Add the fact that quarantine restricted our wallets and the economy, and it can feel like that well-deserved dream trip seems to be a distant reach due to financial constraints. But it doesn’t have to! The cost of travel might be up but, so in light of World Tourism Day, we’re going to show you that you can still make it work. So what are the tips and hacks to travel post-pandemic?
Keep things private
Book your flights on a private browser is what we’re trying to say. This hack will work wonders for you and your wallet. Web browsers tend to track your activity through cookies. When you search for something once, it remembers when you search for it again. It also begins to show higher prices for the same flights that you saw the other day.
Here’s where our post-pandemic travel hacks come into play. You can work your way around it by using a private browser. In your browser menu bar, under File, choose “New Incognito Window” or the “Private Browsing” option.
Let’s go digital
Keep your digital wallets all prepped, ready and full! Travel and tourism are full of uncertainties. Some heavy pickpocket cases are going on around the world. Foresee it and stay prudent. In case (touch wood) you wind up losing your wallet or your purse, having at least one of your credit cards linked to a digital wallet app will play to your advantage.
Also ensure you’re prepared for uncertain moments with scanned documents like your passport, driver’s license, and insurance policies by uploading them to Google Drive, Dropbox. Have photocopies of them stored offline in your phone.
Stay safe with your insurance coverage
You don’t want to end up looking like a gullible traveler. So do your research on where you’re going and see if you’ll be needing travel insurance, medical insurance, car insurance, or all three.
Dig deep into the benefits package offered by your credit card company and see what it covers before you buy insurance. Credit cards cover rental car costs, lost baggage, canceled flights and emergency medical insurance when needed.
Smart packing all the way
What’s in your bag will always reveal if you’re a travel pro or not. Packing lights can make or break your travel experience. The best packing travel hack is don’t need as many things as you think you do. Here’s a rapid-fire list of what you need to carry.
- Thermal base-layers instead of coats for cold destinations
- Smaller containers for toiletries
- Quick-dry clothes to wash clothing on the go
- Roll your clothes in cubes
- Stuff socks inside your shoes
- Get organized suitcases with shelves so you can pack and unpack in seconds
Plan your trip, not all of it
Flexibility will keep you from sweating the small stuff. You’re on vacation! Enjoy it while you can and leave the stress at home. Yes, booking ahead is great, but what has to be booked last-minute should be last minute. Else you will risk not being able to be spontaneous. Remember that there’s no single way to discover a new place.
Carry your bottles and straws
This is a life-saver. Single-use plastics will be found at every stage travel journey and we wouldn’t want to add more trash to the world. So, we carry our bottle and refill it at the airport after security or wherever we can. If you’re a big fan of iced water bring an insulated stainless steel bottle so your water stays cold and fresh.
