Some people are born savvy travellers. They are street-smart and know how to be prepared in every situation. However, others learn from their experiences.

My travel savviness was also gradual — born out of missed flights and countless tiny errors. From what to carry while travelling to how to budget travel in India, I slowly learned it all.

I remember when I left home — after quitting my corporate career out of frustration — with a one-way ticket to Bhutan, I had no idea what to expect. My face clearly spoke of an inexperienced traveller self. But after a few years of nomadism, I have learned a lot about travelling, particularly solo travelling.

So the basis of my experiences, if I were to counsel others in reaching them their travel ninja potential, these are the 40 travel tips to becoming a savvy traveller.

My Top 40 Travel Tips

1. Book a flight only 2 to 4 months in advance. Because that’s when flight carriers start fluctuating the prices. Take advantage!
2. Search for flights in incognito mode. This allows you to hide your browsing history and disable flight booking websites from tracking your cookies, thus saving you from a temporary price hike.
3. Travel overnight whenever you can. Book overnight buses/trains and save yourself the hotel money for that night.
4. Carry earplugs. Because snorers are everywhere and you need to sleep.
5. Skip the towel. And rather take a long sardine cloth. It takes up less space in your bag and is multi-functional.
6. Always have an extra USB charger. To make sure you don’t run out of batteries.
7. Avoid the money belt. Unless you want to tell everyone you’re a tourist and invite them to try touts and rip you off.
8. Pack a flashlight. Other than the flashlight on your phone.
9. Carry a book. Because reading while travelling is a mind-invigorating experience.
10. Carry a light rain jacket. To save yourself from light showers and breeze.
11. Eat a vitamin C tablet every day. Or rely on another source of vitamin C to keep your immune system strong.
12. Eat street food. To save some money, and learn about local food. You’re anyway taking your daily dose of Vitamin C tabs, aren’t you?
13. Wear sunscreen if it’s too hot. Too much exposure to the sun isn’t good for the skin.
14. Travel solo at least once. You will learn a lot about yourself and how to become independent.
15. Take photos. And build memories.
16. Befriend locals. Local people are the living encyclopedia of their town/city, and use their knowledge to travel more efficiently.
17. Be respectful of local cultures. Keep your cool when someone doesn’t get your way.
18. Use a navigation map. I use Google Apps to make sure I don’t get lost in a new city.
19. But don’t be afraid to get purposefully lost. It always helps to know a city and its culture better.
20. Carry emergency cash. Because emergencies happen, you need to secure your ass in every situation.
21. Learn a few phrases in the native language of your destination. It’s a great way to make locals feel comfortable and start a conversation.
22. Be open to strangers. If you won’t try to speak to others, you’re going to be a sad, grumpy traveller. Make friends, and learn and enjoy more!
23. Avoid taxis. They consume most of your travel budget.
24. Try hitchhiking. If you do not find any public transport, give hitchhiking a try. It’s not as risky as you may think. And you never know, you might just find yourself a good friend in a new country.
25. Get city attraction cards. If you’re travelling in Europe or any other country where tourism is highly regulated, buy their city card. They’re always a good bargain, especially if you’re going to use a lot of public transport and visit many museums and other attractions.
26. Take free walking tours. Many cities (again, in countries where tourism is highly regulated) offer free city tours. Use them to know more about the places.
27. Use booking.com for hotel reservations if you’re not sure about your trip. They offer zero advance payment bookings, and a free cancellation before a few days of your arrival – meaning you don’t lose a penny if your plan changes.
28. Never buy a paid itinerary. They are stupid, expensive, and often take you to the beaten path. Avoid them!
29. Never change your currency at the airport. Because that’s where you’ll get the worse exchange rates.
30. Use free internet at airports/train stations/restaurants/hostels. And save yourself some data.
31. Carry a pair of slippers. Because you never know when you may need them. Unexpected dirty toilets are everywhere.
32. Always carry a basic first-aid kit. Especially a lot of band-aids. Because accidents can happen anytime, and you must be prepared.
33. Do not let travelling spoil your daily schedule. If you’re into yoga or training, do not let travelling stop you from doing it. Find a way to keep a balance between travelling and living.
34. Don’t over-plan. Travelling is not about seeing places and ticking them off a list. It’s about learning new things and understanding new cultures. Let your days unfold naturally. Don’t over-plan.
35. Travel slow. Because travelling is a soul-searching experience, don’t rush too much. Slow travelling moreover saves you money.
36. Carry an extra copy of your passport and essential documents. Also, don’t forget to e-mail a copy to yourself.
37. Always carry a padlock. And while travelling in Asia, use your own lock rather than the one given by your guest house.
38. Mark your luggage so it stands out. Unless you want to accidentally take someone else’s luggage or have someone run off with yours.
39. Pack Light. Carrying too much makes travelling hard. And you can always shop if you really need something.
40. And last but not least… Don’t Panic. Be patient. Things will work out in the end. 

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