My 50 Best Travel Tips After 9 Years

Traveling The World

Updated:October 22, 2019 by Matthew Karsten

How To
Travel The World: My Best Travel Tips

Travel Tips Guide

It’s now been 9 years since I sold everything and left the United States to travel the world. These
are the best travel tips to help you save money and have a great trip.

Curious about how to travel the world? I’ve been traveling around the world for 9 years now.
And I have many useful travel tips to share from my journey.

My traveling started when I quit my job and took a one-way flight from Miami to Guatemala,
leaping nervously into the unknown and leaving much of my old life behind while embarking on
an epic adventure around the world.

The experience has been a wild ride — traveling to over 50 countries, meeting countless
people, and I’ve learned a ton since I first left!

Having adventures like hitchhiking across America, camping in Greenland, trekking through
Afghanistan and much more — the world has been an amazing teacher.
I eventually turned writing about my journey into a successful travel blog, and continue to travel
on a regular basis as part of my dream job.

But to celebrate my travelversary (travel anniversary) each year, I update this guide with a
collection of my best travel tips to help you save money, stay safe, and inspire others to get out
there and explore our world.

And feel free to share your own favorite travel tips in the comments at the end!

Table of Contents

My Best Travel Tips: The Ultimate Guide

Top Travel Tips from a

Professional Traveler

Making Travel Easy & Fun

1: Patience Is Important

Don’t sweat the stuff you can’t control. Life is much too short to be angry & annoyed all the
time. Did you miss your bus? No worries, there will be another one.

ATMs out of money? Great! Take an unplanned road trip over to the next town and explore.
Sometimes freakouts happen regardless. Just take a deep breath and remind yourself that it
could be worse.

2: Wake Up Early To Avoid Crowds

Rise before sunrise to have the best attractions all to yourself while avoiding large tourist
crowds. It’s also a magical time for photos due to soft diffused light, and it’s usually easier to
interact with locals getting ready for their day.

Want those postcard Instagram travel shots? You need to get out there before everyone else
shows up. Sketchy areas are less dangerous in the morning too. Honest hardworking people wake
up early; touts, scammers, and criminals sleep in…

3: Observe Daily Life Around You

If you really want to get a feel for the pulse of a place, I recommend spending a few hours sitting
in a park or on a busy street corner by yourself just watching day to day life happen in front of
you.

Slow down your train of thought and pay close attention to the details around you. The smells,
the colors, human interactions, and sounds. It’s a kind of meditation — and you’ll see stuff you
never noticed before.

READ MORE: Favorite Quotes About Travel

Relax, and Enjoy Yourself

4: Laugh At Yourself Sometimes

You will definitely look like a fool many times when traveling to new places. Rather than get
embarrassed, laugh at yourself. Don’t be afraid to screw up, and don’t take life so seriously.
Relax!

One time a whole bus full of Guatemalans laughed with glee when I forced the bus driver to stop
so I could urgently pee on the side of the road. Returning to the bus and laughing with them gave
me new friends for the rest of the journey!

5: Slow Down To Enjoy Your Trip

Please don’t try to cram 6 countries into 6 weeks of travel. All the good stuff happens when you
really take the time to explore. You’ll learn about activities that aren’t in your guidebook and
meet people who are eager to show you around.

I can honestly say that NONE of my best travel experiences happened within the first few days
of arriving somewhere. Spend more time in fewer places for maximum enjoyment. I promise
you’ll have a much better time!

6: Volunteer Occasionally

Make it a point to volunteer some of your time for worthwhile projects when traveling. Not only
is it a very rewarding experience, but you’ll often learn more about the country and its people
while also making new friends.

There’s a great site called Grassroots Volunteering where you can search for highly
recommended volunteer opportunities around the world. Just be very careful with voluntourism
and do your research, as there are many scams out there too.

READ MORE: 40 Travel Jobs To Work Overseas

Travel Tip: Take Lots of Photos!

7: Take Lots Of Epic Travel Photos

Pay attention to this travel tip. You may only see these places & meet these people once in your
lifetime. Remember them forever with plenty of photos! Don’t worry about looking like a
“tourist”. Great photos are the ultimate souvenirs.

They don’t cost anything, they’re easy to share, and they don’t take up space in your luggage.
Take plenty of photos of yourself too, they’ll be more important than your postcard shots later.
Just remember that once you get your shot, it’s important to get out from behind the lens and
actually enjoy the view.
8: Don’t Get Discouraged

Nothing is impossible. If you are having trouble going somewhere or doing something, don’t
give up. You just haven’t found the best solution or met the right person yet. Don’t listen to those
who say it can’t be done.

Perseverance pays off. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told what I want to do isn’t
possible, only to prove it wrong later when I don’t listen and try anyway. What’s the worst that
can happen? Failing isn’t the end of the world!

9: Break Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Challenge yourself to try things that normally give you anxiety. The more you do this, the more
that anxiety will fade away. Not a hiker? Go on more hikes. Have trouble talking to strangers?
Talk to everyone. Scared of weird food? Eat the weirdest thing you can find.

The reason this works so well while traveling is because everything is already so different,
what’s one more new/uncomfortable experience? No one knows who you are out here, you can
totally reinvent yourself.

READ MORE: Useful Travel Photography Tips

Travel Tip: Keep an Open Mind

10: Keep An Open Mind

Don’t judge the lifestyles or customs of others if different from your own. Listen to opinions you
don’t agree with. It’s arrogant to assume your views are correct and other people are wrong.
Practice empathy and put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
Embrace different possibilities, opinions, religions, customs, and interests. Ask questions. You
don’t have to agree with everyone, but you may be surprised what you’ll learn from the people
you meet during your travels.

11: Get Lost On Purpose

If you want to see the parts of town where real people live & work, you need to go visit them.
The best way to do this is on foot — without knowing exactly where you’re going. Write down
the name of your hotel so you can catch a taxi back if needed, then just pick a direction and start
walking.

Don’t worry too much about stumbling into dangerous neighborhoods either, as locals will
generally warn you before you get that far. And you never know what amazing things you’ll find
around the next bend…

Travel Tips to Help You Plan

Travel Planning Tips

12: Be Flexible & Don’t Over Plan

I cringe when readers ask how many days they should spend in a particular country or city. The
truth is I have no idea what you’ll enjoy or who you’ll meet. I thought I’d rocket through
Nicaragua in a week or two, but ended up living there for 4 months because I liked it so much.

My advice is to pick a starting point, 1 or 2 must-do activities, and an ending point (or not). Then
just let the universe determine the rest. Be flexible and open to change your plans if you learn
about something along the way!

13: Learn A Few Foreign Words

There’s no need to be fluent in order to visit a foreign country. However, taking the time to learn
a few phrases in the local language can improve your travel experience. Hello, please, thank you,
nice to meet you, excuse me, sorry, and “can I take your portrait” are some of my favorites.

Not being able to communicate while traveling can be frustrating, but remember that this is your
problem, not theirs. Raising your voice doesn’t magically help Mexican’s understand English.
Try hand signals, images on your phone, or Google Translate!

14: Take An Extra Credit & ATM Card

Having your bank card details stolen can suck, but especially if it happens when you’re visiting a
foreign country. If your card gets frozen, stolen, or the ATM machine eats it, you’re screwed!
Unless you happen to carry backup cards…

I always pack a 2nd bank account/debit card plus a backup credit card, which you keep separate
from your wallet. This way, if your wallet gets stolen, or your ATM card gets declined, you are
still able to have access to money during your travels.

Be Prepared for a Great Trip

15: Write Down The Address Of Your Hotel

Sometimes, after a long flight playing games on your smartphone, your battery could end up
dead. And if you didn’t write down the address of where you’re staying, how will you tell/show
the taxi driver?

As ridiculous as it sounds, I’ve done this a few times and it’s awkward. Falling asleep or
forgetting to charge my phone. I’d also recommend writing down your hotel room number
somewhere after you check in.

16: Read A Book About The Country

Before you travel to a new country, I recommend reading a good book about it, to learn more
about history and culture before you arrive. This could be as simple as a Lonely Planet
guidebook, or maybe a popular novel by a local author.

Your on-the-ground travel experience will feel much more fulfilling if you already know some
details about the area you’re visiting. Don’t worry, you’ll still discover plenty of new stuff, but
you’ll have a foundation to start on.

17: Splurge A Bit While Traveling

I’m a huge fan of budget travel, as it allows you to travel longer and experience more of the
fascinating world we live in rather than waste your hard-earned money on stuff you don’t need.
In fact you can travel many places for $50 a day with no problems.

That said, living on a shoestring budget gets old after a while. It’s nice (and healthy) to go over
your budget occasionally. Book a few days at a nice hotel, eat out at a fancy restaurant or spend a
wild night on the town. Enjoy yourself!

Travel Tips to Help You

Pack Smarter

Useful Travel Packing Tips

18: Pack Ear Plugs & An Eye Mask

This should actually be #1 on the list. I love my earplugs! Muffle the sounds of crying babies,
drunk Australians, barking dogs, honking horns, dormitory sex, natural gas salesmen, and more.
A traveler’s best friend. These are my favorite earplugs for comfort & effectiveness.
A comfortable eyemask is another wonderful investment to cure jet-lag. If you’re looking for
other gift ideas for travelers, make sure to check out my ultimate travel gift guide for those
travelers in your life (or, just a treat for yourself!)

19: Take A Scarf Or Sarong With You

I happen to use a shemagh, but sarongs also work great. This simple piece of cotton cloth is one
of my most useful travel accessories with many different practical applications.

It’s great for sun protection, a makeshift towel, carrying stuff around, an eye mask, a wrap for
conservative countries, and much more. I can’t tell you how many times a scarf has come in
handy for me on my travels around the world.

20: Bring Your Own Water Bottle

If you haven’t noticed, humans are destroying the planet with plastic waste. Constantly buying
bottled water is incredibly bad for the environment! But tap water isn’t always safe everywhere
either…

My solution to both save money and help save the environment is to pack a filtered water bottle
on all my adventures. This way you can re-use the same bottle thousands of times, and never pay
for expensive, wasteful bottled water again!

Hang Out with Locals!

21: Pack Less Stuff In Your Backpack

You don’t need 1/2 the gear you think you do to travel anywhere. We’ve all done it. It’s a right
of passage for travelers to slowly become better at packing less. My first backpack was 70 liters
packed full, my current bag is only 40 liters.
As a full-time vagabond, everything I own fits in my travel backpack. If you’re not sure about
packing something, you don’t need it. It’s also possible to buy most things at your destination
country if you discover you need them.

22: Carry Spare Passport Photos

Obtaining visas for certain countries can be a real pain, and some can require multiple passport
sized photos. Have you ever tried to find a place that shoots passport photos in Tajikistan? It’s
not easy!

Before you leave your home country, get a bunch of passports sized photos (10?) printed up and
bring them with you, just in case. It will save you a lot of time and hassle in the long-run.

23: Bring An Extra Camera Battery

There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of a perfect photo opportunity, but powerless to
capture it because of a dead camera battery! When I first started traveling, this happened to me
more times than I’d like to admit. 

These days I don’t go anywhere without a spare battery for my camera, charged up and ready for
action. That way you’re always ready for epic travel photography situations like cotton-candy
sunsets, wildlife encounters, or postcard-worthy street scenes.

READ MORE: My Complete Travel Gear Guide

Travel Tips to Save You Money

Money Saving Travel Tips

24: Book The Cheapest Flights
Flying can often be one of the most expensive parts of an international trip. But with practice,
you can learn how to book super cheap flights and save tons of money. For example, by booking
2-3 months in advance.

Sign up for cheap ticket alerts, keep an eye on mistake fares, and take a look at alternative
airports that might be near your final destination. Read my free guide to finding cheap flights and
learn all the latest tricks!

25: Go On Free Walking Tours

One great money saving travel tip is to join free city walking tours when you first arrive. These
tours allow you to orient yourself in an unfamiliar city, scope out some good photography
locations to return to later, learn facts about the city, and maybe make some new friends too.

Just keep in mind that the tours are free because the guide is expecting a tip at the end, so don’t
be too cheap and make sure to thank them for their time with $5. It’s a wonderful way to save
some money while traveling!

Travel Tip: Eat Local Food

26: Eat Local Food Frequently

Taste a bit of everything when you travel, especially if you don’t know what it is. Ask local
people for recommendations. Eat street food from vendors with big lines out front. Eating street
food is an awesome way to save money while you travel!

I’ve only been very sick twice in 9 years of constant travel. Don’t be scared of the food. Hey,
there’s nothing wrong with popping into McDonalds if you’re feeling homesick, but why fly
across the world to eat the same stuff you can get at home? Live a little!

27: Avoid Expensive Hotels & Resorts

You don’t need to stay at expensive hotels while traveling. In fact, you can save hundreds, or
even thousands of dollars on your trip by staying in more budget-friendly accommodation, like
hostels, local guesthouses, or Couchsurfing — an online community of people who share their
couches with strangers for free.

Sleeping in backpacker hostels can also be beneficial to your wallet, as renting a dormitory bed
costs a fraction of what a hotel would. $30 a night versus $100 a night really adds up! Plus it’s a
wonderful way to meet fellow travelers.

READ MORE: How To Choose A Travel Camera

Travel Tip: Don’t Be

Afraid

Helpful Travel Safety Tips

28: Don’t Be Afraid Of Other Countries

The news media loves to report on tourists getting killed or kidnapped. However, the world is not
nearly as dangerous as the media makes it out to be. Keep an eye out for sketchy situations but
don’t let that be the focus of your whole trip.

Use common sense and you’ll be ok. Understand that “if it bleeds it leads”. Most people in
foreign countries are friendly, trustworthy, generous, and willing to help you out. This goes for
women too. I realize I’m not a woman, but I’ve met plenty of experienced female travelers who
agree.

29: Always Get Travel Insurance

No one ever thinks they’ll get sick, injured, or robbed while traveling. But it happens when you
least expect it. During my travels, I’ve sliced up my head on a volcano, contracted Dengue fever,
and lost my laptop to thieves.

With travel insurance you don’t have to worry about huge hospital bills or stolen gear when it
eventually happens. For all kinds of trips ranging from a weekend up to a few months long, I
always recommend picking up a travel insurance policy with World Nomads.

READ MORE: 25 Important Travel Safety Tips

Are You Ready

for New Experiences?

30: Stash Extra Cash For Emergencies

To cover yourself in an emergency, make sure to stash some extra cash in a few different places.
I recommend at least a couple hundred dollars worth. If you lose your wallet, your card stops
working, or the ATMs run out of money, you’ll be glad you did.

Some of my favorite hiding spots include dirty socks, under shoe inserts, in a toiletry bag, around
the frame of a backpack, or even sewn behind a patch on your bag.

31: Back Up Your Files & Photos!

When my laptop computer was stolen in Panama, having most of my important documents and
photos backed up saved my butt. I’ve met many travelers who’ve had a hard drive fail on them,
losing thousands of priceless travel photos.
In addition to photos, keep digital and physical copies of your passport, driver’s license, birth
certificate, health insurance card, serial numbers, and important phone numbers ready for an
emergency. Backup your files & photos on an external hard drive as well as online with software
like Backblaze.

32: Treat Your Body Well

Travel can throw your body out of whack. When you’re moving from place to place it’s difficult
to maintain a workout routine, and many of us slack off. Or we don’t sleep enough. Or we eat too
many cupcakes. I’m guilty of not flossing my teeth.

Remember to be nice to your body. Get enough sleep, stay hydrated, eat healthily, use sunscreen,
and exercise often (check out this body weight routine, no gym required!). And, yes, flossing too
I guess.

Travel Tip: Get Off the

Beaten Path

Solo Travel Tips

33: Travel By Yourself Occasionally

While traveling with friends is a lot of fun, solo travel is when you’ll REALLY learn about
yourself and what you’re made of. Traveling solo forces you to figure things out on your own,
meet new people, and tackle unfamiliar situations. 

You’re also free to pursue the activities and experiences that you truly want to have while
traveling, with no objections or limitations from others holding you back. It’s a wonderful way to
learn new life skills and increase your confidence.

34: Get Off The Beaten Path

I know it’s cliché, but you should still attempt it. Seek out interesting and unusual places that
don’t see much tourism while travelling (or traveling). Many memorable travel experiences have
happened to me in areas that are not easy to visit.

By all means, travel to popular sites, but don’t rule out other locations just because they’re not on
the tourist trail. Although please realize that just because an area is remote or dangerous doesn’t
necessarily mean you’ll have a life-changing experience.

35: Stay In Touch With Loved Ones

Remember to call your family & friends from time to time. Maybe surprise them and go old-
school by sending a postcard (it’s in the mail, Mom!). Travel isn’t lonely, far from it. You
constantly meet other people.

But traveling solo means many of those new relationships are fleeting. Someone is always
coming or going. So maintaining a strong connection with the people who know you best back
home is important for your mental health.

Hanging Out with

some Dudes in the West Bank

36: Make Friends With Locals

Make it a point to avoid other travelers from time to time and start conversations with local
people. One of my best travel tips is to make eye contact and smile more. Maybe stop to ask for
directions. This is a fast way to make new friends.

Also, check out websites like MeetUp.com or CouchSurfing.org and similar good travel websites
to see what kinds of activities are going on nearby, and join one. Take the time to hang out with
locals who actually live in the country you’re visiting. People enrich your travels more than
sights do. 

37: Listen To Podcasts For Long Trips

Podcasts are awesome. It’s like your own personal radio station full of shows and music you
always want to listen to. I never thought I’d actually look forward to a 10-hour bus ride. But with
podcasts, it’s possible (well, as long as the seats are comfortable)!

Time will fly by as you listen to incredible storytelling, fun music, or fascinating interviews with
experts. Here are some of my favorite podcasts that I play regularly: This American Life, The
Moth, Tim Ferriss Show, Radiolab, and Smart Passive Income.

38: Say Yes Often

Be impulsive and say yes when someone randomly invites you to meet their family, try a new
activity, or explore a place you didn’t know existed. You never know what you’re missing unless
you say yes!

It’s these unexpected and unplanned situations that add spice to your travels and always turn into
the best stories later. Accept the kindness of strangers when you travel — you’ll have plenty of
opportunities to do so.

G
et Out There & Travel More!
Bonus Travel Tip: Travel More!
If there’s one thing I’ve noticed over the past 9 years, it’s that many people back home love to
tell me how lucky I am while making excuses why they can’t travel.

It’s too expensive. They can’t get time off work. Who will feed their pets?

When I suggest solutions to these “problems”, they still don’t take action. Why? Because they’re
often hiding behind the true reason: they’re scared.

Unfortunately most people who wait to travel the world never do.

You don’t need to sell all your worldly possessions and become a homeless vagabond like I did.
Just get out there more than you do now. Start with a weekend in a different state. Then maybe
try a week in the country next door.

The new car, remodeling project, and the latest iPhone can wait. If you truly want to travel more,
you can make it happen. Career breaks are possible. You have friends who would love to watch
your pets.

It’s a big, beautiful, exciting, and fascinating world out there.

Explore some of it now, rather than later. ★

How Am I Able To Travel So Much?

Check out my popular budget travel resources page for even more travel tips on saving money,
location independence, working while traveling, gear guides, and improving your photography.
More Travel Planning Resources

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack,
camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my
tips for how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local
& international rental companies.
Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35
discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect
yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry
travel insurance.

https://expertvagabond.com/best-travel-tips/