Brett and Bernii

We have been asked many times over the past 18 months for travel advice, especially when people find out how long we have been travelling. We finally thought that we have enough experience to provide meaningful advice beyond what you can get from repetitive YouTube videos or ChatGPT. So, here it is:

1. Pack light (not exactly groundbreaking advice, but we can’t stress it enough). Unless your name is Max, you are probably packing too much stuff. Don’t pack for the ‘just in case’. There are shops everywhere, if it turns out that you really need a jacket, you can just buy one. The same thing goes with toiletries and general medication (bring your essential medication with you). You don’t always need to travel with carry-on only, but you really don’t want to be lugging a heavy suitcase with you everywhere you go.
   
2. Take a dry bag to store your dirty clothes to prevent your worn socks from smelling out your entire bag. It can also be used to do a small load of laundry as you travel, just add some water and soap or a small satchel of laundry powder.
   
3. Book directly with hotels and airlines wherever possible. You can often get better deals or booking conditions (eg. Free cancellation, free breakfast, late check-out, free upgrades), just by joining their free loyalty program. Also, if things go wrong, you aren’t left at the mercy of a middleman.
   
4. Sort out arrival transportation. Know how you are going to get from the arrival point (ie. Airport or train station) to your hotel before you arrive. If you plan to take a Taxi, have an idea of the expected cost beforehand. Negotiate with the driver before you agree to the trip. If the offered price is too expensive,.walk away. You don’t want your first experience of a new place to be overpaying for transportation.
   
5. Sort out internet connectivity. We recommend using Airalo eSIMs. Just make sure that your phone supports an eSIM first. To do this, dial *#06#. If an EID (Embedded Identity Document) number appears on your screen, your phone is eSIM-compatible. Don’t use data roaming with your home mobile provider as it is almost always significantly more expensive than an eSIM. You can get a discount on your first Airalo eSIM by using code BRETT9343 when you sign up or at checkout. Visit: https://airalo.go.link/inLVR
   
6. Get some local currency. Bring your home currency and exchange it after you arrive. Avoid using airport exchange counters if possible, as they often won’t provide a good exchange rate. If you need local cash as soon as you arrive, just exchange a small amount to get you to the hotel, then find an exchange counter that provides a good rate. Understand which ATMs are the best for international cards and know the withdrawal limits and fees involved. Always pay in the local currency of the country you are in. Never use dynamic currency conversation at ATMs or card terminals. Don’t exchange or withdraw more than you need, as you don’t want to take it home with you.
   
7. Take multiple debit and credit cards with you. We have had to cancel multiple cards due to unauthorised transactions or having them swallowed by ATMs (not all banks will return them). Have a backup plan. For Australian credit cards, we use ING Orange One Rewards Platinum and Commonwealth Bank Smart Awards. For Australian debit cards, we use ING Orange Everyday and CommBank Everyday. We also have Wise cards (which seem popular with other travellers), however we haven’t used them as they just don’t meet our needs. We don’t recommend prepaid travel money cards at all. Please note, YMMV (please do your own research). And don’t forget to notify the banks that you are travelling. Also, don’t take all of your cards out with you all of the time. All eggs in one basket…
   
8. Sort out travel insurance. We use SafetyWing Essential Nomad Insurance. It is the best value for money for our needs, and it also has an adventure sports add-on which covers us for some higher risk activities. Again, YMMV. Use our referral link to save on your first policy.
   
9. Make sure you understand entry requirements for the countries you are visiting, and ensure that you use the official sites for visas or electronic travel authorisations. Scam sites are very common. Be prepared when passing through border control. Know how long you are spending in the country, where you arrived from, which hotel you are staying at, and where you are going next. Have an onward ticket available to show the agent if required.
   
10. Download offline maps using Google Maps (or similar) before you arrive, so you can have an idea of directions, especially if you don’t have mobile service.
    
11. Support ethical tourism. Don’t give money to beggars. Don’t buy things off children or give them money (it reinforces a cycle of poverty and discourages education). Don’t support people or organisations who exploit animals for profit (eg. Elephant rides, photos with animals). Instead, support organisations who provide ethical tourism. Donate to organisations who support the less privileged, animal welfare and environmental sustainability.
    
12. Don’t use hotel safes or lockboxes for storing your precious things. I’ve known more people who have left their cash and passports behind than have had them stolen from their hotel room. If you must use the hotel safe, put a shoe in with your things so you don’t forget them when you check-out.
    
13. Take a photo of important things, such as the bus/van number plate when on a group tour so you can easily find it again when leaving a tourist stop. Also, take a photo of the hotel (or hotel business card) at check-in. You don’t want to get separated from your friends and not remember where you are staying, Kevin.
    
14. Try to learn how to say ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ (at a minimum) in the local language, it goes a long way. Use Google Translate (or a similar app) and download offline languages. Don’t expect that everyone will speak English. Also familiarise yourself with local cultural customs.
    
15. Take Google reviews with a grain of salt. A large number of positive reviews could be because the venue provides incentives for reviews. Lots of staff members mentioned by name is a red flag. We once stayed at a hotel that offered an early check-in in exchange for a 5-star review mentioning the staff member by name (that review was quickly deleted). If it looks like a tourist trap, it probably is. If there is a queue to get in, it’s probably not worth it. If it’s in the Michelin guide, or your favourite influencer has featured it, it will probably have a queue.
    
16. Pay a bit extra for convenience. This one is personal preference, but we will always prefer to pay a bit more for a direct flight, or a flight that departs or arrives at a convenient time. We also prioritise the location when booking accommodation. You don’t want to end up spending the cash you saved on taxis just to get home each night.
    
17. Can I drink the tap water? As a general rule, if the hotel provides bottled water in the room, it is best to avoid drinking the tap water.
    
18. Avoid eating at airports. Take snacks for the plane with you. The most expensive beer I have ever had was at an airport. The most expensive McDonald’s Cheeseburger I refused to purchase was also at an Airport (AU$24 at Istanbul).
    
19. Understand the exchange rate. Use an app such as XE Currency Converter. You don’t want to find out that the McDonald’s Cheeseburger you just bought actually cost you AU$24. Know before you buy.
    
20. Sign up for a VPN service. While their security claims are often overstated, they can be handy for streaming content that is not available in the country you are visiting. That’s how we watch the cricket and rugby league while we travel. We use SurfShark VPN. Use our referral code to get your first 3 months for free: https://surfshark.club/friend/AYgnvdVq
    
21. Use WhatsApp. If you’re not already on WhatsApp, download it and sign-up. It’s used by almost everyone overseas.
    
22. Be alert to booking scams. If a representative from your hotel reaches out to you on WhatsApp and asks for payment, ignore it and contact the hotel directly. Legitimate booking platforms and hotels will never ask you to finalise or verify payment details through instant messaging apps.
    
23. Be alert to scams in general. The friendly stranger who offers to help you find your hotel, or the closest metro station, may have an ulterior motive. Be wary of pick-pockets. You don’t need to carry a money belt, just be aware of your surroundings and don’t flash cash or expensive things.
    

Finally, accept that things will go wrong. Be flexible. It is all part of the adventure! Always be respectful of others and enjoy your trip.