Travel Tips

Top travel tips from our customers

Accommodation

Elderly travellers - don't be afraid to go to backpackers or hostels. You can save a heap of money and meet great people.
Heather

Join a home exchange network or couchsurfing.com for low cost quality accommodation.
Steve

Airports and Flying

Board your plane with the last few people. If it is overbooked in economy you might just be upgraded - I was!
Narelle

Most airlines now allow online check-in which allows you to choose your seats days before you get to the airport.
Richard

Always leave at least 2 hours between connecting flights. It’s better to arrive a few hours later than wait 2 days for your bags.
Janet

China

When booking hotels in China use an online service that gives you a printable address instruction - you can give it straight to the taxi driver who might not speak very good English.
Robin

If you are going to do business in China, hire a local business assistant to help with negotiating - very inexpensive.
Jacqui

Culture

Don't try to travel too cheaply at the expense of savouring a country's delights
Anne

Learn how to say please and thank-you in the local language; it makes all the difference.
Tamara

Destinations

If you're going to Bali check out the Bali Travel Forum website - it's full of help and tips from regular travellers.
Anne

Go to the USA after September. As it's the end of summer, you'll get good weather but reduced crowds.
Geff

In Japan, great but cheap meals can be bought at the food level of large department stores after 8pm. They fire-sale for closing, but the food is still being freshly cooked!
Mandy

Try cruising; the big ships are your hotel and transport all over the world. You know how much it costs before going, you unpack once and nearly every day is in a new and exciting place.
Susan

Eating Out

If you're prepared to pretend it's chicken, you really do increase your eating options...
Adrian

If you eat where the locals eat, you're guaranteed better taste, quality and price. Not to mention, it's so much more memorable.
Sophia

Gadgets

Work out how to use your camera before you get to your destination!
Bronwyn

Carry a backup memory card for your camera, you'd be surprised how many pictures you can take!
Lisa

When you get to your destination, buy a local pre-paid sim card for your phone as this saves a bunch on international roaming costs. Also, don't forget to take your old handset (most of us have one) and not the fancy handset you have on contract on. If you lose your old phone, you won't be too upset or end up with a big bill
Gary

Internet

Always use the internet - you will find honest reviews and great deals!
Nicole

At the end of your trip, give something back - spend half an hour writing online reviews for fellow travellers!
Andrew

Use TripAdvisor.com to plan your trip. It’s free and has reviews from world-wide travelers on everything you need to know about your destination.
Johana

The internet is a goldmine for cheap flights, accommodation and travel insurance. Travel agents are definitely a thing of the past!
Michael

Jet-lag

To get the best start to your holiday, get into the local time zone by staying up during daylight hours during the first day.
Carl

Money and budgets

To save carrying travellers cheques, put all your cash on to your credit card and use it to purchase goods and services. The currency conversion fees are a lot less than withdrawing through ATM's worldwide.
Cameron

On the Road

For crease-free shirts, take them from your travel bag & hang up in bathroom. When you take a hot shower, close the door so the steam will help drop out the creases.
Debra

Use the sticky part of airport baggage labels to de-fluff clothing.
Jasmin

Use Google Maps to print out maps for friends, relatives & accommodation addresses. Don't forget to take them with you - it saves heaps of time looking at big, bulky maps.
Michael

Travelling on a budget? If you're looking for a good, but affordable restaurant, ask the cab driver where he goes when he takes his wife/girlfriend out. Undoubtedly, you will get great food at reasonable prices.
Gerhard

If you're travelling through many countries, it's a great idea to take a pocket sized atlas, especially when you need to find towns and cities you haven't heard of before. This was very helpful to me when applying for jobs as a nanny across Europe
Nicole

When you're on the road and you see a public toilet - go! You just don't know when you will see another.
Marie

When you can, use your feet. They are an important and fulfilling way to see what you don't on a tour bus!
Mandy

Ever tried to cross the busy city streets of Asia? Here's my tip... Avoid eye contact with oncoming traffic as it only seems to confuse them and never, ever stop in the middle of the road to re-check. Try to pick the best time, take a deep breath, maintain a consistent pace and go for it. May the force be with you.
Andrew

Packing

Pack antibacterial wipes! Great for quickly cleaning your hands and face when you're on the go and can't get to a bathroom.
Marsha

Take some plastic ziplock bags - they're good for rubbish, little bits and pieces, plus those accidents (like vomiting!) that seem to happen at the worst possible time
Stephanie

Keep the plastic when you pick up clothes from the Dry-Cleaners - it is great for keeping your clothes 'wrinkle-free' in your suitcase.
Clare

Take some gaffer-tape - it ties down luggage, holds up mozzie nets, repairs ripped clothes. It has almost infinite uses!
Jason

Include a microfibre handtowel that packs away small for those essential showers whilst in transit
Karen

Take a pen & notepad - a diary is free entertainment on long bus rides and doubles as an address book for people you meet. You never know, it might even lead to a place to stay on your next trip.
Genna

A plastic supermarket bag is amazingly useful - use it as a makeshift umbrella, a dry seat cover for wet ground, protection from leaking shampoos... and 101 other things.
Tony

When packing suitcases, put some of your belongings in your partner's case and vice versa. That way if your case is lost you will still have some clothes.
Betty

When packing for a trip, lay out all the clothes you want to take, look at them for a few days and then put at least fifty percent back in the cupboard.
Susan

Wear zip-up layers of clothing - they're much easier to take on and off when the weather changes.
Shannon

Roll clothes instead of folding to keep them in much better shape without creases.
Linda

A few tips to make your laundry chores easy - always pack budget-brand shampoo which is great to use as a detergent and an elasticised clothesline too .
Kerryn

Always take away old undies: that way you can save money on laundry when you throw them away. In many countries, you can often buy new ones cheaply.
Terry

Philosophy of Travel

Travel light, eat right, avoid things that bite, watch out for fights, be careful of heights, and spend less on where you stay at night!
Andrew

Make as many lists as you need to feel in control, but at the end of the day give yourself a break if you forget something. After all, a break is just that, time out from constant responsibility!
Sarah

Always start any complaint with the magic words "I was wondering if you could help me...". It is amazing just how often this leads to a satisfactory solution.
Tim

Before you sit down with a travel agent or "destination specialist", know yourself first. Don't take the neighbour's holiday... take your own!
Deion

A hotel receptionist commented about my lost luggage, "You don't have a problem, you just have a situation. It will get sorted... Now get on with your holiday!"
Ian

Heard on a public transportation vehicle in Scotland,"When you exit the bus, please be sure to lower your head and watch your step. If you miss your step and hit your head, please lower your voice and watch your language. Thank you". Keep a sense of humour!
Sarah

Planning and before you go

Plan a travel route on Google Earth. The program can actually show how to get from one place to another, including the satellite picture to see how scenic the trip will be.
Susan

Before you go, make sure you and your travelling companions have compatible styles - there's nothing worse than discovering after you get there that you like to shop while they like temple-tours .
Joanna

Safety and security

Carry a dummy wallet! It's safer to have old one with a couple of expired cards and a few dollars in it, and keep your real cards and cash hidden in another bag.
Louisa

Make sure you have registered your travels with the DFAT's SmartTraveller service for your family's peace of mind.
Dean

Avoid becoming a target for thieves. Don't look lost or out of place - go into a shop to ask for directions, not on the street.
Clare

Wisdom is something we gain 30 seconds after we needed it, That is why insurance is vital.
Teresa

Worried about losing your luggage? Take a photo of it. It's easier than trying to describe it, especially if you don't speak the language.
Kevin

Don't try to save a couple of dollars for the taxi fare by walking - you might be mugged, which is more expensive and unpleasant than just coughing up for a taxi fare.
Jacqueline

It's ok to be scared of new places and experiences - if you never leave home, you'll never really live. But just in case, make sure you've got travel insurance!
Susan

If you find money belts uncomfortable, sew a small, flat pouch on the inside front of your pants, skirts or shorts. It's perfect for storing cash and cards discretely.
Daniela

A convenient and safe way to keep copies of your important documents such as passports, insurance policies and photos is to store them on your password protected flash drive or MP3 player.
Wayne

In case you need to make an insurance claim or find lost baggage, ensure you have a list of the contents of your suitcase. It's also handy for airport security and maximum weight flight restrictions.
Oswald

Travel with Kids

I travel with three children under four and my advice is to forget about rules and routines while away on holidays. They will still be there ready for you to get back into as soon as you walk through the front door!
Tammy

Involve your kids in the planning of your trip and get a map for each child. You will soon realise how self-sufficient and quickly they learn.
Renae

When travelling with children, select direct flights at times which accommodate children's sleep and meal times. No discounts will compensate for irritable children!
Jenny