Opting for the small suitcases with wheels can be a thoughtful choice, enhancing your travel experience with its human-centric design and practicality.

Check-in online

Most airlines and hotels allow you to complete check-in online about 24 hours ahead of your expected departure from the airport or arrival at your hotel. Keep an eye out for an email prompting you to complete check-in. It only takes a few minutes and could save you hours of waiting in lines.

Dress for the airport

Dressing for the airport is one of the most essential travel tips to use on your next vacation. It’s important to dress for comfort while keeping TSA regulations in mind. For example, you know you’ll need to remove belts, jackets, and anything in your pockets. So, wear pants that don’t require a belt and have your jacket stored in your carry-on. Be sure to wear slip-on shoes, too. There’s nothing worse than trying to quickly lace up your shoes with dozens up anxious travelers waiting behind you.

Ship your luggage

Carrying, checking, and claiming baggage at the airport are three of the biggest travel headaches. That’s why one of our favorite travel tips is to ship your luggage ahead. Luggage Free is the world’s leading shipping service for luggage and sporting equipment. They’ll collect your luggage from your home and deliver it to your destination safely and on time, guaranteed. All shipments come with complimentary insurance, real-time tracking, and a white-glove travel concierge to assist you every step of the way. Make vacation feel more like a vacation by traveling luggage-free!

Bring extra copies

This next one may sound a little old school, but when you’re traveling to foreign lands, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Make extra copies of your travel documents, airline itineraries, hotel accommodations, and any other reservations you’ve made. If everything is on your phone and you lose service or your battery dies, you’ll be glad to have hard copies in your hand. Protip: before your travels, make sure you explore iPhone storage options so that you do have not bad surprises when running out of storage on your phone.

Eat local

There’s no better way to truly immerse yourself in a new location than by eating locally. Before departing for your trip, research local restaurants that will be in your area. Keep these in your back pocket, but ask locals where they would recommend you eat, too!

Plan the right amount

It’s hard to find the right balance of activities and relaxation on a vacation. One of the most important travel tips is to plan a handful of activities, but also leave plenty of free time for hanging by the pool or for spontaneous excursions and experiences. If you plan multiple activities for every single day, your vacation will slowly start to feel less like a vacation and more like an agenda that needs to be completed. 

Leaving space for relaxation during a trip allows for unexpected discoveries and downtime that can make a vacation truly memorable. Whether it’s taking a leisurely stroll through a new neighborhood, lingering over a scenic view, or even enjoying a quiet moment playing solitaire online, unstructured time gives you the freedom to unwind at your own pace.

It’s in these relaxed, unscheduled moments that you might find the best part of your trip—whether it’s meeting locals, tasting a hidden gem of a restaurant, or simply recharging. Striking a balance between planned activities and open time can enhance the entire travel experience.

Bonus Tip: Protect your devices

As you plan your next vacation, don’t underestimate the value of a reliable phone case that will provide essential protection, convenience, and style for your device. It shields against drops, scratches, and water damage while offering added storage options. Investing in a quality phone case ensures that you can fully enjoy and document your travel experiences without worrying about your phone’s safety or functionality.

Whether it’s shipping your luggage ahead or completing your check-ins online, these easy tips will have you traveling like a pro in no time!

Essential Travel Planning Resources

Planning your next adventure?

Here are some of our go-to resources that we’ve personally tested over the years.

Find Your Accommodation

Whether you’re looking for hotels or hostels Booking.com is ideal for finding great hotel deals worldwide, with a wide range of options to suit any budget.

Book Your Flights

For unbeatable flight deals, we also recommend Booking.com Flights as they search across airlines and travel sites to ensure you get the best prices. It’s our favorite tool for finding affordable flights, no matter your destination.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a must-have! Protect yourself from unexpected events like illness, injury, or cancellations. Here’s what we recommend:

* TrueTraveler (only EU citizens): Perfect for long term travelers looking for comprehensive and affordable coverage.
* SafetyWing (for everyone) Great for digital nomads, long and short term travelers.

Rent a Car for Your Trip

Need the freedom to explore at your own pace? Renting a car is a great way to travel off the beaten path. We recommend Discovercars.com a fantastic comparison website that helps you find the cheapest rates from all the major rental companies worldwide.

Book Your Activities

From guided tours to skip-the-line tickets, use Get Your Guide to plan unforgettable experiences wherever you’re going. It’s one of the best platforms for activities and tours.

Try Housesitting

If you love animals and you prefer going local during your travels, try housesitting, which is an amazing way to travel the world while taking care of the pets whose owners are on vacation. If you use TrustedHousesitters with this link you’ll get $25 discount on annual membership.

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