TRAVEL 101 GUIDE
WHAT TO BRING
Welcome to my travel 101 guide, where I share all the tips and tricks I’ve used over the years while traveling to 31 countries in 10 years!
These are the most important items I like to bring with me while I am traveling as they have become my top “go-to” on my gear list!
IN MY CARRY ON
My travel journal. This is the exact same travel journal I kept with me on all my travels around the world and it has been by far one of the most important things I brought with me on all my trips! https://amzn.to/3XSdFMF
My backpack, from Fjallraven, is where I stash my journal, snacks, pens, documents, books, and more! https://amzn.to/3Ni3XhE
A book. I like to borrow travel books from the library before traveling, to do more research on where to go, but if you’re looking for a book to check out that is about adventure and travel, my newest addition, Traveling in Wonder, is available now! https://amzn.to/3TYLhHE
Money belt. In some places where I feel safer with having my important documents on me, I opt for this: https://amzn.to/3TUAD4E
PROTIP: If you are traveling and have long hair, it is the easiest to not create knots in your hair by sectioning your hair into two braids!
MY AIRPLANE OUTFIT
My “Airplane Outfit” Part I: The long sleeve thermal black shirt! I regularly have an airport outfit that I wear everytime I travel. It’s a “tried and true” outfit that I feel comfortable in and can travel globally while still carrying everything I need! https://amzn.to/3zKNvn1
Airplane Outfit Part II: The VEST! Although this isn’t the exact one that I use (mine was a hand-me-down), this fleece vest is perfect for travel. I normally keep my important documents close to me, headphones, and phone as well! https://amzn.to/4dEGcv1
Airplane Outfit Part III: The leggings: Maybe it’s because I’m a 90’s baby but I love my cozy leggings. https://amzn.to/3zWBJWw
Airplane Outfit Part IIII: The shoes: Time and time again, I’ve gone back and forth between which types of shoes to wear while traveling but these I’ve found to be extremely comfortable while also being stylish! (bye bye 2010’s black no-see socks!) https://amzn.to/3ZTi3xm
PROTIP: If you’re traveling long haul and going to be walking a lot through your layovers, it’s always a good idea to pack extra socks and underwear in your carry on so if you need to refresh, you can easily do so in the restroom during your layover.
MY TECH GEAR
My camera, a Sony a6400, which is what I use for all my shots and videos while I am traveling! https://amzn.to/4gRBJrB
My vlogging lens, Sigma 16mm, one of the best lenses! It gives great angles while also being clear and crisp. https://amzn.to/3zEgiJZ
A microphone to fit with both my camera! Although this isn’t the exact one I use, RODE is a great company: https://amzn.to/3ZOKg8F
A good gimbal for your phone. I just started to use one of these (I know, I’m very late to the game) and already I’ve seen a huge difference in the steadiness. When I look back on my past content, I cringe at how shaky my hands were from holding it up, but now with this gimbal - I feel a massive improvement! https://amzn.to/3zEgoRR
If vlogging and using the camera, a different type of gimbal needs to be used, which is the one I use here: https://amzn.to/4eSmAVb The only thing I will mention is if you are new to vlogging and carrying around a gimbal, it can be HEAVY and HARD to set up! But also to take into account that no matter what gimbal you use to hold up your camera, they are all going to be heavy and will take some practice with getting used to balancing your camera / microphone / set up! It can be certainly tricky at times but really nice once you learn!
A camera bag. This is very similar to the one I use and it is so efficient for helping carry my items! https://amzn.to/3TYpdwI
HOW TO BOOK
The easiest way to start booking and figure out where to go and when to go is by researching the top deals while also looking into what you want to do and where you want to go!
LETS GET STARTED!
I make a list of all the places that I want to travel to, as well as a list of the places I’ve been. If you’re curious about making lists of places you’ve been to download the Been app. Whenever I touch down in a new country, I always update my Been app as is tradition!
Once you have your list of where you are thinking of going, you can get out places like Kayak and Hopper to look for the cheapest flights (or the fastest / least amount of layover… etc.)
As I’m filtering through and dreaming of my future trip, I love to look at TripAdvisor to see what are the top places to go, things to do, and where to visit! It is extremely helpful with knowing how to plan my trip accordingly!
One of my most FAVORITE companies to book with is my trusty recommendation of Hostelworld - I cannot tell you how many incredible and amazing memories have come from booking through this company. I would love to go into specifics on the best (and worst) hostels I’ve stayed in over the years for my next blog post!
If hostels aren’t your thing, I’ve also purchased bookings through Booking.com - which lets filter desirable places to stay by cost, efficientcy to the city, rating, and more!
ONCE YOU’RE THERE
Another MAJOR company I’ve consistently purchased through over that past ten years is through Viator which has been a huge blessing. I have been on a ton of excursions through this incredible company and highly recommend it as well! In other countries, it is more common to use another tour operator called Klook which I also enjoy booking through!
While booking flights, hotels, and excursions, I focus my thoughts on transportation and how to get to and from. One of the main transportation outlets I use while traveling abroad in Europe is Rail Europe - an extremely helpful way to get around while also traveling sustainably!
If you are not traveling in Europe or not looking to take the train, another go-to is GetTransfer which helps those who are traveling connect to their destinations, which also includes car rentals!
POST TRIP
In the midst of traveling, if you come across any hiccups while flying, one of the companies I’ve used in the past has been AirHelp - as it’s been such a great rescource to receiving the money your entitled to receive after mishaps that happen from the airlines!
After your incredible trip, you can do more research on the next places you want to visit by checking out GetYourGuide - where researched trips are discovered from travel bloggers!
I hope you’ve enjoyed these travel tips and tricks! It felt like memory lane as I researched each one! I wish you luck on your next journey!
