Travel FAQs Answered
Jumping right into it! Comment at the bottom if there are any questions I missed!
Q: Is there a certain site you use to book your flights/travel plans?
A: YES! When I can, I strictly use America Express Travel. I have a platinum Amex card with amazing travel benefits and point rewards, one of which is receiving 5x the points when booking flights. Once I started traveling frequently, for business and for pleasure, I realized it would be in my benefit to stick with a select few airlines for the purpose of gaining status and points to use for free flights and upgrades down the road. This is something I recommend everyone do if you’re looking to travel more and really see the perks add up. If you’re booking through random “cheap flight” sites, you’ll never really see a lot of the rewards of traveling because your miles aren’t tracked and they’re dispersed amongst so many airlines. Because I book through American Express, which has a partnership with American Airlines and United Airlines so I have frequent flier miles on both airlines so that I can accumulate points! Not only do I accumulate 5x the points with my AMEX but I also accumulate miles with each airline so its kinda having the best of both worlds. You can claim free flights with both CC points and airlines miles. I have upgraded to first class for free through points on both airlines for longer flights and paid with points/miles for flights, etc!
ps. If you’re looking to apply for an American Express card, you can use my link fr extra points when you get approved :) Apply for an American Express Card with this link. We can both get rewarded if you're approved! http://refer.amex.us/ANNEGdk2D?xl=cp15
However, when traveling internationally, a lot of the airlines are different. So, in this case, I use the google flight tracker. Its best to be flexible with your dates so you can catch the cheapest flights. (I have a question below on my tips to travel for cheaper)
Part 2 answer: I have used a travel agent before! I have usually planned all my trips but after using GTFO with Gio, I realized the benefit of having someone plan your trip. Especially when then know the area better than you. It takes the stress and the question out of it. Gio was amazing to work with and I recommend her 12/10! If you have a trip coming up, book a discovery call with her and see how she can help you! https://www.gtfotrvl.com/appointments-2
Based on your travel needs/budget, another travel agent I have been recommended time and time again is my girl Kayla Baral. The planning fee is $200 or less ($99 if you know where you want to go, and she can find the best pricing and deals for you while managing the entire thing) Honestly, win win! Especially if planning the details of your trip is stressful for you! https://vagablondetravel.com/trip-styling/ click the link, select “general trip styling”, and then make sure you choose “Kayla Baral” as your agent when filling out the form!
Q: How do you budget for your trip?
A: I start with looking at flights, hotel/lodging expenses, and any other transportation expenses. Those tend to be a large bulk of the budget. Typically ,after the flight is booked, I will look into the “cost of living” in the city/country I am traveling to. I will research the types of things I want to do while I’m there and see the average of costs/expenses. For example, if I were traveling to Paris, I know I would want to visit a few nice restaurants, maybe do some shopping, explore cafes/bars/nightlife, and then see a few of the tourist attractions as well. That is completely different from the things I would want to do in Lima, Peru, for instance. The cost of living in Peru is muuuuch cheaper and so my budget would look completely different. Looking at “the vibe” I want to have while on the trip is important! I take that into consideration because I don’t want to set myself up for failure by having an extremely low budget in a place that is relatively expensive. Setting your expectations correctly is important while planning!
After booking the flights and researching the cost of living, I’ll decide on my lodging. If lodging is important, I’ll be okay with spending more on a nice hotel/good location and be okay with spending less on activities/shopping. It’s all about coming to terms with they type of trip you want to have! (More below on how to travel for cheaper)
I typically will book flights and lodging first so I have an idea of the layout of the trip first. Unless there is an excursion or a site that is my main focus, then I will book that first and book everything around that.
Q: How do you pack for a trip?
A: Okay…Im not gonna lie…if you know me, you know that packing is not my strong suit. Either I over pack completely or I forget a whole area entirely (yes, I did go to Waikiki, Hawaii without a single shirt once…go me). I’ve gotten better over the years through trial and error, but I’m still not the best. If I’m in a less-common location, (etc. an international location or a specific city for a specific event) I love shopping and buying pieces while I’m out on the town. Having articles of clothing that you can say, “I bought this in Mykonos,” is a huge flex…in my humble opinion ;) In these cases, I’ll stick to a few staples and pieces that I know I love, I know I’m confident in, and I know fit the vibe of the place I’m headed. I’ll also pack pieces that I can pair with multiple outfits. ie. A skirt that can be a beach cover up or a night-out piece. (PSA: deciding the vibe of the trip beforehand is game changer in so many ways). Looking at Pinterest boards and instagram tags, etc can be super helpful because you can get a feel for areas you plan to be in, pictures/videos you want to take, and activities where you might need certain articles packed. But, if I’m somewhere more common, I definitely try to plan out my days so I know what to pack.
Things to ask yourself when you’re packing:
-how long am I going for?
-do I have access to a washer/dryer?
-what unique activities might I be doing while im there? (ie, hiking, attending a wedding, swimming, going out to a fancy dinner, etc)
-what do I want to wear during these activities?
-what casual activities might I be doing while im there? (ie, hanging out with friends/family, lounging around, working from home, meeting people out, etc)
-what do I want to wear during these activities?
Q: I want to travel but I have a really tight budget. What are some tips you have on how to travel for less?
A: AMAZING question. So, I think travel is an essential part of life and regardless of your budget, everyone should be able to do it. I traveled in Spain for 6 weeks when I was in high school and I didn’t have ANY Money to my name. It is so possible! That was decades ago so ill give you my most recent tips and tricks:
Track your flights! (I love google flight tracker) Usually the flights (especially international) are the most expensive part of a trip and are what deters people from traveling because they see that price and immediately think “no.” However, if you know months in advance that you want to go to…let’s say, Mykonos, then type in your departing airport and arrival airport into google and it’ll offer you the flight tracking option down by the flights. This has really helpful because it’ll alert you when prices are lowest/which dates are the cheapest to travel to that destination. Another tip when it comes to flights if you find your destination has really pricey flights, is to consider not flying into a different city/airport. This is what I did when traveling to Belize. We were in Mexico at the time and flights into Placencia, Belize were nearly $1,000 per person for a one way ticket. HELLLLL NO SIS, was I going to pay that. So, instead, we flew into Cancun, a cheap airport to fly into because how many flights go in and out, and then rented a car and drove the 9 hours to Belize. The car rental was about $60 This option really only works when you aren’t on a schedule and can be flexible on your travel days. Also, more information on my experience with renting a car and driving across the border can be found in this article. https://www.itsanniegraft.com/travel/blog-post-title-one-9hmxb-5s7e2-n6etp-ma33f
Be flexible about your dates! This is one that I understand can’t always be done. But, if you can be flexible with your dates, it’ll make the flight tracking so much more beneficial because if you see a cheap flight on a Wednesday, you have the freedom to book that instead of waiting on a date that is pricier. This can cut flight costs by $200-$500! Another site that helps with flight tracking is Scott’s cheap flights which essentially does the same thing but also gives you the ability to put multiple departure and arrival cities in. This is good if you’re debating on different locations/dates.
Pack light! Especially if you are booking flights within the same country, checking in a bag or adding an extra carryon can double the price of the flight sometimes! You might book a cheap flight for $80 and then realize that it doesn’t include any extra bags. The dollars really add up when checking additional luggage.
Book hostels! Before I had ever stayed in a hostel, I definitely was skeptical when people recommended this. But I have never had a bad experience with a hostel and Ive stayed in my fair share. If you’re really on a budget, hostels offer shared rooms where you can bunk up with other travelers. The cool thing about hostels is that you really get to meet other travelers. It’s definitely more of a community vibe than having your own hotel room. The cost is also significantly cheaper! To be honest, some of my favorite travel memories have occurred BECAUSE I was staying in a hostel. Its a win/win if you as me.
Looking for free lodging? There are actually sites that will pay for your lodging in return for your time. If you are traveling to travel and explore, this is a really good option and can help cut costs by A LOT! Some of the websites are: Worldpackers, workaway, HelpX, and Woofing. Essentially they will pay for your hostel or hotel (depending) in exchange for volunteer work or odd jobs in the area. Ive had friends who have done this and absolutely loved it! I have never personally used any of these sites but have heard great things. There is also an app called “Couchsurfing” where people can post their own homes for travelers. Kind of like AirBNB but most of the time, the homeowners or tenants will be present. If you’re open minded, this is similar to getting an air bnb room rather than a full apartment or house or hotel room to yourself.
Find local markets or street vendors to buy food instead of grocery stores or restaurants. This is a great way, also, to try a lot of different types of food. You will pay less going straight to the source than buying food that is already prepared.
Q: How do you make friends while traveling?
A: TALK TO PEOPLE! Honestly, travel friends are the bestttt. I’ve met some pretty amazing people and made some great friendships along the way just by opening my mouth and talking to the people around me! If you’re looking to make friends while traveling, its not hard! I definitely recommend staying in a hostel if this is something you want to prioritize. Another way is to book group excursions. I have found a lot of fun excursions through Air bnb, you can search based off of your area, or booking.com is also a good place to look. Dont be scared to ask for people’s social media when you make a friend while traveling. It’s so cool to keep up with friends you meet all over the world. At the end of the day, we’re all looking for connection so trying to make friends is only weird in your head and then when you do it, you’ll be so glad you did!
I hope some of these answers helped with any questions you might have when it comes to travel! If you liked this post, or have any other questions I can answer, comment below and I would love to help! As always, safe traveling, my friends!
