At this point most of us have come to the conclusion that the pandemic is here for the long haul. With more than a year spent in uncertainty, strict quarantine, and even months-long lockdown, our urge to see the world and resume doing things that really make us happy is stronger than ever.
For many, myself included, it’s the joy of traveling and I can’t wait to jump on a plane to somewhere (anywhere, really!). Even if that means there will be nuisances that didn’t exist before: like wearing a mask at all times, keeping a safe distance from others, and carrying your vaccination pass while on vacation abroad.
So for anyone who’s just planning or already booked a trip to their dream destination, this post is gonna be worthy of bookmarks. Meet Ryan Fila, a guy who’s been living a travel lifestyle for years and gathered so much know-how about smart, safe and pleasant traveling that he’s eager to share his knowledge with others.
In a series of TikTok videos, Ryan has been showing “Travel tips that will seriously help you,” and they range from packing less, always getting on a plane last and dealing with loneliness on the road.
This post may include affiliate links.
Download Google offline maps before you leave your country. Here's how you do it: search a region that you want to go to then down here, there'll be a download button, click that. Zoom out as far as you can to get the most of that region. Click download and now you have Google offline maps.
Downloaded google maps are only for a limited amount of time: they expire, so plan accordingly
Stop using third-party travel booking agencies. That means Expedia, Hopper, and yes, even Skyscanner. If you never had to change travel plans or itineraries - awesome, great for you, but when you do these things, third-party travel agencies become a nightmare. That 10% that you might save going through that travel agency is not going to be worth it if you have to make any changes, it just becomes a headache. I'm not telling you not to use these things at all, they're really helpful for finding good deals. Go to Hopper, scan through where you can see the red, the yellow, the green, for what dates are most expensive. Go to that date range, find those dates that you want to fly and then go book them on the airline website.
If you can train yourself to sleep on the floor, you can sleep anywhere, you're less of a hassle to have when you stay at other people's houses and it makes it so much cheaper. Plus, if you have a long layover in an airport, you get a full night's rest and you wake up ready to go.
If you're traveling, especially internationally, do not use your debit card unless you absolutely have to. Now bring it with you in case you have to get money out of the ATM because that's a lot cheaper than getting a cash advance on a credit card, but whenever possible, use your credit card to make purchases because this is a lot safer. And your debit card holds money that you've already made. If something happens to this and somebody gets their hands on it, they're spending the money that you have already made. Now, a lot of banks will have a fraudulent system put in place, so if somebody gets their hands on it and start spending your money, they'll pay you back, but a credit card is a company that's just lending you their money, and then you're paying that back. So if something happens and somebody gets their hands on a debit card, they're gonna be spending your actual money and you're trying to get back your actual money. Whereas if they get the credit card, they're just gonna be spending the company's money, which is a lot less pressure on me.
That only works for Americans I guess. I live in Europe, my Debit card has a code just as a credit card does, and my credit card is not in debt so my money is on both things.
This tip is how you get basically free, upgraded seating every time you fly. Basically, when they're boarding the plane, wait until they call the last call until they come overhead and call the last call. Now, I recommend you waiting near where you're loading, so you're not like Starbucks when they're calling the last call, but wait until they call the last call, then board the plane. The reason you do this is that basically everybody's already gotten on the plane, so your ticket is pretty much irrelevant. As long as everybody's in their seats, you can just sit wherever you want. I would say 80% of the time I end up with a completely empty row because I get on last. Now one key to this, though, is sitting down confidently. Don't hesitate and look around and act like you don't know what you're doing. Just sit down in that empty row, unless it's an exit row, and act like it's your seat.
On more "last call", and I commit suicide.... Oh, and don't be an ass doing this. Pay for the seat you want.
If you're visiting a country where you shouldn't drink or brush your teeth with water, so you start using water bottles. It's easy to burn through water bottles, just by brushing your teeth, but let me show you how to make it last a little bit longer. Pop a hole in the top of the water bottle just like you did when you were in third grade. For this, you can use a pen or a flathead screwdriver. Then all you do is spray it like that and you use basically no water. If you're doing this while living in a vehicle, you do have to keep it vertical, so I keep mine in the back pouch of the seat. Plus, check out this pressure.
Have one cap with the hole for water-preserving spraying and another cap with no hole to store the bottles.
Don't travel with so many pairs of shoes. These things are bulky. And really, when you travel, you don't need them. There's no way you're gonna need all those pairs of shoes for three days. I promise. My side tip for you is also if you're traveling with more than one pair of shoes, wear the bulkier of the pairs on your feet when you're on the plane. That way, you have the most amount of room in your bag.
Google Maps has this dope save feature here in the middle. If I click mine, it pulls up all of the locations I travel to. Click create new lists, and then you got your own list to add all your places.
Get yourself a cable organizer. This is another thing I genuinely don't travel without. Yeah, I make videos, so I have a lot of cables, but even if I didn't, I would still pack this thing because it just makes your bag look like this (picture 1) instead of looking like this (picture2).
If you're working remotely while you travel or you just want a long day at the coffee shop with good conversation, most coffee shops will give you a discount if it's not free to get a refill, if you're staying in the house the whole time, and especially local coffee shops where the coffee is good.
Just wanted to say the same. A lot of these "tricks" only work in a few counties and are useless anywhere else.
Load More Replies...In Europe, please PLEASE ask the staff if it's okay to stay for a prolonged period of time without ordering every once in a while. A lot of coffeeshops don't appreciate you hogging space and wifi without at least ordering a coffee more than once. Also, refills are not free and you likely won't get a discount either if you're just going to take up space.
If you've paid a lot of money to travel abroad, I'd suggest not spending it all day in the coffee shop. Do that back home. Most places outside the US also don't offer free refills - I've certainly never seen it. But if you need a pit stop for toilets, water, etc consider: (i) just drinks at a cheap fast food place (ii) temples or religious buildings - even if you don't follow their beliefs, they're often just kind people (iii) language schools, especially if you have kids - its a building full of kids and people who like kids. They'll let you use the bathroom... (iv) really small cafes that look like they're for locals. Cheap drinks and if you treat them with respect they'll help you out.
In the Netherlands you'll have problems surviving an entire day in a coffeeshop.
Can you buy coffee in a coffeeshop in the Netherlands? Serious question.
Load More Replies...looks like you only travel in the US, how are you a travel hacker?
Ok at self service coffee places, but NOT at places where people work for tips. That table you are camping at is taking away money from the server. He/she needs turn over at that table that are going to tip for their meal and leave. Camping at a table for 3 or 4 hours can mean that person can feed their kids that day.
If you have a flask, fill it up before leaving your accomodation, If you run out, most restaurants will give you free hot water if you ask,. You might want to use a "white lie" and say it is for your baby's milk, make your own coffee, tea or hot chocolate. If you drink 10 to 15 strong coffees per day like me, it adds up to a lot of savings over 2 weeks. Find a bench in a park, or under a tree and make a coffee
There's one simple way to start getting better photos with your phone and it is: stop taking selfies like this (picture 1) and not because of your face, but because of the light. Now in this room, in specific, that corner that I just took the photo in, there's no light on my face, but just on the other side of this room is this huge window. And this is what the photo will look like if I took it over here (picture 2). Way better.
The only reason I still have the Starbucks app is this reason right here. If you open it and you click the Scan in pay, you'll get this little QR code, they'll scan it and if you're staying in Starbucks working, you can either get a free hot coffee, free ice coffee, or a free tea refill while you're in a store.
it was more like "look at me! I'm a travelling influencer." than a useful tip..
Load More Replies...Alternate title here was, "Captain Obvious Tells You Things Everybody Already Knows (...but with poor grammar)".
I don't think this traveller has ever been outside of the US, as these tips (aside from being very obvious things) will not work when in Europe. Also, if you're boarding a plane anywhere in the world outside of the US, you get designated seats and they'll let people board the plane accordingly (so people at the back of the plane board first). Most places in Europe you can't pay with creditcard at the register and if you expect free drinks while staying at a coffeeplace all day, you will be asked to leave.
Well, regarding his plane boarding thing, they really only check your tickets at the gate. So, if you get on last, you really can pick your seat.
Load More Replies...A lot of these are absolutely useless if you don't plan to travel around the USA. And I'm quite sure depending to what state you go, they won't even be useful there.
Less is more when packing for traveling. If you can fit it all in a small backpack that you can grab and go, you will relieve yourself of myriad problems. My big backpack was stolen in Italy and I only had my day bag after that: best thing that happened to me. I was light, mobile and didn't need to worry about my stuff. Continued for a year like that through Europe and Asia. I later met a guy who had been traveling for 20 years: all his stuff fit into a large canvas purse/sachel: two pairs of sock, tow pairs of undies, a sarong, a shirt, shorts, a few personal items. He made me feel really overburdened with my day bag.
Ιt depends on where and when you travel. If you go to Finland in the winter I don't think a backpack would be enough
Load More Replies...I really worry about anyone that found this useful. We are going backwards. This is for the 'don't iron while wearing generation'.
I've been travelling for much longer than this kid's been alive. I haven't died yet, so I think I'll just keep on doing my own thing.
His only valuable tip was regarding boarding late. You do risk not having space in the overhead bin, but you can definitely scam a whole row of empty seats out of it. I've flown internationally and domestically dozens and dozens of times, and the only time that your ticket is ever checked is when you board, and, very rarely, if somebody else disputes where you're sitting. I recommend taking the time to try to reserve a good seat that you want, but, if you you get screwed at the last minute by somebody taking a seat you hoped might be empty, yes, you can definitely just saunter into an empty seat, and nobody is going to call you out on it. In particular, flight attendants really don't care if you're sitting in an otherwise unoccupied seat, or if you ask them to let you switch. It really works just fine. The rest of what he says is pretty dumb.
Stupidest travel "hack" post I've ever read. Some pointless, unhygienic( sleeping on airport floors I'm looking at you), obnoxious and otherwise.. WHY??!!
Want real tips here you go 1.yes pack light only pack what you need/might need. This mean clothing and a couple back ups. Toiletries. Chargers n needed electronics. 2. Take photos of the place your at not yourself 3. Have a few necessities in your carry one in case of layovers or emergencies 4. Use trustworthy sites to book flights hotels (3rd party is ok just be careful who you use most are cheaper too n offer better deals) 5. Make sure you arent alone in unknown areas 6. Check for bedbugs before taking luggage too your room If you want others comment here same with questions. I travel a LOT Fun one Bonus: drink water only before flights (at airport) n use restroom before boarding. On flight sip at the complimentary water. Itll help prevent needing to use airplane bathrooms👍 (Also have a small pillow and or puzzle books/books to read on the plane kills time)
I do not care for what I perceive to be this individuals poor attitude and god-awful writing. YMMV.
it was more like "look at me! I'm a travelling influencer." than a useful tip..
Load More Replies...Alternate title here was, "Captain Obvious Tells You Things Everybody Already Knows (...but with poor grammar)".
I don't think this traveller has ever been outside of the US, as these tips (aside from being very obvious things) will not work when in Europe. Also, if you're boarding a plane anywhere in the world outside of the US, you get designated seats and they'll let people board the plane accordingly (so people at the back of the plane board first). Most places in Europe you can't pay with creditcard at the register and if you expect free drinks while staying at a coffeeplace all day, you will be asked to leave.
Well, regarding his plane boarding thing, they really only check your tickets at the gate. So, if you get on last, you really can pick your seat.
Load More Replies...A lot of these are absolutely useless if you don't plan to travel around the USA. And I'm quite sure depending to what state you go, they won't even be useful there.
Less is more when packing for traveling. If you can fit it all in a small backpack that you can grab and go, you will relieve yourself of myriad problems. My big backpack was stolen in Italy and I only had my day bag after that: best thing that happened to me. I was light, mobile and didn't need to worry about my stuff. Continued for a year like that through Europe and Asia. I later met a guy who had been traveling for 20 years: all his stuff fit into a large canvas purse/sachel: two pairs of sock, tow pairs of undies, a sarong, a shirt, shorts, a few personal items. He made me feel really overburdened with my day bag.
Ιt depends on where and when you travel. If you go to Finland in the winter I don't think a backpack would be enough
Load More Replies...I really worry about anyone that found this useful. We are going backwards. This is for the 'don't iron while wearing generation'.
I've been travelling for much longer than this kid's been alive. I haven't died yet, so I think I'll just keep on doing my own thing.
His only valuable tip was regarding boarding late. You do risk not having space in the overhead bin, but you can definitely scam a whole row of empty seats out of it. I've flown internationally and domestically dozens and dozens of times, and the only time that your ticket is ever checked is when you board, and, very rarely, if somebody else disputes where you're sitting. I recommend taking the time to try to reserve a good seat that you want, but, if you you get screwed at the last minute by somebody taking a seat you hoped might be empty, yes, you can definitely just saunter into an empty seat, and nobody is going to call you out on it. In particular, flight attendants really don't care if you're sitting in an otherwise unoccupied seat, or if you ask them to let you switch. It really works just fine. The rest of what he says is pretty dumb.
Stupidest travel "hack" post I've ever read. Some pointless, unhygienic( sleeping on airport floors I'm looking at you), obnoxious and otherwise.. WHY??!!
Want real tips here you go 1.yes pack light only pack what you need/might need. This mean clothing and a couple back ups. Toiletries. Chargers n needed electronics. 2. Take photos of the place your at not yourself 3. Have a few necessities in your carry one in case of layovers or emergencies 4. Use trustworthy sites to book flights hotels (3rd party is ok just be careful who you use most are cheaper too n offer better deals) 5. Make sure you arent alone in unknown areas 6. Check for bedbugs before taking luggage too your room If you want others comment here same with questions. I travel a LOT Fun one Bonus: drink water only before flights (at airport) n use restroom before boarding. On flight sip at the complimentary water. Itll help prevent needing to use airplane bathrooms👍 (Also have a small pillow and or puzzle books/books to read on the plane kills time)
I do not care for what I perceive to be this individuals poor attitude and god-awful writing. YMMV.