After we checked in to the hotel in Des Moines sometime after 1 a.m., we were greeted by the flashing lights of police cruisers. It was hard to tell whether they were responding to an incident at our hotel or at the adult establishment next door. We tried not to look too closely.

On another trip, there was a hotel somewhere in mid-Iowa where I decided against taking a shower or putting on pajamas because I was afraid to take off my socks. 

But the final straw was Omaha, where we chose a hotel on a budget that turned out to be popular with long-term work crews. The room had a bare tile floor and a small iron bed frame with lumpy mattress. Guys ready to celebrate the weekend were rolling in with armloads of booze, and women soon followed.

See, my significant other liked to try to drive between our home in Colorado and our parents’ homes in Indiana without stopping. But at some point he would concede exhaustion, and we’d end up at whatever was just off the highway. Fortunately, I’m now in charge of choosing a hotel on a budget.

Top Tips for Choosing a Hotel on a Budget

Location, location, location.

The nicest — and usually most expensive — hotels are in perfect locations. On the beaches or the slopes, in the heart of the best districts, steps from everything. But if you’re choosing a hotel on a budget, the next best stays are those that make it easy to commute to everything. 

• If you’re comfortable with public transportation, look for hotels clustered around a commuter train line, elevated train or light rail. (This worked out super well during my solo trip to Oslo.) When visiting Chicago, for example, you can easily navigate around the heart of the city via the L, and you can get into the city quickly from the ‘burbs on the Metra. You’ll find that nicer hotels are more affordable on the outskirts. 
• Investigate whether there’s a hop-on, hop-off bus service in the place that you’re visiting. You might be able to choose a hotel on the route that’s not quite in the heart of the tourist destinations, but affords you access to all of them. 
• If you’re going to have a car in your destination, very carefully scope out hotels clustered near a major interstate. Competition makes it easier to find a budget hotel in these regions. These hotels also are likely to have free parking, which can save you $30 or more per night versus valet parking or parking garage fees. Such areas also have captive audiences, however, so they don’t need to try very hard. See the section on “read those ratings” below.
• And if you find a good deal on a hotel nearer to the sites you want to see, don’t assume that you’re stuck with hotel parking fees. An app like SpotHero can pinpoint public parking garages in the vicinity, and you can park your vehicle for sometimes half the cost of the hotel garage right next door.

Shop around.

• Choosing a hotel on a budget takes a tiny bit of extra legwork. To know that you’re getting the best rate for a hotel, start with an aggregator such as booking.com. These tools are a great way to map all of the hotels in your given area and plug in any special features that you want or need, such as a pet-friendly room or free breakfast. 
• Once you’ve narrowed your list to a few properties that have the amenities you need in the price range that you desire, visit the hotels’ websites directly. Sometimes you’ll find that costs are lower if you book directly with the hotel — and if the online rate is comparable, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and ask for a better rate. You can also ask if a hotel will match its competition’s price, or see whether they will negotiate.
• You can also sometimes find cost savings or perks by joining a hotel chain’s loyalty program. And don’t forget to look for special rates for teachers, the military, seniors or members of AAA. You can even join AARP — there’s no age limit!

Read those ratings.

While price may be your first factor in choosing a hotel on a budget, keep an eye too on these other considerations: 

• how highly previous guests have rated the hotel
• how many reviews contributed to that rating (a seven-out-of-10 status based on 300 reviews is more credible than a 10-out-of-10 based on two reviews)
• how the property has responded to guest reviews, especially to guest complaints

There will always be complainers for whom there weren’t enough towels or the front desk staff seemed brusque. But if you see frequent mention of bugs, mold, malfunctioning toilets, drag racing in the streets or other serious issues, consider moving on to the next listing.

And if you’re concerned about the safety of the neighborhood in which the hotel is located — a viable consideration for solo female travelers — check out spotcrime.com. Most metro areas will have a fair number of thefts and burglaries, but a site like SpotCrime can help you determine whether you’re more likely to be greeted by crime scene tape after your post-dinner stroll.

Read the fine print.

If you book a room for $120 a night but discover later that there’s a $45-per-night resort fee, is it really such a deal? Look closely at the fees and policies section of an aggregator or hotel website, and consider double-checking what you find with a phone call or email to the property in case something is out of date.

Have you ever heard of Harvey, Louisiana? I hadn’t either, until we found a beautiful new extended-stay hotel with free breakfast there, literally across the bridge from the heart of the spectacular French Quarter in New Orleans.

Add up the amenities.

At the same time, look for amenities that make your budget hotel a greater value.

• If you’re traveling with a group of friends or your family, a free breakfast buffet can save you a significant amount of money, not to mention time — your gang can sip their coffee while they do their makeup or round up their gear. When I’m traveling solo, a breakfast buffet can tide me over until dinner.
• An in-room kitchen can also help you save money during your trip. If you have a coffeemaker or hot water kettle, a microwave and a mini fridge, you can easily put together breakfast. Some extended-stay hotels even offer dishes and a dishwasher, making lunch assembly and midnight snacks a breeze. You can also skip the pricey room service and order carryout or delivery.
• If you work while you travel, look for free wifi. It’s pretty standard now, even in budget hotels, but you can avoid unpleasant surprises with a quick bit of research.
• If you’re flying into your destination, investigate hotels that offer free airport shuttles. Unless you’re able to take a bus or train from the airport to your hotel, a shuttle can save you at least $20 each way. (And your driver will often be happy to give you a little introduction to his or her hometown.)
• And free parking is a fantastic bonus, especially if you can find it in the heart of the city. 

It’s still sometimes a challenge to reserve a decent hotel on a road-trip budget. I occasionally find myself relying on Hotel Tonight, an app that offers rooms that hotels still want to fill that very night for a discount. It’s not a solution for a vacation, unless you don’t mind moving from room to room or hotel to hotel every day, but it’s a helpful tool in a pinch.

Choosing a hotel on a budget frees up money for the fun things you want to do on your trip; and if it’s a good vacation, then you won’t be spending much time in your room anyway. But with a little bit of effort, you can also find a stay that combines affordability with cleanliness, comfort, safety and convenience. Because it’s nice to be able to take off your socks!

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Ready to book your trip?

Book your accommodations

We like booking.com for accommodations. They offer a range of hotels, resorts, apartments, guesthouses and even hostels. The platform also has a loyalty program that allows members to save even more.

Book your tours

We love booking tours through a single provider and keeping our mobile tickets in one spot. We use GetYourGuide. We appreciate that they work with local companies and provide a wide variety of tours!

Stay connected

When using an eSIM, we like Airalo. An eSIM is the easiest way to obtain cell service outside your network. We have used their eSIM cards in Budapest, Canada and Ecuador, and so far, so good! Simply download the Airalo app, select the country you’re traveling to, and choose the amount of data you want. Follow the installation instructions and turn it on when you arrive!

Shopping for your trip?

We make a small commission when you use our Amazon Affiliate link. It helps offset the expense of maintaining our website and costs you nothing extra.

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_{Although we strive to provide the most current information, bars, restaurants and attractions mentioned may close at any time, operate with a limited menu or reduced hours, or have takeout options only. We recommend checking individual websites for operating hours, updates, and social distancing measures before visiting. The views expressed on this website represent the opinions of the authors; we encourage you to form your own opinions and confirm any facts.}

The clothes you choose for a trip aren’t only about looking good … though we have nothing against cute. But when you’re traveling, functionality, comfort and the culture in your destination play a part in what you pack as well. 

You don’t have to spend a fortune on “travel” clothes. The items in your everyday wardrobe can serve as travel clothes — you may simply need to add a few pieces for specific activities such as surfing or hiking. 

Beyond creating a capsule wardrobe — sticking to a single palette so that you can mix and match — we’d like to humbly suggest these particular travel clothes that we always make room for in our bags. Here’s the Travel Gear We Love: Clothing Edition. 

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The travel clothes you choose should be comfortable, easy to wash and versatile.

HEATHER

I used to primarily pack carry-on only, and often I still do. It really depends on where I am going and what I am doing, regardless, I try to pack as light as I can! I also try to purchase items I can wear on a lot of different types of trips. I choose quality items that will hold up over time so I can use them trip after trip. Most of my “travel clothes” are my regular clothes with some quick dry, sink-washable items thrown in when necessary. That being said, below are my tried and true foundational elements.

Shoes

I can not overstate this: finding good travel shoes is so important. You will most likely be putting a lot of miles on them in a short amount of time. Even in the ultra-fashionable city of Paris, comfortable shoes were king. You’ll always see the women strutting down the street in stilettos, and they look good doing it! But I’m 54 and my feet are too, so cute and comfortable are very important to me.

Cariuma Shoes

I learned about Cariuma from Julianne and I love them! White sneakers are a popular shoe right now, which makes the white-on-white leather Salvas an excellent choice. The shoe cleans up nicely, is super comfortable, and even after two years of wear, they still look brand new. I love the Pantone colors that Cariuma has and purchased the white canvas pair, with Viva Magenta accents for an upcoming trip to Spain. I have arthritis in my feet, and after five or six miles, I usually start to experience foot pain in even my most trusted shoes. I purchased my Salvas two years ago before a trip to Lisbon. I walked 52 miles in six days in these brand-new just-out-of-the-box shoes, and my feet felt great! These are a staple on most of my trips.

Toms

I love heels, but my feet no longer love them. However, I have found a heeled sandal I can still wear that is comfortable enough to walk a fair bit in. It’s the Toms Majorca. I tromped around Greenwich Village in these when I visited NYC. They have a sturdy heel that comes in classic, rope or cork for various settings. I love the classic and they come out with different fabrics every so often. I’m ordering the cork version for my Spain trip this fall because I’ll be visiting the Island of Majorca and it seems fitting!

Birkenstocks

I was surprised a few years ago when I started seeing Birkenstocks everywhere. They have elevated the brand, and I can’t deny the quality and comfort of a good pair of Birks. I like the multi-strap Mayari and find them incredibly versatile and comfortable for many types of travel.

Jackets and Coats

Eddie Bauer Cirruslite Hooded Down Jacket

If I’m traveling and it’s dipping below 50 degrees F, I’m packing this jacket. It’s so lightweight it feels like you’re wearing nothing, but you’re warm. I love having a hood in case it rains. It’s water repellent, which means you’ll be fine in light rain, and OK in a heavy one until you can get to shelter. I layer it over a long-sleeve shirt and hoodie if it’s colder but in most cases, this will suffice. I wear it all through our very cold Indiana winters, down to zero degrees.

The best part? It will literally fit in the water bottle pouch on my backpack. It packs down THAT SMALL. It’s a very affordable price point, and Eddie Bauer has a great return policy. 

Cotopaxi Windbreaker

The Cotopaxi Teca Half Zip Windbreaker packs down into its own pocket, making it a very easy-to-pack add-on. If I am going to be biking, hiking, sailing or kayaking, I grab this baby. It’s a great middle layer if it’s on the brisk side or a great top layer to cut the wind. Cotopaxi is a company with a wonderful mission; I love supporting them. 

Cotopaxi Fuego

I snagged the Fuego on a big-time end-of-season clearance sale, and I love, love, love it. Not only are the colors super fun I love that it packs down really small in it’s own zipped pocket but I love the interior layout. With interior pockets on both sides as well as zipped exterior pockets it’s the perfect travel coat. Super warm, cozy, and colorful, what more can you ask for?

Socks

Comrad Compression Socks

Simply the cutest compression socks you will find. Wearing compression socks on long-haul flights is important. I don’t care if you’re 20 or 100, the health benefits outweigh the slight irritation. I have the knee-high pink and blue striped ones. I love them. I’ve had them for 5 years and only wear them on long flights but they still look like brand new.

Why compression socks? On travel days that involve sitting for long periods of time, wearing compression socks reduces the side effects of edema. Compression socks work their magic by gently squeezing the legs to increase blood flow from your legs and feet back toward your heart. Once the blood starts to move, swelling subsides. You’ll also lower the risk of developing blood clots that can lead to deep vein thrombosis. Check out our post on surviving long flights for more tips.

Bombas Socks

I love Bombas. I bought a four-pack four or five years ago, and they still feel like new socks. Seriously, I love them. I have them in ankle, quarter and calf lengths. I take six pairs regardless of the length of the trip and wash them in the sink when I need to. Bombas donates a pair of socks for every purchase. They are not cheap, but they will last for a long time. I buy them for everyone I know — I love them that much.

Pants

AE Relaxed Mom Jogger 

I’m not a big fan of recommending “travel clothes,” because, for the most part, I’m traveling in clothes I wear at home. And these are no exception, but they are great for travel, and here’s why: elastic waist, so many pockets, soft and thin enough to be comfy and flattering but structured enough to not look sloppy. Pair with sneakers, flats or birks. Versatile. I have two pairs, black and olive. 

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JULIANNE

I have a few considerations for my must-have travel clothes list. One: I need certain things (compression socks, elastic waistbands) to keep me healthy and able. Two: I need certain things for certain kinds of trips — European city versus backpacking through the Upper Peninsula, for example. That being said, my favorite travel clothes are largely socks and shoes.

Tara M Boots from The Walking Company

Sadly, my gray and black pairs aren’t on The Walking Company’s website any more. But you can find lots of great pairs of basic “European city” boots by other brands in The Walking Company’s stores and on their website. Mine are your classic lug heel that lace up with a side zipper — not unlike Doc Martens in appearance. I’ve become a big fan of products from both The Walking Company and Aerosoles for heavy-duty walking in urban settings — both typically have great arch support.

Allbirds Tree Breezers

I don’t wear flats very often. Since I started working from home exclusively, I like a really comfortable chunky heel, or I live in tennis shoes. But when I need to split the difference and walk a lot, these are a go-to. They’re called Tree Breezers, but they feel like clouds. No slipping on my heel or very narrow feet, no pinching my long toes, no weird creases. And they’re sustainably made. I threw mine in the washing machine after road-testing them in Manhattan, and they washed beautifully. 

Salomon Women’s Hiking Boots

I put a lot of miles on my hiking boots in some rugged terrain — I live in Colorado, after all. But I first bought these when I lived in Indiana for a six-day backpacking trip through the Upper Peninsula, my first big hiking adventure of any kind. Nothing like starting off with a 42-mile trek carrying 35-plus pounds on your back. These allowed room for my feet to swell, and I didn’t lose any toenails. They have high ankle coverage for stability on uneven, rocky surfaces or when carrying a load, and they’re waterproof for stream crossings.

If I’m flying for a hiking adventure, I’ll usually just wear them on the airplane, because they’re too big to pack. (And I have Global Entry, so I don’t have to take off my shoes in security.) 

Sketchers Air-Cool Memory Foam Slip-ons

I first bought Aerosoles in Times Square, when I wore out the shoes that I had been wearing to walk all over the Big Apple. And I first bought these black Sketchers in Las Vegas, when I decided it would be a good idea to walk every inch of the Strip and more in a single day and nearly hobbled myself. They’ve become my go-to for any journey (unless I’m wearing my hiking boots) because they’re soft and comfortable, cool, let my feet swell, and slip off easily on an airplane or in the car. These also go through the washing machine amazingly well. I only wore one pair of shoes on a two-week trip through South Africa and Zimbabwe, and this was it.

REI Midweight Wool Hiking Socks

Believe it or not, of all the fancy, technical hiking socks out there, I love the basic, cheapest REI midweight wool hiking socks. They’re so thick and cozy. They provide amazing cushioning not only under my Salomons but also under my Tara M boots, because my ankles are bony, and zip-up boots always gap. They’re wool, which means they wick moisture and keep your feet healthy. They’re like a warm hug for your feet.

Kuhl Weekendr Tight

First things first: Kuhl Weekendr Tights don’t look or feel like yoga pants. But they’re every bit as comfortable. I got a pair for my birthday about five years ago; since then I’ve worn them with tennis shoes and a tee while hiking in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, as well as with chunky sandals and a blouse while working in a law firm in downtown Denver. They’re super versatile! They have a slight texture, with a bit of detail on the thighs that dresses things up, yet they have give and stretch. They have pockets — a must in every travel pant. They have an elastic waistband that lays flat, so you have no odd pouch or pooch, and they skim the backside for a more refined look than yoga pants. They’re lightweight, rugged, wash and dry easily and go with everything. I love my Kuhl Weekendr Tights so much that I just ordered a second pair of the exact same thing, except a size smaller, because the first were always a bit loose in the waist. And because I want to be sure I have a lifetime supply of these pants. And because I want to keep a pair in our place in Denver and our condo out east. Come to think of it, I probably need to order more.

Black Joggers

I’m still seeking a pair that doesn’t make my skinny butt look flat and dumpy. Lululemon’s Ready to Rulu joggers are the best so far. You can’t beat a pair of soft pants with an elastic waistband (crucial for someone with IBS and dangerous swelling of the extremities when sitting or flying). Even better, they have pockets, super handy when you’re juggling things as you travel. And they’re basic enough to dress up or down — essential when it comes to travel clothes.

Cariuma No-Show Socks

Don’t get me wrong — I love Cariuma shoes, too. They look super cool and are made even better. They have a skater pedigree, so they’re sturdy…but they’re also sustainable, constructed of cork and recycled materials. And the company is a B Corp, with all the good that comes from that. But the socks that Cariuma makes to go under their shoes are the real deal. They actually don’t get sucked into your shoes no matter how much walking you do, and they hide under almost anything. Good no-show socks have been my holy grail, and I’ve found them. Right now you have to buy the shoes to order the socks, but I’m counting on this to change soon.

As a fallback, check out ZeroSock’s Women’s Bamboo Super Low Invisible Socks. They don’t suck, literally, no matter how much walking I do. And when I travel, I need travel clothes that can withstand walks.

Patagonia Jacket

I had a really hard time writing my section of this blog, because all of my travel clothes are so old that they doesn’t show up on websites anymore. Yet my gear is still going strong, which is why I love it so much! Take my midweight blue Patagonia jacket. I bought it from REI when I bought my Salomon boots and everything else I needed for that 2015 backpacking trip, under the advice of some super helpful outdoorsy dudes. 

(Seriously, if you need a lot of travel gear, go to REI. The people who work there are passionate and know their stuff. The return policy is phenomenal, as are the store’s environmental practices. And a co-op membership pays for itself in no time.) 

At the time that I bought this jacket, I knew nothing about Patagonia. But since then I’ve become a devotee — I’ve even read the founder’s book. I can’t love a brand more than I love Patagonia. (REI is a close second.) And this Patagonia jacket is my grab-and-go for just about anything outdoors. It’s a great weight for cool days, and it can go under a heavy coat or over a few layers with ease. It has pockets galore, all with zippers. It’s extremely washable, stuffable and smushable, and thin enough that I can tie it around my waist when I get too warm.

It will last forever; and if for some reason it doesn’t, Patagonia will repair it. I wish that all of my clothes were made by Patagonia, except that I have to come out of the mountains sometimes. 

Travel clothes can be hard to recommend, because what you pack for a trip is very dependent on your destination, activities, body type and personal style. But there are a few pieces we love that go the extra mile. In fact, they’re so helpful that they go nearly all of the extra miles with us. 

Ready to book your trip?

Book your accommodations

We like booking.com for accommodations. They offer a range of hotels, resorts, apartments, guesthouses and even hostels. The platform also has a loyalty program that allows members to save even more.

Book your tours

We love booking tours through a single provider and keeping our mobile tickets in one spot. We use GetYourGuide. We appreciate that they work with local companies and provide a wide variety of tours!

Stay connected

When using an eSIM, we like Airalo. An eSIM is the easiest way to obtain cell service outside your network. We have used their eSIM cards in Budapest, Canada and Ecuador, and so far, so good! Simply download the Airalo app, select the country you’re traveling to, and choose the amount of data you want. Follow the installation instructions and turn it on when you arrive!

Shopping for your trip?

We make a small commission when you use our Amazon Affiliate link. It helps offset the expense of maintaining our website and costs you nothing extra.

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_{This post likely contains affiliate links. If you shop or make a reservation through these links, we may make a small commission (for which we are very grateful!) at no extra cost to you. Not all links are affiliates, and we only suggest products and places that we have experienced.}

_{We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites.}

_{The views expressed on this website represent the opinions of the authors; we encourage you to form your own opinions and confirm any facts.}

Until a few years ago, I never even packed a daypack for hikes. I live in Indiana, on the north end, where it’s pretty flat. 

I’ve taken a lot of day hikes armed with nothing more than a water bottle and good intentions. 

But with knowledge comes responsibility, and when I started traveling more and working hiking into some of my trips, I realized I was quite unprepared for even a slight inconvenience, let alone an emergency. 

When I read Julianne’s Day Hiking Essentials list, I knew I needed to do better. That being said, Julianne is a much more adventurous hiker than I am, so I scaled my list back to be appropriate for my hiking type. I highly recommend reading Julianne’s other pieces on the outdoors, such as The Ten Essentials for Hiking and 8 Surprising Sunsmart Tips.

Knowing what to pack for a day hike is based on personal preference, and hiking factors. This day hiking checklist for beginners is appropriate for a beginner or intermediate hiker doing a 1-5 mile hike, presumably on a well-trafficked and well-marked trail. I would use this list for up to 5 miles of hiking, depending on the terrain, the weather, and the altitude.  

There are a lot of reasons to be well prepared, but I’ll give you two:

1. You want to end a hike alive. That sounds dramatic, but people die hiking through miscalculation, recklessness, or accidents. 
2. Not being prepared can put other hikers, or rescue personnel, many of whom are volunteers, at risk. 

With that, let’s get into it! 

What to pack for a day hike – for Beginners

Essential Hiking Gear

Daypack – I use the Eddie Bower Stowaway. It’s inexpensive, well-made, and has served me well on multiple trips. It packs into its own pocket, making it very packable to take along in my carry-on suitcase and holds plenty of gear when unfolded. Made with rip-stop fabric with lots of excellent features. Repels water (not waterproof), lightly padded straps, and at a $30-$40 pricepoint (often less!) it’s an affordable daypack for the beginning hiker. 

Hiking boots – My hiking boots were not pricey, and they work just fine for the type of hiking I do. They are by Columbia, and I bought the cheapest ones I could find. They are not pretty or fancy but have good ankle support and tread. Make sure you buy the right size. If you are between sizes, size up. You want about a finger’s width between your toes and the end of the boot. Your feet will swell, and when going downhill, your toes will meet the front of the boot repeatedly. Mine are water resistant and do fine in damp, muddy conditions – including light rain. They are not fully waterproof. Getting fitted for hiking boots is greatly encouraged. 

Waterbottle or Water Bladder

Bonus items: 

Trekking poles – Trekking poles aren’t just for those of us over 50! They are helpful for anyone as they provide stabilization, improve efficiency and take some pressure off your legs, specifically your knees and ankles. 

Winter traction gear – If you are hiking in winter, ice spikes strap onto your boots and provide amazing stability. I borrowed a pair from my son when I was in Tromso, Norway and they were so helpful for navigating up the slick, hillly sidewalks.

Clothing for Hiking

You do not have to have a bunch of technical gear, and you don’t have to spend a fortune, either. 

Wool Socks – Wool socks that fit well (not too big!) are imperative. Wool will wick the moisture away from your feet, making you much less likely to blister. I like Bombas brand. Take an extra pair in your day-pack in case your feet get soaked. While your boots might still be wet, a dry pair of socks will take some time until the end of your hike. 

Clothing – Moisture-wicking clothes in layers and quick dry fabrics are your best bet. 

Wool is a great moisture-wicking fabric and many of the new brands are also quick to dry after you wash them.

I like a good wool tank top, topped with a lightweight jacket. If it’s going to be cooler, I’ll also pack a fleece. I always pack my Coto-Paxi wind jacket. It’s lightweight and packs up super small. I have a pair of inexpensive cargo-style joggers from Target (quick dry) that I typically use on my hikes unless I wear shorts. 

Bonus tip: Used gear

I scour my local thrift stores for brands like The North Face and Patagonia, whose gear is a bit outside my price point but lasts a long time.  Many brands now sell used gear on their own sites as part of their sustainability efforts, so be sure to check your favorite brand websites to see if they have used items. Check out The Northface Renewed or Patagonia Worn Wear. There are also sites specific to used outdoor gear, like Out and Back Outdoor and Gear Trade.

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Now that you are dressed and ready to go, you need to make sure you are packing your day-pack appropriately. While you can scale up or down, the list below will keep you covered, literally, in most emergencies.

What to put in your pack – Dayhiking Checklist for Beginners

Emergency items:

Even on a short to medium hike, accidents can happen. It’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. Bumps, scrapes, bug bites, even a twisted ankle  – This list has you covered.

I put these first five items in a snack-size zip-lock baggie. I keep one set in my regular travel bag too.

• Gauze
• Bandaids
• Anti-bacterial ointment
• Tweezers
• Alcohol pads 

• Ace Bandage – 2” wrap – If you twist an ankle, which is really easy to do, this will help you get back to the car.
• Blister care pack
• Bandanna – great to cover your hair to keep ticks off but can also be used in an emergency as a tourniquet or other emergency bandage.
• Bivy – I had NO idea what a bivy was until I met Julianne. They can be used for cowboy camping (no tent) as an extra layer around your sleeping bag but an emergency bivvy is designed to keep you warm/dry/protected should you find yourself in an extreme element unprepared. (snow, rain, heat)

Protection items:

• Sunblock
• Bug spray 
• Biodegradable wipes – if nature calls
• Chapstick with SPF
• Paper bag – You need to take your bathroom tissue or wipes with you, don’t leave them in nature
• Hat – Sun, baseball, knit cap – Whatever fits your situation
• Bear Spray – If hiking in Bear country 
• Bear Bell – Making noise on the trail is the best way to alert wildlife in the area; they will avoid you if they can

Bonus item: Take a spare pair if you wear contacts or glasses. If you jump into a waterfall and lose your glasses or contacts, it’ll be a real bummer (and it happens all the time!)

Navigation and Safety:

Flashlight – make sure you have fresh batteries

• Duct tape 
• Notebook and pen
• Backup ID – I carry a spare driver’s license everywhere I go. I get a ton of questions about this. I never turn in old IDs. I “lose them, ” take all my paperwork, and pay a little more for a “lost” ID vs. a renewal.
• Multitool
• Headlamp
• Lighter
• Matches
• Compass
• Paper Map – You can usually get one from the welcome center
• Download trails in All Trails Pro

Bonus item: 

If you are hiking in really remote areas or off-trail hiking, a Satellite GPS is really important

Food and Drink:

Note: Pack out everything, including bread crusts, apple cores, banana peels etc. Even if it is compostable, it’s not necessarily native; pack it out.  Do not feed animals. Even the super cute chipmunks who will literally eat out of your hand (OMG – yes, they are so cute) – DON’T FEED THEM. Leave no trace!

Ideas for easy, packable snacks for your day hike:

• Protein bars 
• Nuts/trail mix
• Olives
• Tuna packets
• Apples
• Crackers

For those new to hiking or those who have spent many hours on the trail, having a day hiking checklist for beginners is a great way to help ensure your day spent in nature ends with a tired body but a safe, happy heart.

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The views expressed on this website represent the opinions of the authors; we encourage you to form your own opinions and confirm any facts.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you shop or make a reservation through these links, we may make a small commission (for which we are very grateful!) at no extra cost to you. Not all links are affiliates, and we only suggest products and places we have experienced.

I’ve just returned from three weeks at the equator, and let me tell you, there were things I wish I’d packed differently! Packing for a hot, humid destination is a little different, and I didn’t do enough research, so I’m here to help you!

My trip was a mix of city activities in Quito, Ecuador, and two weeks in the Galapagos Islands. I walked up and down steep hills in Quito and spent multiple boat days snorkeling and hiking up volcanos in the Galapagos. No matter how active you are going to be, packing for a hot, humid destination is important to stay cool and keep the intense sun off of your skin. 

If you can pack for one week, you can pack for three months. By that, I mean I pack enough clothes for a week and plan doing laundry in the sink with detergent sheets or use a laundromat or laundry service. On this trip, I used a mix of both. 

The key to packing for a hot, humid destination is packing light and packing the right fabrics.

Whether you’re checking a bag or are a carry-on-only diehard, I guarantee that having a heavy bag in these destinations is pretty miserable. Pack your bag, then imagine lugging everything up and down multiple flights of stairs and, on this trip, boat ramps — there was not an elevator to be found in any of my accommodations — and boarding a dinghy in the Galapagos with a heavy backpack is an exercise in balance and grace!  I was cursing my overpacking tendencies. Let’s get into it!

Tops

Wool has many benefits when packing for a hot, humid destination. You might think “itchy” when you think about wool, specifically wool undies and bras, but the moisture-wicking, odor-repelling fabric is the perfect layer. It also dries quickly when doing sink laundry!

I love cotton tees, but they do not hold their shape and retain odors in humid weather. I ordered three Merino wool shirts when I got home from this trip. 

I ordered from The Woolly Clothing Co. and will report back. Smartwool has some good programs (advocacy partners, carbon capture plans, plant-based dyes and a recycling project), and Woolx has some really cute dresses! 

Undergarments

Wool is also the perfect fabric for your bras and undies. On this trip, I had a mix of cotton and wool underwear, and I far preferred the wool. I don’t own a wool bra, but one of the other women on my trip raved about hers, so I’ll keep an eye out for sales, as they can be pricy.

Whenever I shower, I wash my undies at the same time and then hang them to dry. I usually only pack four to six pairs, no matter how long my trip is, and rotate through them. On this trip, I was showering two to three times a day because of the heat, and even with only six pairs of panties packed, I always had a clean, dry pair. 

Shorts/Pants

Linen: I like a nice linen pant for dinner with a nicer top after I have spent the day hiking or in the water. It feels good to get cleaned up and wear something with a little polish. While linen does wrinkle, in a hot and humid destination, those wrinkles settle down pretty quickly, and you get a nice, comfortable look. You can also take a small bottle of Wrinkle Release with you! 

Polyester/Nylon Blend: Most of the tactical “quick-dry” hiking pants and shorts come in a blend of these two materials. I wore shorts on my hiking adventures that also worked for my water activities. I would recommend one to two pairs of shorts that you can wear for different activities. A basic pair of “bike” shorts with pockets is very handy and great for various activities. I also love the Baleaf brand and wear them all the time at home.

I also packed a pair of jean shorts, which I was glad to have as I like the structure and look of denim. 

Dresses

Rayon dresses are the perfect item to pack! Two to three rayon dresses or jumpsuits pack up quite small, giving you something nicer to wear to lunch or dinner when you aren’t adventuring. They are lightweight, and I was envious of all the cute dresses my tour friends had packed on my Galapagos tour!

Long sleeves

I wore long sleeves on several hikes to help protect my arms from the intense sun at the equator. When sweating that much, sunscreen alone just doesn’t cut it. I took a zip-up rash guard that I wore in the water while snorkeling and on several of my hikes. I also have a long-sleeved, lightweight denim button-up that is so soft and cozy.  I wear it as a sun cover-up and also as a light layer for breezy dinners. It features predominantly in most of my Puerto Rico photos!

Shoes

Trekking sandals, slip-on sandals and a pair of closed-toe water shoes will cover all your bases. I really loved these Birkenstock knock-offs. I took an older pair of Merrell sandals, and while they were great for hiking, they weren’t the most comfortable, and they held odors terribly. I’ll be looking for a new trekking sandal before my next trip. The Chaco Z-Cloud has great reviews! I bought these water shoes before my trip to Puerto Rico with Julianne, and they were great for navigating the lava rocks in the Galapagos. I even ended up wearing them home with socks since I was going from the hot, humid equator to frozen Chicago winter.

Hat

I threw in this hat at the last minute; it’s the hat my son wears as a public gardener. I had a cute hat packed and swapped them out, and I’m so glad I did. This hat kept me from getting fried every single day. Is it fashionable? Well, that’s up to you, but I didn’t care! The chin strap was especially appreciated as we zipped from island to island on speedboats through the Galapagos! While not an accessory, sunblock should be, and practicing good sun habits is important for your long-term health. Don’t forget to pack a reef-safe sunblock if you are going to be playing in the ocean!

Swimsuit

I packed four, but I only wore two. I should have packed a few that were more practical for snorkeling and boating. Historically, most of my water activities have been lying around reading a book or floating in a pool. I have started looking into bathing suites designed for actual water activities. As mentioned above, I wore athletic-style swim shorts, but I didn’t love any that I took. Check out this packing list from our trip to Puerto Rico for more warm-weather clothing ideas and looks.

Socks

I packed too many, thinking I’d wear my gym shoes more. I did not. I like having a few pairs of socks to wear around my hotel room, but I could have packed two pairs and been fine.

Accessories

A pair of polarized sunglasses will reduce eye strain in bright environments, especially when out on the water (or skiing in the winter!). I bought a buff on this trip, and it was so versatile. It protected my ears and neck when out in the sun and kept my hair out of my face when it was windy.

In addition to clothes, here are a few other helpful items to pack for a hot, humid destination:

Fan: I loved this fan! It’s the size of my Kindle Paperwhite. I charged it during the day and could run it on high all night without losing charge. This was so handy when the outlets were nowhere near my bed and it was stuffy, even in rooms where the AC worked well.

Body Glide: Just trust me on this. I ended up taking an accidental 4.5-hour, six-mile hike up and down a volcano, and it got a bit chafey. 

Antiperspirant: I love my LUME deodorant and used it liberally on this trip, especially on my feet because of my stinky sandals! However, I ended up buying a 48-hour antiperspirant at a small store on San Cristobal Island. I just wanted one part of my body to stop sweating!

At the end of the day, when you are packing for a hot, humid destination, comfort and sun protection are your two key priorities, and packing the right fabrics will make a huge difference in your comfort. 

Ready to book your trip?

Book your accommodations

We like booking.com for accommodations. They offer a range of hotels, resorts, apartments, guesthouses and even hostels. The platform also has a loyalty program that allows members to save even more.

Book your tours

We love booking tours through a single provider and keeping our mobile tickets in one spot. We use GetYourGuide. We appreciate that they work with local companies and provide a wide variety of tours!

Stay connected

When using an eSIM, we like Airalo. An eSIM is the easiest way to obtain cell service outside your network. We have used their eSIM cards in Budapest, Canada and Ecuador, and so far, so good! Simply download the Airalo app, select the country you’re traveling to, and choose the amount of data you want. Follow the installation instructions and turn it on when you arrive!

Shopping for your trip?

We make a small commission when you use our Amazon Affiliate link. It helps offset the expense of maintaining our website and costs you nothing extra.

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_{This post likely contains affiliate links. If you shop or make a reservation through these links, we may make a small commission (for which we are very grateful!) at no extra cost to you. Not all links are affiliates, and we only suggest products and places that we have experienced.}

_{We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites.}

_{The views expressed on this website represent the opinions of the authors; we encourage you to form your own opinions and confirm any facts.}

We’ve grown to rely on a range of trip-planning sites over the years. But one of the best, no-fail, essential travel planning tools we love is Google Flights. 

It’s an excellent way to find the best prices on flights, especially if your destination is specific but your dates can vary a bit. And that’s true whether you’re booking a flight in the coming weeks or up to a year ahead.

But to get the best results, you really need to know how to use Google Flights. Here, we break down the obvious and not-so-obvious features.

Using Google Flights

Start at https://www.google.com/travel/flights/ (or just google Google Flights). 

Here on the main screen, adjust the settings for round trip or one way, number of passengers and flight class appropriately.

I always search on Economy, because my budget allows for several inexpensive flights per year or one really nice one, and I choose the former, but you do you. 

Enter your starting airport and your destination. If it’s a one-way trip, the date range will automatically adjust to a single date.

You have some choices when choosing an airport on Google Flights for your departure or destination. While you’re still here on the main screen, click in the boxes for each city, and you’ll see a drop-down menu. If you don’t mind traveling to or from an airport a little ways away, you’ll see more results. This is the default. But if you really want to fly from a specific airport and not just anything within a large radius, make a selection here.

And if you want to be able to see the best prices and times from all airports in a region, to possibly travel to one airport and then depart from another, choose multi-city. I used this when I was trying to find the best prices for a trip to and from Destin, Florida, which is served by several small (expensive) regional airports, so that I could book a flight into Pensacola and back out of Destin.

If you want to check prices from multiple airports at the same time, simply type the airport code into the departure box, put a comma after it and type the next airport code. You can put in multiple airports, and your results will show pricing for all flights from all the airports that you’ve selected. Heather has three airports within three hours that she checks, as well as her home airport. This is what it looks like.

If your dates are a little flexible, click in the date box on this main screen (see below). A magical window appears! At least it feels like magic. Here, you’ll see how traveling sooner or later — sometimes by just a day — can dramatically change the cost of your trip. This is one of the best things about learning how to use Google Flights, in my opinion. 

Here, I’ve chosen to fly from Denver to St. Martin, because this island in the Caribbean remains on my bucket list. Clearly, flying on May 26 would be silly, but I could almost afford to go on May 7, depending on my return date, which you can tweak in this view as well. Take a minute to click around on the dates above the calendar view, and the dates in the calendar. You’ll soon see how it works. 

If you don’t have a specific timeframe in mind, click the arrows to the sides of the calendar view (see the next screenshot) and experiment with different months. You can see quickly how your prices change, and whether current prices are low, typical or high compared to past averages for the same route. Google Flights also recently added a new feature. “For searches with reliable trend data,” you can now see when prices are typically lowest to your destination. This means some routes will have this information; others may not. You can also turn on price tracking to get change notices via email.

Just for fun, I decided to go on a seven-day trip in August. (If you’re going to fly that far, make the most of your time and CO2 emissions and stay longer.) Let’s take a look at some further features now that I’ve made this totally non-binding decision.

In this new view, you’ll see some filters at the top of the screen. Let’s talk about each:

Stops

This could be key if you want to avoid lots of airport hopping. I prefer to make only one stop, if I can, which sometimes costs more, but is often worth it. If I would have chosen that filter, then I wouldn’t see that first American flight that costs just $316 but takes me 19 hours and 1 minute. Instead, my first option would be the 5 a.m. flight that costs $424 but takes just 8 hours and 28 minutes. 

(The bigger question: Would I book a flight that requires me to get up at 1:30 a.m. to get to the airport in time for an international departure? Probably not. I might opt for the third option: the later, slightly longer and more expensive one from Delta. Atlanta is a big airport with lots of nice diversions. I know this flight has a layover of 4 hours and 17 minutes in Atlanta by the indication under “1 stop.”)

For more on how to use layover information to your advantage, see Make the Most of Your Layover below!

Airlines

If you want to travel with a specific airline because of loyalty perks or preference, you can adjust your search here. This will narrow your search results significantly, so I leave it open knowing that there are just three airlines (that shall remain nameless) that I will never fly with again. 

Bags

You aren’t choosing your number of bags here, so you might as well leave this open. In fact, you don’t actually book your flight through Google Flights either; instead, it will offer you the opportunity to book your flight by clicking through directly to the airline’s website. (Or if you have a system of travel points down, you can take this information and book via your best points site. More on this later.)

Price

I prefer to look at options for different dates in the date grid rather than search within a price range — especially because if you’re limited by dates and price, you might not find any results. 

Times, Emissions, Connecting Airports, Duration

Here again, the more filters that you apply, the more likely you are to narrow yourself right out of any options. Even if you have some preferences, leave as many filters open as you can. This way you might find a flight that meets most of your needs, and determine that you can compromise on one or two lesser elements. 

Right under those filters you’ll see two view options on the right: Date Grid and Price Graph. Click on them! Play with them. This is especially helpful if you have a destination in mind but not a time frame. You’ll see when prices go up or down within a window or even throughout the year. The Price Graph shows you a broad view of flight cost patterns for your chosen trip length. The Date Grid shows you prices for trips of different lengths; here again, a day or two can make all the difference.

Underneath Best Departing Flights you’ll see a list of Other Departing Flights. Google Flights chooses the best based on cost, flight times, flight duration and even flight timeliness and reliability. I recently booked a flight from Newark to Fort Wayne with a layover in Chicago that, because it’s the last flight of the night from Chicago to Fort Wayne, is often delayed by 30 minutes, according to Google Flights. I booked it anyway because it offered me the best combination of price, duration and departure time—I really want to have time that day to do some sightseeing before I leave the city. But I’m prepared for a delay or maybe even an overnight in Chicago.

How did I learn this detail? There’s an arrow to the right of each flight option. When you click it, you’ll see the full details of the flight, including the type of airplane, in-flight features, layovers and airports. (Fun side note: The airport in St. Martin, SMX, is Princess Juliana International Airport. I think this is further proof that I’m destined to visit St. Martin.) 

For this pretend someday trip, I looked down the list under other departing flights, and I didn’t find anything that costs less and has better flight times or less travel time than that third flight from Delta under Best Departing Flights. I like it! So what next? 

When you find a flight that you like, click on it. You’ll come to a window that says Returning Flights. Here again you’ll see them sorted by price, as well as flight time. A bonus: These prices, while they don’t include checked bags, *do* include taxes and fees, so you won’t be unpleasantly surprised. 

The top option for my return from my “trip” to St. Martin is also the best: lowest price and shortest flight time. It leaves at a humane 3:25 p.m., meaning I probably can squeeze in a few moments of fun that morning, and it gets in late, which is fine because I can come home, shower and go to bed. I leave time the day after my return from a trip for my extra-clean unpacking routine.

I love it! I’m ready to book. I just need to decide what fare I want. I may decide to upgrade to Main Cabin, just for the flexibility of making changes if needed. (Though I’ll first click that link where it says the “airline may be offering additional flexibility for bookings.”) 

If you’ve made your final selection here, you have one of two options.

1. Simply scroll down on this page. You’ll see a button that says Booking Options. Book with [your airline]. If I were to click this button, it would take me straight to the Delta site with all of these selections already pre-selected. I’d only need to choose my luggage and seat options, then enter payment, and I’m set. Bon voyage!
2. You can take all of this intel and go to your favorite booking platform to search for and select these choices. If you book travel via Chase, for example, you might not only find this flight, but also earn points from Chase for your trip. 

This highlights again an important feature of Google Flights: It’s not a site for booking flight deals. It’s a site for finding flight deals, and for seeing how tweaks to your plan can change your price. You book with the airline directly.

(Update from Google in September 2023) “On some flight results, you’ll see a colorful price guarantee badge, which means we’re especially confident the fare you see today won’t get any lower before departure. When you book one of these flights, we’ll monitor the price every day before takeoff, and if the price does go down, we’ll pay you back the difference via Google Pay. These price guarantees are part of a pilot program available for select Book on Google itineraries departing from the U.S.”)

The things I love about Google Flights are that it seems reliable and accurate; it aggregates hundreds of airlines’ flight offerings in one place; and it lets you see how playing with options affects your trip time and costs. 

Once you learn how to use Google Flights, we think it might be the first place you start when planning a trip. In fact, if you don’t have a specific destination, you can even use the tools on the left side of the Google Flights home page. This is the space for dreaming!

Click on the Travel button at the top left side of the Google Flights home page. You’ll see upcoming trips in a handy list, as well as travel advisories, potential trips, suggested destinations, popular destinations and past trips. (The latter is proof that big tech is watching you.)

The Explore button is a starting point for broad interests. It’s a little bit like the Date Grid described above, but rather than just searching by flights and places, you can also search by car travel and interests. If you have a specific timeframe in which you want to travel but no specific destination in mind, this is a way for you to see where in the world your budget might take you. Try zooming in and out for prices on places at a glance. Because everywhere is on our list at Journey Here, we love any opportunity to explore.

Underneath that is Things to Do. We’re a little biased at Journey Here Travel, but we’d recommend starting first with our Destinations section for ideas on things to do in those places we’ve visited. However, we haven’t been everywhere … yet.

If you click on the Flights button on the left side of the home page, it’s in essence the Google Flights home page. It lets you do the same things we described from the start of this blog. 

The Hotels button under that is similar to booking.com or hotels.com. There are lots of filters on the next screen after you’ve entered your destination. It also offers guidance on Where to Stay, When to Visit and What You’ll Pay, incorporating details about and vibes for regions or neighborhoods, high season versus low, weather, and well-known features. Update the map view at right to search on restaurants, shopping and attractions nearby; a slider lets you see what’s within your selected walking distance. 

Finally, Vacation Rentals works much like Airbnb and VRBO. Here, however, you’ll find listings aggregated from Vacasa, iTrip, Rentals United, TripAdvisor, BluePillow and more. There’s a similar map view here.

The best way to learn how it all works is to use Google Flights, knowing that it’s less than a booking agent but a whole lot more than a booking agent at the same time. While we still appreciate the value that experienced travel guides and consultants bring to a trip — in fact, so much so that we offer some of these travel services ourselves to new travelers — Google Flights puts more of the traditional travel agent experience at your fingertips. There’s no personal service as with a travel agent or travel consultant, but there’s a world of choices available to anyone with a bit of time and a computer screen. 

Make the Most of Your Layover

If you have a flexible schedule and don’t mind breaking up a flight, you also can look for really long layovers and see something while you’re there. In the example below, I am flying from Chicago to Athens, but have two long layovers: one on the way there, and one on the way back.

On the departing flight, I’m flying overnight, landing in Copenhagen at 1:15 p.m. I have until my departure at 8:30 a.m. the next day to see the city. This also breaks up my flying time nicely: eight hours and ten minutes from Chicago to Copenhagen, and then just three hours to Athens the next day.

On the return flight, I would have an overnight layover in Stockholm. It’s slightly less time, but still enough to do a little sightseeing and stretch my legs.

I could take this same trip with a 13-hour departing flight and a slightly longer return flight for just $240 more (see below). A longer layover (above) saves money on the ticket, but adds expenses for accommodations. It lets me get a glimpse of two new places, however! The second trip (below) is more efficient and slightly more costly. It just depends on your priorities. (Though personally, I’m always down for a two-for-one kinda trip!)

If life hands you lemons in the form of an extra-long layover (or a travel delay), it might be an opportunity to sample a new destination’s lemonade!

Ready to book your trip?

Book your accommodations

We like booking.com for accommodations. They offer a range of hotels, resorts, apartments, guesthouses and even hostels. The platform also has a loyalty program that allows members to save even more.

Book your tours

We love booking tours through a single provider and keeping our mobile tickets in one spot. We use GetYourGuide. We appreciate that they work with local companies and provide a wide variety of tours!

Stay connected

When using an eSIM, we like Airalo. An eSIM is the easiest way to obtain cell service outside your network. We have used their eSIM cards in Budapest, Canada and Ecuador, and so far, so good! Simply download the Airalo app, select the country you’re traveling to, and choose the amount of data you want. Follow the installation instructions and turn it on when you arrive!

Shopping for your trip?

We make a small commission when you use our Amazon Affiliate link. It helps offset the expense of maintaining our website and costs you nothing extra.

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The views expressed on this website represent the opinions of the authors; we encourage you to form your own opinions and confirm any facts.

There are a lot of women traveling solo right this minute. Go on any social channel, and you’ll find hundreds of them in every corner of the world. Solo travel for women is becoming increasingly common, and we want to help you feel comfortable getting there. The world is much safer than we think that it is, hear that it is, or are told that it is. That being said, it’s important to be smart. Here, Julianne and I offer safety tips for solo travel. We travel differently and have different risk tolerance thresholds; always, use your best discretion.

Even if you aren’t a solo traveler, these safety tips are applicable for anyone traveling!

Safe Solo Travel Starts with Being Prepared

Heather: Every time I leave for a solo trip, I get many “oh my gosh, stay safe!” messages, which are nice and come from a good place. However, being a woman in the world is a daily exercise in “staying safe.” I’ve been keeping myself safe since I was a kid. So being safe on the road isn’t that different than staying safe at home; there are a few things that Julianne and I do, however, to prepare, blend, defend and be smart.

PREPARE

Julianne: I’ve learned the hard way to prep for trips to certain parts of the world so that I arrive with the clothing, gear and plans to optimize my odds for success. 

Some kinds of safety involve the food in your destination, new diseases, insects and other health risks. Some kinds of safety involve political tensions or regular but devastating weather patterns. As a solo female traveler, you can avoid putting yourself or rescue personnel at risk by brushing up on common, well-known challenges. Prepare to travel smarter by checking out our blogs on “The 10 Essentials for Hiking, Plus a Few Pro Tips,” “What’s in My Road Trip Emergency Kit,” “Reasons Why You Should Register Your Trip With the State Department,” and “What You Need to Know About Getting Vaccinated Before Traveling.”

When you register with the State Department and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), you can also read up on the country you’re visiting and learn about which districts are riskier, which types of crimes or scams are perpetrated most often, and how to avoid falling prey. There’s really a wealth of information there! Don’t let it frighten you; consider it empowering. Remember what they said in Schoolhouse Rock: Knowledge is power!

Finally, for more safety tips for solo travel, skim the US Department of State’s article on travel tips specific to women. Jot down the international phone numbers there and keep them not only on your phone, but also with your passport. 

Heather:

The Smart Traveler app which is run by the US State Department, has such a wealth of information. Not only should you register your trip as Julianne mentioned, but in addition to safety issues, they also address driving information (like if you need an international driver permit), general rules of the road, safety levels for LGBTQIA, safety levels based on faith, the likelihood of needing to show identification if stopped by police (keep a copy of your passport on you, keep your passport in your room in a safe), and so much more. I read every section on the country I am going to. It also tells you who to contact and what to expect if you are arrested or detained. While this is an extreme circumstance, it’s good to know what your resources are and what the emergency numbers are.

BLEND

Heather: I always look like a tourist, even in my hometown, because I’ve almost always got my camera out, wandering around snapping pics. That’s who I am. But there are things I do when I travel to be less obvious. One of the biggest safety tips for solo travel is blending in, as best you can.

Clothes

Heather: You’ll read a lot of conflicting information about how to spot a tourist, from the types of shoes to the clothes you wear. What I try to be most cognizant of is making sure I’m not dressed disrespectfully. Read up on the customs and culture before you travel to see if you should dress drastically differently than at home. Other than that, I typically wear what I do at home. I’m a casual person. I wear Doc Martens, gym shoes or sandals, depending on what I’m doing. When I travel, I walk a lot, so having a pair of good shoes is really important; for me, this is usually a good pair of cross-training gym shoes. On a trip to Paris I noted that residents mostly wore white gym shoes walking around the city. I had packed a white pair and actually fit in! I spiffed up my wardrobe a notch for Paris. There wasn’t any way I wasn’t going to stick out but I tried for a more refined wardrobe. One very helpful website is Travel Fashion Girl and its accompanying Facebook page.

Julianne: I wholeheartedly second reading up on customs and cultures. There are many places where you should cover your shoulders out of respect, for example. (Sometimes you won’t be admitted with certain types of clothing.) Americans seem to wear shorts much more often than people in other countries; unless you’re headed to a beach destination, take skirts or pants. I like to wear black shoes from a place like The Walking Store when in Europe, because locals tend to dress up more there. When I’m in a place where it’s dangerous to carry a bag, I choose pants with lots of pockets that button or zip. 

Jewelry and bags

Heather: Leave your expensive jewelry and handbags behind. It’s just one more thing to think about and can make you a target in certain areas. Speaking of bags, this is my favorite backpack for city wandering. It’s simple, fairly comfortable and holds a ton. I can carry a jacket, Fuji camera and lens, water bottle, snacks and wallet easily. Because it zips to the back, it’s theft-proof when you are wearing it. The straps can dig into your arms a bit when it’s hot, as they are a nylon blend and not padded, but overall, I love it. It’s also easy to pack in my carry-on. I like a small cross-body purse like this one when I’m just heading out to dinner or not carrying my cameras around. Be observant of how residents are dressed and what they are carrying. You can modify how you move about based on that. Backpacks and cross-body bags are used by a lot of people in a lot of countries but if you get somewhere and it’s making you stick out, leave them in your room and adjust how you are carrying your items.

Julianne: You may want to avoid bringing cheap jewelry that mimics expensive stuff, too. Cubic zirconia are stunning reproductions nowadays, and a thief won’t take the time to determine if it’s real before he or she swipes it from your room or your body. I love a backpack outdoors, but when I’m walking a city, I prefer a crossbody bag, because I like to be able to reach in and grab a credit card, hand sanitizer, sunglasses or whatever without stopping to slide off a backpack. I think I’m just clumsy, but handling a backpack makes me feel distracted at the exact moment when I most need to pay attention to my stuff. I also don’t like that it brands me a tourist, especially in some of the more dangerous cities I’ve visited in Central America. I edit what I carry very carefully; I only bring the minimum, and it goes in certain spots so that I can lay my hands on what I want without digging. I put a carabiner on my favorite Anntrue collapsible water bottle so that when it’s empty, I can hook it onto my crossbody strap.

In some places, I don’t carry any bag. I’ve visited cities where crime is rampant even for locals, let alone a clearly foreign woman. I wear cargo-style pants with buttons and zippers for a credit card, some local currency, some toilet paper in a baggie and my phone. I don’t even let my pockets bulge.

Navigation

Heather: I am navigationally challenged. I will literally turn the wrong way coming out of my hotel room. Every time. So using a digital map is a really important for me. What I DON’T want is to have my phone in front of my face with my maps on, which is a clear indicator that I’m not sure where I am.

The first thing I do is review my maps to get an idea of where I am and where I’m going so that when I’m on the street, I can orient myself. I set up my navigation with my walking directions and then put in one wireless earbud to give me verbal directions. Leaving only one in allows me to hear what is going on around me and behind me, and the earbud isn’t even seen under my hair. This might be my favorite safety tip for solo travel; it works well in most cities. Remember that if you are going to be using a lot of data, you need to make sure you have the right phone plan, which might include buying a local sim card or getting an eSim. I use Airolo as my eSim provider. . Also, make sure you have a good battery pack so you don’t lose power while you are out and about! Citymapper typically has better navigation than Google Maps or Apple Maps if it is available where you are going.

Be purposeful. I once had a friend say, “I’ve never seen someone walk so CONFIDENTLY in the wrong direction.” Don’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk to look at your map or assess where you are. Walk with a purpose to the nearest shop or corner where you can tuck out of the way and re-orient or check your map. Nothing screams tourist like someone blocking the sidewalk. People live there and are probably trying to get wherever they need to be. Remember, you can always ask for directions. I am pretty proud of the number of times another tourist asked me for directions when I had zero clue where I was, because I look like I do! 

Quick tip: If you are in a country where you don’t speak the language, your hotel or hostel will probably have a business card at the lobby desk. Grab that so if you need to navigate back and your phone map dies or you’re taking a taxi or Uber, you can hand it to your driver. I did this in China when I had ventured off via taxi and it was so helpful when getting back. I just handed the card to my taxi driver and he knew where to take me — no translation was needed! 

Julianne: Yup, yup, yup. On a solo trip to Milan, I very confidently dragged my suitcase out of the train station and down the street a good four blocks before I realized I was going the wrong way. Because train stations and airports are magnets for scam artists, I casually acted like I was observing something, then strode off in the right direction, but without crossing paths with people who had seen me head off the other way. When I head out to walk in a new city — and I almost always walk everywhere — I make a mental note of landmarks before I leave my hotel, so that I know whether I’m on track. I walk quickly. I skim signs as fast as possible. I keep up with the flow of the locals. It can be mentally taxing to do this all day for days on end, so allow yourself a moment to get a coffee or a beer if you’re feeling a little lost. I’ve been known to buy a scarf just because I needed a minute and a place to reorient. 

Speaking of maps: If you like to have a paper map handy, because cell service might be sketchy where you’re going or you’re worried about draining your battery, tuck it inside of a local magazine and carry it there. You can “read” it inconspicuously. It’s never a bad idea to have a paper backup.

And if you get lost, don’t panic. A shopkeeper is a good resource for directions, which is why you should have the address of your hotel written in the local language. Other safety tips for solo travel: Know a major local landmark near your hotel, in case the shopkeeper is unfamiliar with your lodging. If you have a paper map, ask them to draw directions for you. Learn the words for “right” and “left” in the local language. Above all, stay calm and keep mental breadcrumbs. I’ve been very, very lost in major cities, even at night. On the flip side, I’ve also been asked for directions by people in the local language. It’s always worked out! 

Language

Heather: Learn at least simple phrases. If I’m out walking and someone greets me with a hello in their language, I want to answer them properly. This makes me less likely to be taken advantage of. If I’m in a restaurant, I want to greet my waiter in their native language. This lets them know that either I took the time to learn, which garners a little respect, or I’ve been there a while, which usually means better service. I use Duolingo to prepare for upcoming trips. That being said, my skill with languages is poor at best; often, if the person I am communicating with speaks English, they will switch; it’s probably less painful than listening to me butcher their language. Google Translate is your best travel friend. You can use the conversation feature which allows both parties to take turns speaking and it will translate in both text and audio, its wonderful!. I also love the camera feature, which takes pictures and translates words. Very helpful for menus printed in the local language.

Julianne: All of the above! Know how to get a coffee or water in the local language. Knowing the native words for some basic directions is useful. Numbers and phrases for shopping are helpful too, so that you’re not conspicuously touristy if buying from a street cart or shopping at an outdoor market, where there are lots of passersby. 

Body Language

Heather: Watch and mimic what you see the residents doing. When I was in Ireland riding the bus, I noticed residents would thank the driver upon exiting. I followed suit. Being very cognizant of your body language and the amount of space you take up means a lot. Are you walking around with a backpack? Not a big deal, you see that a lot; but when you are riding on public transport, how are you managing that? Are you holding on for dear life like it will be ripped from your arms? Or are you being casually careful? Also, your bag does not get a seat if the bus/restaurant is busy. Your bag is not a person; get it off a customer’s potential space. If you are in a crowded space, move it to your front side as a safety precaution and keep from bumping into people with your bag.

Julianne: This goes for things like crossing the street — pay attention and walk with the group. In a restaurant or cafe, or a store, notice how others wait in line or get the attention of wait staff or clerks. You can read about such things in the preparation stage: how to ask for the check, for example. Above all, project humble confidence. 

DEFEND

Heather: I want to be very clear here: We do not recommend physical engagement. In this case, defending means being proactive. 

Lodging

Heather: I have stayed in some sketchy places. I have become more discerning over time (mostly because of lost sleep due to sketchy places) and prefer hotels to apartments or Airbnbs when traveling solo. This rubber door stopper can give you additional peace of mind.

Julianne: Try to get a room off of the first floor so that it’s less easy to break in via a window. And even if you’re in a high room, be aware of adjoining balconies where someone could crawl in — don’t sleep with that door open. Other safety tips for solo travel in a hotel: Check that windows are locked. If there’s a patio slider, make sure that there’s a physical barrier, such as a wooden stick blocking it from opening all the way. Pay attention to the alternative exits — know where the stairs are. If you use a hotel app that also serves as a room key, take advantage of the setting to hide your room number. And it’s safer overall to choose a well-known hotel brand than an Airbnb or other type of lodging; you’re more likely to have both safety features in your room (think a smoke alarm) and people who can help you in case of emergency or know if something’s wrong.

Gear

Heather: I carry this tactical flashlight, and I’ll give you several reasons why. For years I was traveling for work and often ended up parking in a city parking garages after dark and walking a block or two to my hotel. I liked having this handy flashlight on me. I like this one because you can slip the lanyard over your wrist and hold the flashlight with your thumb on the power button. If someone comes upon you, you can click the button and flash the high beam of intense light right into their eyes. It will slow someone down for a second when they can’t see, allowing you to move quickly in another direction. The edges of this one are also just sharp enough that with a good swing, it could cause some pain. Think of it as a tiny little weapon in your hand. It’s also just handy to have a flashlight. Yes, our phones all have flashlights now,but having a real flashlight is much more useful. This one also has a red and green light, which is handy if you are staying in a busy place like a hostel and need to see but not wake everyone up. 

Julianne: We’ve talked a lot about safe solo travel in cities, but there’s a whole host of gear that makes me feel really safe when I’m hiking solo or exploring a national park on my own. Two that are handy to have not just on the trail but also in my car are a satellite phone and bear spray. Bear spray is pretty handy for scary humans, too. 

Money and ID

Heather: Split up your money and your credit cards. We cover this in our travel preparation checklist post too. I keep one credit card on me at all times in my phone case (along with my state-issued ID), one in my backpack, and one in my purse. I usually carry one bag (purse or backpack) when I’m out and about, and everything else is back at my accommodations. 

Julianne: Your passport is often the most helpful piece of identification when you’re out and about in a foreign country, but it’s also the most essential piece of ID to get you home. Unless you need to visit a bank during your day’s excursions, leave it in your room, somewhere inconspicuous and safe. Think in a small pocket under your dirty laundry bag inside of your suitcase. Take a photo of your passport and keep it on your phone. Send a copy to friends or family before you leave. And make a few photocopies to stash in other places; one in your day bag, for example, in case you lose your phone or you don’t have battery life or service.

Technology

Heather: One of my favorite safety tips for solo travel is: Carry a backup phone. This seems like overkill, but twice when I was on vacation, my phone was stolen. Both times I was in the States, and both times because I was being DUMB and careless. (Sidebar: if you are 40+ and a really hot 20-something is making a bold move in a dance club, that move is most likely to rob you.) Because I was stateside, I could go to a phone store and replace my phone. However, I lost a lot of time. The last time I got a new phone, I kept my old one instead of trading it in. You can get on WIFI and use most apps that you would need to contact family or make arrangements to get service. Additionally, if you are overseas, you can usually find a store with sim cards, pop in a sim card, and go about your business. You can only do this if you have an unlocked phone. All of my contacts and other info are stored in my old phone, so you can be up and running as soon as you install service.

Julianne: Read Hard-Won Lessons for Backing Up Your Travel Photos for my embarrassing and frustrating phone story. I’m going to take Heather’s advice and save this phone as a backup, if I ever can afford to get a new one. Other tips? Make sure you have a reliable power pack for your phone. If it serves as your navigation, your ID, your room key, etc., then you don’t want it to die midday. Carry a charging cord for your phone and for your power pack, too — places with poor signals will drain both quickly. Carry an adapter for your charger as well; most countries have different plugs. I have a pouch that fits into my crossbody bag that holds all of these things, so that I can just grab it and know that I’m set.

BE SMART

Drinking

Heather: I love wine, cocktails and craft beers. When I am traveling one of my very favorite things to do is seek out those three things in nice little hole-in-the-wall places. Most often I sit at the bar, which allows me to chat with the bartender and also watch my drink be poured. Sometimes I’m seated at a table in a restaurant and I’ll still order a drink. What I won’t do is accept a drink from a stranger or, more importantly, leave my drink on the bar and go to the restroom. The number of times I see women leaving drinks on their tables or at the bar while traveling alone is frightening to me. It’s a real pain if you need to use the restroom! 

I usually limit my drinks to two if I have to navigate back to my accommodations. I’ve broken this rule a few times. I trust my gut and the space I’m in or the people I’m choosing to spend time with if I have met some locals. If you are not traveling with a buddy, it’s smart to limit the alcohol and perhaps enjoy a nightcap back wherever you are staying. 

Julianne: I’d only add a few things to this: Ordering a drink that comes in a bottle or can and opening it yourself not only prevents tampering, but also lessens the risk of ice or mixers that will make you sick. (Wipe the outside before you put your mouth on it; it may have been floating in a cooler with contaminated ice.) Purchasing a few local beers or a bottle of local wine or spirits at a liquor store or grocery and sipping a beverage in your room at night while you edit photos, chat with family or binge on TV from your hotel bed is a cheap and safe way to sample the local goods. And if you’re a ridiculous lightweight like me, maybe just stick to one. Or one less than your normal limit, whatever that is. It’s really easy to get caught up in a fabulous setting and let your guard slip without realizing it. A drink in the afternoon can be a little less risky than a drink in the evening, for the reasons that we’re going to discuss next. 

Nighttime

Heather: In December of 2021 I met up with a friend in Lisbon and oh, how glorious it felt to walk the streets at night! Alleys and side streets and all of the places that as a single female I might not feel comfortable going. There are a lot of places where you can exist as a solo female, even at night. But you really do need to know the area. I usually ask at my accommodations if the area I’m going to is safe to walk alone at night. But it is always going to be a bigger risk. That being said, I have ventured out after dark in many places; I am just very discerning and spend a fair amount of time researching and asking residents when I get there what is the safest protocol, especially in places where I truly stick out.

Julianne: I’m a night owl at home, but when I travel, I go to bed early because I try to always be back at my hotel by dusk. The few times I’ve ventured out after dark to get a bite to eat in a foreign city, I tell my hotel concierge where I’m going and when I expect to be back. I walk with my phone at the ready. I’m hyper-vigilant about alleys, cars and people walking too closely. If I don’t like the way someone is walking behind me, I’ll find a store and duck in. (This is true even in the States — I learned these tips from living in Chicago.) I might hit a restaurant after dark if it’s a block away from my hotel, or hang out in the hotel lobby. It sometimes sucks, because I love nighttime, and certain things can only be experienced then. And I’m usually traveling in the winter, because fares are cheaper, so dusk sometimes hits at 5:30. But I consider it a tradeoff because I’m awake and out the door earlier. 

Uber/Lyft/Rideshares

Heather: I’ve taken hundreds of rides and never had a problem, but you do hear stories! Most apps have expanded their safety features. Keep the app open. Make sure your driver is the one who is picking you up. Most ride shares will announce your name; they want to make sure they have the right rider, and this helps you know you are being picked up by the correct person. Make sure the vehicle matches your app. Stay alert; I always sit in the back. 

Julianne: Make sure you know where you’re going, and have a sense of whether they’re taking you in the right direction. Don’t count on getting in drunk and getting home safely — see our drinking section above. Hang on to your things (especially your phone), because it’s easy to fumble around when you’re hopping out and forget something. And don’t accept the bottled water that some drivers offer; it may be a kind gesture, but it may be a used bottle that someone refilled with unsafe tap water or laced with something. Be ready to walk confidently where you need to go when you hop out of your ride. And whatever you do, keep your camera or phone away from the windows of the vehicle. Not only do you risk getting your gear snatched, but you also put a target on your car. Carjackings happen to local drivers, too; don’t put yours in harm’s way.

Dating

Heather: I follow a lot of female travel groups, and the number of hook-ups is astounding! I’m not talking just about the young kids under 40 either! For 90 percent of my trips, it’s just not on my radar; but in 2021 when I was in Ireland I opened my Bumble dating app, made a match and had a lovely date. I did exceed my two-drink minimum, and he walked me back to my rented room and left me with a rather chaste kiss. Not for one minute did I feel uncomfortable. I also had a wild night in Galway, but that’s Galway for you (and a story for another time). Use your wits, and pack condoms. Safety first!

Scams

Heather: There are as many travel scams as there are destinations. I always Google “popular scams in…” with the destination. Here are some universally popular ones:

• Taxis: If they don’t have a meter or license, don’t get in. Research which Taxis are licensed and look for taxi stands that residents are using.
• People selling items: Don’t let someone approach you and put anything in your hands or on you. This is a really popular way to force you to buy things, and they can make a scene. Say NO firmly and walk away. 
• Posing for photos with people, animals or characters: Prepare to pay for this. This is a common way to make money. They might even ask for payment for you to pet their animals. Major tourist areas are attractive to all kinds of people looking to capitalize on those dollars.

Julianne: A few other things to consider:

• While someone is offering you a free sample or asking you for directions, another person may be picking your pocket. Pretend like you didn’t hear them and keep moving.
• If someone offers to take your photo with your phone, they may ask for money afterward. Or they may take off with your phone. Get a little Xenovo Shutterbug instead; it’s inconspicuous and takes awesome photos without the burden of a selfie stick. 
• Wear a hat. This may sound like a really stupid safety tip (aside from smart sun safety), but if you have bright gray/blonde hair like I do, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb in many parts of the world. A simple black baseball cap can allow you to be less conspicuous. 
• If you carry a crossbody bag, keep the bag part in front of you, so that someone can’t reach in from behind. Don’t wear it too tightly; if someone tries to snatch it, you’d rather have them get your bag than choke or drag you. 

A Few Final Solo Travel Safety Tips

While we approach things differently, we both agree that you should explore wisely and adjust to your own comfort level. When traveling with a friend you shouldn’t throw out all of these safety measures, but it does give you more comfort and freedom. For women who love to travel solo, however, keeping these safety tips for solo travel in mind can greatly reduce your risks.

Julianne: As I write this, I’m struck by all the ways in which I sound like I’m afraid of my own shadow. Except that most people who know me think that I have a screw loose because I’ll do things like fly to Idaho Springs, rent a car, drive to Craters of the Moon and explore that isolated park alone one day, then drive over a mountain pass and hike in the Tetons alone the next day. Or book a trip to Milan alone and add on a day trip to Lake Como and its little villages. People chide me for hiking in my home state by myself! 

I think that what allows me to do these things so readily is everything you read above — especially the preparation. And I didn’t do all of these things right from the start; I learned them along the way. Note all of the blogs that I’ve written explaining what to do, because I didn’t know what to do when I started. Often, I was lucky, and people were kind. Honestly? Traveling solo is one of my favorite ways to travel. I absolutely encourage you to do so often. 

Heather: I often come across as cavalier, but I’ve mostly traveled to historically “safe” spaces. As I continue to travel more and expand my experiences, I know I will employ more of these tips. Because at the end of the day, I want to come home and tell the stories. I want to see my kids and my friends when I’m done. I also still generally believe in the kindness of humans. I follow a lot of solo female travelers who are doing amazingly brave things like biking across whole continents, climbing mountains, surviving in the wild and exploring the far reaches of the earth solo. The world is a much safer place than we think it is; once you get out in it, you’ll realize how kind the world generally can be. But being smart will help you avoid the people who aren’t. 

*exclusions apply, as always. 

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I was in my mid-40s when I stumbled across this video by Tanya David and Andrea Dorfman called “How to be Alone.” It pulled at my heart so hard. I wanted to know how to be alone. I had been in relationships since I was 15 years old, with hardly a break in between. When I saw this video, I was in a relationship and yet just wanted some space for myself, but I couldn’t imagine it. It wasn’t until a few years later that I started my solo travel journey.

Now I have to calibrate before I travel with someone else. Solo travel fills my soul, but it was a journey to get there.

There were a lot of things about solo travel that scared me. Would I be lonely? Would I be embarrassed to eat by myself? Would I be afraid to do something I wanted to do if I had no one with me? The answer to all of these was yes — I felt all those things for a while. But I overcame them all, and you can too. I recommend solo travel for everyone, at least once, especially for women. We are so conditioned to take care of others our whole lives; taking a trip where you only care for yourself and do exactly what you want to do for days or weeks is liberating and empowering!

Here is what I did to get comfortable with solo travel.

Book a trip just a few hours away. One of my first solo trips was to a city four times the size of my hometown, but only two hours away. I planned activities I wouldn’t feel out of place doing on my own: I went to the zoo, stopped at a couple of breweries, and went to the botanical gardens. Art museums are another great place to be alone.

Practice eating out alone. It seems crazy to me now that that was ever something I felt uncomfortable with, but it was! For a long time, I always ate at the bar. I still enjoy eating at the bar; bartenders are great company because they know when to chat and when to leave you alone, depending on your mood. I also often get a free drink or dessert, which I can’t say I mind. I eventually started getting a table for one. I have heard of other solo female travelers in some countries being asked to leave bars when dining alone, being mistaken for a prostitute. So far, no one has accused this 50-something of trying to hustle men. When the host asks, “How many?” you’ll learn to say “Just me!” with confidence.

Get familiar with public transportation. When I started traveling solo, I had some experience with the Chicago CTA (L) system, but doing it alone can be intimidating. From purchasing the correct ticket to ensuring you’re taking the right train, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Before you go to a new city, familiarize yourself with the city’s public transit options, tickets, and routes. Download transit maps or save a screen grab to your photos, so you have them when you’re in subway tunnels and have no service. Attendants are typically working; don’t hesitate to ask questions if you’re unsure. When I was in Washington, D.C., a while back, I could NOT figure out how to exit the station. I walked around, back and forth, trying to figure it out. I finally stopped to ask someone. I felt like such a rube. It turns out that in Washington, D.C., you must use your card to leave the station and enter. I had not encountered that anywhere else. I felt like an idiot, but the attendants just chuckled, and I was on my way! Google Maps has excellent transportation instructions that will help you navigate the bus, subway, train, or other modes of transportation. Even after several years of solo travel, public transportation is still my nemesis and my biggest hurdle. It’s a me thing. I do it anyway, but man, it’s not easy for me. Want more tips on public transportation? We’ve got you!

Book an overnight stay in a hotel, even in your hometown. I have never been intimidated about staying in a hotel, but I frequently hear this from other female travelers. For some, just the unknown of sleeping alone can be intimidating. Book the stay. There are almost always things to do near your hotel. Grab a coffee or cocktail in the hotel bar. Walk around the area and explore. I avoid suburban hotels as they often don’t have much to look at besides strip malls. Find a good city center location. I love having a glass of wine while looking out of the windows at a good city view. I get my best sleep in hotels, but it can take some getting used to. A lot of people travel with familiars such as small fans, their favorite pillow, a special pillow case, stuffed animals, their partner’s t-shirt or even a favorite blanket. Take whatever will make you feel comfortable as you get used to this new adventure.

Familiarize yourself with parking options in cities if you aren’t from one. You’ll likely need to find parking when staying at hotels in larger cities. If you aren’t comfortable with public garages or parking lots, pay the extra for valet. I hate paying extra, so I use apps like SpotHero to find the closest, cheapest parking. Make sure you check the rules for the lot you are in. One time in Atlanta, I had my car booted because I didn’t leave my ticket on the dash and took it with me. Every lot or garage has rules and time limits, and costs are often confusing. There is often fine print on the $9.99 lots. SpotHero allows you to pay in advance through the app, which I love. Street parking is available in most places, but follow the meter rules (usually time limits) and learn how to parallel park. So often I hear that people don’t park in urban areas because they can’t parallel park! When parking in public garages I also look for a spot closest to the exit in a well lit area. I also carry a small flashlight with me that I can use as a defensive weapon and take other safety measures.

Book a solo road trip. Once you’ve conquered a few of your fears in your home state, book a road trip further away. Little things like stopping for gas, stopping at travel plazas (my preferred restroom choice), or grabbing a bite on the road will help hone your spidey senses. If you ever feel uncomfortable, turn around and leave. Don’t ever question your gut. Whenever I stop, I take a minute to gauge the crowd. Are there families around? Other women? I’m not paranoid, but I am very aware of my surroundings. I feel more comfortable in urban areas than in rural areas, and when I’m driving, I keep a close eye on my fuel levels. I do not want to stop in an area where I’m not comfortable, and I never want to run out of gas. My longest solo road trip was a 10-day trip from my home state of Indiana through Tennessee and North Carolina. I went far south and drove up the coast. I visited the Outer Banks, where I had camped as a child, and also took my kids when they were growing up. This was a very cathartic trip for me in the first fall of COVID-19. It was a lot of drive time, listening to podcasts, camping on an island for the first time, and visiting the wild ponies on Shackleford Banks. My father even drove out and joined me for a couple of days in the place we had visited frequently as a family when I was a kid. It’s always good to have an emergency road kit, and Julianne has an excellent one you can find in our post “What’s in my emergency road kit.”

When you really start to feel brave, venture out from the comfort of hotels … maybe. From Airbnbs, to hostels there are a variety of places you can stay, you can even stay at Convents! When I first started traveling I used Airbnb quite a bit. Most of my stays were shared-space stays, which is not everyone’s comfort level. My first shared-space stay was in midtown Atlanta for $45. The woman rented out every inch of her apartment (both bedrooms and the couch). After taking myself to dinner, I walked in to find a young man sitting on the floor in the living room in his underwear, eating pizza. I just said hello and went to my room. It amused me, and I did not feel unsafe, but it opened my eyes to the reality of shared spaces. I did two more shared-space stays in Austin with similar experiences. When using Airbnb, or any booking platform, make sure you read the descriptions and all the information provided. What is the cancellation policy? If you have to change your plans, how flexible is it? What additional fees do they have? If you will be working remotely, how reliable is their wifi? Will you be getting a key or will there be a keypad you can use to enter? Consider what is most important to you and read the reviews to ensure it’s a good stay for you. A great option for those of you who are a little more social is hostels. Many major cities in the US have hostels, and there are everywhere in Europe. You can find incredible deals and choose between mixed dorms, same-sex dorms or even private rooms! My favorite way to find a place to stay is using Booking.com. You will find everything: hotels, hostels, apartments for rent, and even some really unique stays. Their loyalty program is really great too!

Flying solo—now you’re cooking! I love to fly. I love airports. Once you’re ready to book your first flight, consider what is important. Do you prefer the window, aisle or the dreaded middle? Do you like to chat or want to be alone with your thoughts? I am an alone-with-my-thoughts window person. I travel with a large scarf that I can use as a travel blanket, head covering, or for its intended use. I once flew home from a business trip sick as all get out and used it to cover my whole head to help protect the people around me. (Seems funny now, I could have just worn a mask!) It also makes an effective pillow or eye covering when I’m trying to sleep. I use headphones to listen to my podcast, audiobook or music, and this also alerts my seatmate; I’m not DTC (down to chat). I like to board late if I’m not worried about overhead bin space and early if I am. I want to get off the plane as soon as possible, so I prefer to sit closer to the front. One of the perks of traveling solo is if you pick your seat, if it’s not a full flight you might get the row to yourself, it happens!

Rent a car. What could possibly be scary about renting a car? Well, lots of things. Here are things I did NOT know about renting cars when I first started traveling. Insurance: Holy #$%l, the first time I rented a car I paid them to insure it. Talk to your car insurance agent before you rent a car. When I was with State Farm they would add on rental car insurance for specific trips I was taking. My current car insurance provider doesn’t offer that service so now I use a Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which offers rental car coverage protection and gives me points when I travel! The person with the credit card must be the one who rents the car, signs all the paperwork and is the primary driver. I have a series of protocols I use when renting a car. Start by walking around the car and taking photos. If possible, walk it with a rep of the rental car company. Make them note any dent or scratch on the car. If you have an issue talk to a desk agent. They are so used to terrible customers, be kind. They will work hard to make sure you are taken care of.

Speak up if you don’t like the car they want to give you. You don’t have to take the first one you are offered. Check the car for refuse or signs it has not been cleaned. If it is dirty or smells off ask for another. I tend to rent domestically from Enterprise. They are easy to book with, have a great cancellation policy, and I rarely have issues with them. I have a rewards program with them and occasionally get free upgrades. You can often upgrade when you pick up your car for an extra $10 or so a day, which can be totally worth it if it’s just a day or two.

Find good solo activities. Any activity can be a solo activity, but I started with ones that interested me and that I felt comfortable doing. Museums are great. Generally, they’re quiet spaces anyway. I love both art and history and going to museums when I travel tells me a lot about the place I’m in. When I was in New Mexico I learned so much about Native Americans and South Americans’ immigration to the United States through the art and history museums there. I pop in my earbuds, put on some nice chill tunes, and walk to my heart’s content. Zoos, botanical gardens and outdoor sculpture parks are also high on my list. Live music, plays, philharmonic performances, ballet … most cities have beautiful theaters to enjoy!

If you get to a city and aren’t sure what to explore, look to see if they have free walking tours. This is a great way to get a feel for the city, orient yourself and meet other travelers. Most cities also have paid tours that align with your interests — boat tours, architecture tours, and haunted tours! Airbnb Adventures is also a great way to get to know the local landscape, meet residents and see hot spots.

Find your people. I am an introvert and like being on my own, but I still want to connect with other travelers on occasion who share some common goals or experiences. There are a lot of travel groups on social media that cater to solo travelers, even down to your demographic. I’m in several groups for solo female travelers over 50. I had been looking for packing tips, and the video I found was done by a 20-something who packed 16 bikinis and 100 tampons. No joke. That is not relevant information to me. Connecting with older travelers helps me dial in my specific needs and meet other travelers I can sometimes meet up with when I’m in their area!

Join a meet-up group. There are so many meetup groups. Just throw in a Google search for where you want to go or join a travel group on social media and ask who is in the area you will be in. I’ve even gone on dates while traveling, using dating apps. Just because you are traveling, solo doesn’t mean you might not want company! Speaking of company, be smart if you want to hook up on the road. Don’t drink too much; be careful about who you hook up with. I think getting a photo of someone’s ID and face and sending it to a friend back home is smart. If someone takes offense to that, that’s not someone who cares enough about my safety, and I don’t want to hook up with them. Also, use condoms; STDs are not a souvenir you want to bring home.

Have fun. Clearly, the whole point of solo travel is to have fun, learn more about yourself, test your limits and enjoy the absolute freedom that comes from doing what YOU want to do, literally every minute of a day, for as long as you choose. Women especially don’t get that kind of luxurious freedom often, and it can be overwhelming when you first try it. But once you get used to it, you will wonder why you wanted to wait for others to travel with you.

Don’t let fear hold you back. Maybe traveling solo isn’t for you right now, but don’t let fear hold you back if it is. Book the trip, prepare and go. If you aren’t quite ready, find a good travel group. There are many options for solo travelers! In the meantime, check out our post on staying safe when traveling solo; being prepared is the first step!

I’ve never felt more “ME” than when I travel solo. I’ve learned what I like, what my pace is, where I like to eat and how much I like to sleep, all without someone else’s influence. I have friends I enjoy traveling with, and I still do, but solo trips will always be my favorite way to travel!

The freedom and self-exploration that occurs when traveling solo is something I can’t imagine giving up.

Ready to book your trip?

Book your accommodations

We like booking.com for accommodations. They offer a range of hotels, resorts, apartments, guesthouses and even hostels. The platform also has a loyalty program that allows members to save even more.

Book your tours

We love booking tours through a single provider and keeping our mobile tickets in one spot. We use GetYourGuide. We appreciate that they work with local companies and provide a wide variety of tours!

Stay connected

When using an eSIM, we like Airalo. An eSIM is the easiest way to obtain cell service outside your network. We have used their eSIM cards in Budapest, Canada and Ecuador, and so far, so good! Simply download the Airalo app, select the country you’re traveling to, and choose the amount of data you want. Follow the installation instructions and turn it on when you arrive!

Shopping for your trip?

We make a small commission when you use our Amazon Affiliate link. It helps offset the expense of maintaining our website and costs you nothing extra.

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_{The views expressed on this website represent the opinions of the authors; we encourage you to form your own opinions and confirm any facts.}

_{This post likely contains affiliate links. If you shop or make a reservation through these links, we may make a small commission (for which we are very grateful!) at no extra cost to you. Not all links are affiliates, and we only suggest products and places that we have experienced.}

We’ve grown to rely on a range of trip-planning sites over the years. But one of the best, no-fail, essential travel planning tools we love is Google Flights. 

It’s an excellent way to find the best prices on flights, especially if your destination is specific but your dates can vary a bit. And that’s true whether you’re booking a flight in the coming weeks or up to a year ahead.

But to get the best results, you really need to know how to use Google Flights. Here, we break down the obvious and not-so-obvious features.

Using Google Flights

Start at https://www.google.com/travel/flights/ (or just google Google Flights). 

Here on the main screen, adjust the settings for round trip or one way, number of passengers and flight class appropriately.

I always search on Economy, because my budget allows for several inexpensive flights per year or one really nice one, and I choose the former, but you do you. 

Enter your starting airport and your destination. If it’s a one-way trip, the date range will automatically adjust to a single date.

You have some choices when choosing an airport on Google Flights for your departure or destination. While you’re still here on the main screen, click in the boxes for each city, and you’ll see a drop-down menu. If you don’t mind traveling to or from an airport a little ways away, you’ll see more results. This is the default. But if you really want to fly from a specific airport and not just anything within a large radius, make a selection here.

And if you want to be able to see the best prices and times from all airports in a region, to possibly travel to one airport and then depart from another, choose multi-city. I used this when I was trying to find the best prices for a trip to and from Destin, Florida, which is served by several small (expensive) regional airports, so that I could book a flight into Pensacola and back out of Destin.

If you want to check prices from multiple airports at the same time, simply type the airport code into the departure box, put a comma after it and type the next airport code. You can put in multiple airports, and your results will show pricing for all flights from all the airports that you’ve selected. Heather has three airports within three hours that she checks, as well as her home airport. This is what it looks like.

If your dates are a little flexible, click in the date box on this main screen (see below). A magical window appears! At least it feels like magic. Here, you’ll see how traveling sooner or later — sometimes by just a day — can dramatically change the cost of your trip. This is one of the best things about learning how to use Google Flights, in my opinion. 

Here, I’ve chosen to fly from Denver to St. Martin, because this island in the Caribbean remains on my bucket list. Clearly, flying on May 26 would be silly, but I could almost afford to go on May 7, depending on my return date, which you can tweak in this view as well. Take a minute to click around on the dates above the calendar view, and the dates in the calendar. You’ll soon see how it works. 

If you don’t have a specific timeframe in mind, click the arrows to the sides of the calendar view (see the next screenshot) and experiment with different months. You can see quickly how your prices change, and whether current prices are low, typical or high compared to past averages for the same route. Google Flights also recently added a new feature. “For searches with reliable trend data,” you can now see when prices are typically lowest to your destination. This means some routes will have this information; others may not. You can also turn on price tracking to get change notices via email.

Just for fun, I decided to go on a seven-day trip in August. (If you’re going to fly that far, make the most of your time and CO2 emissions and stay longer.) Let’s take a look at some further features now that I’ve made this totally non-binding decision.

In this new view, you’ll see some filters at the top of the screen. Let’s talk about each:

Stops

This could be key if you want to avoid lots of airport hopping. I prefer to make only one stop, if I can, which sometimes costs more, but is often worth it. If I would have chosen that filter, then I wouldn’t see that first American flight that costs just $316 but takes me 19 hours and 1 minute. Instead, my first option would be the 5 a.m. flight that costs $424 but takes just 8 hours and 28 minutes. 

(The bigger question: Would I book a flight that requires me to get up at 1:30 a.m. to get to the airport in time for an international departure? Probably not. I might opt for the third option: the later, slightly longer and more expensive one from Delta. Atlanta is a big airport with lots of nice diversions. I know this flight has a layover of 4 hours and 17 minutes in Atlanta by the indication under “1 stop.”)

For more on how to use layover information to your advantage, see Make the Most of Your Layover below!

Airlines

If you want to travel with a specific airline because of loyalty perks or preference, you can adjust your search here. This will narrow your search results significantly, so I leave it open knowing that there are just three airlines (that shall remain nameless) that I will never fly with again. 

Bags

You aren’t choosing your number of bags here, so you might as well leave this open. In fact, you don’t actually book your flight through Google Flights either; instead, it will offer you the opportunity to book your flight by clicking through directly to the airline’s website. (Or if you have a system of travel points down, you can take this information and book via your best points site. More on this later.)

Price

I prefer to look at options for different dates in the date grid rather than search within a price range — especially because if you’re limited by dates and price, you might not find any results. 

Times, Emissions, Connecting Airports, Duration

Here again, the more filters that you apply, the more likely you are to narrow yourself right out of any options. Even if you have some preferences, leave as many filters open as you can. This way you might find a flight that meets most of your needs, and determine that you can compromise on one or two lesser elements. 

Right under those filters you’ll see two view options on the right: Date Grid and Price Graph. Click on them! Play with them. This is especially helpful if you have a destination in mind but not a time frame. You’ll see when prices go up or down within a window or even throughout the year. The Price Graph shows you a broad view of flight cost patterns for your chosen trip length. The Date Grid shows you prices for trips of different lengths; here again, a day or two can make all the difference.

Underneath Best Departing Flights you’ll see a list of Other Departing Flights. Google Flights chooses the best based on cost, flight times, flight duration and even flight timeliness and reliability. I recently booked a flight from Newark to Fort Wayne with a layover in Chicago that, because it’s the last flight of the night from Chicago to Fort Wayne, is often delayed by 30 minutes, according to Google Flights. I booked it anyway because it offered me the best combination of price, duration and departure time—I really want to have time that day to do some sightseeing before I leave the city. But I’m prepared for a delay or maybe even an overnight in Chicago.

How did I learn this detail? There’s an arrow to the right of each flight option. When you click it, you’ll see the full details of the flight, including the type of airplane, in-flight features, layovers and airports. (Fun side note: The airport in St. Martin, SMX, is Princess Juliana International Airport. I think this is further proof that I’m destined to visit St. Martin.) 

For this pretend someday trip, I looked down the list under other departing flights, and I didn’t find anything that costs less and has better flight times or less travel time than that third flight from Delta under Best Departing Flights. I like it! So what next? 

When you find a flight that you like, click on it. You’ll come to a window that says Returning Flights. Here again you’ll see them sorted by price, as well as flight time. A bonus: These prices, while they don’t include checked bags, *do* include taxes and fees, so you won’t be unpleasantly surprised. 

The top option for my return from my “trip” to St. Martin is also the best: lowest price and shortest flight time. It leaves at a humane 3:25 p.m., meaning I probably can squeeze in a few moments of fun that morning, and it gets in late, which is fine because I can come home, shower and go to bed. I leave time the day after my return from a trip for my extra-clean unpacking routine.

I love it! I’m ready to book. I just need to decide what fare I want. I may decide to upgrade to Main Cabin, just for the flexibility of making changes if needed. (Though I’ll first click that link where it says the “airline may be offering additional flexibility for bookings.”) 

If you’ve made your final selection here, you have one of two options.

1. Simply scroll down on this page. You’ll see a button that says Booking Options. Book with [your airline]. If I were to click this button, it would take me straight to the Delta site with all of these selections already pre-selected. I’d only need to choose my luggage and seat options, then enter payment, and I’m set. Bon voyage!
2. You can take all of this intel and go to your favorite booking platform to search for and select these choices. If you book travel via Chase, for example, you might not only find this flight, but also earn points from Chase for your trip. 

This highlights again an important feature of Google Flights: It’s not a site for booking flight deals. It’s a site for finding flight deals, and for seeing how tweaks to your plan can change your price. You book with the airline directly.

(Update from Google in September 2023) “On some flight results, you’ll see a colorful price guarantee badge, which means we’re especially confident the fare you see today won’t get any lower before departure. When you book one of these flights, we’ll monitor the price every day before takeoff, and if the price does go down, we’ll pay you back the difference via Google Pay. These price guarantees are part of a pilot program available for select Book on Google itineraries departing from the U.S.”)

The things I love about Google Flights are that it seems reliable and accurate; it aggregates hundreds of airlines’ flight offerings in one place; and it lets you see how playing with options affects your trip time and costs. 

Once you learn how to use Google Flights, we think it might be the first place you start when planning a trip. In fact, if you don’t have a specific destination, you can even use the tools on the left side of the Google Flights home page. This is the space for dreaming!

Click on the Travel button at the top left side of the Google Flights home page. You’ll see upcoming trips in a handy list, as well as travel advisories, potential trips, suggested destinations, popular destinations and past trips. (The latter is proof that big tech is watching you.)

The Explore button is a starting point for broad interests. It’s a little bit like the Date Grid described above, but rather than just searching by flights and places, you can also search by car travel and interests. If you have a specific timeframe in which you want to travel but no specific destination in mind, this is a way for you to see where in the world your budget might take you. Try zooming in and out for prices on places at a glance. Because everywhere is on our list at Journey Here, we love any opportunity to explore.

Underneath that is Things to Do. We’re a little biased at Journey Here Travel, but we’d recommend starting first with our Destinations section for ideas on things to do in those places we’ve visited. However, we haven’t been everywhere … yet.

If you click on the Flights button on the left side of the home page, it’s in essence the Google Flights home page. It lets you do the same things we described from the start of this blog. 

The Hotels button under that is similar to booking.com or hotels.com. There are lots of filters on the next screen after you’ve entered your destination. It also offers guidance on Where to Stay, When to Visit and What You’ll Pay, incorporating details about and vibes for regions or neighborhoods, high season versus low, weather, and well-known features. Update the map view at right to search on restaurants, shopping and attractions nearby; a slider lets you see what’s within your selected walking distance. 

Finally, Vacation Rentals works much like Airbnb and VRBO. Here, however, you’ll find listings aggregated from Vacasa, iTrip, Rentals United, TripAdvisor, BluePillow and more. There’s a similar map view here.

The best way to learn how it all works is to use Google Flights, knowing that it’s less than a booking agent but a whole lot more than a booking agent at the same time. While we still appreciate the value that experienced travel guides and consultants bring to a trip — in fact, so much so that we offer some of these travel services ourselves to new travelers — Google Flights puts more of the traditional travel agent experience at your fingertips. There’s no personal service as with a travel agent or travel consultant, but there’s a world of choices available to anyone with a bit of time and a computer screen. 

Make the Most of Your Layover

If you have a flexible schedule and don’t mind breaking up a flight, you also can look for really long layovers and see something while you’re there. In the example below, I am flying from Chicago to Athens, but have two long layovers: one on the way there, and one on the way back.

On the departing flight, I’m flying overnight, landing in Copenhagen at 1:15 p.m. I have until my departure at 8:30 a.m. the next day to see the city. This also breaks up my flying time nicely: eight hours and ten minutes from Chicago to Copenhagen, and then just three hours to Athens the next day.

On the return flight, I would have an overnight layover in Stockholm. It’s slightly less time, but still enough to do a little sightseeing and stretch my legs.

I could take this same trip with a 13-hour departing flight and a slightly longer return flight for just $240 more (see below). A longer layover (above) saves money on the ticket, but adds expenses for accommodations. It lets me get a glimpse of two new places, however! The second trip (below) is more efficient and slightly more costly. It just depends on your priorities. (Though personally, I’m always down for a two-for-one kinda trip!)

If life hands you lemons in the form of an extra-long layover (or a travel delay), it might be an opportunity to sample a new destination’s lemonade!

Ready to book your trip?

Book your accommodations

We like booking.com for accommodations. They offer a range of hotels, resorts, apartments, guesthouses and even hostels. The platform also has a loyalty program that allows members to save even more.

Book your tours

We love booking tours through a single provider and keeping our mobile tickets in one spot. We use GetYourGuide. We appreciate that they work with local companies and provide a wide variety of tours!

Stay connected

When using an eSIM, we like Airalo. An eSIM is the easiest way to obtain cell service outside your network. We have used their eSIM cards in Budapest, Canada and Ecuador, and so far, so good! Simply download the Airalo app, select the country you’re traveling to, and choose the amount of data you want. Follow the installation instructions and turn it on when you arrive!

Shopping for your trip?

We make a small commission when you use our Amazon Affiliate link. It helps offset the expense of maintaining our website and costs you nothing extra.

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The views expressed on this website represent the opinions of the authors; we encourage you to form your own opinions and confirm any facts.

Are you embarking on an adventure by plane soon? Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or a first-time flier, preparation is the key to success. Some of these tips are specific to United States residents, but most apply to anyone flying.

Must-Know Tips for Flying is a comprehensive guide for all travelers.

We’ll walk you through the steps to prepare for your flight, from the best apps to download to must-have documents and the perfect in-flight snacks. Soar the skies confidently, knowing you’re fully prepared for the journey. 

Booking your flight:

• Use a website like Google Flights or Hopper for the best flight prices. There is no magic formula. Prices fluctuate, but these websites will allow you to track flights, recommend a good time to buy, and get alerts when prices drop. 
• If you have a flexible schedule and like the idea of adventure, last-minute flight deals are a great way to explore a new area; the Explore feature on Google Flights is a great way to find those deals.
• Going.com is another great resource for finding flights if you don’t have a set destination in mind. The free version will show you some deals, but the best ones are behind a paywall. 
• Book flights directly through the airline when possible. I love to use points I’ve accumulated through credit cards, but make sure you have all of your information correct. It is much easier to resolve issues directly with the airline than with third parties. I once made an error when booking a flight using points, and neither the credit card company nor the airline would fix the mistake. I ended up eating $1,500 worth of plane tickets. On that note…
• It is best to verify that all information on your reservation is correct: name, date of birth, passport number (if applicable), known traveler number (if you have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck), and emergency contact information at the time of booking. The name on your reservation must match your ID. I once used my daughter’s maiden name on a ticket, which was a costly mistake. See above. If you book directly with an airline and make an error, you can typically call them and have it corrected after the fact if you need to. 
• Set up a frequent flier account for every airline you fly on your trip. If you are flying internationally, set up partner airline accounts as well. As an example, you might book an international flight with United, but along the way, you may fly Lufthansa for a leg of the trip. They would be a partner airline. You will want to ensure they have all your contact information and that you set up notifications. Make sure you have your phone number, email, passport number, known traveler number (if you have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck), and all other relevant information entered correctly into your accounts. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are only recognized in the US, they are not international services.
• Download each airline’s app. This typically allows you to check in online 24 hours before your flight and get digital boarding passes. Turn on notifications to get a heads-up about flight and gate changes. 
• If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, inform the airline beforehand. You can do this while making your reservation.
• Double-check your dates and times. I’ve been within two weeks of a trip only to realize I booked it for the wrong month. Calling the airline directly and making the change is the best course of action. Whether it can be changed depends on your ticket type and flight availability. 
• Make sure you read the fine print when booking your flight. I book the cheapest possible flights, which typically have more restrictions: less flexibility for cancelations or changes, paying for seat assignments, and sometimes not getting a checked or even carry-on bag. Weight your options carefully before you decide which class of ticket you are purchasing. Basic economy is what I normally fly, and I accept the restrictions. 

Documents Needed for Flying:

• You have a few options for identification when flying. A driver’s license, a passport – even one that has expired up to two years and, in some states, a digital ID. (currently only available in AZ, CO, GA, or MD)  Beginning May 7, 2025, a Real ID-compliant driver’s license, permit, or identification card will be required to board commercial airplanes or enter certain federal facilities if you do not have a passport or digital ID. If you have a Global Entry ID, this is considered a Real ID and replaces your need for a Real ID driver’s license.
• If traveling internationally, you must have a valid passport with more than six months left before expiration. For example, if you are flying in March of 2025, it must be valid until September 2025. Passports can not be water damaged, or they will not be accepted. Keep your passport in good condition.
• You can often check in for your flight through the airline’s app and download your digital boarding passes. Occasionally, you must check in at the airport at a desk or a kiosk to get printed boarding passes, which some countries require. Leave extra time if you cannot download digital boarding passes. You can save them in your digital wallet, such as Apple Wallet. I also take a screenshot in case my cell signal is poor in an airport and I can’t load the airline’s app.

TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear

• TSA PreCheck: This is a good option for any traveler who flies more than twice per year. Once you’re approved, your TSA PreCheck is valid for five years. The main advantages are shorter security lines at some airports, not having to remove your liquids or computers in some security lines, and not having to remove your shoes. Reimbursement of the TSA PreCheck application fee is a perk of many travel credit cards, including Capital One Venture. The cost is $78. The application can be completed online, but you must complete an onsite interview before approval.
• Global Entry: Global Entry gives you the same clearance as TSA PreCheck but has the added value of allowing you to sail through passport control when re-entering the US if you’ve traveled outside the country. This also works at border crossings into Canada and Mexico when you are driving. The cost is $100, and it is also valid for five years. I had to drive three hours to get an onsite interview (from Fort Wayne to Detroit), but it is usually easier to schedule the interview in larger cities.
• CLEAR is an American technology company offering biometric identity verification systems at some airports and stadiums. CLEAR Plus is a paid membership program allowing members to use dedicated lanes at more than 55 airports to speed up airport security screening. The cost is $189 per year. The advantage to Clear is faster lines. You bypass the TSA PreCheck line and still get the advantages of PreCheck if you have it. Travel credit cards often reimburse Clear application fees. 
• To learn more about TSA PreCheck and Clear, check out this piece by The Points Guy.

Getting to the Airport

• Ensure you know when to be at the airport from which you’re departing. Leave enough time for travel, parking and walking or getting a shuttle to the departures area. Most airports will tell you when you should be at the airport before departure, and the times can vary based on the airport, time of year and even time of day. If you check a bag, get to the airport no less than one-and-a-half hours before your flight. Airlines often will not accept checked bags less than one hour before departure. For international flights, allow three hours. The more time you leave, the less stressed you will be.
• If you don’t have a ride to the airport and will be parking your car, check costs and make arrangements ahead of time, especially at large airports. Remember, getting from the parking lot to the departure hall can take quite a bit of time at larger airports. Around major airports, nearby hotels will have parking options and shuttles to the airport, but they usually only run on the half-hour. Keep that in mind when you are planning how much time you need.
• Weigh the pros and cons of taking public transportation vs. driving and parking. Cost is usually a determining factor, but my time is also important. I once took public transportation from northwest Indiana, where I parked my car, to O’Hare Airport in Chicago. It saved me $120 in parking fees but cost me about four hours of time overall. Plus, after flying home from Paris, I had four hours of train rides before I got to my car and two hours of driving. On the other hand, Julianne uses the RTD A Train between Denver International Airport and Union Station downtown, then takes a Lyft home. That usually takes about the same amount of time as driving through traffic, and depending on the length of the journey, the train and ride might cost just a third of parking.
• Consider too the time of day that you’ll be leaving and returning. Returning to a large parking lot late at night or in the winter when your car might be snowed is no fun. Remember to secure your vehicle, note where you’ve parked (don’t trust this to memory) and take your parking ticket with you. Taking a photo of the nearest parking lot identifier sign is a great way to find your car when you return. You can also drop a pin in your maps.

Luggage

• Checked bags are bags that are over a specific size (on most airlines, over 21 or 22” tall) and ride in the belly of the plane. You will need to check in and leave bags of this size with the airline before you go through security, and you will retrieve them at your final destination. Most airlines charge a fee for checked bags; you may not have to pay this fee if you have certain travel or airline credit cards. Some airports offer curbside check-in, some have kiosks you can use to print your luggage tags and put them on a conveyor belt, and some you will need to check in at the airline counter. When you arrive at the airport, keep your eyes peeled for the various options or check the airport website ahead of time. 
• Carry-on luggage is usually a smaller wheeled suitcase, travel backpack, or duffel bag. It must meet the size requirements to qualify as carry-on luggage. These too vary from airline to airline. You should be able to lift this bag over your head as it goes in the overhead bin.  If the plane is full, or if the plane is small you may need to gate check your bag. You will get a luggage tag and you will leave your bag at the bottom of the jetbridge (in most cases). Airline staff will direct you where to leave your bag. After your flight you will pick your bag back up and take it with you, it will not travel to your final destination if it is gate-checked. 
• A personal item is a small bag that fits under the seat in front of you. The maximum size is usually 18”, but some budget airlines have smaller max sizes. Not all airlines allow both carry-on luggage and personal items; know what the airline you’re flying allows.
• Measure and weigh your bags to ensure they’re the right size and weight for all airlines you fly. These parameters change from airline to airline, especially internationally. A bag that meets the criteria for carry-on on one flight might be too big for the next flight. You can find this information on airline websites. Be sure you know which partner airlines are handling all of the segments of your trip; sometimes a flight booked with United will be handled in part by Lufthansa, for example, and standards may change. This information is available in your reservation details.
• If you’re checking luggage, make sure you have a luggage tag on the outside of your bag. Place a copy of your personal information inside the bag in case your tag gets lost during your trip. Using AirTags is a great way to keep track of luggage. It was very helpful when I traveled home from Budapest and my bag failed to arrive; I could see my bag sitting behind Starbucks in the Amsterdam airport. In all seriousness, it did help the airline locate my bag and eventually get it back to me.
• If you are traveling from one location to another inside the same country, checked bags typically travel from your departure airport directly to your final destination, even if you have multiple transfers. 
• If you enter the US from another country, regardless of whether you live in the US or not and regardless of whether this is your final destination, you will retrieve your checked bag after going through customs. You will then recheck your bag and go back through security before you board your next flight. Make sure you leave enough time for your connecting flights. This process can take several hours, depending on which airport you are at and how busy it is. 
• Carry-on bags go on the plane with you and are stored in the overhead bin. Again, it’s essential to know what size it needs to be; most airlines are strict about this. Your personal item must fit under the seat in front of you. I often take a backpack as my personal item and it  takes up a lot of space by my feet, so keep that in mind when picking your personal item, especially for long flights.
• You cannot fly with lithium batteries in your checked luggage. Power banks, digital cameras, e-readers, laptops,  electronic cigarettes and vaporizers, and other items with lithium batteries must go on the plane with you.
• Need help with packing? Check out our packing section.

At the Airport

• If you are checking a bag, you should do that first. 
• If you have not downloaded digital boarding passes to your digital wallet, you can print them at a kiosk or get them from the counter when checking in your bag. If you have TSA PreCheck, ensure the TSA PreCheck indicator shows up on your digital or printed boarding pass, or you can not use the TSA PreCheck line. If it’s not there, an agent at your airline’s departure desk can usually add it and reprint your pass.
• After you check your bag, or if you are traveling carry-on only, you will proceed to security. If you have TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, proceed to the TSA PreCheck line. If you have Clear, proceed to the Clear line. You cannot use your Global Entry card to enter the TSA PreCheck lane if the TSA PreCheck indicator is not on your boarding pass.
• Airports will often have multiple terminals, depending on the airport’s size, and then multiple gates in those terminals from which the planes arrive and depart. Every airport layout is different. Many airports have shuttles, trains or even buses that take you from where you went through security to the terminal your flight departs from. Some airports, such as the Atlanta airport, have clear signage and fast transport. Others are harder to navigate, and you can walk a considerable distance (I’m looking at you, O’Hare in Chicago). If you have disability issues, you can ask for transport assistance.
• You can also request wheelchair assistance if injured or disabled to get you down the jet bridge to the plane. (The jet bridge is the walkway that the airline workers move into place to allow you to walk from the airport into the airplane.)
• Amenities such as lounge access or sleep pods can be accessed by paying fees. They are included as perks with some travel credit card, such as Amex Platinum or Venture X, or if you have purchased a business class ticket or higher. 
• Make sure you fill your reusable water bottle before you board. Flights are dehydrating, and you’ll get thirsty.

Bonus tips: Getting through TSA Security Checkpoints

• Stay calm and be cooperative. 
• Empty your water bottle and finish other beverages before you begin.
• If you do not have TSA PreCheck, you’ll need to remove your shoes, belt, and coat or jacket and put them in a tray on the conveyor belt for scanning. Laptops and other electronics often need to come out of your bag and be placed in a tray on a conveyor belt. Depending on the airport, this may also include camera equipment or large batteries.
• If you do not have TSA PreCheck, you will need to remove your liquids bag if they are packed in your carry-on or personal item. They must be in a quart-sized bag, and all bottles must be less than 3.4 oz. It is best to check the TSA website to be very clear about what is considered a liquid. Examples: Peanut butter is a liquid. I have never been flagged for mascara. The TSA app even has an easy-to-use feature called “Can I bring” which makes it super easy to search for items. You can pack all the salsa you want in your checked bag, but if it’s carry-on, it’s 3.4 ounces. 
• Remove any watches or jewelry that might set off the scanner. Remove keys or change from your pockets.
• Push your bags all the way onto the bag scanner conveyor belt; don’t leave them stuck outside and walk away.
• Be patient with the people in front of you; don’t try to push around them. 
• Wait until TSA waves you through the X-ray machine; don’t just walk right in. 
• At the other end of the bag scanner, stand back and leave room for the people in front of you to gather their things.
• When you get your things, grab the tray that you put them in and return it to the stack. Then, step away with your stuff before you put yourself back together. Don’t try to put on your shoes or belt or reorganize your things at the end of the security belt. Many airports will have benches and/or tables just for this purpose a few feet away.

At The Gate

• Be sure you’re at your gate a half hour before departure. If the airline needs to check your passport or other documents, they will call you to the desk. Sometimes, they will ask you to check your carry-on bag if the flight is full and you are in a later boarding class. You’ll need to pull your lithium batteries out and put them in your personal item if you have to check your carry-on bag. You may have the option to “gate-check,” meaning you’ll get your bag on the jet bridge at your next destination or “check it through” to your final destination.
• Most airlines will board by flight class. The less expensive your ticket, the later you board. If you have a credit card for that airline, you’ll typically be bumped up by a few boarding groups. I have a United Card through Chase Bank, which gives me a free checked bag (even when I fly basic economy), and I usually board in Froup 5, which is about the middle for United Airlines.
• Please pay attention to announcements and relax until it’s your time to board. Unless you are worried about overhead bin space, there is no point in rushing onto the plane if you have an assigned seat.
• Only approach the boarding line once your boarding group is called; it creates chaos and congestion in the small gate area when people crowd the boarding area before they can board the plane.

On The Plane

• When boarding, stow your carry-on in the overhead bin and put your personal item under the seat in front of you. Have your bags packed appropriately so you can quickly get situated. Getting everyone on the plane promptly helps keep the plane on time. Julianne typically packs a waist bag with things she absolutely needs during her flight and puts that inside her carry-on. This serves the dual purpose of “eliminating” a bag, if the airline only allows a carry-on or personal item and not both, as well as making it easy to sort and stow things quickly when getting seated.
• Take snacks, but not noisy or smelly ones. Resist the urge to buy a meal and take it on the plane unless you have to. Apples, almonds, olives, cheese sticks or orange segments are all good plane snacks. Don’t forget your handy wipes to clean your tray table and your hands!
• If my flight is over four hours, I like an aisle seat to get up and walk or use the restroom as much as possible. If it’s under four hours, I take the window seat. I love taking pictures of clouds like I’ve never flown before.
• We aren’t going to get into the whole “should you recline or should you not recline” debate; you do what makes you comfortable. Just do it before (or long after) dinner is served so the person behind you doesn’t end up wearing their dinner.
• Be considerate and keep your body to yourself as much as possible.
• Wear your shoes to the bathroom.
• Avoid wearing perfume or cologne on a plane. Your favorite scent could be overpowering to the person next to you.

Dressing for Flights

• Airplanes are cold and hot, often within minutes of each other. I cannot stress enough how important layers are—especially easy-to-remove layers. I travel with a large but lightweight scarf. It’s great to use as a blanket when I’m cold and behind my back as lumbar support when I’m not.
• I highly encourage comfortable shoes, preferably easy to slip on and off. On a long flight, it’s nice to discreetly slip them off under the seat in front of you. See our blog on how to survive long flights comfortably for other tips. Your feet may also swell on a long flight, so make sure your shoes are roomy, and wear compression socks on a longer flight.
• If you have smelly feet, try using LUME Deodorant on them before you fly or leave your shoes on. Also, don’t ever put your feet on the seat in front of you. And always put your shoes on before you get up to use the restroom. That’s not water on the floor in there. 

Managing noise and light

• Airplanes are noisy, with people, children and the sound of the plane. If you’re sensitive to noise, download some white, green or brown noise and bring sound-canceling headphones or a good pair of earplugs. 
• I like my Kindle Paperwhite, so I can read on flights at night without having my light on. Julianne uses the Kindle app on her iPhone with the dark setting. I also like to sleep on flights, so a sleep mask can be handy, or I use the scarf I travel with. It makes a good blanket if I get cold, and I can also wrap it around my head to block out light, dampen noise and hide from a chatty seatmate.

Deplaning

• Once the plane lands and taxis to the gate, you still have to wait for the jet bridge to be attached to the plane. Once that is done, the flight attendants will start the deplaning process. 
• When disembarking, wait your turn. Don’t force yourself through the throngs of people because you are anxious to get off the plane; everyone is anxious to get off the plane. If you have a tight connection, speak with the flight attendant to see if you can get off the plane quickly.
• Put the items you’ve had out during your flight back in your personal item or carry-on. Make sure you have everything. (Check that seatback pocket!) Now, patiently wait until it’s your turn. 
• If you have a gate-checked bag, you will line up on one side of the jet bridge to wait for your bag to be brought up from the belly of the plane. Space is limited in this area, and many people are disembarking. Additionally, airport staff will be coming with wheelchairs to help those who are not able-bodied get off of the plane. If you line up on the opposite side so you can get your bag quicker, you will be in the way of this process. 
• If you are traveling with others, plan to meet in the concourse after deplaning, not on the jet-bridge. 
• Once you have made it to the airport corridor — ahhhhh — you might as well hit the restroom and freshen up. From here, you may have bags to collect before heading to the transportation areas. I like to use the restroom, brush my teeth and freshen my face depending on how long I’ve been flying. 
• Stop and refill your water.

Passport Control and Customs

• If you are landing in a new country or returning home from outside your country, you will need to go through customs and immigration passport control. 
• In the US, if you have Global Entry, you can use lanes that expedite this process. These often have kiosks where you scan your Global Entry card;  in some cities, they use facial recognition software to scan your face. If you don’t have Global Entry, download the Mobile Passport Control App and use the lines for Mobile Passport Control. 
• If you declare items purchased abroad, you will declare those items during this process. It can vary by airport. Keep a pen in your personal item so it’s handy!

Baggage Claim

• Follow the signs for baggage claim. Most of the time, when you land the airline will tell you which numbered carousel to go to, but there are also signs near baggage claim. Look for your flight number or departure city and go to the correct carousel. 
• When you arrive at the baggage carousel, send one person in your party near it to watch for bags. Don’t cluster there and block access for others trying to get their bags. Remember to give people room to swing their bags off of the carousel and set them down. When you have your bag, move away from the carousel before adjusting your belongings.
• If your bag fails to appear, you’ll need to find your airline’s missing bags office and complete a report *before you leave the airport.* Placing an Apple AirTag inside your suitcase is a helpful way to track it down. If your bag was damaged beyond repair during your trip, be sure to report that to your airline before leaving the airport as well. 

Exiting to Transportation Options

• You will typically be looking for a rental car center, a hotel shuttle, ride share (Uber, Lyft, Bolt), a taxi, public transportation, or, if you’re returning home, the parking lot. Sometimes the wayfinding is great; sometimes, it’s terrible. Universally, there are usually a fair amount of employees in the transportation area who can help direct you to where you need to go. Read the overhead and posted signs in these areas carefully. 

Airline travel can be efficient, fun, and exhilarating. It can also be frustrating, exhausting, and time-consuming, but it’s still my favorite way to get around. I love flying; I get giddy when I walk down a jet bridge — every time. Knowing what you need to do from the moment you leave your house to when you get off the plane can help ease your anxiety, allow you to feel empowered, and make your trip go more smoothly.

Have questions? Email us at hello@journeyhere.travel

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Looking for more guides? Check out: Beginners Guide to Public Transportation, Beginners Guide to Car Rental and Travel Planning 101.

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