Nobody puts these in the guidebook. They’re the little things you only learn after a few trips, usually the hard way. Consider this the advice a friend would whisper at the gate.
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1. Take a photo of your parking spot
Not everyone does this, but after the fruitless struggle to help someone locate their parked vehicle, I never leave the garage without taking a picture of my parking location. A coworker and I once landed from a trip, and I drove her around the airport parking garage to find her car. She hadn’t taken a photo of her spot. She didn’t remember which floor she’d parked on. We circled that garage for an hour before I finally had to leave, and she had to go to the parking attendant to figure out how to find her car. It was quite the process.
Future you will be tired – a little foggy, and absolutely certain you’ll remember where you left the car. You won’t. A two-second photo (or a quick note with the level and row) can save you an hour of wandering at the end of a long trip.
2. Pack one outfit you’d happily wear twice
Every trip has a favorite outfit: comfortable, flattering, and easy to wear. Pack the one you reach for without thinking, because it’s the one that saves the trip.
And for the times something gets wrinkled anyway, I pack a small spray bottle of Downy Wrinkle Release spray. It really works, especially when something comes out of the suitcase looking rough or you don’t have access to an iron. A quick spritz, a little smoothing with your hands, and you’re good to go. Smells great too! The travel-size cans tuck right into your bag. Get it here on Amazon
3. Eat your biggest meal at lunch
I’m a big believer in a heavier lunch over a heavy dinner. It’s the same food, but it’s usually cheaper, and it comes without the dinner rush. If you time it between lunch and dinner, in the quieter window of time, you miss the crowds altogether.
Here’s my favorite part: sit at the bar. When it’s quiet, the bartender has time to talk. They’ll give you great tips on what to see and where to go, tell you about the local history, and share things about the town you’d never find in a guidebook. It turns a simple meal into a real, personalized experience.
Save the fancy dinner reservation for the one night that really calls for it.
4. Walk one block away from the main attraction
The crowds gather around the famous spot, but the better café is almost always one streets or two over. I can’t tell you how true this is.
I was wandering around Portobello Market when I decided to go a few blocks over. I ended up in a tiny restaurant and had some small plates and a great glass of wine without the major crowding you experience on the main roads. Then I found a little shop where I picked up a few nice Christmas gifts early. None of it was on my radar until I took a short detour. I love the unexpected.
Stumbling onto non-touristy places is the best part of travel. Try to dine where the locals dine. I can’t recommend it enough. Find the little pub or restaurant that isn’t being touted all over social media, and you’ll get a truly unique, authentic experience.
5. Leave the first afternoon empty (and drop the luggage if your lodging isn’t ready yet)
Arriving is a full day’s work, even if all you did was sit on a plane. If you took the red-eye, that includes keeping the morning free too.
Here’s the catch: you often can’t check into your hotel until 2 or 3 p.m. When I’m feeling generous with my budget, I book the night before with a late check-in, so I can go straight from the airport to my room.
If that prior night isn’t available, I drop my bag at a nearby bag storage spot (I have personally used these two luggage storage apps: Stasher and Bounce) and wander/shop until my room is ready. I grab lunch and am able to wander freely on public transportation without bags weighing me down. You can also request for the hotel to hold your luggage until the room is ready. I have found wandering on the other side of a city isn’t always convenient to stop at your hotel earlier to drop bags. Luggage storage is so convenient and the locations are everywhere! There is no better feeling than dropping bags at a train station and hopping on a train for a few hours to explore another part of the city, and leaving the weight of baggage behind.
| Feature | Bounce Luggage Storage | Stasher Luggage Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Maximum location availability globally | High-quality, heavily vetted partner locations |
| Network Size | 32,000+ locations across 4,000+ cities | 3,000+ locations across 1,200+ cities |
| Partners | Local businesses, hotels, and cafes | Trusted hotel chains, shops, and transport hubs |
| Bag Protection | Up to $10,000 protection | Comprehensive guarantee included |
| Size Restrictions | None (surfboards, strollers, etc. allowed) | No strict size or weight limits |
One thing I’d really advise against: a fixed, prepaid tour on your first day of arrival. You’re tired, you’re not at your best, and you’ll feel stuck in a schedule you can’t adjust. You might end up canceling last minute, and losing your deposit or full tour admission costs. Leave the day for you to control your pace and activities.
Instead, keep it simple and easy:
– Stop at a little grocery store. Pick up things you like for your lodging such as tea bags, milk, bread, and jam if your lodging has a toaster, coffee maker, or fridge.
– Hit the drugstore. Buy the toiletries you left at home to keep your bag light. You can toss them before you leave, so you’re not carrying them back home.
– Go out for a nice meal, then get a good night’s sleep.
Start out fresh on day two. You’ll enjoy the rest of the trip so much more.
When you are ready for tours: Plan in advance and pick a few that will make your trip memorable. I use Viator wherever I go on vacation. London has been great for organized tours, as its so vast and hard to see it all on your own. I have gone on multiple tours over my eight trips to England. I have had nothing but great experiences with Viator. Prices are great and the tour guides have been fabulous. Popular tours sell-out so make sure to have it planned before you arrive. Check out Viator here.
6. Pack a tiny bag inside your carry-on for the flight
Tuck a small pouch inside your carry-on, and pull just that pouch out once you’re on the plane. Going in and out of your bag constantly is a hassle, and it can annoy your seatmate, especially when your bag is wedged awkwardly under the seat or stowed in the overhead bin.
That little pouch fits in the pocket of the seat in front of you, so you can keep everything you need right at your fingertips without bothering anyone. It matters even more when the people around you are sleeping.
I almost always sit in the window seat, so I set myself up with everything I need before we take off. That way I’m not constantly getting up and imposing on the other passengers. Everything else stays stowed, and your seatmates (and your shoulders) will thank you.
What’s in my in-flight pouch:
A small case for headphones and charger cords: The case that keeps it all untangled.
Hand gel/sanitizer
Lip balm: I love Burt’s Bees lip balm when I travel. This four pack allows you to keep one in purse/backpack and one by your hotel nightstand and share with family.
Sleep mask: this one is super comfy for flights
Keeping the noise level down to sleep or get some peace and quiet. I pack noise canceling headphones or wear earplugs to sleep and earbuds to watch in-flight movies.
It also helps to have an adapter for your technology. Some airlines don’t accommodate certain plug types. That can make or break a flight. I was on a flight with USB only and not my USB-C devices. The same thing goes for airport waiting areas/lounges and trains. You can find a 3 IN 1 Multi Charging Cable here with a generous 4 foot cord.
Foldable travel blanket. This blanket has saved me from a chill when the airline didn’t offer a blanket on the flight. and cold air is blowing in the cabin. It zips into a small packable pouch and has a soft microfiber material.
A travel size of Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray, Original Citrus, 2 Fl Oz is a must in the carry-on. Especially if sharing a hotel room. A good travel mate thinks of others.
7. Say yes to the small, strange thing
The tiny museum, the street festival, the dish you can’t pronounce (I will try almost anything once. Haggis was a one and done for me). Unplanned moments have always been the best part of my trips. Going off the beaten path adds a whole different dimension to a vacation, and a strict itinerary can keep you from the organic things that pop up when you wander. That’s how you end up in a boutique, finding what becomes your favorite necklace, or meeting incredible people who tell you things you never would have learned otherwise.
Here’s my favorite example. I was in Scotland when I got word that my flight to London had been canceled. I knew I had to figure out how to get to London in time to catch my flight home to America, so I walked into an Edinburgh bakery to cheer myself up with a pastry and a latte to take back to my hotel and figure out my travel dilemma. The bakery owner ended up helping me. She told me about a local train app and I added it to my phone. She helped me find the perfect train, one that got me into London earlier than I’d planned, which gave me extra time to enjoy the city before heading to Heathrow.
If I hadn’t walked into that bakery, I would have gone back to my Airbnb and started from scratch and had to do research to find a flight alternative. Instead, I met someone so helpful and so kind that she became one of the best parts of the trip. Say yes to the small, unplanned thing. You never know who you’ll meet. (I actually ended up meeting Gordon Ramsey in London when I stopped off for an unplanned burger on my last day in the city.)
8. Download your maps before you leave the Wi-Fi
Getting lost is only charming when you choose it. A saved offline map means you can wander with confidence, even when your signal disappears.
When I’m in large cities I use the Citymapper app. It’s free to download on your phone! Here’s my routine: before I head out, I plug in the coordinates of where I’m going next. If I don’t want to worry about using up my phone data or finding a Wi-Fi connection, I toggle the app to offline mode to save battery, and Citymapper keeps guiding me along my walking path. The key is to get those coordinates in before you switch your phone to airplane mode. I get street by street walking directions.
I highly recommend it. It’s one of the easiest ways to feel confident exploring a new city on foot.
9. Write one sentence about each day before bed
I’ve been known to jot down a sentence or two about the things I don’t want to forget. Maybe it’s a quirky person I met, a really funny line they said, and what I was eating when I met them. That’s all it takes.
Later, when I go back through those notes, it’s amazing how much comes flooding back: the whole moment, the conversation, even the taste of the food. Memories I would have lost over time are right there again. You don’t need a fancy journal or a full page. One or two sentences before bed is enough to bring the whole day back when you read it later on. The stories and memories conjured up, are priceless! Photos are not the only way to capture a special moment.
This journal would also make a great gift for the travel lovers on your list.
The Takeaway
Good travel isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about taking care of future you, leaving a little room for surprises, and being kind to yourself along the way. Your best trip usually comes from small choices like these.
What’s the travel tip nobody asked you for, but you swear by? Share it in the comments.