2023 has been the ultimate year of travel for me. I kicked off January with a trip to London and Paris, enjoyed a honeymoon to Amsterdam and Paris late June/early July and just booked a road trip adventure in Ireland with my mom. There’s been a lot of learning lessons along the way and wanted to share just a few beginner travel hacks:
Work with an Expert
I don’t think I would’ve been able to pull off any international travel without working with Maggie at Fly Lansing Travel. She’s incredibly knowledgeable, easy to work with and super responsive. She’s guided me on how to plan these trips and then takes care of everything.
I also paid for a customized Paris guide from Paris, Perfected which was also 100 percent worth it. I’m trying to take the guess work out and get someone who knows what they’re doing to help me so it’s one less thing I have to worry about!
Join Travel Facebook Groups
I’ve joined a Paris travel group and an Ireland travel tip group and the tips and tricks learned here helped guide me. I’ve booked tours through recommendations in these groups and most importantly, felt more prepared for specific trips thanks to reading everyone’s own experiences and advice. Everything from understanding tip culture and expectations in other countries to lunch recommendations to general etiquette that I just didn’t find on my own have been covered, and have helped me tremendously.
Pack Accordingly, and Pack Light
I’m only packing carry on luggage now and I make it work by doing extensive research on the weather and making sure to pack pieces that are equally comfortable as they are fashionable, and easy to mix and match. I end up packing sneakers, some sort of flat shoe that looks a little more sophisticated, neutral basics like grey sweaters and black cardigans, at least one hoodie, comfy pants including jeans and joggers! And I usually try to wear the heaviest items on the flight to save room in luggage.
I’m also planning to pack some specific items that I need in particular for my next trip including a pair of hiking shoes (this trip will be a lot more nature focused than the first two trips!) I’m also on the hunt for a waterproof winter jacket that will work well for hiking the cliffs of Moher and surviving the winter weather horseback.
Get a Priority Pass
I’ve never experienced lounge access in an airport until the London trip when I took advantage of the free priority pass I had with the Chase Reserve Sapphire card. This car has a $500 annual fee attached but you get $300 back in travel credit plus some free benefits like Priority Pass that I have used quite a bit and enjoyed. I’m probably way behind most people with travel hacks like this, but it’s all new for me! The fact that I can sit in a comfy space with free snacks and a quiet bathroom has been a game changer for travel.
My Amazon Must-Haves
I’ve done a full blog post here on some affordable purchases that have made traveling so much easier for me! Everything from anti nausea to tech buys are covered!
