Travel Tips

1- Don’t forget a Voltage Converter.

Purchasing a travel adapter is a necessary evil. We suggest getting a universal travel adapter so you only need to purchase one and can have it conveniently for all future trips.  The other thing that we HIGHLY suggest is that you get one that is not only an adapter but also a voltage converter. Double check when you are purchasing one that it specifically says it is a voltage or power converter otherwise you could have some unexpected surprises like your wires short circuiting or your blow dryer blowing up.

2- Bring a Scarf or a Coverup. 

Especially if you are going in the summer.  Bring a scarf or something that you can cover up your shoulders with if you are planning on visiting any touristy sites.  There are many churches or other religiously owned hotspots that require you to follow a more modest dress code.

3- Call Your Bank Before You Go.

It’s important to call your bank before you go to let them know you are going to be out of the country.  If your bank catches suspicious activity in another country without giving them a heads up they will more than likely put a block on your account.  Getting stuck in a foreign country with no access to your money is not the type of memories you’re looking for.

4- Always Pack Less.

I know, I know.  You’re going to a new place and you want to look cute for all the pictures you’re going to take.  But trust me! You think you need more than you really do. Half your backpack if possible. This leaves more room for souvenirs and will also help you to avoid problems with the airlines.  Many european airlines have stricter weight limits on your baggage. Better to avoid those unexpected $100+ expenses.

5- Check for Packages with your Phone Provider.

While it’s always an option to find a fast food place or a cafe that has wifi while you’re out exploring. The peace of mind that you get with having constant access to data in this foreign place is definitely worth paying a little extra.  Call your phone provider before you go to see if they offer any data deals with foreign travel. You may be surprised at how affordable some of them are!

6- The Best Trips are the Ones Less Structured

It’s so hard the first time that you visit a new place.  You want to fit every possible thing into your tight schedule.  Our advice is to pick a few top priority’s and make sure you visit those one first but then be more flexible with everything else.  Transportation always takes longer than you expected, lines are longer than you planned, you accidentally sleep in, etc. It’s important not to overbook yourself or you might run out of time or miss some of the spots you were most excited about!

When people travel, they all want to see the famous sites and popular tourist attractions. After all, you wouldn’t go to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower, would you? These famous attractions are often frequented for good reason. They are beautiful, historically significant monuments everyone should strive to see in their lifetime. However, every country offers more than just their most well-known monuments. To truly experience what a country has to offer, you must live like a local.

Locals always know the ins and outs of a city. They may know the little hole-in-the-wall restaurant that has the best version of a traditional dish. Locals will know the back-alley shops with the most unique trinkets, and all the back routes around town that avoid the irritating bustling tourists. They know all the little spots the traditional tourists will never discover. So walk around the town for a while, wander in alleys, go on back roads, and make friends with a local so you can ask them for advice.

In a new country, never rely on your guide book for everything, because there is a lot you will miss. If you go to Paris just to visit the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, you will get to see beautiful, marvelous things. However, the things that truly give Paris its soul will be hidden in little shops, in little restaurants, not out on the main streets. So next time you visit somewhere new, ditch the guide book and live like a local.

Smart people know that saving a dollar is as good as making a dollar. They know how to get things for less. Not cheap imitations. Not ‘look-a-likes’. But real, genuine goods and services for less than the average consumer. Their secret is, they never pay full price.

Travel is one of those areas where deals are hard to determine. Confusion in the marketplace makes it difficult to know if you’re getting the best price for your trip. Even the discounted travel sites are misleading when it comes to price and value.

There is a secret in the travel industry, JIFU. JIFU is a travel club that offers its members wholesale prices with no mark-up. Let me say that again, no mark-up. For a small annual fee, members get access to their entire network of hotels, airlines, rental cars, cruises, vacation homes and condos. Major brands, world-wide.

Members can and have saved 40%, 50%, even 60% and more. If you save 50% on your travel that means you’re halfway to your next trip. Remember, saving is just like earning.

If you’re interested in saving hundreds on your next trip, it’s easier than you think.

Let’s face it, social media has infiltrated our world and everyday life.  Do you ever wonder why everybody’s life seems more exciting than yours?  As such, many quit checking Facebook and Instagram and the endless stream of selfies from beaches, European cities, and Hawaiian vacations.  The obvious bewilderment is where do they get the money.  The truth is that they don’t have any more than you do, they just know how to travel the way you want, they just do it for less.

Let me give you a few travel insider secrets.  Watch any sports on TV and you’ll see an endless stream of travel site ads that promise the best price.  The truth is they are all the same, literally, owned by the same two megacorps.  You can call a hotel directly and pay retail, get a bit of a discount through other sites or pay much less through an exclusive JIFU travel membership.  JIFU offers you the same price that the big online portals pay and mark-up to the customer.  To be redundant, with JIFU, you pay what they pay, no mark-up.  Same room, same destinations, huge discounts.  Any JIFU Member Affiliate can show you how.