When it comes to finding the absolute best travel hacks, who better to ask than a group of seasoned travel bloggers? These tips not only make travel easier, they show us how to create a more rewarding experience. Itinerary planning, pre-travel tips, and advice on how to immerse yourself into new cultures are invaluable travel hacks everyone needs to know.
Planning a trip in 2021 has so many added complexities. But, to make your life easier, my top travel hack is to look into the PCR (Polymerase chain reaction Covid test) policies and procedures of the country you are planning to visit. Do this ahead of booking any accommodations or flights. Imagine arriving in a country and either being turned away or put in 2-week quarantine that you hadn’t planned for. Not the best welcome.
Firstly, each country will have different procedural requirements. Some only ask for a proper visa (or none at all!) and swab test while others may ask for a full quarantine in a level 1 hotel. These quarantines can cost upwards of USD 2000 or more. Secondly, airlines may have their own requirements for flying. Commonly, airlines will ask for 48-72h validity on your PCR test and insist you wear your face mask at all times.
Write each list of requirements down and work backward to create a timeline on PCR testing and quarantine periods, so there are no surprises. This will help you make more informed decisions on accommodations, flights, and the best country to visit given the time you have.
By Haley from haleyblackall.com
Look for authentically local experience and activities. I use Airbnb experience and Trip Advisor to find must-do local experiences that are unique to the place I’m visiting.
In Lisbon we took a cooking class to make Pastel de Nata. In Colorado Rockies, I did outdoor rock climbing in Garden of the Gods. In Zambia we went horseback Safari in Victoria Fall National Park. Porto is famous for its blue tile art so we took a class and made our own tiles. In the Canadian Rockies we were rafting on Athabasca river, on its frigid glacier melt and in New Zealand we took a glacier hike on Mount Cook. I could go on forever but the each of our travel experiences are etched in my memories because they form a strong and unique connection with the place and time.
A private or small group walking tour is a great way get to know the local gems and contacts for authentically local experiences. With a little research, you’ll find the best experiences and you’ll see how rewarding the interaction was.
By Jyoti from Story at Every Corner
If you plan to visit a popular scenic destination such as a national or state park, plan your visit for a weekday. Major holidays and weekends tend to be some of the busiest days at popular national parks such as Zion, Yosemite, and Rocky Mountain with thousands of visitors coming there to enjoy their awe-inspiring scenery.
Unfortunately, this can often lead to traffic jams and overcrowded trails, which might not be ideal if you are looking for a tranquil experience. Also, hotels and restaurants around national parks and other destinations catering to tourists tend to hike up prices around holidays and during high season that often includes summer.
Planning your trip during a weekday will give you a better shot at paying lower prices at hotels, and finding a camp spot if you want to sleep in a tent. When it comes to camping, make sure to check availability ahead of time, because popular campsites often require a reservation and are booked up for months during late spring and summer.
By Daria from The Discovery Nut
In these uncertain and digital times, there are many opportunities to acquire new skills. This also includes learning new photo editing tips and tricks. The best thing about it: you don’t even need expensive camera equipment, but just a mobile phone. Although you may not take many new holiday photos right now, you can still get the most out of old photos with the help of some apps. Free apps are that can really spice up boring and old photos are, for example, Lightroom, PicsArt, Snapseed, or Lens Distortions.
There are numerous tutorials and online courses on the Internet that explain how you can replace the sky in your pictures, change the lighting conditions and colors, remove whole objects, and much more. Nowadays, special effects, such as stop motion pictures, cinemagraphs, or cool transition videos can be easily created on the mobile phone. Regardless of whether your pictures and videos were taken while traveling or at home – you can definitely impress your friends and followers with a few editing skills.
By Carolin from Happy When Abroad
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” — Lao Tzu
In 2021, it is time to slow travel down and take your time exploring each destination. It is all too easy to get caught up in wanting to experience more, and get more checkmarks on the bucket list, especially after a year of having to stay close to home. However, moving too quickly could increase risk to yourself and those around you. Take the time to really experience the destination without cramming all you can into a couple days before moving on.
Slowing down also has many benefits. It will help you to travel more authentically. You’ll be more present in the moment, which is also more relaxing. It also makes it possible to build a better connection with the locals.
Allow your experiences to amount to more than being able to brag about where you’ve been. Give yourself the chance to come out of this with more meaningful experiences, instead of meaningless checkmarks on your bucket list.
By Debbie from World Adventurists
While travel restrictions are slowly lifting, there is no denying that the pandemic is still lingering among us. When it comes to travel that can have a huge effect on what you can and can not do, and depending on your chosen destination, that can change very very quickly.
When it comes to travel in 2021 it’s important to always have a plan B. Some attractions might stay closed or suddenly close up again due to changes to covid restrictions. Have a plan B in case that happens, and more importantly, have a plan B when it comes to transportation and making your way back home.
It’s also common for attractions to stay open in a limited capacity. That means you won’t be able to experience them fully so it’s important to keep that in mind to avoid disappointment.
By Tom & Zi from We Are Craving Adventure
Since even the most enthusiastic globetrotters are likely to be spending more time at home because of COVID, my top travel tip for 2021 is to make the most of your time before you leave!
The anticipation of travel can inspire us to learn new travel skills and better understand our future destinations. Not only does this significantly enhance our trips in the future, it also adds deeper value to our lives in the present.
Let your travel dreams inspire learning a new language; enhancing your photography skills; doing ancestry research; or taking a deep dive into studying the nature, history, and culture of your destination. Whatever your travel related interests, your quarantine days will be stimulating and interesting! They will be filled with reading, online classes, podcasts, documentaries, movies, and activities related to your learning.
And, when you are traveling, your experiences will be richer. You’ll be able to visit with local people in their native language, take better photos, and understand more about the where you are. Instead of being a tourist, you will be a thoughtful traveler.
By Erica from Trip Scholars
One of the best ways to save time and money while you travel is to plan a detailed itinerary in advance. This doesn’t mean you have to plan out every single day but a rough outline of what you want to see each day, where you’re going to stay and how you’ll get around can be really helpful. Planning an itinerary can be time-consuming and feel overwhelming but if you do the right steps in the correct order it will be a breeze. You won’t have to spend any time planning during your actual trip and can make the most of your limited travel time.
By Victoria from Guide Your Travel
Our travel hacks for 2021 will focus on those areas much closer to home that we often forget in the rush to see the rest of the world. There’s a whole different aspect to an area that you know as home when you view it through the lens of a tourist. Planning day trips to parks, castles, towns a short drive away are a great way to get to know your local area better. We’ve been mapping out the farmer’s markets, local food suppliers and artisan stores in our local area to also get a taste of what’s local to us. And what’s fabulous is that it feels like a vacation that we’re having every trip we take!
By Sarah from A Social Nomad
My travel back for 2021 is to book flexible tickets and to make sure you have accommodation that you can cancel. In these uncertain times, unforeseen circumstances can make it necessary for you to cancel your trip at last notice. For example, a country might close its border. You don’t want to lose your money on a trip you can’t do, so flexible bookings are definitely a must. For example, when you want to visit some beautiful cities in Europe, you can look forward to it, and at the same time, you can be sure that if you can’t go, you at least get your money back.
By Dymphe from Dym Abroad
If you’re planning a trip in 2021, I have two recommendations. The first is to ensure you do your research well in advance and know about the policies for travel to your destination. If you’re unsure where to start, this is where a travel agent or travel planning professional (like me!) can help. Most travel planners don’t charge a fee, so it will cost you nothing to have a professional travel planner book for you. Or, you can do the research and book it yourself. Either way, make sure you look into the travel requirements of your destination. Check to see if there are quarantine, testing, or additional requirements before, after, or during your trip.
The second tip is to only make bookings with flexible cancellation or rebooking policies and get travel insurance. A travel professional can help with this to make sure that you understand your options and have the best type of coverage for your needs. This will ensure you can make changes to your booking if you need to postpone or cancel your trip, and you’ll be covered while you’re away.
The world of travel may not be back to normal in 2021, but travel will continue and with these tips you can still plan your 2021 travels.
By Sara from The Average Tourist
One of the best travel hacks to save money when traveling internationally or on a hiking trip is to bring a water filtration and purification device with you! Brands like LifeStraw make water bottles that filter out bacteria, viruses, toxins, and much more, meaning you can take water right from a stream or the tap in a foreign country and safely drink it though their filter. An even easier option is to use a Steripen, which has a UV light that complete filters water and makes it safe to drink in just a few seconds. Not only does bringing along one of these water filtration devices save money on bottled water, it also helps save on single-use plastic.
By Carley from Home to Havana
Many people around the world had to put their travel plans on hold in 2020 once the pandemic started, and if you had any travel services or products that were cancelled in 2020 and not fully refunded, check what travel credits may have been issued instead.
Keep a list or spreadsheet of which companies issued the credits and when they expire, keeping in mind that many travel providers have extended expiry dates. You may even want to set a phone reminder closer to the expiry date so that you don’t forget to use your credits. Even if you can’t travel internationally in 2021, you may be able to use travel credits towards a ‘staycation’ or domestic trip or things like gift cards and luggage, so that you at least still get some value from the cancellation.
By Claire from Claire Pins Travel
In 2021, with travel still being unpredictable, many of us are exploring close to home. Road trips and car camping are great ways to visit national and state parks without interacting with other travelers in today’s unprecedented times.
When embarking on road trips, ensure you do a quick vehicle inspection, and make note of road closures or business operating hours to make the most of your trip. Plot your itinerary on a Google Map, and download it on your phone, so that you can view them in offline mode, in case you run out of cell phone connectivity in remote areas.
Car camping will allow you to save money and stay/sleep inside the vehicle without a hotel or an Airbnb accommodation.
As always, check the weather before you start your trip, and get travel medical and car insurance.
By Mayuri from Canada Crossroads
One of the best ways to travel in 2021 is going to be to spend time outdoors! Getting outside will allow you to travel safely during the ongoing pandemic because it is much easier to keep your distance from others.
Not only will spending time outdoors in 2021 be safer for you, but it is also good for your physical and mental health. Outdoor activities allow you to get exercise in a fun way that relieves stress.
Some great outdoor activities to do more of this year include camping, hiking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, mountain biking, swimming, and more! Decide what you love to do outdoors and plan your next trip around that activity!
By Gabby from Journey to the Destination
Imagine a situation wherein you are travelling and someone flicks your wallet and you loose not only all your money but also your passport. Not a pretty scenario right If something like this happens then not only do you have to call for money from your family /friends but you also have to rush to the nearest embassy to get a temporary passport.
One of my go to travel hacks since the time I started travelling is keeping money in an envelope. Instead of keeping the money in your wallet, tuck it away in an envelope and then place it in your handbag. That way if anyone ever flicks your wallet, you wont end up losing any money. This is a tried and tested trick. My wallet was flicked in a tram in Istanbul however since I had kept the money in an envelope in a handbag, I got saved and didn’t lose any significant money.
By Jes from Tourist to Travellers
When traveling internationally with a passport, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of making copies of your passport. I recommend both taking a picture and having an actual printout or maybe two. You should keep one in your luggage and one with you when touring during the day or night. You may be asking why you need a printout when you have a picture on your smartphone? You never know when your phone could get lost, stolen, or even break. You should also consider leaving a copy with a friend or family member back at home for backup.
You can also upload a copy to the cloud so if you need to print it out you can do so by accessing the internet.
Many times, travelers may lose their belongings or worse, have them stolen. Having a copy of your passport will make the reissue process easier and faster when having to visit the embassy to get a replacement. Along with copies of your passport, you may also want to consider doing the same thing for your credit cards.
By Alison from Five Family Adventures
Something ever traveler will want to consider is only booking activities that can easily be canceled. Double, even triple-check your cancellation options before booking anything, whether you’re paying a deposit, paying in full, or simply putting a credit card on file. This travel hack already saved me this year, as we planned a Texas road trip in February that coincided with both new variants and a major ice storm. Because we knew we could cancel up to nearly the last minute, our entire trip planning and canceling process was much easier than it could have been!
By Stephanie from Oklahoma Wonders
If you want to beat the crowds, resist the urge to hit that snooze button and instead, head to your destination early. While this tip is true for any time you’re traveling, it’s especially helpful in 2021, while we’re trying to avoid being around people outside of those we live with. This tip works wonders for a variety of attractions, from popular U.S. National Parks like Glacier to even sites like the Taj Mahal.
Not only will you be able to feel a bit safer at the destination, but there’s a couple of other built-in benefits: 1. you’ll have the benefit of snagging some photos, without other tourists in the background; 2. you can catch your destination in the dreamy glow of the early morning; and 3. if you’re traveling during the summertime, you’ll avoid the most hot and uncomfortable part of the day. Hitting your destination early is a win-win- just make sure to wake up a few minutes early to snag a coffee on your way there!
By Jessica from Uprooted Traveler
When traveling to a foreign country it is worth spending some time learning local greetings and phrases before arriving. When traveling around South America I found that being able to speak about some basic conversation topics helped me in different ways, such as getting around the city or country much easier.
Since learning how to become fluent in Spanish I have found negotiating prices with street vendors, or not get overcharged for taxis, etc has saved me lots of cash in the long run. Not only that, I am able to read street signs, hazards, food labels when buying products and even make friends with local people. You don’t have to be fluent in any language to be able to get by, try learning a few phrases to start and you’ll reap some of the benefits that I have found to be invaluable during my travels.
By Daniel from Layer Culture
There is no avoiding the restrictions on travel in 2021, and while many borders will be opening up again, social distancing will still play an important part in our overall safety. But some modes of travel will always be safer than other, and it’s hard to go wrong with a road trip, to minimise any unnecessary risk on trains, and buses, and public transport.
To nearly completely isolate while travelling, bring your own camping equipment, or even rent a camper/mobile home so there’s pretty much no need for accommodation stays and you’ll be able to cook your own meals. Road trips also give the freedom of the open road and to get well off-the-beaten-track. There are also some fantastic road trips nationwide, or, with flights and quarantines opening up, why not cross the pond for Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. The options are potentially endless.
By Allan and Fanfan from Bangorni
While I agree that a good plan is key to travelling, it may not work out perfectly all the time. During the early times of my travel journey, I used to be one who plan every minute of my trip meticulously – right from what to see, when to see and where to eat. And later fret over how things never happened the way I planned!
The delays, cancellations, missing the train, an upset stomach, or a credit card that stopped working – any of this could inevitably happen, and abrupt your travel plan.
The most important thing here is to accept that things can go wrong. Instead of getting upset over how things didn’t work out, it is good to have an attitude to go with the flow.
By Anuradha from Country Hopping Couple
A great way to safely book flights in 2021 is to use your credit card. To book a flight, you usually need to pay in advance, and if your flight gets cancelled, which occurs quite often in recent times, it may take months for the refund to be processed. Not to mention if the company you use to book your flight goes bankrupt in the meantime. So, the best way to protect yourself from that is to book on your credit card. Then, in case of problems with getting back your money for the cancelled flight, you can simply ask your credit card provider to arrange the refund for you. Credit card companies have the power to automatically withdrawn the funds from the vendor, which gives us the customers a secure way to purchase things such as flights.
By Mal from Raw Mal Roams
My best travel hack for travellers is to bring a bank card that lets you withdraw money without fees. During 2015, I took my first long backpacking trip for a year around Asia. I used my regular bank card as I hadn’t done the pre-research and at a later date, calculated I’d spent $700 on fees during the year! Now I travel with a card that doesn’t charge fees. In fact, I actually travel with three in case I lose one! One of my best travel tips for solo travellers is to do the same: getting stuck without a bank card, or having to pay a bunch of fees, is the worst if you have no one else to rely on!
There are several mobile banking apps like Revolut which allow people to pay you into your account via the app. Fees change according to your nationality and which provider you pick but such banks usually allow you to withdraw a set amount each money fee-free and then charge 1-2% on amounts over that which is way less than traditional high street banks charge. More money for memorable travel experiences!
By Rose from Where Goes Rose?
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Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.
You have shared some of the great travel hacks but unfortunately, the pandemic here is not letting us travel.
Thank you Shanta! I hope you are able to get back to traveling soon.