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Tips

Disclaimer: The tips here are my personal recommendations. It’s a short list that I swear by. The information here has helped make my travel easier. I’m not partnered with anybody I’ve listed, but I’ve included some referral links of my own. They pay peanuts.

tips-vpn

In a Nutshell: If you travel, you need a VPN. Full stop.

If there’s one thing to take from this page, it’s that you need a VPN. A VPN allows you to bypass governmental or local (hotel) censors and restrictions and provides a secure gateway to the internet.

  • It’s not just for China or Iran with well-documented governmental internet censorship. Your hotel may also restrict access. A VPN will circumvent it.
  • Friends and family are relying on your social media updates for proof of life. You need a VPN.
  • Download it BEFORE you leave home. Most networks with restrictions make it difficult to attain a VPN.
  • Public networks SHOULD NOT be trusted. Eavesdropping is real. A good VPN service ensures your data is encrypted, always.
  • Some websites set prices or restrictions based on your location. A VPN allows you to change your location.
  • Get a VPN subscription you can share across your laptop and mobile devices. Always use it.

  • ExpressVPN Visit! (Free 30 day trial!)

    I’m not even going to bother recommending anything else here.

    ExpressVPN is the best subscription VPN service I’ve used by far and has saved me in countless situations. It’s helped me circumvent the ‘Great Firewall of China’, every social media block in Iran, hotel blocks in Vietnam, and even allowed me to read unsavoury things about the president in Turkmenistan. It’s worked in every airport and every access point I’ve connected to. It’s also fast, I’ve had no issue streaming YouTube through it and one of the biggest selling points for me is that with one subscription, I can use it for iOS, Android, Windows and MacOS. All at the same time if I need. Just, honestly, do yourself a favour and buy yourself a subscription. Don’t be that clown scrambling for access to their Gmail itinerary when the first access point you’ve reached has it blocked.

    Even if you disregard the above, a VPN is a no-brainer purely for privacy while you travel. Public, open Wifi hotspots are just that, public, and they could be malicious. A VPN will keep you anonymous, ‘located’ anywhere you choose, and encrypts all of your data so that eavesdropping isn’t a possibility.

tips-airfares

In a Nutshell: There is no silver bullet to cheap flights.

  • Research saves money. Always use flight aggregation websites to discover your desired flight
  • Book this flight directly with the airline
  • Inconveniently timed departures or arrivals are usually cheaper
  • Leave departure dates flexible by a week to avoid peak periods
  • Research flight carriers and transit hubs that facilitate your destination
  • Why? Separate one-way flights may be VASTLY cheaper. I do this regularly.
  • If possible, carry-on makes life easier; saving time and crowds.
  • Fly budget airlines. Be wary of drip feed pricing.
  • Morally questionable, research Hidden City Ticketing. I don’t condone it.
  • You won’t beat airline pricing schemes, by waiting or otherwise. If you are happy with the flight and the price; book it.

  • Skyscanner Visit!

    My first choice, always. Includes budget carriers, airline taxes/fees are already added, no commission, lightweight, easy to search flexible dates and accurate currency conversions. The webapp is great too. Use it as reference to then book on the official airline.

  • Momondo Visit!

    A tad more flashy than Skyscanner, I’ve sometimes found cheaper prices here. Third party booking results are generally better. It graphs prices for flexible dates so you can plan and save.

  • Kayak Visit!

    Similar again, but the Explore functionality sets it apart. If you don’t know where to go, it’ll inspire you by mapping cheap flights from your current location. I use it regularly, great for some spontaneous travel!

tips-accommodation

In a Nutshell: Cheaper accommodation can do the job!

  • First rule: Before you book a hotel, always check Trip Advisor!
  • Money saved from accommodation is spent on having fun. Don’t blow your budget on a luxury room you barely use.
  • Decided on a hotel and found a price online? Call the hotel. They may do better, or a free upgrade may be available.
  • Prices are correlated to dates, or day of the week. If you are travelling for an event for example, book accommodation early.
  • When booking online, ask nicely for complimentaries or luxuries such as better views in the ‘additional notes’.
  • Consider location; and transport options. Instead of staying center to tourist meccas, stay in a cheaper area. Think Jersey City instead of Manhatten, New York, you can save big dollars.
  • ‘Boutique’ accommodation is sometimes not widely known by taxi drivers, making late arrivals frustrating.
  • Most accommodation will hold your luggage for free before/after check in/out.
  • Be nice to reception. Locals give great advice!
  • Overnight buses or trains can double as accommodation savings.

  • Agoda – For Hotels or Resorts Sign Up!

    I’ve used Agoda countless times. It covers most hotels, it’s cheap, lightweight and reward points are accumulated to spend in the future. Importantly, all hotels and resorts know Agoda – so just book online, and show your email on arrival. No printout requirement. I’ve never had an issue, even on bookings an hour before arrival.

  • Airbnb – For Homes or Apartments Sign Up! (Free $25 USD!)

    I can’t describe how fantastic Airbnb is. It’s exploded in popularity, hosts across the world offer up their unique homes and apartments for you to stay. It’s cheaper than hotels, you’ll get a unique location — away from the tourist crowd maybe, perhaps a better view, possibly more convenient. The host offers invaluable local knowledge in places to eat or see and public transport. You usually get access to a kitchen and many hosts allow use of interesting belongings (think Kayak, Ski gear etc.) for your stay. Overall, it’s a more personalised experience. I’m hooked.

  • Hostelbookers – For Hostels Sign Up!

    For those on a budget, and usually polarised to young backpackers. Hostel experiences are very cheap, however less private – focussed around shared rooms, a communal social atmosphere and a lot of drinking. Perfect if you’re travelling solo and want to easily meet likeminded people.

tips-transport

In a Nutshell: Seek and discover the alternative modes of transport.

  • Research transit options before your arrival. Airport shuttle buses or monorails may be cheap alternatives to a taxi.
  • Always use the Airport official taxi rank. This doubles when travelling alone. That lovely Thai man may want more than just to give you a lift, even if not – his ‘taxi’ is illegal.
  • Ask your accommodation if they offer free airport transfers.
  • If it isn’t obvious, ask a local the best way to get around.
  • Always take a hotel card with you. Especially if drinking.
  • Local transport is always cheaper. But there is also always a trade-off. It could be slower, unreliable, frustrating, uncomfortable or unsafe.
  • Always negotiate prices to unofficial transport (eg. Tuk Tuks) before getting in.
  • An unpopular opinion, but negotiating with official taxi’s labels you a tourist. Rigged meters are primarily a myth.
  • Hiring drivers (Mainly Asia) for an entire day is a great option for a tight schedule.
  • Share transport costs with fellow tourists visiting the same places, don’t be shy.
  • Some attractions are very difficult to reach at a reasonable price. If times short; consider a coach tour so you don’t miss out.
  • Research distances, know the approximate price.
  • The road is a great vantage point to local life, don’t just sleep.
  • Remember, you’re travelling – not transiting. Embrace delays and detours – plan accordingly, and bottle the story.

  • Uber Sign Up! (Free $18 USD)

    Like Airbnb is to accommodation, Uber has pulled the taxi industry into the 21st century and it’s great news for travellers. It’s worldwide, reliable, in many ways safer (to avoid scams too) and cheaper. There’s even a premium option more suited to the business traveller. You can also feel at ease knowing how far your driver is away.

  • Google Maps Visit!

    An incredible resource. One that can be relied upon whether walking, back seat to a taxi, catching a train or simply self-driving. It’ll be useful to you in a foreign country. Bus, train and ferry public transport options are visible (including numbers and times) between your location and the proposed destination – the distance is also listed allowing you to plan more efficiently. The added benefit of not getting lost is a nice feature too, it’s accuracy will surprise you no matter how remote.

  • Viator Sign Up! (Free $10 USD)

    Primarily a tour and activity booking site, Viator is a great resource for two reasons. You can book private arrival, or departure transfers between your hotel; perfect for those late arrivals where you don’t want to fight the taxi lines. It’s a lazy option, but it’s convenient. The other, is that Viator allows you to reach some awkwardly difficult to reach tourist attractions by booking onto cheap tours, you might not see them otherwise.

tips-photography

In a Nutshell: Photos are your best souvenirs.

A suitable camera is a small price to pay for the memories you capture during travelling. I didn’t even own a camera before I travelled – I now never adventure without it. Blog or not, it’s important, I promise that looking back on them will bring you joy.

  • To take great photos, you absolutely don’t need to spend a fortune.
  • If you can, it certainly helps! But in general, it’s not the size – it’s how you use it.
  • For most travellers, buying a large bulky DSLR is a terrible decision. I know you’ve seen most tourists use them, but unless photography is the forefront to your travel – forget it.
  • Determine what kind of traveller you are, and buy a suitable camera to match.
  • Understand that photography is heavily influenced by how bright the day (or room) is, or if you, or the subject are currently in motion and of course the distance from the subject.
  • Getting out of ‘auto’ mode is the single most important concept you should learn. Even just the basics of Shutter Priority, and Aperture Priority. They are quite simple, and make your cheap compact camera a versatile powerhouse!
  • Getting out of auto allows you to adjust for these aforementioned conditions!
  • Never forget a backup plan as you travel. My worst nightmares are made up of lost photographs.

  • The Tourist Product Link

    You want to capture the moments – day or night, city or beach, even snorkelling; it must be low profile, you aren’t delivering photos to National Geographic but you want to impress friends on Facebook. Durable and weatherproof, the Canon Powershot D30 is awesome. Put it onto auto, point and shoot.

  • The Adventurer Product Link

    Skiing, rock climbing, motorcycling, trekking, diving, skydiving. Nothing beats the GoPro. They are tiny, mountable and waterproof. Let your creativity run wild. I love these.

  • The Travel Blogger Product Link

    This is me! I want a great balance in physical size and camera capability, retaining great quality. The Sony RX100M3 is responsible for most of my blogs photos. It’s likely the best digital camera on the market that’ll fit in your pocket and I can’t recommend it enough.

  • The Photographer Product Link

    If photography is your primary motivation to world exploration, you should be using a Digital SLR, no exceptions. Expensive, more involved and annoying to lug around, it’s all worth it when you process those images through Adobe Lightroom. I use a Nikon D7100.

tips-blog

In a Nutshell: Anyone can build a blog with WordPress.

  • Anyone can create their own blog like this one, it just depends on your requirements!
  • Hobby blog? Not tech savvy? WordPress.com (Hosted)
  • Professional blog? Tech savvy? WordPress.org (Self-Hosted)
  • Self-hosted is vastly superior and flexible, you can purchase or design your own theme and extend functionality through plugins. You have full control.
  • Shared Hosting and Cloud Hosting are two great self-hosting options.

If you’re a newbie, you should begin with Shared Hosting. They will setup WordPress for you, and it’s very cheap. Most will even handle your domain name; email and offer 24/7 livechat for troubleshooting as you get stuck. Really useful, and you’ll learn a lot.

If you know the basics, move onto Cloud Hosting. It’s the future in hosting web applications such as WordPress. It offers flexible performance, providing more bandwidth and scalability to accommodate sudden popularity spikes or increased traffic. You aren’t sharing resources either!

  • Beginner – Shared Hosting Sign Up!

    You want to self-host, but you aren’t tech savvy? Good choice, I’m proud. When I started, I used a shared host named Arvixe – and for only $4 a month I was onto the web. I used them for ages. They handled everything, including setting up WordPress. It’s a great way to get your website up and learn while your blog gains traction.

  • Intermediate – Cloud Hosting Sign Up!

    Earth Nutshell is now taking advantage of Cloud Hosting with a company named Cloudways. I’ve never looked back. It’s a fantastic upgrade from Shared Hosting. Cloud Hosting provides huge performance and scalability benefits. It allows you to upgrade and downgrade your plan without downtime as your followers and traffic increase – it’s generally faster too, because you aren’t sharing. Cloudways undertake the daunting server stack responsibility and even setup WordPress for you. I can’t recommend them enough.

  • Expert – Cloud Hosting Sign Up! (Free $10)

    You’ll need strong tech knowledge, but the cheap and modern Cloud-based solutions from DigitalOcean are an amazing deal for those that like full control. Setup and performance can be tweaked to your requirements – it’s fast and scalable. Perfect if you have the time and ability, but only attempt this if you’re confident setting up and maintaining the server stack.

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