The Official Travel Guy’s Top Travel Tips: How to Travel Smarter, Safer, and Way More Fun

The Official Travel Guy’s Top Travel Tips: How to Travel Smarter, Safer, and Way More Fun

Let’s face it—traveling can be pure magic or a total disaster depending on how you go about it. I’ve been on the road full-time for years now, and I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) what separates a trip you’ll remember forever from one you’ll wish you could forget.

Here are my go-to travel tips to help you maximize every journey—without losing your passport, your mind, or your wallet.

1. Pack Light, Travel Free

You never need as much as you think. Trust me. Stick to versatile, quick-dry clothes. A couple of layers. One solid pair of shoes. Done. You’ll thank yourself when you’re sprinting through an airport or hiking a mountain.

Bonus: leave room for stuff you’ll pick up along the way.

2. Always Carry These 5 Things:

• Portable charger
• Refillable water bottle
• Copies of your passport (physical + digital)
• Local cash (especially for taxis and small vendors)
• An open mind

Seriously, the last one matters most.

3. Learn 10 Local Words

Just 10. Hello, thank you, how much, bathroom, etc. Locals will appreciate the effort, even if you butcher the pronunciation.

It opens doors—and hearts.

4. Stay in Hostels or Homestays (Even If You Can Afford Luxury)

Luxury hotels are great, but you’ll meet way more interesting people at hostels or local-run guesthouses. These spots have the soul. The community. The real culture.

Plus, many hostels now feel more like boutique hotels—without the price tag.

5. Use Public Transport Like a Local

Whether it’s the Tokyo Metro or a chicken bus in Guatemala, public transport is part of the adventure. It’s affordable, authentic, and you’ll see the country through a different lens.

Just download Google Maps offline—and hold on tight.

6. Rest Is Part of the Plan

Don’t try to see everything. Burnout travel is real.

Give yourself space to rest. Journal. Wander with no destination. Sometimes the best moments happen when you’re doing absolutely nothing.

7. Ask Locals, Not TripAdvisor

Best meal? Ask the cab driver. Best beach? Ask the barista.

Locals will guide you to the good stuff that hasn’t been overrun by tourists yet.

8. Stay Curious. Stay Present. Stay Kind.

If you remember nothing else from this post, remember this:

The real gift of travel isn’t just the sights—it’s the perspective. It humbles you. Expands you. Reminds you how connected we all really are.

So wherever you go—be kind, stay present, and soak in the miracle of it all.

See you out there,

– Anthony, The Official Travel Guy