6 Rarely mentioned travel tips & tricks

Hey there, fellow traveler! I have already covered the most important travel tips extensively on my website: check out my video below and planning a trip page and other pages for that.

Here, I want to talk about some rarely mentioned, but still very useful travel tips.

1. Use Google Maps offline. Sometimes you might find yourself in a place where the internet connection is slow or nonexistent, or you don't want to pay for roaming charges. In that case, you can still use Google Maps to navigate your way around by downloading the map of the area you're visiting beforehand. Just open the app, search for the place you want to go, tap on the name, and then tap on the three dots on the top right corner. You'll see an option to download the map, which will let you use it offline later.

2. Bring a power strip. If you're traveling with multiple devices that need charging, like your phone, laptop, camera, etc., you might run into a problem of not having enough outlets in your hotel room or hostel. To avoid this hassle, bring a power strip with you that can accommodate all your gadgets. This way, you only need one adapter for the local plug type and you can charge everything at once.

3. Scan your documents. Before you leave for your trip, make sure to scan or take photos of your important documents, like your passport, visa, tickets, reservations, etc., and email them to yourself or store them in a cloud service like Dropbox or Google Drive. This way, if you lose them or they get stolen, you can still access them online and prove your identity or get replacements.

4. Pack a laundry bag. When you're traveling for a long time, you'll inevitably have to deal with dirty clothes that need washing. Instead of stuffing them in your suitcase or backpack with your clean clothes, bring a separate laundry bag that can keep them isolated and organized. You can use a simple plastic bag or a reusable cloth bag that can also double as a pillow or a shopping bag.

5. Use a VPN. If you're traveling to a country where some websites or apps are blocked or censored, like China or Iran, you might want to use a VPN (virtual private network) to access them. A VPN is a service that encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server in another country, making it appear as if you're browsing from there. This way, you can bypass the restrictions and enjoy your favorite sites and apps like Facebook, Netflix, YouTube, etc.

6. Be flexible with your dates and destinations. One of the best ways to save money and find amazing deals on flights and hotels is to be flexible with your travel plans. Instead of searching for a specific date and destination, try using tools like Skyscanner or Kayak that let you compare prices across different dates and places. You might discover that flying on a weekday or to a nearby city is much cheaper than flying on a weekend or to a popular tourist spot. You might also find some hidden gems that you wouldn't have considered otherwise.

7. Read a guide about architecture and places you will see before the trip. This will help you enjoy your surroundings so much better! For example, read my simple guide to beautiful Mudejar architecture in Spain and Portugal. You don't need to remember everything, but having some understanding will make your trip more interesting and special. 

These are some of the travel tips that I've learned over the years and that have helped me enjoy my trips more. I hope they will help you too!.

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