As a full-time travel writer, one of the best parts of the job (aside from seeking out beautiful Indian temples, great tapas in Menorca and breathtaking Barbados beaches) is meeting, admiring or getting to know fellow travel lovers in the field, then grilling them for their useful travel tips. From award-winning photographers contributing to the world’s leading publications, to travel authors, incredible writers and the editors of hip travel-focused magazines, I’m always inspired by the words and images these talented people write and capture.
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| Useful travel tips are imperative when it comes to making the most of places like Cartagena in Colombia |
Since many of the travel experts I’ve got to know spend the majority of their lives on the road, living out of backpacks, suitcases and hotel rooms, collectively they have an incredible array of tips and advice. So I thought it would be useful to share what I’ve learnt directly from some of the world’s leading travel writers, photographers and editors - here’s what they had to say.
Useful travel tips from leading travel writers, editors and photographers
1. Ask for a corner room
Award-winning travel writer, Jonathan Thompson, who has travelled the globe for the likes of Travel+Leisure, Condé Nast Traveller and National Geographic, advises that whenever you check into a hotel, it’s worth asking for a corner room. “They're always the biggest rooms in every category”, he says.
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| Always ask for a corner room |
2. Download Sun Seeker
The Sun Seeker app is particularly useful for travel, says the award-winning photographer and writer Simon Urwin. With his images often gracing the covers of the world’s leading travel magazines and guidebooks, Simon says the app “details sunrise and sunset times, with an hour-by-hour solar trajectory as well as a bird’s eye mapping.” It’s unbeatable for anyone following in Simon’s footsteps.
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| Check out an app that details sunset and sunrise for the best photos |
3. Invest in a pair of Crocs
Some people detest them, others adore them, but one thing is for certain: Crocs make travelling a hell of a lot easier. National Geographic Photographer and Explorer, John Stanmeyer, turns to the footwear every time he’s passing through an airport for the simple reason that, “travelling through airports has become unpleasant for laced shoes.” He’s worn various styles of Crocs through airports around the world thanks to them being lightweight and super simple to take off and on. He also shares that, “in many parts of the world, especially Asia and parts of Africa, you take shoes off when entering people's homes. Crocs makes this act of kindness simple and efficient”.
4. Forget check-in luggage
As an author specialising in sustainable travel, Karen Edwards recommends ditching checked-in luggage for hand luggage for an array of reasons, including the fact that it reduces your individual carbon footprint.
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| Hand luggage is the way to go |
“Travelling light is also lighter on the mind, since you don’t have to deal with check-in queues, worry about missing baggage, and flights are sometimes cheaper with cabin-only bags”, she shares.
5. Pack coffee bags
As a caffeine lover, Simon Urwin confesses that when he needs to start the day with a caffeine hit, coffee bags are a life-changer. “Not quite as good as a cafetiere but way better than a sleeve of instant powder”, he reveals.
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| Coffee bags are a life-changer |
6. Walk slowly
One of my favourite authors, Tony Cohan, who wrote the brilliant, On Mexican Time, said that when travelling, it’s best to “walk slowly and drink a lot of water”, simple, but highly effective.
7. Utilise ‘FRAGILE’ stickers
In a nifty trick that saves time, Jonathan Thompson advises sticking "FRAGILE stickers on your luggage. Not only will baggage handlers take more care of them, but they'll always come off the conveyor belt first, saving you time on arrival,” he told me.
8. Don’t forget your running shoes
For the opportunity to cover more ground and see a destination at its most unguarded, going for a run is unbeatable, shares escapism editor Nick Savage. “As well as turbocharging your endorphins, some of my most fundamental travel memories come from moments spent running”, he shares.
9. Select some great audiobooks
While there’s no denying the tactile essence of a physical book, John Stanmeyer often turns to audiobooks when travelling, telling me, “In the interest of only having carry-on luggage, audiobooks and podcasts are brilliant.”
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| Audiobooks are a game-changer when travelling light |
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