Travel Smarter: Lessons Learnt from Travelling the World for Over 25 Years. After travelling to 69 countries across six continents, I’ve learnt that successful travel is about much more…
Travel Smarter: Lessons Learnt from Travelling the World for Over 25 Years.
After travelling to 69 countries across six continents, I’ve learnt that successful travel is about much more than booking flights and accommodation. The best journeys come from a combination of preparation, flexibility, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected.
Over the years, I’ve navigated unfamiliar transport systems, language barriers, changing travel conditions, cancelled flights, and the occasional challenge that comes with exploring the world. Each experience has taught me something valuable about travelling smarter and making the most of every adventure.
Some of the most useful lessons I’ve learnt are surprisingly simple. They are small habits that take little effort but can make a huge difference when something unexpected happens during your travels.
In this guide, I’m sharing my most practical travel tips: the lessons I’ve learnt from 69 countries of adventure. From planning and packing to staying safe and getting more from your destination, these strategies help me travel with greater confidence and less stress.
Whether you’re planning your first overseas adventure or you’re a seasoned traveller looking for new ideas, I hope these tips help you prepare better, travel smarter, and enjoy the journey even more.
Table of Contents
Planning Smarter Before You Travel
- Research more than major attractions
- Check entry requirements early
- Never travel without insurance
- Pack less than you think you need
- The real benefit of planning smarter
- My three non-negotiable travel tips
- Download important information before you leave
- Build flexibility into your itinerary
- Carry some local currency
- Small habits, big difference
Getting More from Your Destination
- Walk wherever possible
- Talk to local people
- Venture beyond the main tourist trail
- Learn a few words of the local language
- Try the local food
- Put the camera down occasionally
- Leave room for the unexpected
Planning Smarter Before You Travel
Good travel experiences rarely happen by accident. While some of the best moments on the road are spontaneous, the journeys I have enjoyed most have usually begun with thoughtful preparation, even before I’ve left home.
After travelling to 69 countries, I have learnt that good planning is not about creating a rigid itinerary where every minute is accounted for. It is about understanding your destination, anticipating potential challenges, and giving yourself the confidence to enjoy the experience when you arrive.
A little preparation before you travel can save time, reduce stress, and help you make the most of each destination.
Research more than major attractions
Before visiting a new destination, most travellers research the famous landmarks and must-see attractions. Of course, these are often worth visiting, but I have found that the most rewarding trips come from looking beyond the obvious.
I like to understand how a destination works before I arrive. This includes researching local customs, transport options, weather, opening hours, cultural expectations, and practical details that can make the difference between a smooth and a frustrating experience.
Nothing is more deflating than travelling specifically to see something and finding it closed for a national holiday, a religious observance, or seasonal maintenance. Many major attractions now also require timed-entry tickets booked weeks in advance, such as the Uffizi, Machu Picchu, and the Sagrada Família. Check before you go, not on the morning you plan to visit.
The goal isn’t to arrive somewhere with every hour scheduled. It’s to arrive somewhere with enough knowledge to make good decisions on the ground — to know which famous attraction is genuinely worth the queue, and which afternoon might be better spent on a local bus to somewhere not mentioned in the guidebook.
Some of my most memorable travel experiences have come from places where I did more than follow the main tourist route. Whether it was exploring remote areas of Mongolia, discovering lesser-known destinations in Africa, or visiting Tasmania’s King Island, doing extra research helped me appreciate each destination more deeply.
One experience that stands out took place in Ella, Sri Lanka. After speaking with our hotel manager, we decided to walk the railway line from Ella to Demodara – something locals did, but it was off the beaten track for tourists. We did our research before undertaking the walk, as we did not want to be caught in a tunnel when the train came through, and we wanted to cross the Nine Arch Bridge before the train. In this case, train timetables and local knowledge proved vital.
My sister and brother-in-law exiting one of the tunnels on the Ella to Demodara railway walk in Sri Lanka. This tunnel immediately opened onto the Nine Arch Bridge, which was approached by the train at the other end from around a corner. Knowing the train’s expected arrival time at this point in the walk was crucial.
My advice is simple: research beyond the “top 10 things to do” lists and learn about the place you are visiting, not just the attractions you want to photograph.
When researching a destination, my go-to resource is Responsible Travel. Here you will find thousands of detailed travel guides covering the best time to visit, maps and highlights, culture, and responsible tourism.
Check entry requirements early
Travel requirements can change, and the responsibility for knowing what is needed before departure ultimately sits with the traveller.
Before every international trip, I check passport validity requirements, entry conditions, and any required documentation as part of my planning.
Some countries require visas to be arranged in advance, while others have specific entry requirements that may not be obvious when you first start planning. I’ve travelled to countries that required proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry. Even if you have travelled extensively, it is important to remember that not every destination follows the same process or guidelines.
I also recommend checking the requirements again closer to departure, as rules can change. We’ve seen this recently with entry requirements into the United Kingdom. A few minutes of research before travelling can prevent a great deal of stress at the airport or border.
When travelling by train from Yugoslavia (now seven independent countries) to Poland, I was removed from the train at the border with Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia) by armed border guards. I was locked in a room at the station for eight hours without any communication, terrified and unsure why I had been removed from the train or what would happen to me. Finally, I was placed on a train back into Yugoslavia and told I did not have a transit visa for travel through Czechoslovakia. I can still taste that fear 40 years later. That’s why I always check and recheck entry requirements.
Never travel without insurance
Travel insurance is one of those things you hope you never need but will be very glad you have if something goes wrong.
Over many years of travelling, I have learnt that unexpected situations are simply part of travel. Flights can be cancelled, luggage can be delayed, illness can occur, personal items can be lost or stolen, and plans can change for reasons beyond your control. Travel insurance protects against these situations and offers peace of mind while you are away from home.
Although I have never made a claim on my travel insurance, I am not going to tempt fate by assuming I don’t need it just because I haven’t used it. I still consider it an essential part of my travel preparations.
Pack less than you think you need
Packing is one area where many travellers learn through experience.
When I first started travelling, it was tempting to pack for every possible situation and weather condition. However, it didn’t take many trips before I discovered that packing less made journeys easier, with a lighter bag, particularly when moving around or negotiating stairs.
These days I focus on layers, packing practical, versatile items that can be worn in different situations, rather than packing for every possibility. Over time, I have learnt that if I say, “I might need this”, I don’t pack it because I can guarantee it won’t be used.
I always use the World Weather Information Service to guide my packing. This global site provides the 30-year average monthly temperature and rainfall for more than 3,000 cities.
The right packing approach varies depending on the destination and travel style. A hiking adventure or cultural trip requires different preparation from a luxury river cruise or city break. However, the principle remains the same: take what you need, not everything you think you might need. That said, it is worth remembering that if you genuinely need something you didn’t pack, most destinations have shops.
The real benefit of planning smarter
Good preparation does not remove the adventure from travel. It creates the freedom to enjoy it.
When you know your important details are organised, your documents are ready, and you understand the basics of your destination, you can relax and focus on the experiences that matter most.
The best travel planning leaves room for discovery because some of the greatest memories come when you are prepared enough to embrace the unexpected.
Travelling Smoother
No matter how carefully you plan, travel has a habit of throwing the occasional curveball. Flights are delayed, luggage goes astray, transport connections are missed, and technology doesn’t always cooperate when you need it most. Believe me, I have experienced each of those situations!
After travelling to 69 countries, I’ve learnt that while you can’t control every situation, you can be prepared for many of them. Over the years, I have developed a few simple habits that make travelling far less stressful when the unexpected happens.
In fact, there are a few things I now do before every single trip. They’ve become my personal travel non-negotiables because they have either saved me from a difficult situation or given me peace of mind when things didn’t go to plan.
My three non-negotiable travel tips
1. Always pack a complete change of clothes in your cabin bag
If I could give travellers only one piece of practical advice, this would be it.
Airlines do an excellent job of getting millions of bags to the right destination every year, but checked luggage is sometimes delayed, misrouted, or doesn’t arrive on the same flight as you. While this can be frustrating at best, it becomes much less stressful if you have everything you need for the first day or two.
Lost luggage at Auckland Airport, New Zealand.
The first time my luggage didn’t arrive at the same time as me was on a trip to Egypt early in my travel history. It took three days for my bag to catch up with me! I now leave nothing to chance.
Since that trip, I’ve always packed a complete change of clothes in my cabin bag, including underwear, socks, a top, and pants. These items don’t take up much room, but they let me shower, change into fresh clothes, and enjoy my trip while I wait for my checked luggage to arrive.
I also pack my camera, phone, laptop, chargers, and medication in my cabin bag.
Fortunately, I can count on one hand the number of times my luggage has been delayed. However, I still see fellow travellers arrive without their bags and spend valuable holiday time shopping for essentials instead of exploring their destination. On one cruise, over the first three days, I repeatedly heard two ladies apologise to fellow travellers for wearing the same clothes because their bags were missing.
Packing a complete change of clothes in my cabin bag has become a habit for me. It costs nothing but can make a world of difference if the unexpected happens.
2. Keep paper and digital copies of your important travel documents
Your passport is probably the most important item you carry when travelling internationally, yet many people don’t think about what they would do if it were lost or stolen.
Before every trip, I make both paper and digital copies of my passport, travel insurance certificate, bank cards, flight confirmations, accommodation bookings, visas (where required), and any other important travel documents.
I keep paper copies separate from my original documents so that if my passport is lost, I still have access to the information. I also store digital copies securely so I can retrieve them on another device if needed. As an added precaution, I leave copies of my passport and travel insurance policy with a trusted relative.
Hopefully, you’ll never need them. However, if you ever need to report a lost passport, contact your travel insurer, or confirm a booking when you don’t have internet access, you’ll be grateful you took a few minutes to prepare before leaving home.
3. Make your checked luggage easy to identify, and photograph it
Walk into almost any airport baggage hall, and you will see a sea of black suitcases circling the carousel!
Not only are plain suitcases easy for someone else to mistake for their own, but they can also be surprisingly hard to describe if your luggage goes missing. Try describing yours now.
I always make my checked bag easy to recognise by adding a brightly coloured luggage strap. But you could also use a unique ribbon, or a luggage tag that stands out from the crowd.
Before leaving home, I take a photo of my bag with my phone and include the bag’s size, brand, and any distinguishing features in the photo’s caption. If the airline asks me to describe my luggage, I don’t have to rely on memory or a description lost to a language barrier. I show them the photo.
Ensure your bag is easily identifiable among the others on the carousel, and take a photo to help describe it should it be lost.
Taking a photo of your checked luggage takes less than a minute but can save valuable time if it doesn’t arrive when expected.
Download important information before you leave
We rely heavily on our phones when travelling, but internet access isn’t always available when you need it.
Before I leave home, I download all the travel documents I might need for my trip to OneDrive, making them available offline. You can also use Google Docs. This includes flight details, boarding passes, accommodation details, tour confirmations, travel insurance policy, maps, transport information, and embassy contact details.
Carrying the accommodation confirmation was valuable in Barcelona, where the hotel’s booking system showed me as departing the day before the date on my confirmation. The hotel was obliged to honour the documented confirmed departure date.
Offline maps have become one of my favourite travel tools. They are especially useful when arriving in a new place without mobile data, when you don’t want the cost of global roaming on your phone, or when travelling through remote areas with unreliable reception.
Having key information available without an internet connection removes unnecessary stress and makes it easier to navigate unfamiliar places.
Build flexibility into your itinerary
One of the biggest mistakes I see travellers make is trying to fit too much into each day, or even three countries in a week. What are you really seeing? Destinations become fleeting moments.
Yes, it’s tempting to see as much as possible, particularly if you’re visiting a destination you have dreamed about for years. However, travel rarely runs to plan. Flights can be delayed or cancelled, weather can disrupt your plans, attractions may close unexpectedly, or you might discover a place you’d like to spend longer exploring.
These days, I deliberately leave breathing space in my itinerary. Rather than seeing this as ‘wasted time’, I see it as giving myself the flexibility to enjoy unexpected opportunities without feeling rushed. When travelling on an escorted group tour, I always choose an itinerary with plenty of ‘free time’. This gives me breaks from the group so I can go off and explore on my own.
Some of my favourite travel memories come from slowing down rather than ticking off another attraction on my list. I think this is why I love river cruises – slow travel at its best.
Carry some local currency
I travel with a Travelex Card because it is universally accepted and I can add money to it whenever I have WiFi. I also carry some local currency (purchased before I leave my home country).
I’ve found that small cafes, local markets, street food stalls, public transport, rural communities, and even some visitor attractions may only accept cash or have unreliable card facilities. I don’t carry large amounts of cash, but I always like to have enough local currency to cover small purchases or unexpected situations.
It’s a simple precaution that has proved useful more times than I can count.
Small habits, big difference
Travelling more smoothly isn’t about avoiding every problem, because that isn’t possible. It’s about developing good habits that minimise stress when things don’t go as planned.
The longer I’ve travelled, the more I’ve realised that successful travel often comes down to preparation rather than luck. Packing a spare set of clothes, keeping copies of important documents, making luggage easy to identify, downloading key information, allowing flexibility in your itinerary, and carrying a little local currency are small actions that take very little time. Yet together, they can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major disruption.
After years of travel, these simple habits have become second nature. I wouldn’t travel without them, and I hope they make your next adventure a little smoother.
Staying Safe While Travelling
One question I am often asked is whether I ever feel unsafe while travelling.
After visiting 69 countries across six continents, I’ve generally found the world to be a far friendlier place than many people expect. Most of the people I’ve met have been welcoming, helpful, and proud to share their home with visitors. That said, every destination has its risks, and it’s important to travel with awareness and common sense.
Over the years, I’ve developed a few simple habits that help me travel confidently while reducing unnecessary risk. Rather than repeat those tips here, I’ve written a dedicated guide that explores practical ways to stay safe while travelling, whether you’re heading off on your first overseas trip or you’re a seasoned traveller.
Read my guide: TOP PRACTICAL SAFETY TIPS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TRAVEL OVERSEAS.
Here are a few of the key safety habits I never compromise on:
- Trust your instinct.
- Stay aware of your surroundings.
- Don’t advertise your valuables.
- Respect local customs.
- Dressing appropriately.
- Know destination-specific risks.
- Share your itinerary with someone at home.
Travel should be exciting, not intimidating. With a little preparation, a healthy dose of common sense, and awareness of your surroundings, you can explore the world with confidence. And if you’d like more detailed advice, don’t forget to read my comprehensive guide to practical travel safety tips.
Getting More from Your Destination
Every trip has the potential to become unforgettable, but I’ve found that the most rewarding travel experiences rarely come from rushing between famous landmarks with a checklist in hand.
The famous landmarks are often famous for good reason, and you should see them. But the experience of a place lives in its markets, parks, public transport, and quieter neighbourhoods. Make time to see both.
These are the habits that have helped me get more from every destination I visit.
Walk wherever possible
Whenever it’s practical and safe to do so, I explore on foot.
Walking allows you to experience a destination in a way that’s not possible from the window of a bus, taxi or tour coach. Walking allows you to notice details you would otherwise miss – the architecture, street art, local shops, cafes, and everyday life.
I discovered these two men untwisting a steel rope while walking along the narrow streets of Kerala, India. Something I would have missed had I been on a bus, in a taxi, or even exploring in a tuk-tuk, the local mode of transport in India.
Some of my favourite travel memories come from simply wandering without a strict agenda. Whether it was strolling through historic towns in Europe, exploring village streets in Asia, or discovering scenic coastal walks in Australia, travelling on foot has often led me to unexpected discoveries.
Walking also encourages you to slow down. Instead of focusing on how many attractions you can tick off in a day, you become immersed in the atmosphere of the place you are visiting.
One of my most memorable walks was in Venice, when I decided to throw away the map for the day and explore the San Marco district ‘blind’. By getting lost, I found small squares with interesting cafes, beautiful bridges with intricate lacework, lively canals that captured daily life, a palace down an alleyway I could barely squeeze through, and lopsided buildings I would never have come across if I had used a map to, say, walk from my hotel to St Mark’s Square. It remains one of my favourite travel experiences.
Talk to local people
One of the greatest resources in any destination is the people who live there.
Guidebooks and travel websites are useful, but locals often know about viewpoints, walking trails, restaurants, cafes, and experiences not covered in standard tourist guides. Remember that walk along the railway line from Ella to Demodara in Sri Lanka?
I’ve found that a friendly conversation can lead to some of the most memorable moments of a trip. Whether it’s chatting with a local café owner, a market vendor, a guide, hotel staff, or someone you meet while travelling, people are often delighted to share recommendations and stories about their home.
I’ll never forget the homestay with a nomad family in Mongolia’s Orkhon Valley that my daughter and I had the privilege of sharing. Living alongside our hosts, even for a short time, gave me a much deeper appreciation of their way of life than I could ever have gained by simply passing through on a tour. It was the personal connection, not just the destination, that made the experience unforgettable.
Our Mongolian hosts’ daughter-in-law milking a yak. The family are yak herders by trade but also breed horses. We were later shown how they make vodka from yak milk.
Venture beyond the main tourist trail
Don’t just visit the obvious places. Some of my favourite destinations are those that attract far fewer visitors. Places like Tasmania’s King Island, Mole National Park in Ghana, Bandia Wildlife Reserve in Senegal, and Geoffrey Bawa’s Garden in Sri Lanka offered experiences that
The Water Garden is a beautiful, tranquil feature of Geoffrey Bawa’s Garden. We had the garden to ourselves and were fortunate to have the curator show us around, explaining its various features.
Choosing to venture beyond the main tourist trail doesn’t mean avoiding popular attractions. It simply means looking a little further. Get out of the city and spend an extra day in a nearby village, visit a regional town, or ask a local where they like to go instead of following the crowds. These quieter places often reveal a destination’s authentic character and create the stories you’ll remember long after the trip is over.
Learn a few words of the local language
You don’t need to become fluent in another language, but learning a few simple words such as hello, please, thank you, excuse me, sorry, and goodbye shows respect for the people and culture of the country you are visiting.
I’ve found that making the effort to learn a few words of the local language is almost universally appreciated, even if my pronunciation is terrible, and often elicits warmth in return.
Try the local food
I’m the first to admit I am not particularly adventurous when it comes to food, but I have found that one of the quickest ways to understand a destination is through its food.
Every country has dishes that reflect its history, geography, and traditions, and trying local specialities has become an integral part of my travels. Spain’s restaurants and cafes create the best salads, English pubs produce the best ploughman’s lunch, and in Sri Lanka, I became addicted to Hoppers for breakfast.
One destination that particularly impressed me was King Island in Tasmania. During my four-day visit, I didn’t have a single disappointing meal. In fact, I enjoyed some of the best food I’ve eaten anywhere in Australia. The island’s seafood, locally produced cheeses, premium beef, and seasonal produce showcased just how a destination can be understood through its food.
Put the camera down occasionally
As a travel photographer and blogger, I find that photography plays an important role in how I experience the world. I love capturing landscapes, wildlife, architecture, and those fleeting moments that help tell a destination’s story. However, I’ve also learnt that not every special moment needs to be photographed.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is put the camera down, pause for a moment, and enjoy where you are. Watch a sunset. Listen to the sounds around you. Take in the atmosphere without thinking about camera settings or composing the perfect image.
I did put the camera down after taking this photo, spending considerable time soaking up the atmosphere of a sunset over the Indian Ocean and listening to the waves rolling up the beach. Very peaceful.
Leave room for the unexpected
Some of the best travel experiences can’t be planned. A recommendation from a local, a scenic detour, a cultural festival you didn’t know was taking place, or an invitation to join an activity can quickly become the highlight of your trip. That’s one reason I no longer schedule every minute of every day. Leaving a little flexibility allows me to say “yes” when unexpected opportunities arise.
Travel has taught me that while planning is important, curiosity is equally valuable.
After travelling to 69 countries, I’ve realised that good travel isn’t about eliminating every possible problem. That’s not possible. It’s about being prepared to handle problems as they arise while staying open to all the wonderful things that can happen along the way.
If you remember nothing else from this post, remember my three non-negotiable travel habits:
> Always pack a complete change of clothes in your cabin bag.
> Keep paper and digital copies of your passport and important travel documents.
> Make your checked luggage distinctive and photograph it before you check in.
These are small things that take very little time or effort, but after years of travelling, they have become habits I would never leave home without.
The more I travel, the more I realise that preparation and spontaneity aren’t opposites. Good preparation gives you the confidence to be spontaneous. I’ve learnt to plan carefully without becoming too rigid, to travel with confidence while staying aware of my surroundings, and to appreciate the difference between seeing a destination and truly experiencing it. I’ve also learnt that some of the best travel moments can’t be planned at all.
After visiting 69 countries, I’m still curious about what lies around the next corner. I still get excited about discovering somewhere new, meeting people whose lives are completely different from mine, tasting unfamiliar food, photographing beautiful landscapes, and finding those little moments that become lasting memories.
Travel well. Stay curious. Be prepared. Embrace the unexpected. And, most importantly, keep exploring.
Disclaimer: This post contains no affiliate links. All views and opinions are my own and non-sponsored. All photos are my own and remain the copyright of Joanna Rath/Just Me Travel.
© Just Me Travel 2018-2026.
Which of these tips surprised you, and what is your top travel tip?
I’d love to hear about your experiences or answer any questions in the comments below.
Author’s Note: Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and follow government advice.
You might also like
TOP PRACTICAL SAFETY TIPS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TRAVEL OVERSEAS. Travel smarter and safer overseas with these practical tips on avoiding scams, protecting your valuables, staying connected with loved ones, and exploring with confidence.
© Just Me Travel 2018-2026. All rights reserved.
No Comments on MY TOP PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS AFTER TRAVELLING TO 69 COUNTRIES
