Do you buy travel insurance before you travel?

Short answer is, no. My credit card covers my travel mishaps including lost luggage, flight delays and other possible issues during a vacation. 

 

However, sometimes I HAVE to purchase insurance as part of the journey. When it is mandatory, sometimes you are offered insurance through whatever platform you are booking with. These might be familiar names like Allianz, VisitorsCoverage, or Ekta. These tools can be quite valuable if you overdo it on the spicy peppers and get food poisoning, or if you twist an ankle climbing some Mayan ruins. They’ll cover all sorts of things, and it’s worth at least a look before you travel.

 

If you need help with flight disruptions, AirHelp is a good tool to use.

 

How do you find such cheap cruises?

Easy, I use search platforms like CruiseDirect or VacationsToGo for finding the best deals. I often don’t search by destination, but instead by price. Then, I narrow it down to see what fits my schedule. If the schedule and price work, I decide based on other factors like, have I been to the ports before? How much will it cost me to get to the disembarkation/embarkation ports? I look at the whole picture, not just the cruise price. And I always remember to round up for onboard incidentals like tips and alcohol. Learn more about my process here.

 

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How do you entertain your kid on a long flight so well!?

Magic, snacks and the perfect activity bag. I’ve gotten pretty darn good at this. Minimize the use of multiple-item toys (this goes for snacks too), and focus on mess-free, clutter-free entertainment (that isn’t a device). I actually got so into this that I created my own series of travel journals for kids on Amazon! Here is an example of one of my books, Scavenger Hunt Italy. Each book educates kids on their destination in a totally fun and absorbing way, while fostering creativity. This is the key, I think - keep your kids' little brains in creative mode - not drone out mode. Here’s some more ideas for toddler aged kids to keep busy on flights, too.

 

Do you seriously pack a week in an underseat bag? What is the secret!?

I do this more often than not, because I am a cheapskate when it comes to bag fees. I see it as a challenge, in fact! I’ve actually got loads of good intel on this at the links below, but basically I measure all my favorite personal sized (underseat) bags before a trip and determine which one fits the airline requirements and the method of travel. I determine if I need wheels, a backpack, a duffel, whatever. Next comes the packing cubes! These are truly a game changer. I pack lightweight, layered materials and carry a coat. I add accessories to change up an outfit and I typically bring an expandable bag for souvenirs along the way. It’s a tricky process but 100% doable with the right mindset and patience. Learn more at these links:

 

Travel Only with a Purse: Personal Item Packing Hacks and Swaps

 

Understanding How To Pack A Personal Bag For An International Flight

 

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Do you book your flights first or your hotels first?

I love to browse and dream before I book. I get on Booking.com and start booking hotels immediately for the dates I know I want to travel. I will literally book (and often cancel) dozens of hotels for one trip, eventually weeding out the ones I don’t want.

 

Why do I do this? It’s so that I can get a good price when I see it and lock it in. Also, I travel with a party of 3, which is hard to put in one room in many cases. European fire codes typically don’t allow so many people in one room, so when I see a good deal on a 3 person room in Europe, I’m all over it.

 

Once I have nailed down my hotels with a start and end date I book my flights. I always book starting with a Google Flights search.

 

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How early do you arrive before a flight?

My rule of thumb post-COVID era is 1.5 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an International flight, but I have TSA pre-check, which speeds up the security process.

 

In most cases on the other side of security I am visiting a Priority Pass lounge for snacks, free drinks and pre-flight meals. It’s included with my husband’s credit card, so I do mooch off of him, but you can also purchase your own annual pass to the lounges across the world. It’s honestly not a bad deal at all if you travel enough. Learn more about the Priority Pass lounge options.

 

Should I get local currency for my destination?

I always do. I pick up what I need a couple weeks in advance of my trip from my local bank. I effectively “order” the money and it gets sent out to the bank a few days later. Bring a few hundred dollars worth for each trip, especially if credit cards are widely accepted. For more remote countries, consider getting more, and in small bills. 

 

Consult my links for more information:

 

Do I Need Cash Abroad? Your Currency Questions Explained

 

Advice on Smarter Money Management When You Travel

 

Do I need a foreign adapter to visit X country?

I have you covered there too. Here’s the info: Last Minute Checklist for International Travel Including Types of Plug Adapters Needed

 

What phone plan do you use when you travel?

For me, we have always used an International Cell Phone Plan like with T-Mobile, or more recently we switched to Google Fi. Trust me, I totally get the years of searching for wi-fi in every place I went, and it was really limiting. I always felt I was missing out on things. 

 

In the event you can’t get a global coverage plan with your phone company, you do have other options, like eSIMs. Frankly I didn’t know what these were until I started working with Airalo a couple years ago. It’s like the old school sim card you had to pop into your phone (which I used to heavily make fun of), but now they’ve gone digital. Getting an eSIM seems like a super cheap and easy solution, and of the people and travel bloggers I have surveyed, they all love working with Airalo. Here’s a link so you can check them out for yourselves, or you can also browse my other suggestions here:

 

5 Easy and Cheap Ways to Make International Calls When You Travel

 

Is it safe to rent a car abroad? Do I need an International Driver’s License?

I answer all this and more in my write up:

 

Do's and Don'ts: First Hand Tips for Renting a Car Abroad

 

It’s important to recognize your skills as a driver before you decide to drive abroad. In many cases only manual transmission vehicles are offered. In other situations, you need a decent working knowledge of roundabouts, foreign road signs, etc. But don’t let that scare you! My guide shares plenty of useful tips.

 

As for booking a rental car, I ALWAYS start by searching on Expedia. Always! It offers me the best prices and sends me out to the best booking sites including Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, Avis and more. Brand status is typically also honored, and can often beat your status prices. Even if I don’t rent through Expedia in the end, it is where I always start for price comparisons. It is almost always the winner though!

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How do you even begin to research a trip?

Honestly, I start by looking up hotels! I said above, I love to browse hotels and dream. Then, once I have hotels and destinations in mind, I start to connect the dots, like on a road trip map. I'll do the majority of my research on Tripadvisor. This includes cross-referencing my hotel choices (I can also compare pricing with different platforms on Tripadvisor) and I'll look at the hotel photos and reviews. Next, I'll look up things to do on Tripadvisor, followed eventually by the fine details like where to eat!​

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Check back frequently for more FAQs being added all the time, and if you don’t find what you are looking for, use the ‘Search’ bar to type in your query. If you STILL haven’t found it, shoot me an email through my contact form.