The 6 Best Pieces Of Travel Advice I’ve Ever Heard And Why They Work!

Insider Secrets That Turn Any Trip Into an Epic Adventure

Game-Changing Tips From Those “In the Know” That Will Make You Rethink Your Next Adventure!The best travel advice I ever got was on a minibus trip from Tirana Airport to Vlore, Albania from my fellow travelers, all locals who kind of adopted me temporarily, 

“Embrace our hospitality, and never turn down a coffee or a Burek and Dhallë (yogurt drink).

And if offered raki, sip, don’t chug it down!”

Albanians are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet, and a simple ”Mirëdita” can open doors you never expected. 

My first actual taste of this came on that same minibus ride, when a guy on his way to visit family treated me to my first Albanian Burek and Dhallë at a rest stop.

But when I arrived in Vlore, alone with my suitcase, trying to get my bearings, I spotted a big, rough-looking guy leaning against his car on that same street corner, watching me.

For a moment, I wondered if this would become the opposite extreme of my experience on the mini-bus ride down.

He asked, “First time in Albania?”

Something in his tone made me pause. I nodded and said, “Yes.”

His reply? “Welcome to Albania.”

The best travel advice doesn’t come from glossy guidebooks telling you to ”wear comfortable shoes.” 

No, it comes from locals, road-worn expats, and backpackers who’ve survived the chaos of travel.

Some lessons cost money, some cost pride, and some, like my ride from Vlore to Saranda, cost patience.

The driver turned the trip into a watermelon delivery service, picking up passengers and produce along the way, stretching a two-and-a-half-hour ride into a four-hour adventure.

So, if you’ve ever sprinted through an airport because that one airline boarded 50 minutes early, welcome to the club.

And if you’ve ever been side-eyed in Bergamo for ordering a cappuccino after noon, you’re in the right place.

What follows isn’t the watered-down advice of a travel agent who’s never left their hometown. 

These are the real tips that have saved me money, stress, and, in one case, stopped me from renting a “too good to be true” apartment in Tbilisi that turned out to be a literal basement storage closet.

Let’s get into it!

1. The Cheapest Flight Isn’t Always the Best Deal

The first time I tried to game the flight system, I landed in what can only be described as “budget travel purgatory.”

Flying from Tbilisi to New York, I smugly booked the cheapest flight available.

A steal, right? Not exactly.

Buried in the fine print? A 14-hour overnight layover in Istanbul’s old airport, where every bench was already claimed by fellow budget travelers questioning their life choices.

And the fun didn’t stop there. The flight landed at JFK at 1:00 a.m., too late for anyone in their right-mind to take the subway with a suitcase in tow.

That meant an unexpected $75 taxi to Grand Central, followed by a 3–4 hour wait for the first morning train to Connecticut.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• A cheap flight is only cheap if you factor in baggage fees, layovers, and arrival times.
• Check the fine print. Your “quick stop” might be six hours in an overpriced airport.
• If you’re flexible, use Google Flights or Skyscanner’s “everywhere” feature to find smarter alternatives.

Lesson Learned: That “great deal” cost me more in time, taxis, bad food, and sanity than a slightly pricier direct flight ever would have.

Never again.

2. Learn a Few Key Phrases in the Local Language… It Changes Everything

I learned the hard way that sometimes even Google Translate, just doesn’t cut it.

Like that time in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, when I confidently pointed at a pastry and asked for “one, please.”

The woman squinted and shot back, “Banitsa ili pogacha?” (cheese pie or bread?).

I froze. She repeated it, slower.

Panic set in.

I pointed blindly… and walked out with a loaf of bread the size of my torso.

How to Make It Work for You:

• You don’t need fluency. Just “hello,” “thank you,” and “where’s the bathroom?” go a long way.
• Duolingo is fine for basics. But Google Translate (offline mode) and Drops are lifesavers.
• Learn how to gesture numbers correctly. Count the wrong way in Europe, and you might accidentally order eight beers instead of three.

Lesson Learned: A few words can turn an awkward exchange into a friendly one, and might even score you some extras in a bakery.

3. Never Exchange Money at the Airport… And Other Currency Hacks

I once made the rookie mistake of exchanging cash at the airport in Tbilisi.

My brain knew better, but I was sleep-deprived, desperate for a snack, and fell for the *convenience* trap.

I handed over a crisp $100 bill and got back what felt like monopoly money.

The exchange rate was so bad that I basically donated 20% of my cash to the currency exchange gods.

How to Make It Work for You:

• Use ATMs instead: They almost always offer better rates. Just make sure your bank doesn’t charge international withdrawal fees.
• Get a travel-friendly credit card (like Wise, Revolut or a Charles Schwab Account for Americans) to avoid foreign transaction fees.
• If you must exchange cash, do it in the city center, not the airport.

Lesson Learned: Airport exchange booths exist for one reason, to rip off tired, unprepared travelers like you. Don’t be a sucker…

4. The Best Food Isn’t in the Tourist Areas… Follow the Locals

If you want authentic Spanish food, don’t eat on La Rambla in Barcelona unless you enjoy paying €20 for microwaved paella.

I made that mistake once, never again.

The rice was drier than my sense of humor.

Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, I found a tiny family-run restaurant where the seafood paella was so good it made me question my life choices.

How to Make It Work for You:

• Look for restaurants where the menu isn’t in English (or at least where locals are eating).
• Ask a bartender, taxi driver, or Airbnb host where they eat, not where they send tourists.
• Use apps like Google Maps reviews in the local language to find those hidden gems.

Lesson Learned: If a waiter is standing outside begging you to come in? Run!

5. Always Have a Backup Plan for Your First 24 Hours… Even for a Layover

Landing in a new country without a plan for where you’ll sleep is how horror movies start.

I learned this the hard way in Frankfurt, thinking I’d figure it out for my one-night layover back to Kyiv.

After all, it’s a major European hub, what could go wrong?

Turns out, I arrived during the Frankfurt Book Fair, one of the biggest trade events in the world.

Hotels? Sold out.

Hostels? Overflowing.

And there I was, feet aching, after hours of rejection from every place with a bed.

Thankfully, a chance encounter at a café saved me.

Two Moldovan waitresses, after hearing my plight, tapped into their Russian-speaking expat network and found me a cheap (but clean) bunk at a local cooking school.

Moral of the story? Never assume you’ll just find a place. Always have a backup plan, or at least hope for kind Moldovan café staff.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Book your first night in advance. Even if it’s refundable, lock something in.
• Check for major events. A quick Google search for trade fairs or festivals can save you from a long night on the street.
• Have a backup plan. Know 24-hour hotels, airport sleeping spots, or a local contact.

Lesson Learned: Never assume things will work out. Have a plan.

6. The Best Travel Experiences Happen When You Say “Yes”

Some of my best travel memories began with, ”This is probably a bad idea.”

Like when one of my students invited me to his wedding in Western Ukraine.

I hesitated… mostly because Ukrainians don’t mess around with drinking. 

But I said, “yes”.

One overnight train ride, endless horilka (Ukrainian vodka) toasts, and enough varenyky to feed a small army later, I knew this was a story I’d never forget.

How to Make It Work for You:

• Say “YES” to spontaneous invitations, but trust your gut.
• The best experiences aren’t on your itinerary (even if you live there).
• Embrace local traditions. They’re almost always better than your original plans.

Lesson Learned: The best stories come from not playing it safe.

The Best Travel Advice I’ve Ever Heard… And Why It Works

Travel is unpredictable. Flights get delayed, language barriers create comedy, and sometimes, you really need a working ATM.

But the right advice turns chaos into adventure.

1. Book flights wisely. Cheap isn’t always a bargain.
2. Learn key phrases. It makes life easier.
3. Never exchange money at the airport. Unless you enjoy getting ripped off.
4. Avoid tourist traps. If the menu has pictures, run.
5. Have a backup plan. Jet lag and chaos don’t mix.
6. Say YES! But know your limits.

Some of these I learned the hard way, others from travelers who knew better.