Best Travel Hacks/Tips

nailed it. a couple of things I'll add

• if you begin travelling at least 4x/yr to where you eat a meal in the airport, look at a card that gives you lounge access like the amex platinum. my wife and I figured we spend at least $150 per meal and if you consider that's 2 meals per trip x4+ trips a year, it adds up and makes the $695 fee seem totally worth it. plus cards like that have built in protections for travel insurance, favorable FX rates, etc. having lounge access anywhere in the world makes travel so much less stressful than eating some shitty bread from sbarro or some shit
• download the CBP MPC app. I don't have global entry just pre check but this app has helped me speed through customs. there's usually 4 lines - global entry/diplomats, US citizens general, foreigners, and mobile passport people. mobile passport runs nearly as fast as global entry so if you have as tough of a time getting an appt as I did, you'll be grateful you got the app
• have a debit card with world access like a world mastercard. dependent upon your bank, you may be able to get ATM fee reimbursements worldwide so essentially every ATM is your ATM. I've only done this in europe, I usually take cash out or just use USD when in 3rd world countries
• try to become loyal to an airline and play with the algo on google flights. I recently got status and holy moly it's worth it. sure my plane ticket may be $200 more round trip but I get a free checked bag and first class upgrade, that's worth it. this will also force you to know where the best connections are (e.g. I'd rather connect through philly than JFK on the way to spain unless I'm flying delta), as well as best flight durations. while you may be fine camping out in an airport for 6 hours in your 20s, that will get old quickly and you'll want to pay up for convenience, so figure out the best routes early and often
• if you must check a bag, also have a carry on with the absolute essentials - a book, a change of underwear, packable rain jacket. I prefer to only carry on but if we're going to europe for 2 weeks, it's near impossible. at some point your luggage will get lost/damaged, don't let poor preparation ruin your trip
• nightshades. sometimes the best located airbnbs are also hotspots. I've stayed near the trevi fountain in rome and loved the location, but if my room wasn't tucked away I wouldn't have been able to sleep because of ambient light. be the dork with the nightshades
• figure out what locals wear and try to match that as much as possible, you will already be a target as an american but don't try to look like one. e.g. if going to LatAm, nobody wears tommy bahama shirts, nobody in europe wears pastel colors except rich pricks on cote d'azur, if going to asia, nobody wears boat shoes. blend in
• back up all of your travel docs on google drive with offline access. just because there's wifi doesn't mean it won't be crowded and even if you have cell service, it won't be reliable
• be a good ambassador for the USA. things work differently abroad, that waiter in paris has to deal with millions of pricks every year, be nice, be patient, and smile. even if you don't know any foreign languages, a smile can go a long way. don't be the loud american in a hurry. I've had near universally positive interactions with foreigners everywhere I go. maybe it's because I'm mixed so everybody assumes I'm something I'm not, but I think behavior goes a long way
• more on patience. trains will get delayed (esp in italy and the 3rd world), flights wll get cancelled, airbnb check in people will be late (esp when it's raining), restaurants will be closed, museums will be overrun with tourists from you-know-where, just go with the flow. I don't remember how many sweaty shoulders I had to elbow the first time I went to the trevi fountain (I know, cliche), but I do remember how beautiful it was to spend a sunset there with my family
• maybe controversial - I keep my important docs on me at all times (passport, wallet, cash) in my front pants pocket (and I wear fitted pants). when on surf trips I've heard horror stories of people just walking into rooms and rummaging through everything, leaving you utterly fucked. if I get kidnapped/robbed, that's one thing (but also why you should learn BJJ and have a copy of your passport), but if I'm careless, that's just dumb
• get some pen pals - I now have close connections on every continent so can get advice on just about anywhere I'd ever want to go. look at who in your bank works in other countries and just reach out. maybe don't go with the australian head of capital markets, but you get what I'm saying. and when they come to the USA, be a good host