Nacho's Practical Travel Tips

• Save up for your travel! Like it or not, you will need money in order to fully enjoy some of the sights and attractions a destination has to offer. HK Disneyland looks so much better inside than from outside the gate.

• Consider getting debit cards or prepaid credit cards so you don’t have to physically bring all your cash with you. Just make sure your card has the Cirrus/Maestro logos so you can withdraw from ATMs abroad. Never put all your cash and credit cards in one wallet/pocket though.

• Don’t forget to call your credit card company before leaving and inform them where you will be going. This will ensure hassle-free approval of your purchases abroad.

• Hold off the shopping spree until the tail end of your vacation. Never splurge during the first few days lest you end up broke and hungry the rest of the way.

• Invest in smart travel gear such as those from Pacsafe. One product I highly recommend is their Walletsafe 100. It’s an anti-theft travel wallet that has a metal chain which you can securely lock in your belt loop or bag and a zippered cash compartment for added protection. It may be a bit of a struggle every time you have to take money out but it’s definitely worth the hassle.

• Always have photocopies of your passport, ticket and other travel documents with you. You can also e-mail scanned copies to your account for easy access.  2016 UPDATE:  Scan all important documents (passports, birth certificates, tickets, etc.) and save them in a secure cloud storage such as Dropbox).  We've had situations before where we were glad we did. 
  

• Choose a hotel close to train stations/transport terminals. This will make your travel more convenient (and safe) especially if you’re going back late at night.

• Consider less than 5-star hotels. Since we only use the hotel for sleeping and storing luggage, we’d rather spend our precious pesos on food, shopping and admission tickets. As long as our room has aircon, its own toilet and is situated in a safe location, we’re happy campers. This is a personal choice though. But if you can afford 5-star accommodations, by all means go for it.

• Always carry the business card of the hotel you’re staying at. Have the name and address written in the local dialect to make it easier for taxi drivers or people to give you directions.

• Wear comfy footwear especially in tropical destinations. I’ve always been a fan of Crocs but what I’m loving at the moment are my Rider Cape IV sandals. These are stylish and comfortable flip flops that are made in Brazil but are fortunately available locally. I love the softness of the rubber and how the grooves slightly tickle my feet. Much cheaper than Crocs but equally great for walking.

• Bring two-way radios. It really comes in handy during trips to the local markets, malls or other places where getting separated with your companion is inevitable. Free and instant communication at its finest.

• If possible, avoid eating at international food chains such as McDonald’s or KFC. It can sometimes get more expensive and besides, traveling is all about immersing yourself into another culture.

• Museums are the fast lane to another culture. Make sure to visit at least one.

• Try to avoid accessing your e-mail, Facebook or Twitter accounts. Remember, you’re on vacation and the last thing you need to know is what your classmate from 20 years ago had for breakfast or what new hair color your nephew is sporting.

• Travel light. You can always buy toiletries from the supermarket or convenience stores when you get to your destination.

• If you’re not into serious photography, ditch the SLR. It’s bulky and expensive enough that you’ll always be looking after it instead of enjoying the scenery. Consider cameras using the micro four-thirds system or better yet, just use a reliable point and shoot instead. Our Sony W80 has been with us for almost 5 years now and it’s still in good condition. We recently bought a new Sony W330 which we used during our last travel and I must say we were very satisfied with its performance. Low light shooting is good as well as its capability to capture videos. Given its very reasonable P6.5K price tag, this camera’s a steal. Invest in a spare battery.

• Save the phone number and address of your country’s embassy on your cellphone. In cases of emergency, they’re the first lifeline available to us.

• Finally, use common sense wherever you go and whatever you do. Always be alert and attentive to your surroundings. If someone or something looks suspicious or if a situation doesn’t feel right, walk away.