Traveling Tanya’s Top 10 Travel Tips

After five years of traveling and blogging about my adventures, I have identified and tested out plenty of travel tips and tricks!

Like life, traveling is a journey full of ups and downs with lessons learned all along the way.

I’ve enjoyed trips to wineries, weekend getaways in the Midwest, relaxing beach vacations, and whirlwind European adventures. I even managed to quench my wanderlust with virtual travel and travel-themed books and movies during the Covid years!

As I celebrate Traveling Tanya’s 5th anniversary I thought it was time to share MY TOP 10 TRAVEL TIPS with my followers!

1. Take the Trip

If you don’t make it any further down the list, I want you to hear this tip loud and clear. TAKE THE TRIP!

This is my number one advice to fellow travelers.

I’m a firm believer that you are much more likely to regret the trips you don’t take than the ones you do.

There will always be reasons to postpone travel. I can’t afford to travel now, maybe when I get a promotion. We will travel when the kids are older. I’ll travel once work slows down.  We’ll travel once we retire. 

You may never feel there is enough money in the bank account or days in the year to experience travel. But as they say, tomorrow isn’t promised. So I urge you not to delay that awesome trip you have been dreaming about…otherwise, it may never happen.

2. Embrace the Planning Process

I love the travel planning process almost as much as I love taking the actual trips! But I realize not all travelers are like me.

It is easy for me to spend hours going down the rabbit hole of searching for just the right flights. Pouring over excursion options. Watching endless travel vlogs of my upcoming destination. Immersing myself in every possible website, podcast, book, and video I can get my hands on that will prepare me for my upcoming adventures.

Before I scare off the travelers who lean more towards spontaneous travel, let me point out that you don’t have to be exactly like me! But I believe that everyone can benefit from taking part in some aspect of the trip planning. And it can help build the anticipation of your impending adventure.

Besides investigating flights and booking hotels, there are plenty of elements of travel planning that can be fun.

• If you are traveling to a foreign country, spend some time learning a few key phrases and familiarizing yourself with the local currency.
• Google the top things to do in the city or town you will be visiting and create your own must-see list.
• Start following the social media pages of the National Park, winery, BnB, or museum you plan to visit to get an idea of the current vibe and up-to-date details of each venue.
• Listen to podcasts related to your next destination while running on the treadmill or commuting to work.

There are more ways than ever to plan and prepare for an upcoming trip. Doing so will help ensure your next vacation isn’t full of the unpleasant surprises that uninformed travelers often face. Plus, by embracing the planning process it will feel like you have extended your trip well beyond the week or two you are actually able to leave town!

3. Travel During Shoulder Season

I realize not everyone is free to travel whenever they want. Work schedules, the school calendar, family obligations, and a host of other things likely dictate when you can get away.

When possible, I highly recommend traveling during shoulder season, especially when traveling to popular touristy locations. Peak season often means huge crowds, long lines, and higher costs. For many European as well as American destinations (like Disney World!), the summer is peak season when children are out of school and family vacations are most feasible.

Shoulder season includes the times right before or right after peak season. These are my favorite times to travel, especially to Europe.

April through May and September through October are an ideal time for a European excursion, if you can swing it.

While you can never predict perfect weather, much of Europe is fairly mild during these times. So you will avoid the extreme heat or frigid temperatures found in summer and winter months.

You will likely get more bang for your travel buck during shoulder season as well.  Airfare and accommodations tend to be lower than peak season. And with fewer crowds, you will spend less time waiting in queue to see all the postcard-worthy attractions that led you across the pond.

4. Balance Activity & Relaxation

When I travel I vacillate from being a complete beach bum with no agenda or care in the world…to a go-go-go see it ALL kind of tourist when I’m traipsing through Europe.

As I get older, and hopefully wiser, I realize that somewhere in between those extremes is a pretty great place to be.

Expecting to see EVERYTHING in Paris in just 2 days would be an impossible feat.  And you wouldn’t actually appreciate any of it. Plan for some must-see attractions, but also sprinkle in time to people-watch as you linger in a cafe. You might even stumble across a not-so-well-known attraction that wasn’t on your itinerary. And you will be glad to have some free time built in to check it out.

On the flip side, I can lounge on the beach all day long with the best of them! But adding in a few activities along the shore can offer a break from the sun and ensure you can still salvage a rainy day at the beach. I love washing away the sand at the end of the day and putting on a cute outfit to check out a fun beachside restaurant or stroll through souvenir shops.  Going on a sunset dolphin cruise was a highlight on one of my recent beach getaways and it made for some great memories and plenty of photo ops.

5. Don’t Over-plan

This tip is similar to the previous one, and I must admit, this is the hardest travel tip on this list for me to actually follow.  I want to do it all! Sometimes I fear that I will never get to return to a particular destination so I want to pack in everything I can. Or I feel that I’ll get more bang for my travel buck (especially those pricey overseas flights) if I plan out every minute of my trip and don’t miss a single excursion or attraction.

For most people, traveling at that kind of break-neck pace is a surefire way to experience travel burnout.

So resist the urge to over-plan. Instead, schedule just one (maybe two) attraction/museum/tour/activity each day of your trip. Let that be the anchor of the day’s schedule, then be open to exploring whatever else might be in that general area and catches your eye in the given moment.

You just might stumble upon a cute outdoor cafe and will be delighted that you have time to stop for an unexpected treat.  Or you might catch the perfect sunset over the mountains and will be glad you were able to hit pause and really soak in the moment. Not overplanning will also give you more opportunities to meet the locals and get the inside scoop on your vacation destination.

Don’t let FOMO (fear of missing out) push you to create an overpacked itinerary. Instead, focus on thoroughly enjoying the activities you select, and then make plans for a return trip to check out even more of the sites.

6. Take Screenshots/Photos to Stay Organized

This is one super simple way I try to stay organized while traveling. I take photos with my iphone of everything! These aren’t the kinds of photos that make it into the scrapbooks or social media posts about my trips, but many of these photos help me remember key elements of my travels.

Here are some of the screenshots/photos you might find on my iphone:

• airport parking spot and shuttle stop (so I can easily find my car upon return)
• my luggage (in case it gets lost)
• passport and license (always helpful to have a backup copy)
• itinerary, hotel info, car rental details, etc (it helps to have these easily accessible)
• menus (helps me remember what I ate, which is helpful when blogging!)
• hotel sign and street signs (so I remember where I’m staying or where I parked and can get back!)

I’m old enough to remember a time before smartphones…but I sure do value the convenience these little contraptions provide when traveling!

7. Adapt Based on Your Travel Companions

Who you will be traveling with can change almost everything about your trip. So choose your travel companions wisely and learn to adapt to make the trip a pleasant experience for everyone.

If going solo, do your thing, however you want! You are the boss of your trip.

When traveling with children or teens, consider their needs and wants. That doesn’t have to mean they make all the decisions. But if you are constantly telling them what to do and when to move, it won’t feel like a vacation for anyone. Your itinerary may need to include nap time, and wifi might be an essential element to peace and harmony. Ensure that there is a least one attraction or hands-on activity that each family member is excited about. That will help keep the peace and let you enjoy the activities you are anticipating the most.

When traveling with older individuals or those with mobility challenges, it is especially important to not overbook your day. (Go back and read tip #5!) It also helps if you plan out the transportation between sites and build in plenty of extra time. Even though the pace may be slower when traveling with seniors, taking time to stop and smell the roses and not rush through your vacation can be a real blessing to you as well.

By taking all travel companions’ needs and abilities into consideration, you will be well on your way to an epic vacation that everyone will remember for years to come. And everyone will be excited to plan the next adventure!

8. Pack Light(ish)

I know some of you aren’t ready for this one, but give it a try!

There is freedom in not having so much stuff to lug around, and that makes for a more pleasant travel experience.

I’m the first to admit that when I take a road trip I don’t travel light. If there is plenty of room in the vehicle, go ahead and pack in all the things you might need on your journey. However, when flying, and especially when going overseas, packing light is essential.

You can actually save money by packing light and avoiding extra baggage fees. You will also save time if you don’t check a bag. No one actually enjoys standing at the baggage carousel waiting on their luggage (and praying it arrives!).

Packing light is especially helpful when traipsing through Europe, where elevators aren’t standard and cobblestone streets turn treacherous when laden down with luggage.

Over time, pay attention to the items you pack but never seem to use. On the next trip, try ditching those items.

Learning to pack light is a bit of an art form and it takes practice. But you can do it!

For more tips on packing light, check out this blog post and video!

9. Balance Splurging & Saving

Anyone who knows me knows I err on the side of being thrifty. I love finding good deals, especially on travel. But I’ve also learned how to make sure my travel experiences are good ones by cost-cutting when it makes sense and splurging when it really matters.

For me, I don’t need a seat in first class and don’t mind flying no-frills airlines if it means I can save money for on-the-ground attractions. I have no problem splurging on a really nice meal with a view of the Eiffel Tower or a pricey gondola ride in Venice. These are quintessential travel experiences that I will remember forever.

If you are uber-wealthy (I’d love to travel with you!), then go all out on every element of travel!

If you are a bit more cost-conscious (like me), decide which elements of your trip are the most important to you and be willing to splurge a little in those areas. Then keep your eyes open for discounts and deals on other aspects of your trip.

Do some planning and cost-cutting during the planning process, then during your trip be prepared to spend a little more for things than you normally would and try not to stress about it. You are on vacation after all…so splurge a little!

10. Build In Buffer Days

Have you ever returned from a vacation and felt like you needed a vacation? I know I have! That’s why I think it is important to build in buffer days on the front and back end of your vacation whenever possible.

Having a day off before your trip gives you time to finish packing and get things organized at home. This will help ensure a low stress level at the start of your vacation. Plus you will have a welcoming atmosphere when you return if you home isn’t in complete disarray.

Even more critical is scheduling a buffer day after your trip. Who wants to go back to work or school mere hours after returning from vacation? Not me!

Use the buffer day to settle back into life a home, unpack, and do some laundry. This will allow the vacation vibes to linger a bit longer, and it will give you a chance to work through jet lag or adjust to a shift in time zones. And should things go awry or you encounter any travel delays, that buffer day could be a real Godsend!

Which of these travel tips do you stand by? Any you disagree with? Or are there ones you would add? I’m always learning as I travel, often by trial and error. And I love hearing from fellow travelers about both their successes and missteps along the journey!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

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