In a previous article, we discussed the best way to pay for your upcoming trip. Any experienced travellers will tell you that planning is half the battle. You need to invest time in doing research on the destination and crafting a good travel itinerary, all before making reservations and actually preparing for the trip.

The next part of the equation is actually going on the trip. You will come across a lot of different situations and challenges to overcome. As a traveller, you now have more tools and resources to use, all for the sake of making travel more convenient and enjoyable at the same time. To help you travel like a pro, here are a collection of top tips you can use.

Manage Your Time

Think about the past few trips you took and see if you gave yourself enough time to enjoy the actual trip. In most cases, the answer to that question is no. We often rush through the trips we take for various reasons.

When you only have a couple of days to explore a new city, the right thing to do is to limit the number of attractions to explore in order to enjoy the trip more. Many travellers, however, choose to cram as many activities as possible into a short trip

Manage your time and you’ll find travelling to be much more enjoyable. Give yourself plenty of time at the beginning of the trip, create an itinerary that allows you to enjoy the adventure better, and return home feeling more refreshed and happier than before.

Have Contingencies

Even the best planners run into issues sometimes. In fact, the issues you face along the way can be character building.

When your flight gets unexpectedly cancelled, the situation can get stressful pretty quickly. After all, you have hotels and other things already paid for and getting another flight isn’t always easy. Here’s where having contingencies come in handy.

As a passenger, you have air passenger rights and if you are eligible, you can be entitled to flight cancellation compensation when your flight gets cancelled.

Isn’t it great to know that you can turn your flight nightmare into cash!

There are also have apps and tools that can help you find last-minute deals on flights and hotels.

In the end, dealing with the situation is just a matter of calculating the compensation you get and the additional expenses you need to make to save the trip. Now that you know it, it is easier to remain calm the next time your flight gets cancelled, isn’t it?

Cover the Basics

Sticking with staying calm in different situations, another thing you can do is prepare yourself for the different situations that may happen. Your daypack or your carry-on is an incredibly valuable tool you need to utilise as a traveller.

Naturally, you want to begin with the essentials, including some cash, the medications you take, bottled water, spare clothes just in case, and batteries and chargers for your gadgets. You can add additional items depending on your specific needs.

How you dress when you travel matters too. Instead of wearing the clothes you usually wear, think about airport security and the different stages you have to go through before reaching your destination. You want to stay comfortable and hassle-free, and dressing correctly is how you achieve that.

Your Phone in Travel Mode

Your smartphone is even more valuable when you are travelling. This is because there are a lot of resources you can access on your phone at different stages of the trip. Even your hotel booking confirmation and your ticket are stored digitally, so you want your phone to be active and ready for use.

There are a lot of apps that can make travelling more convenient. Airbnb and other holiday rental apps allow you to find great accommodation for less. Apps like Hotel Quickly even let you find available hotel rooms at the very last minute, all while allowing you to get great prices for them.

When your flight gets cancelled, you can also turn to your phone for information. At the destination, you can rely on a Google search or apps like Yelp for information on the best places to visit. There are even forums – like the one on Trip Advisor – where you can ask questions about the destination city and get quick answers from other experienced travellers.

Cash and Cards

Last but certainly not least, make sure you have both your debit and credit cards as well as some cash in your carry-on or your daypack. I know credit and debit cards are accepted virtually everywhere in the world, but you still need to bring some cash in the local currency just in case.

Knowing when to exchange your money into the local currency is also important. You can either do it before you leave for the destination or the moment you arrive; just make sure you check that the destination airport has money changers, so you don’t run into unnecessary issues at the start of your trip.