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7 Big Travel Mistakes That Tourists Make That Can Ruin a Vacation

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Seven Biggest Travel Mistakes Made By Tourists

Greetings from Vienna, Austria! Today I’m sharing some of the biggest travel mistakes I see most often. These are simple things that can take away from the enjoyment of your travels, so I hope you can use them to make your travels more fun.

Travel Mistake #1 Cramming too much into too little time

 

This happens a lot, especially with backpackers trying to see as many countries as possible in whatever time they have. Trying to see a high number of countries on your vacation means you’ll be spending a lot of time (and money) on planes and trains, and you won’t really be enjoying all that Europe has to offer. A jam-packed itinerary like this means you won’t even have time to take in the culture or the people of the country you are visiting. What I recommend is not trying to see seven countries in ten days. Focus on spending quality time in one or two countries, or perhaps even three if they are very close together.

 

Travel Mistake #2 Choosing Cheap Out of Town Airports

 

Sometimes travelers jump on cheap airline deals, but don’t realize that the low cost carriers often fly into more remote airports that are far outside of the city you are visiting. So, you might save 30 Euros by flying into Girona instead of directly to Barcelona, but then you have a 45-minute trip into Barcelona, which will also cost money. RyanAir flies into Stansted Airport near London, but the train from Stansted into London can cost more than your flight. And if you land before or after public transportation is open, you’ll have a very expensive taxi fare. Make sure you factor in all costs before jumping on a cheap airfare to save money.

Read: 6 Reasons Why You Never Get Cheap Plane Tickets

 

Travel Mistake #3 Staying Far Out of Town to Save Money

 

People often think they will save money if they stay in hotels that are outside of the city center. If you’re only visiting a city for a few days, you want to be as close to the center of town as possible, so you can maximize your time. If you choose a hotel or hostel that’s 45 minutes from downtown, that’s 90 minutes a day you’ll spend commuting from your hotel and back. You also have to consider the hours of public transportation. If you stay out late and miss the last bus, you’ll likely eat up any hotel savings with a taxi ride. It’s better to find an affordable hotel near the center of town by booking early. This also gives you a place to rest in the middle of the day if you get tired.

Travel Mistake #4 Not Researching the Destination

 

A lot of people fail to do the proper research before arriving at a destination, and don’t try to figure out things to do until they arrive. If you don’t do your research, not only will you waste time figuring out where to go and what to do, but you can also fall into some traps. Without the proper research, you might not know that Barcelona is the #1 worst city in the world for pickpockets.

Read: 7 Reasons Why You Might Be a Bad Traveler 

 

Travel Mistake #5 Not Checking Prices

 

Taxis and restaurants are two great examples where travelers should check prices ahead of time. It’s really easy to get ripped off if you don’t do this, especially with taxis. If you’ve done your research (see #4) you’ll know where it’s expected to negotiate taxi fare before jumping in. Also, you might stumble into a fancy restaurant without realizing it and order a bottle of water, only to find out it costs 10 Euros. This is easy to fall into in bars as well when ordering a bunch of drinks, which happened to me in Chile when I let the bartender choose the beer and he served us $8 Heineken’s instead of the local beer which is less than $1. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for a menu to see prices.

Travel Mistake #6 Not Enough Connection Time During Travels

 

This is so common, whether it’s with flights, trains or buses. Depending on your flight itinerary, you may have to exit the arrivals terminal, collect your luggage, clear customs and then start all over again by checking your bag and going through TSA lines. How often do you see someone running through the airport or train station? Make sure you give yourself enough time between connections. Remember, just because your flight arrives at 7:30, doesn’t mean you exit the plane at 7:30. If you’re at the back of the plane, you might have another 45 minutes before you’re off the plane. Trains in Europe are often running 5-10 minutes behind, and the connection locations aren’t always obvious. Give yourself time to find your way around.

 

Travel Mistake #7 Packing Too Much

 

If you ignore tip #6 and end up running through the airport or train station, you don’t want to do it with 75 pounds of luggage! Packing too much is a huge travel blunder for so many reasons. It limits what you can buy on your travels as your luggage is already full. Packing too much also makes you an easy target for pickpockets when traveling. Most of all, you really don’t need all these things. When packing for travel, it’s best to keep it simple so you can travel light and fast.

 

Hopefully these tips help you avoid some of the common travel mistakes I see often. If you want more travel tips, check out some of our other videos:

 

The 7 Signs You “Might Be” a Bad Traveler

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Seven Signs You Might Be a Bad Traveler: Tourist Behavior To Avoid

Greetings from Copenhagen, Denmark! Today I’m sharing with you seven signs that you might not be the best traveler. Basically, these are seven tourist behaviors to avoid in order to be a better traveler.

Tourist Behavior #1 You Pack Too Much

 

I’ve seen this so many times, with tourists dragging giant bags onto trains and buses. My back hurts just watching these people carry all their luggage. If your suitcase is bursting at the seams before you even leave for a trip, then you’ve got too much stuff. One of the cool things about traveling is buying stuff during your travels. Packing too much makes it difficult to get around and it also makes you a target for pickpockets and thieves. I recommend packing as you normally would, then remove half of it and leave it at home. You also need to make sure you can lift your luggage above your head, because you’ll need to do that when traveling on a train.

 

Tourist Behavior #2 You Don’t Research Where You Are Going

 

You need to do your research before you go on a trip. I take students on trips around the world and the ones who are prepared have a much better time than the ones who don’t. If you haven’t researched your trip ahead of time, then make sure your first stop is at the tourist information office, where they’ll give you maps and guides. If you don’t do any research, you’ll waste time and you might not know key thing like the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. This is extra important when traveling with kids!

Read: Travel Hacks That Make Your Travels 10 Times Easier

Tourist Behavior #3 Complaining About the Differences

 

Constantly comparing everything to how it is “back home” and complaining about the differences means you will really miss out on the joys of travel. It’s good to realize the differences, but celebrate them, rather than complain.

Tourist Behavior #4 Don’t Dress the Part

 

Whether it’s dressing to fit in with the locals and wearing the wrong kinds of clothes, or not knowing what to wear. This applies to flying, too. Don’t wear lace-up boots that you can’t easily remove, or excessive layers of clothing, for TSA lines. Bring clothes, and shoes, that are appropriate for the place you are going. Cobblestone streets and high heels are a terrible combination.

 

Tourist Behavior #5 You Only Eat What You Know

 

One of the best things about traveling is the food. I didn’t get fat from McDonald’s; it’s from all the amazing food in Europe! Sure, some foods in other countries might seem gross, but you don’t know until you try something whether you’ll like it or not. It’s OK to find a familiar food when you get homesick on a long trip, but really make an effort to seek out local cuisine and try new things.

 

Tourist Behavior #6 You Don’t Know the Rules

 

There are rules when it comes to travel, and a good traveler knows these ahead of time. When you’re flying, don’t try to bring a full water bottle through security. And when you do get called out, don’t yell at the agents for something beyond their control. Look up luggage restrictions ahead of time, so you’re not that person unpacking their belongings on the airport floor. Knowing the pertinent rules ahead of time will make your travels much easier, and your fellow travelers will thank you.

 

Tourist Behavior #7 You Talk Too Loud

 

This is really noticeable in a place like Denmark, where people generally don’t talk on public transportation. Pay attention to the cues around you; nobody wants to hear your conversation. If you are conversing in public with others, use your inside voice. This also goes for talking on  your cell phone in public. In general, this goes back

 

17 Things That Flight Attendants Want You To Know

 

The 6 Most Popular Places for Pickpockets to Rob Tourists

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Pickpocket Techniques and Locations: How to Avoid Pickpockets

Greetings from Vatican City! You see a lot of tourists here, walking by. But what you might not realize is that not all of the people here are tourists. There are also pickpockets wandering around among the tourists. So, today I want to share with you the most common places that pickpockets work. So that when you’re traveling, you can pay extra attention to your surroundings. That said, you do need to realize that pickpockets can be anywhere! They’re not just in the bigger towns like Rome and Barcelona, but also in small towns, so it’s always good to have your wits about you when traveling.

Pickpocket Spot #1 Major Tourist Sites

 

This is where you will find a lot of pickpockets. There’s a concentration of tourists, and those tourists are generally preoccupied with the sites around them. A pickpocket might bump into you, or “accidentally” spill something on you, or just slash your bag. Even once you are inside some of the museums, there are pickpockets. The Louvre has warnings when you enter, and there are also pickpockets in the Vatican museum. The best thing you can do, in addition to paying attention, is to leave your valuables at home and keep your wallet in your front pocket.

 

Watch: World’s Biggest Travel Scams

 

Pickpocket Spot #2 Train Stations

 

When you exit a train, there are usually crowds and confusion as you try to figure out where to go next. Pickpockets know you are distracted and that this is a good time to rob you. The ticket kiosk at the train station is another common spot for pickpockets to work. They might offer to help you figure out the ticket system, while robbing you at the same time. Also, on the trains you have to guard your luggage. If you are sleeping, it’s very easy for a thief to dip into your luggage stored overhead.

Read: The Most Common Pickpocket Techniques & How to Avoid Them

Pickpocket Spot #3 Public Transportation

 

The metros in big cities are a prime spot for pickpockets to work. Paris, Rome and Barcelona are infamous for pickpockets on public transportation. Most often, you will be pickpocketed as you enter or exit the bus or train, as that’s when you are most distracted. They might even have their hand in your pocket, ready to pull your wallet as soon as you step on the Metro. They might also try to follow you through the turnstile as you enter the metro station. They’re not just trying to get a free ride on the subway; they’re getting close enough to pick your pockets. This happened to my dad at Gare du Nord in Paris. Rush hour on public transportation is an especially high time for pickpockets because of the crowds.

Pickpocket Spot #4 Shopping Centers

 

Stores and shopping centers are another common place for pickpockets to work. They look like everyone else, sometimes even dressed nicely to blend in. Fitting rooms are a prime spot for purse snatchers, particularly if you step out of the fitting room and leave your purse behind to get an opinion on the outfit you’re trying. This happened to my wife when she left the baby stroller, with her purse, outside of the fitting room.

 

Pickpocket Spot #5 Restaurants and Cafes

 

Restaurants, cafes and bars are another hot spot for pickpockets. Most people when enjoying a drink or tapas at the end of the day, will put their purse or coat on the back of a chair in a restaurant. This makes it very easy for someone to steal. If you’ve been out shopping and have bags of new purchases, those can also be stolen, so put them in front of you, under the table. Keep your phone and your wallet in your pockets; don’t put them out on the table where they’re easy to swipe.

 

Pickpocket Spot #6 The Beach

 

This one might surprise you, but pickpockets love to work the beach. The beach is tricky because you want to play in the water, but you usually have things like a wallet, cell phone or keys with you that you can’t take into the water. Pickpockets know this, so you need to have someone always watching your things. Maybe you make friends with the people next to you at the beach, or take turns going in the water. We seriously limit the stuff we bring to the beach. We usually just bring some cash and a waterproof camera. If you don’t have a lot of stuff with you, you can’t be robbed of a lot of stuff.

 

The key thing to remember is that pickpockets will work anywhere that they have a target. Anytime they see an opportunity to get money, they’ll be there. Even when you least expect it, be on the lookout. Check out some of our other travel tip videos on this topic:

 

 

 

 

10 Easy Ways to Save Money So You Can Travel More!

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Ten Ways to Start Saving for Travel

Greetings from Buckingham Palace in London, England! I get a lot of questions from my viewers who ask how I pay for all of the trips we take as a family. I’m not a millionaire, so we are always looking for new ways to save travel money. Today, I’m sharing my ten best travel savings tips so you can start saving for travel, too!

Travel Savings Tip #1 Cut Out Expenses You Don’t Need

 

Take a look at your monthly bills. Start with your cable, internet and phone bills. Are you paying for 500 cable channels that you don’t use? We save $180 a month by only having internet instead of a full cable package.

 

Annual Savings = $2,160 on cable

 

Travel Savings Tip #2 Eat Out Less

 

You’d be amazed at how much money you spend by eating out for lunch or dinner two or three times a week. We hardly eat out at all when we’re home. We cook at home, and use vegetables from our garden in order to save money. Then when we’re in an expensive city like London, we can afford to eat out.

 

Travel Savings Tip #3 Drive Less & Use Public Transport

 

If you have just one car, you can save a lot of money. Not only are you saving money from a car payment, but you’re also saving money on insurance, gas and maintenance, too. Our family only has one car. My wife and I carpool or I take the bus or bike to work. Even just cutting back on your trips around town can save a lot of money. Be efficient with your shopping trips and go once a week instead of a few times a week.

 

Annual Savings = $520 just by cutting back on trips to save $10/week in gas

 

Travel Savings Tip #4 Search for Deals

 

Just like shopping for travel deals, look for deals when you need to buy things at home. If you need a new TV, February is the best time to buy, thanks to the SuperBowl. If you are buying a new air conditioner, buy it in the winter months when sales are slow. Make sure you are comparing prices online and in stores so you can get the best deal possible.

Travel Savings Tip #5 Have a Travel Savings Account

 

I recommend this, especially for younger people trying to save money for travel. Have a little bit of money diverted from your paycheck every month, and it will add up quickly. Put it in an account that’s not so easy to access so that you aren’t tempted to dip into it.

 

Travel Savings Tip #6 Sell Your Old Stuff

 

Do you really need all those old PlayStations? No, get rid of them. If there are things lying around your house that you aren’t using, get rid of them. You might not make a ton of money on old items, but it can add up, plus free up space in your home.

 

Potential Savings: $200 if you sell just 20 items for $10 each!

 

Travel Savings Tip #7 Sign Up For Frequent Flyer Miles

 

Sign up for a credit card that has travel benefits. If you’re going to use a credit card to pay for things, you might as well earn miles for your purchases. Make sure you have a frequent flyer number for any airline you fly. The miles add up and we can usually get at least one free flight each year using miles we’ve earned.

 

How to Save Money While You Travel to Travel Longer

 

Travel Savings Tip #8 Travel in the Off Season

 

Consider going in the fall, winter or spring when airfares can be up to 30% lower than peak summer season. Hotels and restaurants are also less expensive in the low season. You might even have a better time when you don’t have to deal with so many crowds of tourists and long lines to get into major sites.

 

Travel Savings Tip #9 Compare Prices For Flights & Hotels

 

We all have a flight comparison website we like the most, but make sure you are using multiple sites to compare prices. I’ll check a couple of consolidator sites and then also go directly to the airline website to find the best price. There can be up to a $200 difference in airfares between websites. We have to buy four seats when we fly, so saving $800 on flights can give us several extra days of travel.

 

Travel Savings Tip #10 Book Hotels & Flights Early

 

For the best deals on flights and hotels, book early. Not only will you get better prices, but you can get better dates and locations as well. Having a convenient location can save you loads of money on transportation if you can walk instead of taking a taxi. Take all of these costs into account when planning your travel. You might save $20 on a hotel, but spend that much each day on taxis.

 

These are tips we actually use to save money for traveling. We also stay with friends, which can be a great way to save money when traveling! Check out some of our other travel tips in these videos:

5 Rules for What Shoes to Wear in Europe (as a Tourist)

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What Shoes to Wear in Europe

Wow, who knew shoes were such a touchy subject?! The comment section on this video is riddled with emphatic remarks on my personal 5 Rules for Shoes and I want to clarify and reiterate some things so, here goes…

Rule #1, There are no secret/perfect shoes

There is no one shoe I recommend over another. Why? Because there are loads of right shoes and they are different for every person. For most people the biggest challenge to one’s feet is when they go on a trip they walk (far) more than they are used to.

First and foremost, walk before a trip.  Walk around town, your neighborhood or on a treadmill…for miles. Start slow, gather speed and endurance over time.  If you can walk on hills (or crank up the elevation on the treadmill) this will help with stamina and prepare you for cities like Lisbon or Rome that have several hills.

 

Rule #2 Don’t wear Tennis (Running) Shoes

Running shoes are great for running. But walking for miles upon miles on (often) cobbled streets all that soft squishiness underfoot actually isn’t very helpful. For one, they are usually clunky which can impede walking on uneven surfaces. I swear the thicker the cushion the higher your foot is from the ground and the wobblier you can become.

I personally find my feet are happier in stiff or hard(er) soled shoes. I am not a podiatrist, I can’t tell you scientifically why but, I think it is because rather than squishing down into a foam footbed with each step your foot is actually sensing the ground beneath your feet.

Also, hard soled shoes are sturdy, they hold up to those hard-uneven surfaces well. They are thinner which means you are lifting your feet less. It may be incremental but tell me it’s not hard to pick up your feet after you spending 8 hours walking the streets of Paris.

Here’s the touchy bit… American tennis shoes look different than the tennis shoes people wear in Europe. I stand by this statement. We just have different styles, not a bad thing but, when (unsavory) people can pick you out as a foreigner you are more likely to be a target for pickpockets and scams.

I never want one of our fans to be robbed, scammed or pickpocketed. The more things one can do to ‘fit in’ the better.  Boy, this statement really angered some people. I currently live in the US, I have lived in Europe, I spend months there every year. Some of my best friends are European, and they agree, you can often spot an American by their big ol’ running shoes.

I am not saying our shoes are the only thing that make Americans stand out, our overly loud boisterous nature, giant backpacks and fanny packs are far more obvious clues to our status as tourists. But changing our nature is harder than changing our shoes.

Certainly, some Europeans wear running shoes much like ours. They just wear them for running or sports activities. You rarely see people in running shoes out shopping or going about their daily business, but you do see them in what I call ‘urban street shoes’.

Urban street shoes? Think Converse Chucks or Adidas Superstars. Both have flexible but solid soles.

This is a good ‘tennis’ shoe for those beautiful cobbled streets. And quite frankly, they go with a myriad of other clothing options…would you wear runners with a sundress? Probably not but, you can totally throw a pair of Superstars on with one!

So, think outside the running shoe box to shoes with thinner, stiffer soles that can accommodate more clothing choices. Shoes take up a significant amount of space in a suitcase so try bringing one or two that can go with many clothing options.

 

Rule #3 Wear Good Shoes

If you wear cheap (not inexpensive mind you, but cheap) shoes your feet will not love you. Take Good shoes, sturdy shoes that will hold up to several miles a day for the length of your trip. Cheap shoes will fall apart and then where will you be? Buying shoes. Buying shoes on a trip isn’t a bad thing, I do it all the time and I’ll address that in a bit.

When deciding which shoes to take remember that your feet will likely swell a bit, especially in the heat of summer, so take shoes that will accommodate that. You need shoes with some structure but also resilience. I like leather shoes, they meet that criteria of structure and resilience so well.

I love Birkenstocks in the summer months. They have a perfect sole in my opinion, stiff with a bit of cushion and they have become more fashion forward that those ‘Jesus shoes’ of years gone by.

Good shoes are well made and have excellent support. If you have these in your closet and you love them, take them.

Rule #4 Wear Lightweight Shoes

Heavy shoes suck. They suck the energy right out of you. Unless you have calves like The Hulk wear shoes that don’t weigh a metric ton. Do I need to explain this further?

Heavy shoes get heavier as the day goes by. Start out in those puppies and you think, ‘I got this, they are sturdy and keep my ankles from rolling and they are just great!’ By 5pm, after trekking all over those beautiful marble sidewalks in Athens you’ll think the mob had fitted you with concrete boots and you’ll be begging Tony Two Face to toss you into the sea.

I know, you are going to Iceland or hiking in Lapland and you need boots. Get good ones that aren’t crazy heavy. I bought new hiking boots a few years ago for Iceland. I tried on a lot before narrowing it down to two. Of those two, one was on sale and the other was about 2lbs lighter per foot. Guess which one I bought. My legs weren’t aching, my feet were happy and didn’t feel like they were encased in quickcrete.

Do wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane and pack the smaller ones to save space in the suitcase.

 

Rule #5 Buy Shoes Abroad

I am not saying go to Europe with flip flops on your feet and expect to buy all the shoes you will wear on the trip while you are on the trip. That is silly. But don’t be afraid to buy a pair.

Typically, when I buy shoes on a trip I don’t wear them right away unless I have a day where I am doing very little walking. You know, the day of the 6hr train ride or 2 flights across 7 countries.

You do want shoes that you’ve broken in a bit, shoes that know your feet and that your feet enjoy. My feet appreciate shoes with whom they’ve had a few dates before they are whisked off to another continent with them.  If you do buy shoes on a trip save the daily wearing of them for your next trip when they are on a more intimate standing with your piggies.

One thing to remember when buying shoes, and in all things while traveling, is that people live and thrive in the places you visit. They have shoe inserts and band-aids to help if you do find your feet protesting.

By all means buy shoes on a trip. Buying shoes abroad is fun (buying shoes is always fun for me) and they are a great souvenir. That snow globe isn’t going to serve much functional purpose in your life back home but shoes certainly will.

Remember there is no perfect travel shoe. Walk A LOT to prepare. Choose good shoes that are supportive and well made. Wear shoes that are lightweight and still meet the criteria of having structure resilience and good soles.

In the end take shoes you love and that love your feet.  Savor all the beautiful places those shoes will take you.

Jocelyn

 

See More of Jocelyn’s Travel Videos & Blogs

Travel Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers

 

How to Do Your Laundry While You Travel

 

 

 

 

The Best Family Travel Hacks Out There

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11 Family Travel Hacks That You Can Actually Use

Greetings from Paris, France! We’re here at Sacre Coeur in the Montmartre District; my favorite district in Paris. We always stay in Montmartre when we’re visiting Paris; good prices and great food in a wonderful atmosphere. Today, I’m sharing 11 travel hacks that all travelers should know. These are travel hacks that we actually use to make family travel with two kids much easier, so they are legit hacks that we’ve actually tested.

Family Travel Hack #1: Getting Cheap Airline Tickets

 

We travel a lot, and with a family of four, we always have to look for deals on flights. The trick is to book early and compare websites. We start with a few consolidator websites like Expedia, CheapTickets and Kayak. From those websites, you can see which airline has the cheapest flights for the cities you are flying to and from. Then, go directly to the website of the airline you found in your consolidator search. You might even save a little bit more money by going direct to the airline.

 

Bonus Travel Hack: Clear out your browser cache and cookies before you get online to shop for flights. Set your browser to private, or incognito. This can often get you a better price.

 

Family Travel Hack #2: Roll Your Clothes to Fit More In Your Suitcase

 

Jocelyn swears by this, and it does work. Rolling your clothes means you’ll have much more space – to pack more, or to buy more things on your trip.

 

Bonus Hack: Bring Downy Wrinkle Releaser to use when you unroll your clothes.

 

Watch: Travel Packing Tips & Hacks

 

Family Travel Hack #3: Use Dryer Sheets To Keep Your Clothes Smelling Clean

 

Throw some dryer sheets in your luggage and it will keep your clothes smelling fresh during your trip. Dryer sheets will make everything smell better, especially when you are mixing clean and dirty clothes in your suitcase. This will make a huge difference after a few weeks of travel.

 

Bonus Hack: You can also use Downy Wrinkle Release or Febreze for a quick scent boost on your clothes.

 

Family Travel Hack #4 Avoid Long Lines at Major Sites by Booking Tickets Online

 

Nobody likes waiting in line, but if you visit major tourist destinations in peak season, you can wait up to two hours to get in to places like the Louvre, the Vatican or the Coliseum. Where it’s available, I encourage you to buy your tickets ahead of time and bypass the lines when you arrive.

 

Bonus Hack: Pre-booking online sometimes gives you access to special deals, or perks like early entry or food discounts.

Read: Travel Advice That Every 20-Something Should Know

Family Travel Hack #5: Use a Ziploc Bag to Manage Electric Cords

 

You’ve likely got a lot of cords to manage while traveling. From Ipads, cameras and laptops, you don’t want a tangled mess of cords in your backpack. I recommend using ZipLoc bags to manage your cords. TSA loves this too, as you can easily pull out any electronics when going through security lines.

 

Bonus Hack: Sometimes I use my eyeglasses case to store my cords while flying. Since I’m wearing my glasses, the case offers nice storage for cords.

Family Travel Hack # 6 Call Your Bank & Credit Card Before You Travel

 

You want to be able to buy things when you’re traveling abroad. If you don’t let your bank and credit card companies know ahead of time, your card will probably be declined. If this happens, you might have trouble calling your bank, especially if it’s a weekend and you are eight time zones away. You don’t want to be stuck with no money when you arrive at your destination.

 

Bonus Hack: This also ensures your card is only approved for the countries you are visiting, so you’ll still be protected if your card gets swiped and used elsewhere.

 

Family Travel Hack #7: Borrow a Phone Cord from Your Hotel

 

It’s so easy to forget your phone charger when remembering everything else for a trip. Many people also leave their cords behind when checking out of a hotel, so your hotel likely has a collection of phone cords you can borrow. The key is to ask if you can borrow it during your stay. Since it’s technically someone else’s property, they can’t give it to you.

 

Bonus Hack: If you have the cord but forgot the plug, you can charge your phone in the USB ports on the back of your TV.

 

Family Travel Hack #8: Scan Your Passports and Important Documents to Your Email

 

It can be concerning to carry your passports and tickets and hotel reservations and worry about your bag getting stolen. We recommend scanning everything and having a copy in your email. Put it in a PDF file and email yourself. Then if you lose anything, you can get a backup from your email. I also like to download the PDF to my phone for easy access.

 

Family Travel Hack #9: Keep Your Passport in a Ziploc Bag for Protection

 

Hypothetically speaking, let’s say a bottle of baby’s milk explodes in your purse and gets all over your passport! That actually happened to me, but luckily the rest of the family passports were in a Ziploc bag. Even if you’re just keeping your passport in a money belt, a ZipLoc will keep it from getting sweaty. If you are traveling as a family, keeping them all in one ZipLoc makes finding your passports much easier.

 

Family Travel Hack #10: Order the Vegetarian Meal When Choosing Your Airline Meal

 

Who doesn’t love horrible airline food? To get fresher and slightly better tasting airline food, order the vegetarian option when choosing your meals for the flight. These special meals are made in smaller batches, so they’re usually made closer to the departure time, meaning you have a better chance of fresher food.

Read: The BEST Ways to Eat Cheap AND Well While You Travel

Family Travel Hack #11: Wear Your Bulkiest Clothes on the Plane

 

When you’re coming home from vacation, and your suitcase is full of new purchases, plan to wear your bulkiest clothes on the plane. This will save luggage space and give you extra layers for the chilly plane ride. Wear your heaviest shoes or boots; your bulky jeans, and a few shirts. You can also tie shoes on to your backpack if they won’t fit inside.

 

Bonus Hack: Wear pants with deep pockets that you can fill up with stuff.

 

I hope you find our favorite family travel hacks useful. They help us travel around the world as a family. Check out some of our other travel videos:

Read: Top 10 Cheap European Cities

Read: The Most Common Pickpocket Techniques That Get Tourists

Six Reasons Why You NEVER Get Cheap Fares

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Six Reasons Why You NEVER Get Cheap Fares

Greetings from Granada, Nicaragua! You know how you see low cost flights, or hear about someone who got a great deal on cheap fares, but you can never actually find those cheap fares? Today, I’m sharing six reasons you aren’t getting super cheap low cost flights.

#1 Limited Time Offer

 

Usually when you see the super low cost flights, it’s for a limited time only. It could be limited to a short travel window, or it might be a flash sale that you have to jump on ASAP. Airlines use these low fares to fill seats on a plane and once they hit a minimum, they may increase the fares again. My advice is that if you see a low airfare, jump on it. If you’re flexible with time and not tied to a school calendar or other commitments, you can really take advantage of these kinds of deals.

 

Tip: If you are flexible with your travel dates, sign up for ticket alerts that will alert you to super cheap flight deals.

 

#2 While Supplies Last

 

There is usually a limited number of cheap fares when you see a airfare sale. Much like Black Friday deals on a jumbo TV, there is likely a very limited number of seats at the advertised low price. This applies to using miles for travel also. Sometimes, there are only a few lower mileage seats on each flight. Again, if you see these fares you need to be ready to jump on them before the cheap seats are all sold out.

 

Read: How Pickpockets Work in Europe

#3 Shipping & Handling Not Included (Taxes May Apply)

 

Sometimes you might see a cheap fares advertised, but by the time you check out and add on fees and taxes, you’re paying much more for that flight. Especially with low-cost carriers, like Allegiant, you will get a cheap seat, but you will pay extra for everything, including checked bags, carry-on baggage, assigned seats and more.

 

Tip: Sometimes transport from the airport can be more expensive than your cheap ticket price. Take all costs into account before jumping on a cheap fare.

 

#4 Bait & Switch

 

The cheap fares you see advertised will not match what you see online. We saw $300 tickets to Managua advertised, but once we went online, they were $1000. You might see the deal and get really excited about a destination, only to be disappointed by the higher ticket price. Sometimes those cheap tickets are for very early or very late flights, so once you choose more convenient flight times, those cheap fares disappear. Be sure to check the schedule.

#5 Would You Like Fries With That?

 

This tip refers to all the little things that add up when buying a cheap airline ticket. Similar to tip #3, you might actually see really cheap fares, but then start to watch as all the little charges add up. Want to pay with your credit card? That’s $4. Want to pay with your debit card? That’s only $2. Forgot to print your boarding pass at home? That’ll be $4 to print it at the airport! Snacks and food will cost extra. As a family traveling together, we might want to board early to get the overhead space. That can be another $15. You really have to look out for hidden costs as they might add up to the price of a regular flight and even up not being such a great deal after all.

Read: How to Eat Cheap & Well While Traveling

#6 Buy One Get One Pricing

 

You might see a super cheap ticket from Chicago to Managua, but then when you try to find a deal on a return flight, you can’t. This happens a lot when you see a good deal. It can be really difficult to match up a return ticket to get you to the low advertised price.

 

If you liked these tips, you’ll love some of our other travel advice videos:

 

Food & Travel: How to Eat Cheap AND Well While Traveling

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Food And Travel: How to Eat Cheap & Well While Traveling

Greetings from Granada, Nicaragua. Today I’m sharing tips on how to eat well and eat cheap as well as finding those cheap eats when you travel. Travel and food go hand in hand, but eating out all the time can add up to an expensive vacation! From finding a lunch special, to choosing the street food truck over a restaurant, these are some tips and tricks we use that help us travel all the time without spending a fortune on food!

Budget Food and Travel Tip #1: Don’t Eat!

 

Ok, I’m not saying not to eat at all, but you don’t need to eat three large meals every day. Cut back to two big meals per day. Maybe you have a good breakfast and a hearty lunch, then just a snack for dinner. Traveling with two adults and two kids means we can spend 50 to 100 dollars per meal. A cheap snack can save you up to 80% over a full meal at dinner time.

 

Budget Food and Travel Tip #2: Look For A Lunch Special

 

Lots of countries around the world have lunch specials where you get the same big dinner meal, but at a much cheaper lunch price. For example, in Spain, you can have a 3-course lunch for about 12 Euros anywhere you go. A normal meal price at dinner might be 20-30 Euros, so you can see how much you’ll save by eating the lunch special.

 

Budget Food and Travel Tip #3:  Use the Grocery Store

 

Visiting the grocery store while traveling is a great cultural experience and it’s way more fun than hitting up the grocery store back home. It’s interesting to see how people shop and how they live. Not only will you get to see some unique items, but you really can save money by picking up some groceries. In Paris, you really can grab a baguette and cheese and go sit on a park bench. It’s easy to pick up ingredients for sandwiches, and eat at a park. Yesterday, we picked up a package of tamales and ate them while we sat next to a volcano. What’s even better about this is when you find a nice scenic spot, you can just enjoy your lunch without searching for a nearby restaurant.

 

Budget Food and Travel Tip #4:  Find Street Food Trucks

 

Whether it’s a bratwurst from a kiosk, or grabbing a local specialty from a food cart, you can save a ton of money eating from street food trucks. You can have a 3 Euro bratwurst on the street or pay 12 Euros for the bratwurst plate at a restaurant. For dinner, we usually snack on street food like quesillos here in Nicaragua. In Germany, we might finish off the night with a bratwurst. Not to mention, street food is usually really tasty!

Budget Food and Travel Tip #5: Go Where the Locals Go

 

If the locals are lining up at a place, it’s probably pretty good. It will also probably be more reasonably priced than the restaurants primarily attracting tourists. Tourist restaurants are priced higher because tourists are willing to spend more on vacation, while locals generally look for more reasonably priced options. Don’t be scared to ask a local for recommendations as they can point you to some really good places to eat. In Cancun, we asked the people working at our hotel where to eat. We bypassed the overpriced, mediocre tourist restaurants and found fantastic food at fantastic prices with fantastic service.

 

Budget Food and Travel Tip #6: Free Hotel Breakfast

 

If your hotel doesn’t have a free breakfast, don’t take it. Most of the time, if you pay for breakfast at your hotel, it’s a lot more expensive than if you were to leave the hotel and have breakfast elsewhere. In Berlin, our hotel charged 17 Euros for breakfast. The city is full of great bakeries with so many options, including the little 3 Euro sandwiches that my son loved. For 17 Euros, I could get 17 individual items from a bakery, and feed the whole family rather than taking one pass through the buffet line.

 

I hope you find this advice helpful as you travel and eat your way around the world. If you really want a great destination where you can eat cheap but well, I encourage you to check out Nicaragua!

 

The Don’ts of Nicaragua

 

10 Shocks of Visiting Granada, Nicaragua

 

10 Things That Are NOT Overrated About Visiting Europe

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Ten Things That Are Not Overrated About Europe

Greetings from the Coliseum in Rome, Italy! Today I’m sharing with you ten things that are not overrated about visiting Europe. We have two videos on things that are overrated in Europe, but there are some things that are spot on when it comes to visiting Europe.

#1 Long Lines At Major European Landmarks

 

The long lines you’ve heard about at the best European landmarks are not overrated! We’re here in January, and there’s a very long line to get into the coliseum. The lines at the Vatican Museum are equally long. In winter! If you come in summer, the lines are really crazy long, up to two kilometers long in some places. If there’s a museum in Europe that you really want to visit, check to see if they have online reservations that will allow you to bypass the long lines. For attractions like the Louvre or Vatican Museum, you can book tours online. I can’t recommend this enough, especially in summer. In the offseason, you might get into the Louvre in five minutes, while high season can be as long as two hours to get in to any of the most popular European landmarks.

 

#2 Some of the Countries With the Best Food Are in Europe

 

French and Italian food are not overrated. Both cuisines are amazing. In France, you’ll love the bread and the cheese, but there is much more. You’ll have duck, frog legs and escargot. In Italy, it’s not just pasta and pizza. They have amazing meets and cheeses, and fantastic wines. Even if you go to places that aren’t known for their cuisine, like Sweden or Finland or England, you’ll still find dishes that are really good. When you are traveling, make sure you eat local. Don’t just go to McDonald’s or the local kebab place, but make sure you’re eating where the locals do. Europe really does have some of the countries with the best food, including France, Italy and Greece.

 

#3 European Low-Cost Airlines

 

The low cost European airlines really do have great deals! EasyJet and RyanAir have ridiculously cheap fares around Europe. I can fly from Rome to Berlin for 35 Euros. These fares are more easily found if you book a few months in advance. If you wait until the last minute, it will be more expensive. So, the idea that you have to take EuroRail or InterRail isn’t the case any more as it can be just as cheap to fly now. You can find the cheapest flight to the U.S. and then catch low-cost carriers to go elsewhere in Europe. Sometimes, this can actually be cheaper than some of the train tickets. The best thing about these low-cost carriers is they have made it affordable to see all of Europe.

 

#4 The Top European Landmarks are Well Worth Visiting

 

There’s a reason the lines are so long at places like the Coliseum and the Vatican. It’s because they really are fantastic, and you will not regret visiting the Louvre in Paris, the Prado in Madrid or the Pergamon in Berlin. When your guidebooks mention the top European landmarks, they are well worth going to. Some of the secondary sights, like Madame Tussaud’s, may not be worth the hype, or may be overpriced.

 

#5 European Beer

 

Let’s be honest. If you’re having over some friends you want to impress; do you buy an American beer or a German beer? Germany, Czech Republic and Belgium have tons of local brewers and a history of brewing. Germany even had a beer purification law for hundreds of years because their beer is so good. If you find yourself in any of these countries, make sure you try the local beer: it’s not overrated! When you come back home, the beer just won’t taste the same as European beer fresh from the brewer.

 

#6 The Expensive Countries Really Are Expensive

 

England, Switzerland and Scandinavia are much more expensive than other European countries. For what you would spend on one week in Switzerland, you could spend two weeks in Portugal or Spain. So, if you are planning to visit any of these expensive countries, plan to spend significantly more on food, lodging and transportation than you would if you went to Italy, Spain or Portugal.

#7 Fashion Trend Setting in Cities Like Paris & Milan

 

When you visit Milan and Paris, you will notice that everyone around you (minus the tourists) is impeccably dressed in the latest fashion. Milan and Paris are on the cutting edge of fashion, so you’re likely to see new styles that won’t pop up elsewhere for six months or a year. There is a very different sense of style in Europe than in the U.S. If you want to blend in a little bit, you might want to do some research on fashion in Europe. Your white tennis shoes, white socks and baseball caps will mark you as a tourist, and possibly a pickpocket target, right away.

 

#8 Pickpockets & Beggars in Europe

 

There are a lot of pickpockets and beggars in Europe. Yes, we have them in the U.S. as well, but you’ll see many more in Europe, especially at the major sights. At the Coliseum, or in Barcelona, you really have to pay attention for pickpockets. Keep your valuables safe when visiting these popular sights around Europe. There are also many beggars, and some of them are children, which can be shocking the first time you see it. Do not give money to the beggars, as it’s usually part of a racket that you don’t want to help support.

 

Watch: 13 Ways Pickpockets Rob You!

 

#9 European Tour Groups Will Run You Over

 

The European tour groups are everywhere and they will run you over. If you see a tour group coming, get out of the way as they will not stop! Keep your kids close so they aren’t swept away in the crowd. I’ve been run over in Versailles, and my kids were pushed aside for a photo opp at the Vatican. It’s best to get way ahead of a European tour group, or just step aside and let them pass by.

 

#10 Summer Eurofunk on Public Transport

 

In the summer, you might experience the Eurofunk, or a peculiar smell, especially on public transportation. In Europe, people do bathe, but just like on Chicago’s CTA in the summer, be prepared for some funky smells in close quarters. All you can do is make sure you are clean and using deodorant so you’re not adding to the problem. After spending many summers in Europe, I can verify this is a real thing!

 

These are my top ten things that are not overrated about coming to Europe. Check out some of our other Europe videos:

The Most Common Pickpocket Techniques Used to Rob Tourists

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Thirteen Pickpocket Techniques to Avoid While Traveling

Greetings from London, England! While we’re having a great time here in England, we know that some tourists have a bad time thanks to pickpockets. So, today I want to share with you some of the common ruses used by pickpockets throughout Europe.

Pickpocket Technique #1 Entering or Exiting Public Transportation

 

A favorite spot for pickpockets to hang out is at the entry and exit of a train or bus so they can quickly exit. They might have their hand on your pocket or in your purse, but by the time you realize it, they’ve exited and the doors are closed. So, if you are standing near doors or exits on public transit, pay extra attention to your surroundings and belongings. Even more so when it’s crowded as lots of people can equal lots of confusion.

 

Pickpocket Technique #2 Crowding or Grouping

 

In this instance, you might see four or five individuals gathering around one tourist and then one of them will pickpocket the tourist. This actually happened to me on the metro in Lisbon, where five guys crowded me and tried to rob me. Sometimes the train is just crowded, but you can tell the difference if you are being crowded and singled out vs just being in a packed car. This also applied to a crowded platform, not just on the train.

 

Pickpocket Technique #3 Metro Turnstiles

 

When you’re going through the turnstiles to get into the subway system in places like Paris, you might see someone try to sneak in behind you as though they are just trying to get a free ride. But what they’re actually doing is trying to snatch your wallet as you rush through the turnstile with them right behind you. This happened to my dad in Paris, but luckily the police were right there and the girls who did it dropped my dad’s belongings.

 

Pickpocket Technique #4 Bag Slashing

 

If you have a purse or a backpack, you have to watch out for thieves who might slash your bag. They might cut the bottom open or a slit in the side to get access to your valuables inside the bag. In Rome, my friend’s mom had seven different slash marks where pickpockets had tried to gain access to the inside. Fortunately, she had a metal wire through her bag because she already knew about the pickpockets.

 

Pickpocket Technique #5 Ticket Kiosks

 

Another place to be hyper-aware of pickpockets is at ticket kiosks. Often, a “helpful” local will offer to help you figure out the transit system. This is a ruse to distract you while they, or a friend, reaches around in your bag while you are paying attention to the ticket kiosk.

 

The Most Popular Places for Pickpockets to Work

 

Pickpocket Technique #6 Street Bump

 

I see this one in Barcelona a lot. Someone might bump into you in the street and apologize, while at the same time lifting your wallet before disappearing into the crowd. So, anytime someone bumps into you, do a quick wallet check to make sure you haven’t been robbed.

 

Pickpocket Technique #7 The Mustard Scam

 

There’s a couple variations on this one. Someone might be eating a hot dog and “accidentally” get some mustard on you. When they offer to help clean it off, you might take off your bag to let them clean your jacket and before you know it, they are gone with your bag.

Pickpocket Technique #8 Bird Poop Scam

 

Similar to mustard, but they might point out some bird poop on your shirt. It’s not generally the person who spilled on you or pointed the poop out to you; they are usually working with another partner who you won’t even notice.

 

Pickpocket Technique #9 The Over-Helpful Tourist

 

Similar to thieves offering to help you at the subway kiosks, this might be other tourists who offer you directions. They might seem helpful, but the whole time they are sizing you up. Just be aware if you find overly friendly people, especially anyone wanting to help you with your bags. Don’t accept help with your bags, especially when you’re putting them in a locker at a train station as they can switch the keys or check out your ticket number.

 

Pickpocket Technique #10 ATM

 

In France, there’s always someone sitting by the ATM so they can beg for money. Anytime you are feeling uncomfortable at an ATM, see if you can find a bank that has an indoor ATM. Generally, you’ll be safe but the ATM is a particularly vulnerable place because if a thief is watching, they know you have cash and they might even see what your PIN is. Make sure you look around and pay attention behind you while you’re at the machine. Likewise, if you are shopping and have to enter a PIN, make sure nobody is watching from behind to capture your PIN.

 

9 Reasons Why You Got Robbed While Traveling

 

Pickpocket Technique #11 Sign a Petition

 

I’ve seen this often in Spain and France. Someone will approach you on the street and ask you to sign a petition. For starters, you’re not a local, so your input on a petition would be useless. No matter what they say it’s for, just say “no thank you” and keep walking. I’ve actually seen someone use a fake arm to hold the petition while their actual arm slips underneath to pick your pocket. Even if they try to guilt you into falling for their cause, just keep moving.

 

Pickpocket Technique #12 Watching Street Performers

 

Another common place to have your pockets picked is while watching street performers. The street performer may not be involved in the scam at all, but while you are distracted by the performance, you become an easy target for the pickpockets.

 

Pickpocket Technique #13 Cafes and Restaurants

 

Another common place to be robbed is when you are out eating at a cafe and have placed your bag or purse on the back of your chair. This makes it easy for someone to grab the bag and take off. Also, when you are leaving and gathering your belongings, putting your coat on, don’t leave your phone sitting on the table or bar.

 

The biggest takeaway from all of these different scams is that you need to be vigilant all the time. This doesn’t mean you have to be paranoid, or fearful, just hyper-aware of your surroundings. Check out some of our other videos on this topic:

 

 

A Few Additional Tips for How to Avoid Pickpockets:

 

  • Put your wallet in your front pocket
  • Use the hotel safe for your passport and extra cash.
  • Remember, the more popular the tourist site, the more pickpockets that will be around.
  • If you get scared, don’t be afraid to speak to the police. Do report stolen bags and wallets to the police. You will need a copy of the police report if you want to file an insurance claim. We found English and Italian police very friendly and helpful when filing reports.