10 Honest Travel Tips from 30 Years on the Roads, Rails, and Skies

We wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who has supported our travel content. We are so thrilled to be a resource to help make travel smoother and make meaningful connections. I’m taking a minute in this post to reflect on how travel has inspired and changed me through the years. 

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I grew up in suburban Philly, in a world that was comfortable and had its own magic – with woods and creeks and friends in walking distance. But it started feeling very small to me when I graduated high school. While I loved my home, I was obsessed with geography and culture, and I wanted to see it all. My first real break was winning a few academic competitions in high school and having the opportunity to compete nationally in Florida and California. I caught the travel bug and never looked back.

Then, in my first semester of college, I was given the unbelievable opportunity to take a two-week winter fashion merchandising program in London and Paris. The idea seems so far out of reach for me that I couldn’t even comprehend it was happening. But it did. And it changed me forever.

I wanted to take a step back and look at the key moments that changed my perspective – and the specific shifts that helped me start traveling smarter. Here are some tips I learned along the way that I hope can resonate and maybe save you a few headaches.

1. This Is Not a Fashion Show

On that first trip to Paris and London, I was the girl with the 6-inch platform shoes and a suitcase full of unnecessary outfits. (I couldn’t dream of wearing the same thing twice, and I needed shoes and a handbag that matched). My arms were sore for weeks from lugging that haul through airports and train stations, and I vowed to never overpack again.

I now have a system for packing smart – and also a change in perspective about what I really want to bring on the road. You can read all of my packing tips at the link below.

📌 9 Top Tips for Traveling with Only a Personal Item or Carry-On Bag

2. Embrace the Differences

I remember walking to the Eiffel Tower by myself and standing in line listening to ten languages I didn’t understand. It was the first time I realized how massive the world actually is. I was fascinated by the different rhythm of each language and ways people dressed and interacted and how it varied by culture.

People warned me that the French were rude, but I found the exact opposite. Maybe at 19 it was the fun of meeting French guys practicing their English at the clubs. But I still love France, I love the countryside, I love the cities, I love Paris, and I love Parisians. That was true at 19 and it’s true nearly 30 years and a dozen trips to France later.

Paris is a big city. Tourism gets annoying when you’re living your life amongst the crowds. I get that. But I learned that French people just have a different social approach than Americans. And it’s kind of fun.

Cultural norms vary all over the world. Take the time to understand the difference.

Be kind. In Paris: Always, always start a conversation with “Bonjour.” Try a few words in French. And if someone corrects you, take it as a compliment. They’re helping you improve.

3. World Travel Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

Theo and I didn’t have the vacation time or budget for big European vacations when we first met. That’s when we got into tracking flight deals and exploring Central and South America.

We found this crazy round-trip deal to Bogotá for $215 each and a really nice hotel in Chapinero for only $80 a night.

This was over a decade ago when people still looked at you sideways if you said you were going to Colombia for fun. But we found Bogota to be safe and the people to be so kind and generous. We also had delicious and affordable meals – and were even invited to someone’s home and met their family. It was wonderful.

We spent about $1k for flights, transport, a private tour, and a 5-night stay (and a bit more for food and drinks). That’s when we signed up for flight deal newsletters and apps like Hopper and Skyscanner that alert you to great prices, and we started building affordable vacations based on the deals we found.

📌 6 Tips to See the World in Style on a Budget

4. You Don’t Have to See It All (You Shouldn’t Even Try)

We’ve learned that less is more. Many years ago, we totally overpacked our itinerary for Peru. We did Lima, Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon jungle in just eight nights (plus one very long overnight journey home).

It was insane. We went from buses to boats to cramped planes. We were exhausted, cranky, and got into a massive fight toward the end of the trip. But a week after we got back, Theo turned to me and asked, “So, where are we going next?” That’s the travel bug: you forget the sore muscles and the delays the second you start looking for the next flight.

But it’s wise to build in days for relaxation on your trip. It’s better for your back and your marriage.

Still, couldn’t tell you which part of our Peru trip I would cut out because it was all amazing, and it wasn’t possible to extend our time.

Looking back, I think the Amazon needed to be a separate trip from Machu Picchu or we needed at least three or four more nights to do it all.

Sometimes seeing four countries in a week makes sense, but most of the time it’s better to have meaningful experiences while seeing less. Don’t spend your whole trip in transit without really enjoying where you are.

We’ve overpacked, overbooked, and missed out on perks, and we share those fails in the link below so you don’t have to repeat them. Most people only plan a few big trips, and we want to make sure yours are as smooth as possible.

📌 10 Travel Mistakes We Made So You Don’t Have To

5. Lounge Access Makes the Airport Part of the Vacation

In 2019, we were traveling through Ecuador and kept seeing people wander into lounges while we sat at the gate. At the Galapagos airport we could actually see into the Priority Pass lounge from the food hall, and thought: “How do we get in there?” So we asked, and realized we were doing it all wrong.

We used points and miles at that time, but we weren’t “in the know” yet. We were missing out on business class perks and credit card benefits simply because we hadn’t mastered the system.

That’s when our website shifted from a personal journal to a smart travel tool. We want to help people skip the “stumbling around” phase we went through for years and travel smart from the beginning.

📌  Best Lounges at Washington Dulles Airport and How to Get In

6. See the Tourist Sights but Skip What’s Overrated

I don’t care what people on social media say. Some touristy things are awesome. I will never regret the awe of staring at the Sistine Chapel in Rome or the memory of a Seine River cruise in Paris with my niece.

Theo and I also love the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, even if it is commercial. I saw an ad for it every day on my commute on the DC metro for years, and it absolutely lived up to the hype when we finally made our first trek to experience it.

The trick is knowing the difference between a landmark or experience that is famous for a reason and a “simulated experience” that is just a tourist trap. You’ll also have to factor in your own travel style and what brings you joy personally. We’ll skip the two-hour line for a viral croissant but have a picnic at the Eiffel Tower any time.

📌 6 Overrated Travel Destinations and One That’s Totally Worth It

7. Find Your “Wow” Moment and Breath It In

Travel can be chaotic. Don’t let the great moments slip by or just become a post for social media. Take the time to soak in the beauty and reflect on the reasons you travel in the first place.

While I love a big city, some of my favorite memories are the quiet ones in nature. I’ll never forget standing on a quiet section of the Great Wall of China at sunset – far from the crowds of Beijing. It was a huge moment for me. I took some deep breaths, expressed my gratitude to the universe, and even shed a few tears of happiness. Those “wow” moments make you realize how fortunate you are that your life brought you to that specific place on the map. Take a moment to savor it.

8. Expand Your Palate, Expand Your Mind

I was always a picky eater, and that made travel difficult, especially when I was with a group. I would often just live off baguettes and cheese for entire trips abroad. I wanted to change this, but it was hard to do.

Theo introduced me to new foods literally one bite at a time. Then he moved to a “two bite rule.” I had to at least try his dish. Little by little this expanded my palate to the point now where I’ll try nearly everything. It doesn’t mean I’ll like it, but I am now amazed at some of my favorite foods, like heart and tongue.

The first few times I was served fish or shrimp with heads, I was absolutely squeamish. Now cod cheeks and shrimp heads are some of my favorite things.

I fully understand that many people have dietary constraints for various reasons, but even when working within your limitations, think about stretching your comfort zone a little (or a lot). Try the fermented tofu, the vegan haggis, and the durian. You can be an adventurous eater and still stay within your parameters.

📌 A Culinary Tour of France: Your 1-Week DIY Itinerary

9. Travel Off the Beaten Path Sometimes

I love when travel takes me to places I didn’t know existed. When we were planning a trip to Norway, the easy path to the fjords from Oslo and Bergen was just too crowded for us. We still want to explore Bergen someday, but we were up for something less traveled at this point.

So, we ended up in Tromso in the Arctic Circle, and Svalbard, the northernmost city in the world. It was a reminder of how far we’ve traveled (literally and figuratively).

Going to the ends of the earth reminds you that people are living their lives in places you never even imagined – and those can be some of the coolest experiences you’ll ever have.

📌 10 Underrated European Cities You Must Visit in 2026

10. Travel Makes You Stronger

Travel is basically just one long exercise in problem-solving. And I love the logic game! When the boat breaks down in Thailand or the train is canceled in Scotland, you just deal with it. (Yes these things happen to us … and many more mishaps.)

You realize that a missed connection isn’t the end of the world, and it can even change how you handle issues at home. If you can navigate a 24-hour delay in a foreign airport, you can handle a rough Tuesday at the office.

While mistakes and disruptions are all part of the game, another reason I love travel is the chance to help others not make the same mistakes I did.

I don’t want you lugging a duffle bag of platform shoes through a train station for no good reason. I do want 19-year-old you meeting that French boy practicing English in a Paris club – and 45-year-old you sharing wine and cheese with the famous artist at a Paris neighborhood bistro.

What will 60-year-old and 70-year-old you be doing? It’s never too late to start traveling. There’s no magic window. All you need is an open mind and a compassionate spirit. You may stumble. I still do all the time after 30 years of international travel. But that’s part of the beauty. It’s part of what connects us all. It will be worth it. It always has been for me.