25 holiday travel tips

It’s almost time for your annual holiday and you’re excited about getting away from it all but are you as prepared as you can be? We scoured the internet and asked seasoned travellers for their best travel tips and here are the top 25 holiday travel tips we received.

GETTING THERE

1. Do your homework for special deals and activities taking place at your destination, in advance. Buy events tickets online, it’s often cheaper.
2. Pack less and pack light, as in light fabrics that dry fast.
3. Rolling clothes does save space. We’re not sure why but it’s true.
4. Don’t take jewellery that has high sentimental value. Just don’t, you can and will survive without it.
5. Don’t take new shoes on holiday that you haven’t worn yet. Okay, maybe flip-flops.
6. Mark your luggage to help you identify it at the luggage carousel. Everyone is using ribbons so be original.
   

   If you’re travelling to the USA it’s a good idea to lock your bags with the lock at the top. It’s the only one airport security can open without breaking.

7. Include in your budget an amount for tipping– airport porters, hotel porters, restaurants, and if in SA, car guards!
8. Tell the bank in advance where you are going so they can enable your cards. Make a note of their international phone number.
9. Buy hostess gifts at home, duty free souvenirs in your country are for tourists, not locals.
10. Make copies of all documents and keep apart from the actual documents. Yes, you know this already but do you do it?  Scan a copy of docs and email to yourself. Also write down important numbers in case you lose your phone.
11. What if you lose your phone on holiday?  How can an (honest) person get it back to you? Take a photo of yourself, with the phone camera, in front of your hotel with the name clearly shown.
12. If you want free wifi, stay in a budget hotel or a guesthouse
13. Best tip ever: If you’re trying to book into a sold-out hotel? Find out when cancellation penalties set in for the date you want to arrive, then call on the morning of that day. You’ll get rooms made available by people who’ve just cancelled.
14. Don’t be tempted to chat with your airplane neighbour. No matter how he/she first appears you have NO idea what you’re in for and whatever it turns out to be, you are stuck with it for the duration of the flight. You have been warned.
15. Never put travel documents in the pocket of the seat in front of you. You WILL forget them.
16. Unless you are very sure of yourself, brush up your photo skills in advance – you should be taking better and better photos on every holiday.

BEING THERE

1. Get over jetlag faster by not wearing sunglasses for a couple of days after arrival.
2. Visit a local bar, coffee shop or restaurant as soon as you arrive to get the real guide to what’s happening, from a local.
3. Eat where the locals eat – why else did you go there if not to experience the real deal?
4. Try different food – don’t expect the same as at home.
5. Remember food in Asia is different to your favourite local take-away – be adventurous!
6. Want to get the local gen? Get a haircut. Barbers and salons are great gossip areas and you’ll get info no other tourist gets.
7. Meet the locals – they’ll give you the best memories.
8. Don’t overplan – leave time for spontaneous activities, these will also give great memories.
9. Tip hotel cleaning staff a small amount daily instead of a lump sum when you leave. It guarantees good service throughout your stay and lots of those nice bathroom goodies.

Do you have any tips to add? Use the form below to share your best advice.