Expert travel hacks from seasoned travelers – Black Girl Nerds

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Let’s be honest and recognize that travel is a two sided coin. There is a side full of adventure, new experiences, exotic foods and memories that will last a lifetime. The other side involves overpriced tickets, travel scams, overstuffed luggage and sometimes a little stress.

If you want to travel more, save money, and stay safe in the process, keep reading to learn all the travel hacks from veteran travelers.

Hacks to save money on flights

Flights can often be one of the biggest expenses when traveling. Here’s how to save money on flights.

Use incognito mode and a VPN. Travel journalist Ariel Shin emailed BGN to share his experience of finding cheap flights. He shared his experience when his friends in America were looking for a flight to visit him in Colombia. We learned that they search for flights in incognito mode to find the same prices I saw in Colombia. By combining incognito mode and a VPN, the price drops dramatically when you spoof your IP address to pretend you’re checking domestic flights.

Choose flights based on price, not destination. If you use Skyscanner for flights, it has a nice feature called “Go Anywhere”. It will show you the cheapest places. And it’s usually a low-cost flight with a low cost of living, which saves you money when traveling domestically.

Track flights with price alerts. Janelle “Jash” Cooper emailed BGN and shared the benefits of checking flights with Google Flights. ” [It’s] It’s a great way to find different flights, and you can set notifications for specific flights. This is a great way to check price fluctuations and see which days are best to travel. Similar features are also available on kayak.com and other travel sites.

Travel hacks to pack light

Packing is one of my favorite parts of travel. I always seem to pack too much or too little. Trying to fit a week’s worth of clothes into one small suitcase seems like an Olympic sport. However, a tried and true method that has helped me is rolling my clothes. I often stack clothes on top of each other, roll them up, and tuck them neatly into my suitcase or purse to save space.

Dirty laundry. Another packaging hack was suggested by Valerie, owner and luxury travel consultant for Cultured Travel LLC. She emailed BGN to remind travelers to pack an extra bag for dirty laundry. She says, “When you’re on vacation, you can pick up an inexpensive mesh laundry bag to have a convenient place to store all your used clothes. I also recommend throwing a few dryer sheets in their bag. This will help your clothes smell fresh right out of the wash.

Andrew Sean Ryan, a humanitarian who has lived across Europe and North America, emailed BGN with the following suggestions. “Create a standardized list for a trip and keep it in your notes app. To make sure I never forget something important when I’m packing, I go into a checklist on my phone and mark off everything I need to bring.”

Hacks to save money while traveling

The easiest way to save money while traveling is to create a budget and have an idea of ​​what you want to spend your money on. By thinking about where your money goes, it’s easier to follow these money-saving tips.

Pack a snack before you go: If you grew up in the 90’s like me, you remember the time when you would take a suitcase full of snacks to the movie theater to avoid paying the outrageous movie theater prices. This same method can be applied to travel. Instead of loading up on chips and Twizzlers, try packing more snacks. Things like cereal bars, sandwiches, whole grain crackers, dried fruit and other healthy snacks. These snacks can double as a quick breakfast if you’re planning an early excursion. I also often travel with an empty water bottle as airports often have water fountains and stations to refill the water bottle.

Travel hacking for a local experience

The tourist experience can be great, but sometimes you want something that hasn’t been done before. Here are some tips from digital nomads for a more authentic experience.

Use different modes of transportation. When traveling in the country, most tour companies will take you to the usual tourist spots. If you want a more in-depth experience and are a little braver, you can rent a car or motorbike to travel to lesser-known places.

James, the founder of thetraveldeck.com and an expert on Asian travel, wrote to BGN to propose an international driver’s license. “An IDP is the only way any insurance has your back in the event of any unfortunate events,” he explains.

If you’re not too keen on driving in a foreign country, you can still get around in a more cost-friendly way by taking local transport, walking or cycling. On one of my first solo trips to Mexico, I talked to some of the waiters at the restaurant where I was having breakfast and they told me that I could take a local bus to a secluded beach outside of the main city for less than $1. .

Talk to the locals. Whether you’re staying in a hotel or Airbnb, talk to people who live in the country you’re visiting. Share what experiences you’re looking for, ask where the best street food is or where to find armory shops.

Security hacks and tips

Safety is a top priority, especially for solo travelers. Keep these tips in mind when planning your next solo trip.

Hide money and cashK Up copies. Shawn Anderson, cross country, not only hides backup copies of important documents like your passport or hotel reservations, but also hides money, emailed BGN. If you’re staying somewhere safe, it’s a good idea to stash some emergency cash in your suitcase or hotel safe. To avoid being a victim of petty theft when you’re out and about, you can stash a few dollars in a secret pocket, bra, or sock.

Beware of strangers. Travel photographer Jermaine also emailed BGN and suggested: “Put your phone, wallet and purse in front of you. Don’t let people hug you on the street and keep their hands on your purse or pocket when you’re in public.”

Preparing for your next adventure may be easier than you think with these simple hacks.

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