Tricks of the Trail

Table of Contents

  • Medical tips

  • Water tips

  • Sun protection tips

  • General tips

  • Pickpocket tips

  • Packing tips

  • Airline packing tips

  • Solo female traveler tips

Medical Tips

  • It’s very common to get sick or dehydrated while traveling so bring over-the-counter pain meds, anti diarrheal medication, chewable antacids, allergy medication, motion sickness meds, electrolyte packets, and a small topical first aid kit.

  • Always locate pharmacies when you reach your destination; you’ll likely need to use it. Be prepared to show the pharmacist what you need if they don’t speak the same language.

  • Research your destination and whether or not you can drink the tap water.

Water Tips

  • If you are staying in a place where you can’t drink tap water, don’t even use tap water to brush your teeth. To save on drinking water, use mouthwash to wet the brush and brush/rinse with that instead. Bring a collapsible water bottle with you.

Sun Protection Tips

  • Bring a packable hat for sun protection. We recommend the Melin brand.

  • Hats and facial sunscreen are recommended for sun protection on your face. The Andalou Naturals SPF 18 Ultra Sheer Daily Defense Facial Lotion is a light facial sunscreen that doesn’t feel greasy. For those who wear makeup, note that it layers well with it.

  • For your body, opt for reef-safe sunscreen if you plan to be in any natural body of water. You can also wear what’s called a “sun shirt”, which is a very thin long sleeve shirt that is often sold by athletic brands. We wear these to avoid feeling greasy from sunscreen. REI has affordable and highly rated sun shirts called the Sahara Shade Hoodie.

General Tips

  • Remember to prioritize doing laundry at your stay so that most of your clothes are clean when you head to your next destination. Pack a clothesline because you never know when you will need to dry your clothes. It’s more often than you expect.

  • If you feel the aches and pains from long flights or exploring, bring a small massage machine with you. We recommend the Bob and Brad brand because it was created by two physical therapists.

  • Bring an eReader in case you have down time during your trip. You never know when you will have to stay in your hotel room, whether due to a huge storm or feeling suddenly ill.

  • In tourist-heavy areas (especially places where cruise ships may dock), be prepared to pack a picnic. When a city suddenly gets overrun with tourists, it can be hard to find open tables at restaurants.

  • In tourist-heavy areas, spend time exploring early in the morning to avoid crowds and lines.

  • Prioritize staying in neighborhoods that are safe and accessible, but less-touristy.

  • Always research your destination’s local laws, religious customs, and dress codes, especially for women.

  • Research the local language and learn to speak a few basic, common phrases. People will appreciate it.

  • Be prepared to use the local currency. Don’t exchange your currency at the airport; you will lose a large amount of money through terrible exchange rates and hidden fees.

  • To improve your overall well-being, bring a massage machine for post-flight soreness. Also bring a travel bidet for obvious reasons.

Pickpocket Tips

  • Research the likelihood of pickpockets in your city. Invest in zipper clips but also move your backpack or bag to the front of your body. You can wear a cross-body hip pack in the front so you can keep your eyes on your bag. Pickpockets use pens to open your bag, but they can also slice your bag open with a sharp instrument. If your destination is particularly known for pickpockets, it might be worth investing in a hard shell case.

  • Keep your passport in your luggage during your stay, not on your person while walking around.

  • Dress like a local, not like a tourist. This can deter pickpockets. For example, in New York City, it’s recommended to dress in black.

Packing Tips

  • Keep your sunglasses in a hard case that can hook onto your backpack to save space.

  • Use a stuff sack to store dirty laundry. Or use it for stuffing items quickly if you have to rush to your next destination, flight, or train. A collapsible neck pillow can also function as a stuff sack.

  • Use a packable backpack for grocery shopping abroad. You can also use it for packing picnics or collecting souvenirs when exploring.

  • Use contact lens containers for a compact way to store liquids and skincare items.

  • We wear collapsible hip packs (cross-body style) almost every day, whether we’re abroad or not. We like the hands-free freedom it provides. It’s also helpful to have a bag like this against your body and in your view, in-case of pickpockets. If you’re a forgetful person, it’s also great because if the bag is strapped to you, so you can’t accidentally leave it somewhere.

  • If you need to bring a large puffer coat, you can roll it up and strap it to the top of your backpack using a Modl Infinity Tool. Depending on the airline, you may have to wear this coat when boarding your flight. However when traveling around via a train, you can utilize the strap method.

Airline Packing Tips

  • Use a collapsible neck pillow for extra storage during your flight. Note that walking around with this at your destination can be fairly uncomfortable. Finding a neck pillow that hooks onto your backpack can help.

  • Use a large backpack as a personal item. We pack very light with only backpacks to avoid the possibility of having to check a bag. Sometimes airlines oversell flights and force travelers to check their carry-on bags. To avoid this, we use a Cotopaxi backpack as a personal item. It fits under airline seats and qualifies as a personal item with many airlines. Personal item dimensions vary by airline, so always check before you pack. Another benefit to using a backpack as a personal item is the freedom to walk around with your luggage if needed. Traveling light provides adaptability and peace-of-mind.

  • On your return flight, use a collapsible duffel bag as a carry-on bag for souvenirs. This will only work if you don’t bring a carry-on to your destination, but it’s included in your round trip flights. We use backpacks as our personal items to avoid the potential of having to check our carry-on bags. Typically carry-on bags are not checked, however airlines often oversell the flight and the staff then forces travelers to check their carry-on bags. We try to avoid that. That being said, when returning from a trip, we do use a duffel bag as a carry-on if we collect a lot of souvenirs.

  • When using a backpack as a personal item (to avoid having a carry-on that may become a checked bag), hiding a small hip pack under a hoodie you’re wearing is a way to sneak another personal item in, depending on how full it is.

Tips for Solo Female Travelers

  • If you’re a solo female traveler, and suddenly need a safe place to stay, seek refuge at convents and monasteries. Nuns and sisters have been known to accept female travelers, and may offer a clean bed for less than a hotel room if they have the space. You do not need to be religious to stay with them. This is more common in Europe, specifically Italy.