If I Could Only Give You One Piece Of Travel Advice... This Would Be It
If someone held a gun to my head and said I was only allowed to give you one piece of travel advice before going, I’d say this:
Pack half of what you think you’ll need, and double your $.
I don't know why someone would hold a gun to my head for the purpose of extracting that info, but sure, let's go with it.
No matter what type of traveler you are...
...this advice works for you.
Whether you’re a luxury traveler, a budget traveler, or you travel hobo style like me, this advice applies to you.
Why?
Because things will happen when you travel that you didn’t plan for.
You should expect the unexpected.
If you don’t, you’ll just be really frustrated when bad things happen.
I’ve been traveling for 5 months now, and a lot of unexpected things have happened:
Even though I’m a savvy traveler and read up on all the travel scams, I still got duped when a guy took $ out of my wallet as I opened it and ran to the car and drove off with it as soon as I started to argue with him. Well, better have a budget for that $50 that you JUST took out of the ATM and now it’s gone.
I have a tendency to lose things. But I try extra hard to be neurotic about my important things like cards, wallet, phone, laptop… but sometimes, despite my exhaustive efforts to be responsible, things just happen (especially when you haven’t had a decent chance to sleep in 3 straight days). That’s what happened when I lost my debit card. I’ve been trying to get it sent to me in the mail from the US for a month now and it’s been a big hassle. I do have one backup card, but that one charges me huge ATM fees, so I’m paying about $8 each time I have to go to the ATM, which is another unexpected expense.
I accidentally overstayed my visa by a day.
Laptop broke in Hanoi, had to pay $100 USD to get it fixed. I had a kind of funny post about that, but since my phone was stolen (another expense) shortly after that, I don’t have the footage anymore to make the video :/.
Okay, I don’t have to go through ALL of the scenarios where stuff ended up costing more than I thought. Point is, BRING DOUBLE THE MONEY.
Next piece of advice?
BRING HALF THE STUFF
There are SOME things that you definitely want to bring with you because they are hard to find in other countries. I’ve listed those for you here.
But I’ve found out for the most part that worrying that you won’t be able to find something you need is the worry monster trying to get ya.
Ignore the worry monster.
He just picks on others to make up for his own insecurities.
No matter where I go, no matter what side of the world it’s on…
I’ve always been able to find the majority of stuff I could want. And everything that I need.
So, if you’ve been thinking about jumping into minimalism, traveling is a great way to test the waters!
Greetings, Miss Lydia
I found very interesting your post, very funny, because it would be those 2 the advice you would give to someone. The first I learned with my family. The second I learned traveling alone, I always took clothes more than used hehehe. From now on, take less clothes and if necessary, wash it in the city or buy any part necessary. My speedos for example, usually take two. When I shower, wash a during the own bath and put to dry. The other day, I use the business while it is drying.
About the first tip, to get more money, better even, Yes, the unexpected always happen and we have to be prepared for them. Usually I usually calculate the days of travel in relation to the money we have to spend. Also, I always keep an extra left over, that is, never get in "debt" on the trip, always leaves a little hehehe.
Thank you for posting and good afternoon!!!!!
Wow, entiendo este mensaje aunque escribiste en Portugues!
sorry, i forgot to translate.!!!!
You didn't need to!! I understood! It was kind of cool! I always pretend I have less than I cash than I really do. It helps budgeting
@nomadicsoul, a whole bunch to learn! and especially this!!
Leaving my glasses, keys and hat god knows where. The list are endless but I am trying my best to not lost my important things like my card and laptop. Also double money- that could work despite being somewhat frugal traveler :-D
Its true. Less is always more. Unless that is, we are talking about VANG
I'll add that to the foot notes!
Good advice. I have always had to dump some stuff that I took before returning home.
Oh, sorry dear, you have faced enough already.
Thanks for the good heart, you just saved others from going the same path...
I think it's either your lost phone or damaged laptop was the very first post I read from your blog. I can't remember if it was in a single post or separate post again. Lol
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This is priceless my dear. Great hint i must admit. A lot of unexpected things happen when we travel, even costs we never budgeted for and it could be really annoying. I think going with few things that are of utmost importance matters like you rightly pointed out.
great :)
Haha! Have been on the road for a year and a half and this is definitely good advice!! You won't need half of what you pack, that's for sure! And as for bringing more dollarydoos; if you've got 'em, bring 'em, but at one point having extra to bring isn't an option anymore 😝😝 then it's time to find work exchange or buy a tent hahaha!!
These are really some helpful tips. After 5 months of
wanderingtraveling, 😁 you are surely a BAGFUL of practical advice