Travel tips
Not everything needs a full guide. Here are the habits that make the biggest difference to a trip, grouped by when you'll need them.
Key points
- Add up the whole cost before you book.
- Save your documents offline and leave early on travel day.
- Use official transport on arrival.
Before you book
- Add up the total cost, including bags, seat selection and the way to and from the airport.
- Read the change and cancellation rules while you can still choose a different fare.
- Check that your passport will be valid long enough for your destination. Some countries want months left, not days.
Before you leave home
- Photograph your passport, insurance and bookings, and keep the images somewhere you can open without signal.
- Tell your bank you're travelling if your card issuer is nervous about foreign payments.
- Pack medication in your hand luggage, in its original packaging.
- Download offline maps for the places you're staying. See our eSIM guide for getting data once you land.
On the day
- Leave earlier than feels necessary. You can always sit in a café at the airport.
- Keep your phone charged and a small cable in your bag, not in the hold.
- Write down your first night's address in the local language if it isn't in the Latin alphabet.
When you arrive
- Use official taxi ranks or pre-booked transfers rather than offers from strangers in the arrivals hall.
- Keep a small amount of local cash for the first few hours, even if you plan to pay by card.
- Tell someone at home where you are staying.
For a fuller routine, work through the international travel checklist.
Packing
- Lay everything out, then put a third of it back.
- Pack one outfit and your essentials in your hand luggage in case your bag turns up late.
- Bring a plug adapter for where you're going and one spare cable.
Money and safety
- Keep a card and a little cash separate from your wallet.
- Be wary of anyone who hurries you or insists on a deal now.
- Look up the local emergency number before you land.
Keep reading
- How to find cheaper flights without chasing coupons
- How to choose an eSIM for international travel
- Travelling with kids: how to survive the journey
Official sources
We link to these because they set the rules or publish the current details.