20 Best Travel Tips You Should Consider Before Leaving Out

We are always asked for our best travel advice and that is that when we tell people that we are travel bloggers, the inevitable questions that follow (in this exact order) are:
- What’s your favorite place?
- What’s your best travel advice?
- How do you make money?
So, it’s time to answer the questions on this list and we’ll take the easy one: what are our best travel tips.
If you have a superior travel tip, please add it to the comments below. We love listening to other people’s tips and tricks!
Our Top 20 Travel Tips
It’s 2 hours before
Speaking once you’re in your destiny.
Depending on the time difference between your destination and your home, this can be very easy or really difficult to accomplish. But if you manage to fulfill it, it will make a big difference in your trip. Forget what time your watch says, just make sure you have a 2-hour head start.
Most tourists do this:
- have breakfast around 9 a.m.
- leave the hotel at 10 a.m.
- arrive at the main attractions at 11:00 a.m.
- have lunch at 1:00 p.m.
- have dinner at 8 p.m., etc.
This may be natural, but it means that you will be constantly trapped in queues and surrounded by crowds.
But if you have 2 hours advantage over the others, you will have everything just for you and your partner (of course). ?
That’s why our first advice is:
Be the first in the breakfast buffet and you will have the freshest food and the best service.
Be first in line at the main attraction and you won’t have to wait for hours.
You’ll see everything without crowds of tourists, which is especially good if you like to take pictures like us. You won’t have to wait to get a table in the restaurants and you can get the best table in the place.
The only time this advice doesn’t work is if you’re going to a nightclub: nobody wants to be the first person in a nightclub!
We know it’s hard to get up early but it’s worth it when you’re the first to enjoy everything at your destination and still have time in the afternoon to relax.
Eat where the locals eat
Among the best travel tips you can give this is key.
Go to the markets, ask people where they eat rich and cheap and believe us when we tell you that no one knows this better than a local.
There’s an application called Spotted By Locals, which shows you the city guides created by locals. The only bad thing is that it’s pay-per-view.
Seen by locals, it offers suggestions of things to do and places to eat and drink according to local recommendations. The restaurant and bar recommendations are the best, as they recommend places you would never have found otherwise. They often include new openings and hidden gems not normally found as tourists.
Places like TripAdvisor can often recommend expensive and touristy restaurants, and if it appears anywhere on Lonely Planet, it quickly becomes expensive and touristy with the increase in customers.
Find your flights with Skyscanner
We always find our flights using Skyscanner, as it offers so many options on one screen.
We like the way you can search for flights for a whole month so you can easily find the cheapest days.
You can also include nearby airports, as it is often cheaper to fly to an airport on the outskirts of the city.
You can never take enough pictures
Did we tell you we love pictures? So this tip should be among our best travel tips.
We know that many people feel that travelers miss special moments because they are busy taking pictures, but we really don’t agree. Obviously, if your camera is stuck to your face for a whole trip, you might miss it!
But the truth is there’s nothing better than looking back at the photos a few years later and reliving all those precious memories. Photos help you remember every moment and we believe that the more photos there are, the better, just don’t forget to download the camera and enjoy the moment as well.
For us to take pictures so that we can enjoy a moment and photograph it at the same time is a double stroke of pleasure.
This is not only for photos but also for videos!
Use what you would use at home
Many people worry about what to wear and what to pack for certain destinations, but the truth is that you can normally use exactly what you would use at home.
Just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you need to dress like a traveler. You don’t need to wear quick-drying pants or walking boots or clothing made of sweat-absorbing materials, just wear whatever makes you feel comfortable.
It’s true that travel able clothing is ideal but if you have a tight budget use what you have and you’re done. Enjoy the trip! and note this advice as one of the best travel tips.
Invest in quality travel equipment
This is something we did from the beginning and for which we saved quite a bit before we started our trip with no return date.
By “travel gear” we mean anything from your suitcase or backpack to your 100ml toilet bottles to the camera.
Even if you’re not a frequent traveler, it’s better to buy a suitcase that will last you 10 years than to buy a new suitcase every year. It may be difficult to deliver the cash, but it will save you money in the long run.
Don’t be afraid to go on tours
In these years doing all kinds of trips one of our best travel tips is not to be afraid to do tours.
Many people avoid tours while traveling, as they don’t want to get stuck with a huge group following a giant umbrella. These visits are boring, slow, expensive and generally feel like a school trip.
But not all tours are like that!
We almost always try to do a free walking tour while traveling, as it’s a quick way to familiarize yourself with a new destination, you learn a lot about it and discover some hidden gems.
Free walking tours are a great way to get your bearings in a new city, and if you’re traveling alone, it’s great to meet new people.
In our case they have been our allies in all our trip through Europe to know much more the cities and locate us as locals.
There are many types of tours that you can make from shopping tours to gastronomic tours where you try a small dish of the best restaurants in the city. The tours can also be an inexpensive and easy way to explore the area around a city as you won’t need to rent a car or worry about getting lost.
Many short trips are better than 1 or 2 long ones.
This advice goes to all those who do not see themselves giving up their work to travel the world as we do, and it is something that we also did in their time.
If you lack annual vacations but still want to travel a lot, it is much better to take many weekends and holidays instead of the traditional “big vacations”.
We all love the big holidays, but when you only have one per year, it’s a long wait until the next one comes back. (We know this from our own experience)
Fill your year with many short trips so you always have something to look forward to and constant breaks from daily stresses.
We found this study in the Daily Mail which shows that frequent weekend breaks are more relaxing than a great holiday.
If it says so in the Daily Mail, then it must be true!
Paying extra for small luxuries pays off
The small luxuries could not be missing among our best travel tips.
When we travel, we like affordable luxuries and for us that means splashing in some areas and saving in others, such as low-budget flights but luxury hotels.
But there are some small luxuries worth paying for.
The small luxuries will be different for everyone, but for us they are things like a good couple massage at a famous spa, a show in Las Vegas or staying at the Hard Rock Hotel in Panama.
Don’t rule out what’s around the corner
We all want to travel to distant lands and exotic destinations, but don’t discard what’s in your backyard. Once you start researching, you’ll probably find that there are hundreds of amazing options close to home.
You’ll save money on transportation, you’ll save time, you’ll have so much fun, and it’ll be easier to book spontaneous trips when you’re not far away.
Don’t rule out traveling within your own country either, we value our Bolivia very much and that’s why before our trip we make sure to get to know as much as possible of the heart of the south.
Stay close to the business people
Whether you’re at the airport, taking a train or a cup of coffee, stay with business travelers instead of vacationers.
Business travelers know what they’re doing:
- pass quickly through security
- order quickly
- board a plane quickly and are usually very quiet.
- Families and tourists are noisy, indecisive, slow and often don’t know what to do or where to go.
This advice applies especially to airport security!
You’ll appreciate having this advice among your best travel tips ?
Lightweight packaging
We are always talking about the importance of packing light, as it makes travelling much simpler.
You’ll save money on checked luggage, you’ll save time at the airport as you don’t need to arrive so early or wait for your luggage on the carousel, it’s easier to move and you’re less likely to lose something.
You also realize that you don’t need as many things as you think!
It took us a long time to learn the art of light packing, but once we learn we will never travel with so many things again.
Recommendation: Make a list of what to pack to make sure you don’t overdo it, but don’t forget anything either.
Remember there are more good people than bad
As you travel, you will meet people from all walks of life with different backgrounds:
- background
- cultures
- religions.
- We are all very different, but we are all human and share the same core values.
We help people in danger (even if we don’t speak the same language), we take care of children, we are kind to older people and respectful of everyone.
Never be afraid to ask for help, as someone will help you. Don’t be afraid to smile and greet or chat with random people. There are bad people in the world, but there are more millions of good people than bad.
Keep a record of your travels
Whether it’s a thick diary, hundreds of photos, a quick line in a notepad or an Instagram feed full of photos and legends, keep track of your travels.
When you’re doing amazing things, you think you’ll remember it all your life, but it’s amazing how quickly you forget it. You’ll be grateful 10 years from now.
Remember that traveling is tiring
We have no idea why going to the airport and sitting on a plane for 4 hours is exhausting, but it is.
Whether you’re sitting on a:
- car
- train
- bus
- aeroplane
- getting to your destination is exhausting.
Keep this in mind when planning your trip and take some downtime to relax when you arrive.
For us the first trip around Europe was very exhausting because of the amount of transport taken.
Make an itinerary
When you’re on vacation you don’t want to follow a schedule so we’re not talking about a minute-by-minute itinerary here.
But make an approximate itinerary of the main things you want to do each day to make sure you see all the highlights. There’s nothing worse than going home and feeling like you got lost and didn’t do everything you wanted to do.
Don’t spend money on souvenirs
This is something that cost us a lot to learn since we were fanatics of collecting images and key rings of the places we visited, but believe us your pocket will thank it.
This learning had to be one of our best travel tips because if you’re like us you’re sure to buy a souvenir that will sit on your desk or shelf for about a year and bother you to clean it.
It looked nice in that authentic market, but once you got home you realized that it had a “made in China” sticker (and you were in the U.S.) and it doesn’t match anything else in your home.
You could give the souvenir to someone as a gift but, let’s be honest, it will only go through the same process and for sure it will be kept and forgotten in some drawer.
If you want to decorate your home with memories of your travels, take pictures and put them on the walls: they look much better than snow globes and Russian dolls.
Hide cash in different places
Cash is king all over the world. To cover your ass in an emergency, be sure to hide some bills in different places.
We recommend at least a couple hundred dollars in value. If you lose your wallet, your card stops working, or the ATMs run out of cash, you’ll be glad you did.
These places can be:
- socks
- shoe inserts
- a toiletry bag
- around the frame of a backpack
- even sewn behind a patch in your purse.
Trust your instinct
This applies to everything from feeling like you’re in the wrong row at the airport to not feeling comfortable sitting next to that creepy guy on the train.
Always trust your instincts and write this down among the best travel tips you’ve ever received.
Sometimes your instincts are wrong, but it’s not worth the risk, especially when it comes to ordering food from a menu where you can’t read a word.
There’s always a way
Nothing is impossible. If you have trouble going somewhere or doing something, don’t give up. You just haven’t found the best solution or you haven’t found the right person. Don’t listen to those who say it can’t be done.
Perseverance is worth it. We cannot tell you how many times we have been told that what we want to do is not possible and yet here we are traveling with no return date and more than 22 countries already traveled. ?
Only to prove later that it is possible and we are succeeding.
Conclusions
Take note of our best travel tips and discover your own, never forget to say the magic words that open the doors to any destination: hello, please and thank you.
Enjoy the trip and don’t stress too much, let things flow.
We could make this list of infinite tips but tell us in the comments: What travel advice would you add to this article?
…5 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN HAITI

To say that not so long ago, Haiti was nicknamed the Pearl of the West Indies. And then dictatorships, corruption, anarchy, repeated hurricanes and finally the terrible earthquake of 2010 brought the country to its knees. So yes, Haiti has problems, but this should not prevent people from coming to visit an island that is still largely preserved, an authentic Caribbean island.
To say that not so long ago, Haiti was nicknamed the Pearl of the West Indies. There were countless people staying there. Bill Clinton, who was not yet president, invited Hillary to their honeymoon in 1975. She thought it was so romantic. And then dictatorships, corruption, anarchy, repeated hurricanes and finally the terrible earthquake of 2010 brought the country to its knees.
Since then, every time we talk about Haiti, it has been to say that it is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is hard for Haitians who are proud to live in the first black republic in history to emerge from the only successful slave revolution. So, yes, Haiti has problems, but this should not prevent people from coming to visit an island that is still largely preserved, an authentic Caribbean island.
1- TASTE THE ATMOSPHERE OF COCKFIGHTING
A huge mango tree shades the old gag where cockfights will be fought. In the stands, the atmosphere is boiling. The master of ceremonies collects the bettors’ bottles. Do not misunderstand. He doesn’t care about portable containers that can hold a drink, he’s more interested in Haitian bills denominated in gourds. Two breeders are preparing their champions. Sharpening the dewclaws with shards of Prestige beer, plucking the neck and then anointing it with lemon juice to desensitize the skin. The two gladiators can now hit each other. It’s going to bleed. Another game very popular with Haitians is the lottery or borlette. Banks (counters) in borlette line the streets of cities and countryside.
2- SURVEY THE CHAOTIC DISTRICTS OF PORT-AU-PRINCE
Chaos and Port-au-Prince are two words that go well together. It’s hard to get around. Near the iron market, it is necessary to avoid the frenetic flow of portefaixes, itinerant merchants, and onlookers, escape the tap-tap, these colorful collective taxis with bright colors and enjoying the maxims such as “Thank you Jesus” or “Trust in God”. Chaos, but not K-O. In the evening, the capital is swaying at the Hotel Oloffson, the temple of voodoo rock dear to Richard A. Morse and his group RAM or at the Quartier Latin (Pétionville), a pretty lair for a snack, a drink and good music… By order of President Michel Martelly, the slum has been repainted in a pastel shade. Poverty is probably less painful in color. “Papisela, please.” To understand Creole, it is said that it must be read aloud.
3- DISCOVER THE ARTISTIC VILLAGE OF NOAILLES
In Croix-des-Bouquets, the artistic village of Noailles is undoubtedly the Haitian capital of cut iron craftsmen. There are hundreds of them cutting and hammering sheet metal. Which part will you bring back?
4- VISIT THE WYNNE ECOLOGICAL FARM IN KENSCOFF
Kenscoff, a commune perched at an altitude of 1500 m above Port-au-Prince A magnificent lookout point to contemplate the neighboring mountains with their closely razed slopes, gulped by rain. As elsewhere on the island, the forest has been ratified to provide firewood. In 1956, Victor Wynne, an American civil engineer, bought parcels of land to start a farm. Its objective: to develop and promote sustainable soil management methods to combat erosion. He set up terraced cultivation, introduced South American plants and preserved local species threatened with extinction. His farm quickly transformed into a sanctuary of nature whose exuberance contrasts with the surrounding scenery. When she died, Jane Wynn, her daughter took over the torch. The very seventy-year-old fisherman only left her mountain for a short time to study sociology and a hint of plant biology. Everything else she learned from her father. “The young people come to tell us: we don’t understand the environment, explain to us. “At Jane’s, they knocked at the right door.
5- CROSS THE SAINT-MARC CANAL ON THE CÔTE DES ARCADINS
Go to the island of Gonâve. The cobalt blue sea, the sun, the turquoise blue sea, the sun…, delicate fringes of white foam and an enchanting shoreline. A boat under construction supported by a malignant scaffolding. Workers armed with patience and some DIY tools, including hooks, struggle on the wooden frame. That’s not the children’s problem.
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Guide to Port-au-Prince

Port-au-Prince, you’re gonna love it.
Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, attracts thousands of visitors each year because of its beautiful tropical landscape, colorful buildings and charismatic culture in which voodoo, which combines Christian foundations with the roots of African tribal religions, is a well-established ingredient.
The activity in Port-au-Prince is frenetic, both day and night. It is, in this sense, a city reminiscent of Bangkok, New Delhi or Istanbul, but with that incomparable Caribbean nuance of the area. The National Palace, the square of the Mars Fields that surrounds it, the Defly House, the cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the gingerbread houses and its curious markets are some of its most outstanding tourist attractions.
Largely destroyed by the earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince in 2010, the city has managed to recover and presents itself to visitors as an original, surprising, exciting and always inspiring destination.
What to do in Port-au-Prince
1. Admire the National Haitian Pantheon Museum
If you want to meet Haitian revolutionaries and discover local cultural traditions, the Haitian National Pantheon Museum is unrivalled. Externally, it consists of a garden of abstract sculptures including an ornamental swimming pool. Inside are the largest collections of historical artifacts in the Caribbean, including an impressive anchor almost 4 meters high, used in the famous Santa Maria, the flagship of Christopher Columbus, which landed on the northern coast of Haiti. You can also admire crowns of the ancient kings and emperors of the country, as well as the silver gun used by King Henry I of Haiti to commit suicide in 1820.
2. Touring the White House in Haiti
The ruins of the National Palace, an elegant building that was once the official residence of Haiti’s president, lie in the middle of the Plaza de los Campos de Marte. Designed in 1912 by Haitian architect Georges Baussan, it is an excellent example of neoclassical style, including Ionic columns and three domes. Plans for its reconstruction were announced in 2017.
3. Evoking what was the cathedral of Port-au-Prince
Currently, you can only visit the ruins of this beautiful temple that was severely affected by the 2010 earthquake. However, it is still visited by many tourists, because its surroundings are full of historic beauty and attractive buildings.
4. Conquer Fort Jacques
Fort Jacques is a national park located in a pine forest. It is three quarters of an hour’s drive from Port-au-Prince and offers breathtaking views of Haiti. Built shortly after Haiti’s independence in 1804, this stone fort dominates the city and port. Next to the structures and canyons pointing to the promenade, there are walking routes, some of which lead to the nearby ruins of Fort Alexandre. Since it is a couple of kilometres away, this visit can be done on foot or by renting a scooter.
5. Meet in the Plaza de los Campos de Marte
This large, central plaza, home to the Haitian National Pantheon Museum and the former National Palace, enjoys an attractive scene of cafes and street vendors with cheap items. Several parks and the city’s main boulevards converge here. It is surrounded by trees, houses the imposing equestrian statue of Henry I and is a popular meeting point for locals and visitors, especially in the afternoon and evening.
When to visit Port-au-Prince
Without a doubt, the best time to visit Port-au-Prince is between December and March, when there is little rain and the weather is less humid. The average temperature is 26.6 °C. January is traditionally the least rainy month.
How to get to Port-au-Prince
By plane
Hugo Chavez (CAP) and Toussaint Louverture (PAP) international airports are the two main entry points for most travelers to Port-au-Prince. They are located, respectively, in the north and west of the city. To get there, you can take a minibus whose price will vary between G10 and G1000, depending on your ability to negotiate with the driver.
By car
Follow route 46 from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and you will reach Port-au-Prince in less than six hours.
By Bus
Caribe Tours, Capital Coach Line and Terra Bus offer buses from other parts of Haiti to international locations in the Dominican Republic. One-way tickets that include border fares cost around G 4100.
Where to stay in Port-au-Prince
The Oloffson Hotel is an old historic mansion and marine base that has become one of the most popular tourist hotels. Another good choice is The Inn at Villa Bambou, whose manicured gardens and breathtaking sea views lift the spirit. As a reference, keep in mind that the prices for a night in a double room usually vary between the G 3430.99 of the Socar Hotel and the G 11 939.84 of the Karibe Hotel.
Interesting neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince
1. Pétion-Ville is a rich neighborhood, located in the hills, which stands out for its large number of expatriates, bars and restaurants.
2. Fields of Mars is a green area that attracts many visitors, who walk between gardens and observe some of the ruins produced by the 2010 earthquake.
3. La Croix-des-Bouquets is a western region, especially popular because it is home to many local artists and markets where they sell their creations.
Getting around Port-au-Prince
Public transport
The most common way to travel around the city are shared taps or taxis, brightly coloured buses whose standard fare is G 10.
Taxi
Taxi fares start at G 30. A stroll through the interior of Port-au-Prince usually costs G 500. At night, however, it is best not to take them, as fares rise and can become dangerous.
Car
Avis, Budget and Hertz car rental companies are based at the airport or in the centre of Port-au-Prince. Prices for a rental car start at G 2000 per day.
Cost of Living in Port-au-Prince
Commercial Streets
The Iron Market and Village Artistique de Noailles are the two main open-air markets in Port-au-Prince. Delmas 2000 is a more traditional shopping store that sells toys, appliances and home décor.
Groceries and others
Giant Supermarket and Caribbean Supermarket are the two main grocery stores available in the Haitian capital. A dozen eggs cost G 230; a 1.5-liter bottle of water, G 6101.65; and a 50 centiliter beer, G 633.94.
Where to Eat in Port-au-Prince
The Coin Vert serves Haitian home-cooked food, which includes a selection of lamb, beef and chicken dishes, accompanied by local cold beer. A typical meal costs G 300, although certain menus can reach G 1800. The fast snacks of Café Cho (sandwiches, coffees, appetizers and pastries) and the Creole cuisine of La Sirene Bar and Le p’tit Creux are also good alternatives.
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