My Top 12 Pieces Of Travel Advice

Traveling is one of the most extraordinary ways to live life. It allows you to find yourself when you travel solo, deepen your bond when you travel with someone, and live unforgettable moments that wouldn’t happen if you stayed home. But of course, it’s easier said than done. Sometimes you need a little advice.

One day I was talking to one of my best friends about traveling the world, and after I shared a story of when I went to Europe for the first time, he asked me a very interesting question. He said: “Gabe if you could give me any piece of travel advice, what would you say?”. He knows that I’ve traveled to almost 20 different countries and that he could rely on my experience as a world traveler to get some wise advice. Then, I went on and on telling him what I think every single traveler should do when they go somewhere. So here are my top 12 pieces of travel advice:

12- Leave expensive things at home

My biggest regret was taking my expensive watch to the beach and forgetting my $500 sunglasses at a bar in NYC. I’ve heard stories of horrible experiences of people who had had their expensive pieces of jewelry lost or stolen while on vacation, and people who weren’t that lucky with their expensive stuff. Traveling isn’t about showing what you got. It’s about exploring new cultures, living amazing moments, and making new memories. So leave your expensive things at home.

11- Carry minimum luggage if possible. Pack as light as you can

One of the biggest mistakes I made as a traveler was to take 2 big suitcases to England. Before going there I had planned to visit London, Scotland, Paris, and Italy. But when I arrived there, I realized I wouldn’t be able to visit multiple destinations because I was carrying way too much luggage. I should have packed lighter. I see people who take thousands of items on their trips, and they end up not being able to enjoy as much. Plus, if you have lots of luggage, your plane tickets can get super pricy as well.

The less luggage you have, the cheaper the flight is. When I traveled from NYC to Paris in 2019 I paid only $180 for the flight. $75 from Italy to Barcelona. $95 from NYC to LA. All of that was possible because I booked flights that only allowed me to bring my carry-on. Why would I need more than that?

10- Take one or two portable battery chargers

This can save lives. Nowadays no cell phone can survive more than 12 hours. Especially if you are using GPS, taking photos, etc. Your phone will die so quickly. But this can be dangerous. What if you don’t speak the language? What if you don’t know the way back to the hotel? You need to have your phone charged at all times when traveling and this is only possible if you take one or two portable battery chargers.

9- Learn the basics of the native language of the country you’re traveling to

We all know that English is a global language. But I find it rude when native-English speakers visit South America and demand the local people to speak English with them. It’s not our native language and if you’re traveling to my country you should know at least the basics of my language. It will not only be more respectful but it will also be easier for you.

Learning how to say “Thank you”, or “Where is this and that place”, “How much is it”, “Excuse me”, and other common sentences will help you have a better travel experience. Plus, the local people will appreciate you being there more and they will feel more eager to assist you whenever you need help getting to places.

8- Have a basic plan, but leave plenty of time for last-minute/spontaneous adventures

I have written an article which I talk about 5 reasons why I don’t plan a travel itinerary. And one of the reasons is this: I love the spontaneity of traveling. I love waking up in the morning and asking myself what I feel like doing instead of forcing myself to do what’s on my travel itinerary. Why do we have to stick to the plan so strictly? Have a basic plan, but go do something you just found out someone at your hotel is going to do. Maybe even join them. Don’t stick too much to your plan. I have found out that last-minute plans have become my favorite travel memories.

7- Get out of your resort, hotel room, and Airbnb

I’ve already traveled with people who wouldn’t leave their Airbnb in the Dominican Republic, their resort in Orlando, or their hotel in Atlanta. Why did you bother to travel then?

Travel agent Jason Coleman of Jason Coleman, Inc., said something in an interview that I’ll never forget: “If you want the comforts, service, and experience of home … then stay home. Travel is about opening yourself up to new experiences. You will encounter different ways of living, of eating, of serving.”

People keep asking me if the reason why I stay at hostels most of the time is that I’m young, and I normally say that this is far from being the reason. Why should I spend hundreds of dollars on a room that I won’t even be in? If I’m traveling is because I want to be outside of my room. I want to explore, eat new foods, and do stuff. I want to wake up early in the morning, leave the room and return at midnight or even later after having explored the place like a traveler should do.

6- Do something you can’t do in your hometown/state/country

Can you go snorkeling in the town where you live? Can you visit an amazing museum back home? Are you able to see a Broadway show in your town? If the answers to these questions are no, then, this is what you should do when traveling. Get out of your bubble. Get out of your comfort zone. Do something you wouldn’t be able to do in your town.

5- Keep your expectations in check. As low as possible

This way you will minimize disappointments and maximize the positives. Shit happens while traveling as it does in regular life at home. Being realistic about it gives you resilience and allows you to see that any famous travel destination is as imperfect as the town where you live.

I’ve heard so many testimonies of people who had said that they hated their travel experiences in New York City and LA. And whenever I ask them why they hated it their answers would be something like this: “The city is dirty, there’s homeless everywhere, It’s not like it is in the movies… Or It’s not as pretty as I expected it to be.”

Well, but who told you that there are perfect cities in the world? Even the most beautiful and your favorite cities have their imperfections.

This is a photo I took of me at Times Square last week:

A couple of feet away, still, at Times Square, I took this other photo:

I’ve seen ugly parts in Paris, London, Toronto, Italy, New York City, Buenos Aires, Brazil… NOWHERE is perfect. Keep your expectations as low as you can. This way you will have a blast.

4- Educate yourself about the country/state/town you’re traveling to before you get there

Does the country you’re traveling to have a different tradition? Did they go through some hardships throughout history that you should be aware of before getting there? Should you act in a certain way when in public so you don’t disrespect their culture? Educating yourself about the country is a very important thing to do. This way you will not only be a mindful and respectful traveler, but you will also be able to have a better experience because you will avoid possible awkward situations.

3- When in Rome, do as the Romans do

A lot of countries will have certain traditions that need to be kept, respected, and followed by everybody, including foreign travelers. And not being from that country does not give you the right to act otherwise. For example, one of the biggest cultural shocks I’ve had after I moved to the U.S., was the tipping culture they have here. We don’t tip waiters and waitresses in South America. It’s not part of my culture, and I personally don’t agree with it.

I believe every single worker should make a decent amount of money and not have to depend on the tips they get from customers. However, being from South America and not agreeing with the tipping culture does not give me the right to eat in a restaurant and not tip.

Tipping in the United States is a cultural thing they do. If a customer doesn’t tip, they are considered rude, and cheap. So, this is why whenever I’m in the U.S., I should know I’m supposed to tip at least 20%. Why? Simply because it’s their culture and I should respect it. So, make sure you learn what are some of the biggest cultural aspects of the country you’re traveling to so that you know what you’re supposed to be like when going there.

2- Always be security conscious

One of the biggest mistakes travelers make is to forget that tourists can easily attract pick-pocketers, robbers, mean and evil people. And that can happen literally ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE. I hate when North Americans will say shit about African countries, or South American countries claiming that travelers should be security-aware whenever they go to these places because of how unsafe these countries can get. But they forget that their countries can also be dangerous. I have been robbed in New York City, I’ve had pick-pocketers try to steal me in Barcelona, Spain. I’ve witnessed a terrible robbery in London of a guy who had a knife and tried to steal a tourist.

Shit can happen anywhere and everywhere. So, don’t leave your belongings unattended at all times, and don’t trust strangers. If your hostel/hotel/Airbnb has a locker, lock your stuff in as well including your documents, and don’t think that just because you’re in Greece that shit won’t happen. Also, be careful with who you make friends with. Unfortunately, human trafficking is real and it can happen to anyone.

1- See the world before you leave it

Last but not least, I have this amazing piece of advice for you. We all know that nothing is eternal, and that includes our lives. Don’t wait until the “right moment” to book your dream trip. The right moment is today. As soon as you finish reading this article, do it now. Book it. And go. See the beauty this world has to offer. Go and eat a croissant in Paris, go snorkeling in Mexico, go to the top of the Empire State Building, and walk on the Golden Gate Bridge. Life is short and it is only worth living when we can make beautiful memories.

Thank you so much for reading my article today!

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