After 33 countries, countless flights and more hairy travel situations than I'd like to admit, there are now a few things that come second nature when I travel. I also sometimes forget that I’m a subject matter expert on all things travel, and that these smart travel tips for beginners are ones I had to learn through making mistakes.

Tips like always put a change of clothes, undies and toothbrush in your carry on (if you are even checking a bag) can be filed in the common sense bucket. But some travel tips, like the ones listed below, I didn't know to expect until the unexpected happened.

Whether you are planning your first international trip or your tenth, these still apply.

Smart Travel Tips For Beginners

SAFEGUARD YOUR FUNDS 

Only take one credit card and a small amount of cash when you go out or leave your hotel room. This ensures that if you do lose your wallet or get pick pocketed that you always have a backup for the rest of your trip. We’ve “lost” ours in Mexico City, Cape Town and Barcelona - oops!

BRING A SECOND ID

Make a copy of your passport (everyone should already be doing this) but also take a physical ID like your drivers license out with you when you leave the hotel. Most museums use an id in exchange for renting headsets and self guided tours and a drivers license is much less important than your passport. 

USE THE AIRPORT ATM

Withdrawal a few days worth of local currency at the airport when you arrive in a destination. It's the easiest way to avoid high exchange rates and you don't have to deal with the hassle of doing it before your trip and carrying it all on you when you fly (also not the best idea). 

TRAVEL WITH SINGLE U.S. BILLS

Sometimes things unfold and it is impossible to get local currency, or you run out of cash in an inconvenient location. In those cases, we've found it incredibly helpful to have a stash of $1 US bills. In a pinch you can use them as a tip, and sometimes even pay with USD. 

UPDATE YOUR APPS

Download Uber and update your credit card info before you depart. Super savvy trip trick — request the Uber at your hotel or cafe over free wifi and the ride will still work even after your out of the wifi area, if you plan this right it you'll never have to turn on international data. 

NOTIFY YOUR BANK 

Tell your bank and add travel plans to your credit cards before you leave if you aren’t a frequent traveler. This one is right up there with copy your passport (as in, an oldie) but I'm amazed at how often this comes up as an issue with casual travelers. You can log upcoming trips easily online or using your bank's app and it insures your card doesn't get declined or held up in fraud protection.

UTILIZE OFFLINE MAPS

Save your trip highlights or itinerary in google maps (see mine from Mexico here) and access it offline. You can also use maps.me or another offline map app to navigate from place to place without having to jot down directions or pull out your guidebook late at night. Another fun tip? Save your places on your google map while you are out and about, each time you come back (or need to give a rec to a friend for a place to eat) you can look back at where you were. 

KNOW YOUR INSURANCE POLICIES

Visa, Amex and even your homeowners insurance can come into play while on vacation. If you are smart about what card you use when booking, it can save you money in the long run on things like car insurance, stolen goods reimbursement or cancelled travel plans. For example, we always use our Amex when renting a car (and decline insurance at the car rental desk) and Chase when booking air travel because my Chase Sapphire Reserve card has such generous trip delay and cancellation credits.

Feeling lost on where to start with planning your next big adventure? Check out the different levels of travel planning I offer here. I help everyone from beginners to advanced travelers in need of logistics and travel planning assistance.

Looking for information so you can do the travel planning on your own? Drop your email below and be the first to know when our DIY travel planner guide comes out next month!