These 5 money-saving world travel tips make exploring the world in comfort and style easier than ever.

After twenty-three years traveling to over twenty countries, I’ve discovered tips, tricks, and tactics that make exploring the world a whole lot easier, more comfortable and fun. With all the new airline baggage restrictions, you want everything you bring to count without schlepping extra stuff that you don’t need. Not to mention saving on international bank fees and cell phone plans.

Through the years, I’ve developed a traveling protocol that helps me travel light but with many of the comforts of home. Here’s my list of road-tested travel tips that make traveling even more fun.

Tip #1 Dress like an expat, not a tourist

My go-to travel outfit is a (virtually pickpocket proof) hobo purse or shopper with a top zipper that rests under my arm, comfortable thin Me Too ballerina flats with a flexible cushy sole, a crushable hat, stretch skinny jeans, a loose comfortable blouse, cozy pashmina, and Woodzee Chloe Black Pear polarized sunglasses for a chic but comfortable travel look.

When packing, I always put together outfits with basics for day and night and locales like the city  or the beach. Dresses are light instant outfits and transition better from day to night than heavy jeans. I don’t even bother with heels as they are not simpatico with cobblestone streets. For fashionable travel clothes, I shop online resale at TheRealReal.com for pieces that look amazing but I’m not too precious about when I wear them to death by the end of my trip. A lightweight casual walking sneaker like Lems Primal 2, that you can roll up to fit in your suitcase is a plus.

Tips #2 Toiletries matter

Traveling can take quite a toll on your skin. Different water types and long hauls can dry it out and even cause acne.  To feel fresh and pampered, even on 12-hour flights, these items have permanent residency in my travel toiletry case:

Foreo’s ISSA mini sonic toothbrush protects my gums and keep my choppers clean and white.

Tru Activ Multi-Defense Cream, Suntegrity’s tinted moisturizer and Pacifica’s SPF 20 foundation gives great coverage and protects my skin from the sun.

Foreo’s Mini Luna keeps up my skin care routine and helps minimize travel acne from clogged pores.

Fig + Yarrow’s Rose & Vanilla Lip Tint is mega moisturizing and great for dry lips from flights.

Lisa Ann Skin Care’s Lemon Verbena Body Butter and Fig+Yarrow’s Alpine Foot Butter are my Rx for rough feet from walking miles on cobblestones.

Avalon Organics Refreshing Conditioner keeps my hair from getting dry and brittle, even when using random hotel shampoo.

Frais Hand Sanitizer with basil and lemon myrtle smells fresh and kills germs.

Travel lover and executive editor of Haute Living Magazine Laura Schreffler doesn’t pack her bags without Jane Iredale’s Glow Time Full Coverage BB Cream. And for tropical environments that make hair frizz, Kim Kessler of the Four Seasons Los Angeles swears by Frizz Be Gone eco hair serum.

Tip #3 Invest in lightweight functional luggage that meets airline standards

Being hit with overweight luggage fees is costly and annoying. As is paying to check a bag that didn’t fit into the overhead bin by a fraction of an inch. Airline agents don’t budge, so don’t take the risk.

I would ditch the old backpack and other odd-sized luggage for square spinners that roll on all four wheels. Sturdy spinners handle even cobblestone streets quite well and don’t cause as much back strain. If it’s time to buy new luggage, remember that plastics aren’t all created equal and some crack after just a few flights. I found that IT Luggage’s polypropylene spinners take a beating and hold up remarkably well. Another option, although not a spinner, is Patagonia’s Transport Roller suitcase/bag constructed  with 100% recycled polyester twill.

#4 Pack a dreamy sleep kit

To get a good nights sleep on the plane and after landing I bring my tried-and-true dream sleep kit. A comfortable eye mask, Mack’s silicone ear plugs, and a small bottle of Primavera lavender pillow spray. In one fell swoop, you’ll block out noise, light, and weird smells that can prevent you from sleeping. Add in melatonin for the first three nights to help battle jet lag and you’ll be rising in the morning with the locals in no time.

#5 Download these (almost free) phone apps and learn these savvy travel money saving tips

Stay in touch with friends and family for free or just a few dollars on both cell phones and landlines with WhatsApp, Viber, and Skype subscriptions. Connect to any strong wifi and you’re in. Dial away.

At ATMs and credit card machines, always choose to pay in the local currency – rather than dollars. It’s much less, sometimes up to $5.oo per transaction!

To save on travel fees, consider getting a credit and/or debit card that doesn’t charge international fees. Otherwise you might be charged up to 3 percent on every international transaction. If you don’t want to open a new account, ask if your bank has an international bank partner where you won’t be charged foreign ATM fees.

Rather than get an expensive but limited international plan on your U.S. cell phone carrier, try a local sim card instead. It’s often much cheaper. Remember to bring your passport when signing up for local service. International cell phone carriers like TIM, Wind and Vodafone usually have reasonable travel plans as well with the same sim card in different countries.

With the dollar stronger than it has been in years, it’s a great time to travel. So book those tickets and pack your bags. A world of adventure awaits you!

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of Happy Tourist via Shutterstock

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The dates have been selected, the location is set, and now all you need to do is find a hotel for your upcoming vacation. This is perhaps the biggest decision that can make or break a trip: Accommodations that are unacceptable (unsafe, unclean, not as advertised, or just not aligned with your expectations) can quickly ruin a vacation, no matter how spectacular the overall destination is.

You pull up a few hotel search engines and begin to browse, and immediately get overwhelmed with all the listings, and especially all the reviews from other travelers. How do you know which reviews to trust? How much weight should you give them in influencing your purchase decision? Which reviews will help you find the best hotel for your upcoming time off?

Don’t worry – I’m here to help you use hotel reviews to find accommodations that are perfect for your next trip.

Before we get started, a disclosure: I’m a former TripAdvisor employee. As such, I’ve worked with the ins-and-outs of reviews and fellow-traveler recommendations, and am uniquely qualified to help you navigate the thousands of reviews out there. All opinions are my own and based on my own experiences, both as a traveler and as a travel industry insider.

Here are the hotel ratings and reviews tricks I use when I’m planning a trip.

Discard the Highs, Discard the Lows

When consulting hotel reviews, I always discard the extremes on either end – in other words, I take both the five- and one-star reviews with a grain of salt. The middle reviews are where I tend to find the most useful information about a given property: These reviews tend to come from everyday travelers who are less prone to platitudes or nitpicking. In some cases, though, you may find a property has an abundance of extreme reviews – and, in such situations, take notice both of the content itself and the number of reviews submitted. If there are hundreds of reviews and the majority go to an extreme, you’ve stumbled upon a genuine gem – or a honest-to-goodness fleabag.

Take the Reviewers’ Preferences into Account

With reviews from other travelers, you’re not exactly getting objective advice. As such, pay attention to the personalities inherent in every traveler review to see if it truly matches what you’re looking for on a vacation. Is the reviewer griping about something that wouldn’t typically bother you? Take note. (For example, I hardly ever order room service. So if a reviewer gives a hotel high or low marks based on the room service quality, that review doesn’t influence my booking decision.) Conversely, does the traveler talk about amenities and activities that would align with your expectations – in other words, does she sound like someone you would travel with and has similar taste? Weigh that feedback more heavily.

Take the Time to Cross-Reference

Variety is key. Do not take the reviews on just one site as the be-all, end-all of your hotel research. When looking to find a hotel, consult at least two or three sites with reviews, including a mix of checking the reviews on the hotel’s own website and third-party sites. It’s also a good rule of thumb to check what the experts think – a few reputable guidebook and travel guide sites should provide worthwhile alternative views to back up what you’re seeing on the review sites.

Do you use online reviews when trying to find a hotel? What trip-planning strategies have worked for you? Share your expertise by leaving a comment!

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Hotel image via Shutterstock

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Nervous about hitting the road with your tiny sidekicks in tow this summer? Traveling with toddlers can be a challenge, but if you’re prepared with the right combination of entertainment and gear, you can pack quite a lot of fun into the to and from of your vacation. As a mom who has traveled extensively with a toddler, here are some of the tricks I’ve used to keep my little jet-setter happy while on the go!

Kids love being in charge of their carry-on cargo, so equip them with a fun-loving buddy of a backpack or rolling suitcase like this sustainably made Rolling Puppy suitcase from EcoGear. Aside from being doggone adorable, it is crafted with natural cotton and rope material, and boasts recycled plastic components, non-toxic dyes and recycled wheels. The company’s panda bear backpack is another green option for traveling tots who aren’t adept at rolling their own wheels through the airport, but who can easily don a backpack. Make sure you don’t overload either their backpack or their suitcase, or you can bet your in-flight peanuts you’ll end up lugging them for your little one.

Are we there yet? They’re the famous words every parent hears when traveling with a child. Keep your tot so entertained en route that the journey becomes part of the vacation fun. Craft a cozy toy car caddy for your child before leaving home, enabling him to safely transport and race his cars. Or, let your little one tote crayons and markers in a carryall made from recycled jeans to produce art on the fly. Flashcards and finger puppets are also great to have on hand for impromptu learning sessions and traveling puppet shows. DIY felt boards will help backseat car passengers wile away a road trip. Cut an array of shapes, letters, and numbers out of eco-felt and cover a piece of sturdy cardboard with eco-felt, and voila, you have an instant travel game and learning tool in one.

Some of the best mobile entertainment comes in the form of good, old-fashioned games like “In My Grandmother’s Trunk,” and “I Spy.” Brush up on the rules to spoken word games that depend on a child’s immediate environment to engage them and teach them to investigate the world in a fun, discerning fashion. Singing fun songs and listening to different types of music in the car, will also expand your child’s horizons on the open highway.

Pack snacks, snacks and more snacks – of the healthy variety, of course. Small apples, fruit leather, granola bars, crackers, etc. You don’t want to be caught short en route with a hungry child on your hands! Pile in more food and drink than you think you’ll need, which will also give kids a variety of options when hunger strikes.

Keep your sense of humor. Traveling can be stressful for kids, so be as lighthearted as possible on the journey, and they’ll follow your calming lead. Vacations are a great way to illuminate children with the old adage that life is a journey, not a destination, and every step along the way should be enjoyed!

Image: woodleywonderworks

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