Traveling Tips

I’ve traveled a good amount of times, and these are some tips that are essential and will make your experience better!

Save; you might want to buy a souvenir because your parents usually buy you some souvenirs, but not everything you want, so you should keep money or debit cards if it’s a country with different currencies. The best payment method is Apple Pay since many countries are going contactless.

Reading books is great for vacation, now this may sound silly, but there are moments when you’re just waiting for everyone to get ready, and you may or may not have Wi-Fi. Sitting around and looking at our hotel view will get boring after a while, so you should try to make your time go faster.

Learn how to use Google Maps; if you’re a teenager and most likely grew up with technology, your family will look to you for the nearest restaurant or how to get back to the hotel. Take time to learn to navigate it now, so you’re teaching yourself on vacation.

Going through airport security is the most stressful part of traveling, no matter how many times I go, I’m lost. These are some tips that make the process a bit easier. Clothing choices matter when you’re going to security; avoid zip-up sweaters, coats, or belts, keep them in your suitcase, or don’t bring them at all, being rushed to remove them is a headache. You’re taking off your shoes unless you have a TSA pass, so don’t wear anything that doesn’t include socks or is difficult to put on. ONLY have your phone in your pocket because sometimes you forget to clear everything else, and when the scanner activates, you will be patted down. Easier not to wear your glasses because verification typically requires glasses off, and continually removing them becomes redundant. The virtual boarding pass is much more convenient, but there are some faulty errors with it — keep your brightness up, sometimes it can’t register, and disable your Apple Pay temporarily, I’ve had multiple instances where I’m scanning the phone, and it thinks it’s a payment and will open up your wallet automatically. Don’t delete your boarding pass until you’ve left the airport of your destination, shops are required to show your boarding pass.

Research; some countries are known for pickpocketing in tourist areas, especially in Europe — don’t be another person in a long line at the Apple Store. Don’t leave your phone out in the open or unattended, keep all your items on you. Purchase locks on your suitcases, there are situations where airline workers or hotel staff will take your belongings as well, so make sure if you’re leaving expensive items that it’s locked away and safe.