Travelling is one of the best things to do with your mind, body, money, and time. Nothing enriches you the way travel does. Breathing in the air of a new city, every day fills you with a different kind of ecstasy. The kind of wisdom that you can gain from travelling cannot be gained by reading all the scriptures of the world. 

However, travelling to different cultures can be difficult too. A number of unexpected things, cultural differences, and not being prepared for emergencies can put you in a fix while you are thousands of miles away from your country. Especially for the amateur travellers, there might be things that can intimidate you enough to give you up travelling for life. There are certain things that one can only learn from experience. 

Here are a few tips on travelling that can help you have a smooth journey, no matter where you are travelling-

Travel light- Yes you have the perfect bag to go with that dress, but it’s not worth it. Always travel light. Minimise the clothes you are carrying with you. For a week’s trip, a couple of denims and three t-shirts should do the trick.

Booking the air tickets- Book you air tickets well in advance. Whenever you look at the price, it’s the cheapest that it’s going to get. Always clear your cookies before browsing for prices. Airline websites show a higher fare if you’ve visited the site a few times.

Footwear- Many people don’t pay much attention to this, but you HAVE to have a comfortable, reliable pair of footwear with you at all times. The best way to really explore a city is on foot and you wouldn’t want to end up with blisters on your feet on the second day of your trip.

Mixing with the locals- Just clicking pictures and wandering in the streets of a new city is not travelling. You can get the pictures of every nook and corner of Earth on the internet. Travelling is only worth it if you mix with the locals of the place. Respect them for the diversity.

Carrying cash- Not all countries and cities would accept debit and credit cards for small payments. Make sure that you have sufficient amount of cash in your pockets at all times. Ask around for travel cards and cash cards before leaving your country.

Carrying medicines- Terms and conditions for OTC drugs are not the same for all countries. In addition, you might react to some salts in an unknown medication. Always carry the basic medicines- for cold, cough, fever, stomach infections, allergies, body ache, headache etc. It could be disastrous if you forget a medication that you are on.

Trying out foods- Never hesitate in trying out a new dish. You will always repent later. Even if you don’t like it, you can change the taste of your mouth in a few minutes, but the memory of tasting stuff would stay with you forever. However, be careful about the ingredients you are allergic to.

Take help from technology- The technology today has made it a lot easier to travel all across the globe. You can decide for the accommodation, mode of commuting in the city etc. before you even leave your home. There are smartphone applications that can help you organise your entire trip along with storing your tickets and details for bookings. You can use the internet to make easy things for you. For example, if you are travelling to Australia, you can go through the Australian business listing to search for the best possible hotels and chauffeur services.

About the Author
Ella Rich is a travel blogger and trip organizer by profession. She has great experience in indigenous tours in Perth and Western Australia. She advocated the importance of to give more exposure to travel business in Australia. Sharing her travel experience through blogging is her real hobby.

Travelling has been one of the most popular activities that a lot of Filipinos enjoy these days. But there’s one very crucial thing that comes with travelling that a lot of people are oftentimes having trouble with – packing. For most people, it would seem that packing stuff would be very easy as shoving clothes and other items in your bag. But of course in reality, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

If you’re travelling by plane, this would be more difficult due to luggage limitations. And if you’re travelling by bus or van, hauling a giant bag in your lap is really not that convenient, right? So having said this, it is very important to pack the right stuff in the right amount whenever you’re going on an out of town trip. So to help you guys out, the next time you set off on a trip, here are a few tips on how to travel lighter and more efficiently.

1.) Arrange your clothes in rolls. Rolling your clothes and arranging them neatly in your bag helps a lot by not only making more room inside your bag but it also makes it really convenient to check things on the last minute as one would easily see all the items in your bag using this arrangement. It’s also easier to compact things when clothes are rolled in contrast when they’re just laid flat.

2.) Use a shammy cloth towel. If you’re not sure whether the hotel or resort you’re going to offers bath towels as standard or you’re not just comfortable using towels other than your own, then bringing a bath towel is not an option. However, bath towels are quite large and heavy. It also takes a large amount of space in your bag, space which can be used to store other things. So if you really need to bring your own towel, try bringing a shammy cloth towel instead. It takes half the space and absorbs the same amount of water.

3.) Use the proper bag. Having a nice system of organizing your stuff is not enough to make your travel lighter. Having the right bag to put all your things plays a pivotal role in order to keep your package light. For me, the best travel bag is always a backpack. Backpacks balance the weight of its contents between your shoulders making it easier to carry. It is also nice if you bag would have several compartments and pockets to store your various gadgets and trinkets. Additional storage would also help getting things organized and most of the times more accessible.

4.) Bring only what you need. The excitement of going on a place you haven’t been before can cause anyone to overestimate a lot of things. And this is also true when it comes to packing. Even though you’re very excited, always keep in mind to bring only the things that you will need. If you’re going on a 5-day trip, bring only things that you will need for the duration of your trip.

5.)Plan ahead of time. Cramming is possibly be a travellers worst enemy. A hap-hazard, last minute packing things would increase the chance of a person over pack or worse, forget something. So it’s always advisable to plan things ahead of time so you can sort things out, packing only the things that are necessary and choosing the right equipment to haul all your stuff.

So I hope this post was able to help you out whenever you plan to go out of town. Do you have other suggestions on how to pack lighter when travelling? Do tell us by leaving a comment below. You can also drop a line on TFL’s Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus accounts. You can also subscribe to TFL using this link.

With most technologies and gadgets being readily available to the masses, the number of theft, snatching and slashing cases have also dramatically increased. And nowadays, it seems that simple precautions such as keeping a low profile and keeping your gadgets close to you at all times is enough to keep the bad guys away.

Thankfully, there are now companies that are creating products to help us combat and protect ourselves from thieves and snatchers. Enter Pacsafe, a brand owned by an Australian company that specializes in smart travel gear with built-in innovative anti-theft technology. They offer a great range of travel gear from outdoor backpacks, messenger bags, shoulder bags, laptop bags, handbags and other security accessories.

But does Pacsafe’s products really do keep you safe from theft or is it just a gimmick? Here’s the 411 on Pacsafe and their anti-theft products.

eXomesh. Exomesh is a patented anti-theft technology which is made up of strong, light-weight, flexible and high-tensile stainless steel mesh woven together to create a slash-proof cage system for all your gadgets. The eXomesh cage system (depending on the product) can be fitted externally to bags or laminated between the bag’s fabrics for a cleaner look.

Slash proof straps. Pacsafe products also feature slash proof carrysafe straps which are adjustable and reinforced straps made out of lightweight, flexible, high-tensile stainless steel wire that can prevent thieves and slashers from slicing through bag straps.

Turn and Lock Hooks. As an added feature to those slash proof straps, Pacsafe products also feature turn and lock strap hooks. These special set of locking hooks securely locks the strap to the bag and cam also be unfastened to wrap the strap and bag around a secure fixture. It also makes it a little more difficult for pickpockets to open your bag and steal what’s inside.

Smart Zipper Security. This are concealed zippers that are locked down and attached to clips to prevent thieves from accessing your valuables easily. And together with smart flap hooks makes it harder for those itchy fingers to easily steal stuff from your bag.

RFID-blocking Pocket. With cases of identity theft on the rise, it’s good to know that companies such as Pacsafe has made available to the public a technology that blocks devices that read the electronic information on your ATM and credit cards. By creating a layer in the bag that impedes radio frequencies, RFID blocking pockets of Pacsafe bags are able to prevent RFID readers from accessing your digital information.

Other Features. Depending on the product in question, Pacsafe bags may feature a water repellent outer layer, a feature liner in various colors, zippered internal pockets, a headphone port and internal electronics pockets.

So, with all these security features in place in majority of Pacsafe products, and with a price tag starting at around $30 (around PHP1,300+), is it worth it? Well, for starters, the anti-theft claim is really not that accurate. Yes, it does protect your personal belongings from slashers and pickpockets but if you end up in a dark alley alone and a bad guy points a gun or a knife at you, these bags won’t be any good to you.

Furthermore, the brand is a little pricey. And the consumer targeting is a little off. Why? It’s because people who have the money to buy Pacsafe products are usually people who don’t go to places where snatchers and thieves abound. The ones who actually go to those places can’t afford to shell out the amount of money needed to buy a Pacsafe bag.

So, to sum it all up, Pacsafe does provide an interesting product with very useful features, however, the pricing and marketing is just not enough for the brand (in my personal opinion) to flourish – at least not in the Philippines.

When travelling, people often forget important things to bring with them. To avoid these problems, I usually write down a list of things I need to bring with me before my getaway. I always do this because I want everything to go according to my plan even from the smallest details. A perfect vacation is possible when you are prepared, although I have nothing against being spontaneous with plans. When it comes to travelling, I don’t want any unwanted problems that might spoil my vacation.

Let me share with you some of the things I always bring with me when I travel. One missing item from this list can make me feel anxious during the entire trip.

Travel Essentials

Camera. Check! Without a camera, I would definitely freak out. Taking photos whenever I travel is very important to me. Keeping memories and capturing moments in a different place is fun and exciting. As much as possible, I want a backup camera instead of bringing just one. Built-in camera in mobile phones will do if you don’t have an extra. I remember during my trip in Bohol, because of too much cam-whoring, my battery went empty when I arrived at the Chocolate Hills. No backup camera for me, so I have to keep some photographic landscapes stored forever in my forgetful memory.

Shades. Your shades can function in many ways when you travel. It protects your eyes from the sunlight. You can use it to cover your eyes when sleeping. Or you can also use it to peak or look at someone without them noticing. Plus shades add style to your outfit.

Comfy Shoes or Sandals. Leave those wedges, high-heels or bulky shoes at home. It is important to be comfortable when you travel. Wear a pair of sandals or shoes that won’t hurt your feet. For sure, you will have a lot of walkathons during your trip so consider wearing a comfortable pair.

Two Separate Wallets. Bringing only one wallet with you can be risky when you are travelling. I guess it will be safe if you’ll separate your money into two wallets in case of unexpected mishaps like losing your wallet, at least you still have money left with you.

Small Bag. Aside from your bulky travel bag, bring with you an extra smaller bag. This will make your tour easier since you can carry it with anywhere you go. Camera, phone and your small wallet can be kept inside a smaller bag. 

Ready to go now? Check all the things you need to bring with you before you go and have a great vacation ahead. :)