Beyond the Basics: 6 Insider Tips for Choosing the Perfect Travel Destination
Reading time: 11 minutes
Written by: Annmarie Borosic
This may very well be the planner in me or the many instances of having learned the hard way, but a few things I live by while travel planning in the early stages, give me peace of mind in the long run.
Deciding on a Destination
When it comes to choosing a travel destination, I will typically look at a few things before deciding on where to go. In most cases, I will already have an idea of how much I would like to spend, from there, this is what I look at:
Time of year I can travel. What are the top destinations in and around this timeframe?
How much time do I have to travel? Taking into account flight, driving, or bus time.
What will the weather be like during this time?
What is the current political/economic standing of the destination at the moment?
Is it safe?
What holidays or major events will be taking place at that time?
Registering my leave out of the country
I started doing this more so when I began travelling solo, but feel it’s important regardless of who is travelling for various reasons. The sad reality is, that there are many things to consider while travelling outside of what to see and where to eat; terrorism, natural disasters, political unrest. As much as I maintain a positive attitude and a ‘what’s meant to happen will happen attitude,’ I try to prepare myself as much as possible.
I can’t speak for any other country outside of Canada, but on the Canadian government website, you can register when you leave the country, the duration of your trip, and where you’ll be staying. Should any of the above circumstances occur; they’ll know what citizens are out of the country and who to contact.
I am including the Registrations of Canadians Abroad link here.
2. Documentation Requirements
I am minorly (maybe a lot) obsessed with details. I tend to review and research things until I can’t take it anymore, especially as it goes for documentation because my biggest fear is I will be denied access into a country or onto a flight. It’s almost happened! Having said that, every country has its unique requirements regardless of the passport you hold. I am also finding, that places like the European Union (EU) are changing entry requirements.
The most frustrating thing I have found personally is in many cases, no one will tell you outwardly what is required of you. It is very much the legal notion of, ‘you ought to have known.’ Because of this teachable moment for me, I prepare myself by asking the following questions:
What are the entry requirements for my citizenship type (Canadian)?
How far in advance do I have to register for a visa or permit?
How long is the visa or permit valid?
What timeframe can I use for the visa or permit? For example, as a Canadian citizen, you can stay anywhere within the Schengen area in the EU for up to 90 days within 180 days.
How much does the visa or permit cost?
How and where can I pay for this permit? Some can be paid on government websites in advance, others must be paid in destination by cash only.
3. Currency, Tipping Culture, Payment Methods
Given we all come from various places around the world and have our own country’s customs, I like to do some research on a few things, including taxes. In Europe, the listed prices in stores or restaurants include taxes already. In Canada and the United States, the prices listed on menus and in-store are before taxes. It can be quite the sticker shock when you go to Toronto, for example, and there is an extra 13% tax, plus 18%-20% expected gratuity on top of the listed price.
Currency
What is the local currency that is most widely-accepted?
Do they have currency exchange offices easily accessible in the destination?
Can I exchange currency in my home country first?
My personal preference is to avoid exchange places simply because of their fees. However, I have found in numerous instances that regardless of whether you go to a currency exchange branch, bank, or credit union, advanced notice is required to obtain international currency. I have had to wait anywhere from 3 - 7 business days.
Can I use my debit card to withdraw cash locally?
If so, should I use a standard ATM, or a local bank’s ATM to save on fees or security?
If I can use my debit card, is a specific password length required? Ie, it can only be a maximum of 4 digits.
Payment Methods
Every country, city, or town will vary on what is accepted and what is not. I was just recently in London and did not use cash once. I only used my Google Pay app for everything. Here in Croatia, I use cash 95% of the time as it is the most widely accepted, and preferred method of payment.
Payment methods I find best to do research and look into are:
Apple and Google Pay
Credit Card types (Visa, MasterCard, AmericanExpress, Diner’s Club)
Visa Debit
Wise or Revolut apps
Cash
Cheque
Payment plans (yes, some places do this)
If you will be using a credit card or your debit card, it is highly encouraged to create a travel notice on either your app or by calling the credit card and bank customer service. By indicating you will be leaving the country, it allows them to monitor your account for fraud, or to not wrongfully (and at the most inconvenient times!) block your transactions for potential fraud.
A side story of a personal experience: I was travelling for five weeks. I left most of my luggage at my main city hub - Zagreb, and took a carry-on with me, with only one credit card and some cash. Well, the credit card I brought with me was new and I forgot to put a travel advisory on it before I left Canada. I had already used it in Turkey, but when I went to go and pay for my next destination’s accommodation while in Croatia, my credit card had been blocked due to potential fraud. I immediately called the credit card company and they were unable to verify my identity on the spot because I did not have my Canadian phone number active while abroad. It took approximately one week for the credit card company to run an investigation on the backend. Had I not had other means of funds, it could have been a serious issue.
BONUS: Safety tips while travelling with cash, credit cards and Google/Apple Pay
Have a different password for each credit and debit card.
Take photos of each card, front and back, then upload it to a secure folder in case of a lost or stolen card. That way, you’ll have the contact number and card number readily available to either replace or cancel them.
Never travel with all of your cards and cash in the same spot. I will spread them out throughout different pockets within my bag, keep them in separate purses and bags altogether, and will only leave my accommodation with one card and some cash each time.
Hide your cash and cards on-site at your accommodation in different places if you do not have access to a safe. Even with a safe, I will sometimes keep extra cash or cards in random spots just in case. In the likelihood of a robbery, you still have the chance of being left with some payment method in an emergency.
Carry a backup cellphone. I will not travel without one now. If I break, lose, or have my phone stolen, I can easily access my Google Pay account from my other phone and remove my cards to avoid fraudulent charges.
If I’ve lost my cards or cash, I can still upload replacement credit cards or bankcards to my Google Pay account on my backup cellphone. I can quickly see what charges popped up or simply access my email account from anywhere.
Tipping Culture
I’m fairly certain that many of us (Canadians especially) can agree that tipping culture has become ludicrous. This is also coming from someone who worked as a server for close to ten years on and off, living off of tips. I like to consider tipping culture while trip planning because it can greatly impact your budget.
Each country is different regarding the average percentage expected or what is commonly given.
The tip preference - cash or credit.
I am a firm believer in tipping. Those in the service industry work gruelling 12+ hours, often with no breaks, and very little to eat, all while maintaining a smile and positive attitude.
4. Choosing Types of Accommodation
Everyone has different styles, needs for their travel, preferences and budgets.
Think about the style or type of experience you want while trip planning. Are you looking to have everything taken care of without having to think about anything? If so, maybe an all-inclusive is your vibe. Perhaps you want to feel like a local and get the full cultural experience. In this case, perhaps staying in an apartment in a local residential neighbourhood is more fitting. A few options to think about are:
Hotels and what each star rating represents (hotel star rating vs. review stars can be different) For example, a 3-star hotel may be given a 5-star Google rating. Star ratings for properties will oftentimes indicate the types of facilities, services, and luxuries included and on offer.
Apartment rentals
Hostels; these offer dorm room styles that include all-female, all-male, or mixed-dorm. They vary from 4-10 beds. Hostels also offer private rooms much like a hotel for various budgets.
All-inclusive. These properties - as in the name - offer accommodation, food, and beverages included for one set price.
I will not book a property until I have determined a few things
Is it easily accessible? Can I walk, drive, or take a train to it? Are there any elevators, or will there be a serious uphill climb with only stairs? I’ve heard several stories from unsuspecting travellers who didn’t realize their accommodation was only accessible on foot. Countless destinations do not allow vehicle traffic. It can make things a bit complicated getting to the property, especially if you’re caught off guard.
Is it close to the main things I am hoping to see and do?
Is it safe; for both the location and the property itself?
What do the negative reviews say? I always start with the negative reviews first. In my opinion, this will give me a true picture of the property. I say this because everyone has their preferences and expectations. As an example, if one person claimed the check-in staff was unaccommodating and rude, but 300 other reviews loved the staff, I may not believe the negative review. Or, if a few people claim the elevator was loud and disruptive, I may opt to request a room on the opposite end of the hallway if my heart is set on that property.
Is there 24-hour security, or locked entrances?
Can I check in or check out at very late or early times that coincide with my transportation times?
Payment. This one gets a lot of people. If payment is required at check-in, what is the payment type? Credit card is not always accepted. Sometimes, cash is your only option, or vice versa. Ask in advance.
Is a deposit required? How is the deposit paid? In advance or at the property? Most hotels require security deposits to be paid via credit card only.
Booking confirmation. I always make sure the booking can be made on a reputable site where they can also provide booking confirmation via email, or on the app.
Getting to the property and checking in can sometimes be unclear and slightly complex. If you are staying in an Airbnb, your host will provide you details on how to get to the property and how to access the key only the day before you are set to arrive, in most cases. Send them a quick email or message upon booking to confirm what the case is so that you don’t become worried as your arrival time approaches.
Communicating with properties: I have found that every location is different. Some accommodation hosts will speak either through the booking platform app or WhatsApp. Very rarely email. I’ve had instances where I didn’t know that and would be waiting a week for a reply.
5. Transportation
There are many options and sometimes a lot of pre-planning and coordination are required to get to your destination and accommodation. Some things to keep in mind:
Are there direct flights or trains?
How many layovers will there be? How many hours between layovers? This can get super tricky because, in my mind, I expect delays. It could be a few minutes or a few hours. If this happens, what is the probability of missing the connecting flight, or train and what will be the consequence of missing the connection?
Will the luggage be removed and put on each connecting flight by the airlines, or will you be required to pick up your bags at each location and check them in again for your connecting flight? This one has been coming up more and more recently, especially with budget airlines. It can take a significant amount of time to wait for, pick up, and then re-check your luggage. This option is always a ‘hard no’ for me, unless I truly have no other choice, or all the time in the world. I just find it’s too much of a hassle and way too time-consuming.
What is the luggage allowance per flight? Are there additional charges? How much are the charges?
What is included in the fare? Meals, entertainment, etc.
Are there other methods of transportation required to get to the final destination? Bus, taxi, ferry, shuttle?
If so, what schedule do they run on? These schedules vary based on seasonality and location.
Will you require additional accommodation between connecting transportation, or will you sleep in the airport or bus terminal? I mean, have you travelled if you’ve never done this? Lol.
Can the accommodation property provide transfers for you?
What are the approximate costs associated with all connecting transportation?
Can tickets be pre-purchased, or do they have to be purchased on-site? How?
Transportation costs stack up extremely quickly. Do some digging online to see what people find safest and most cost-effective.
6. Identification
I would say the standard is to always travel with a passport, however, if you’re travelling within your home country, you likely only need your regular ID card. If you’re travelling outside of your home country, look to see what is required of you. Often airlines, hotels, and apartment check-ins require copies of your passport.
If you are required to have a passport to get to your destination and don’t yet have one, look into how long it would take to ensure there is enough time between your departure and processing time.
Staying organized once you’ve made all of your decisions
When I’m travelling I find I always need access to addresses, phone numbers, and confirmations. I try to keep myself as organized as possible so I will keep things within one spreadsheet so I can access it quickly. I also tend to print a hard copy just in case I have no wifi or data access.
Key details to keep at your fingertips:
Accommodation names
Check-in date
Check-in time
Check-out date
Check-out time
Booking confirmation number
Property address
Property contact phone number
Property contact name if available
Transportation type
Transportation company name
Travel date
Departure time
Arrival time
Address of terminal (majour cities can have multiple airports, train stations and bus terminals)
Booking confirmations
Soft copies of all IDs
Soft copies of all visas and permits
Happy travelling!
