The tips library
Everything I wish I had known before the first journey.
Free, practical and tested on real roads. Read them in order or open the chapter you need today.
Chapter I
Planning
A good trip starts with a loose plan and plenty of room to change it.
- 01
Plan the first and last night only
Book where you land and where you leave from. Everything in between can flex with the weather, your energy and the people you meet.
- 02
Travel in the shoulder season
The weeks just before and after peak season bring softer prices, emptier streets and locals who have time to talk.
- 03
Stay three nights, not one
Fewer stops means less packing and more living. Three nights lets a place reveal its morning routine and its quiet corners.
- 04
Save offline maps before you go
Download the map of every region you visit. It saves battery, data and the panic of a dead signal at a crossroads.
Chapter II
Packing
Carry less, worry less. A light bag changes the whole rhythm of a trip.
- 01
Pack a palette, not outfits
Choose three colors that all match. Every top works with every bottom, and a scarf changes the whole look.
- 02
Roll, cube and leave a gap
Rolling saves space, packing cubes keep order, and an empty corner leaves room for the market find you did not plan for.
- 03
One pair of shoes you can walk in all day
Break them in at home. Blisters on day two can quietly ruin a week.
- 04
Keep a day kit in your personal item
Charger, medicine, a change of clothes and a toothbrush. If your bag takes a detour, your first night stays easy.
Chapter III
Money
Simple habits that keep your budget calm and your cards safe.
- 01
Always pay in the local currency
When a card machine offers to charge you in your home currency, say no. The conversion rate is almost always worse.
- 02
Carry two cards, in two places
Keep a backup card apart from your wallet. If one goes missing, your trip goes on.
- 03
Set a daily number, not a trip number
A daily budget is easier to feel. Spend less on a quiet day and enjoy the long dinner on another.
- 04
Eat your main meal at lunch
Many places offer a set lunch menu at a fraction of the dinner price, with the same kitchen and the same chef.
Chapter IV
On the road
Getting from A to B can be the best part of the day.
- 01
Choose the train when you can
City center to city center, a window seat and no security line. The landscape becomes part of the trip.
- 02
Learn five words
Hello, please, thank you, sorry and delicious. They open more doors than any app.
- 03
Walk the first morning
Skip the plan on your first morning. Walk without a destination, find a café and let the city introduce itself.
- 04
Ask where locals eat on Sunday
The answer is rarely on a top ten list and almost always worth the trip.
Chapter V
Staying safe
Calm, prepared travel, especially if you are on your own.
- 01
Share your plan with one person
Send your route and where you sleep to someone at home. A short daily check-in is enough.
- 02
Arrive in daylight
Landing somewhere new before dark makes finding your stay easier and much less stressful.
- 03
Photograph your documents
Keep a copy of your passport, insurance and bookings in your phone and in your email.
- 04
Trust the small feeling
If a place or a person feels off, leave. You never owe anyone an explanation while you travel.
Chapter VI
Keeping memories
How to come home with stories, not only photos.
- 01
Write three lines every night
What you saw, what you ate, who you met. In a year, those lines will be worth more than a thousand photos.
- 02
Take one photo, then put the phone away
Capture the moment, then be in it. The view looks different when you are not framing it.
- 03
Collect something flat
Tickets, postcards, a pressed flower. They slip into a journal and bring the whole day back.
- 04
Send a real postcard
To a friend or to yourself. It arrives weeks later, right when you miss the road.
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