Welcome to my resource page of my many random travel learnings throughout the years (in no particular order). This is an ongoing list that I will continuously add to as I learn new things (sometimes the hard way). Hope it comes in handy for all your travels!
Health
Travel and Fitness
Fitness and travel go hand-in-hand. Many of the best and most rewarding destinations require at least some physical strength or endurance. Use your travel dreams as a motivation to keep fit and eat healthy. Without your health you’re canceling yourself out from the majority of the planet. Some great apps for workouts on the go include
ColdFX
I’m a big fan of ColdFX even when I’m not feeling weak or sick. As enjoyable as traveling is, it puts a strain on your immune system, especially if you’re in close quarters like in a plane or bus. My routine is to take half the daily dose starting two days before departure and the same throughout the trip (increasing when I feel something coming on).
Insurance
A must must must! Also, spend the extra few dollars to get the premium coverage. For price comparisons, use a website like Kanetix.
Money
Ebay your way to the world
Buying and selling your travel gear on Ebay is a great way to reduce costs. This is especially the case for less frequent travelers who rather get rid of their equipment after each trip, than letting it collect dust in the closet.
Need some extra cash to go on your next trip? Dig through your closets and basements and sell anything and everything that you haven’t used in the past year. You would be surprised how much ‘stuff’ you’ll be able to sell and how much it will go for.
Befriend a Travel Agent ASAP
With the proliferation of online travel websites, people have moved away from using travel agents for their travel booking needs. Partially, there is a misconception that travel agents are more expensive (because they make commission or have less buying power compared to large sites like Expedia). Unfortunately, this couldn’t be furtherest from the truth. Using and especially befriending a travel agent can save you quite a bit of money, especially on higher mark-up items like pre-packaged tours (10%-20%). Flights and hotel bookings have low markups (if any at all), but travel agents will appreciate these ‘easy sales’ that help them meet their sales targets. And if all else fails, there’s nothing stopping you from booking online.
Living the Remote Work Lifestyle
If there’s one thing that Tim Ferris’ The 4-Hour Workweek has taught us, it’s that working while discovering the world is getting easier and easier with the advancement of technology and a shift to digital relationships. Although anyone can take advantage of this lifestyle, the biggest advantage is given to those that are digital savvy (specifically coders). If you are looking for a career that will allow you to truly live the four hour workweek, web, mobile, and software development is a great place to be. Just as long as you have the skills, all you need is an internet connection and a team of remote developers.
Travel Check-List
– Before you leave on each trip, be sure to backup your laptop and phone to an external hard drive.
– Get an unlocked 3G/4G wifi mobile hotspot device that will allow you to swap SIM cards for each country you visit. Internet everywhere!!
– Alcohol wipes and hand sanitizer.
– Small first-aid kit (because we all trip and fall)
– Mole skins for blisters
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