Best Travel Tips Only Retirees Get to Use

You probably had a limited number of vacation days during your working years. But now that you’re retired, you can travel as much as your funds will allow. Travel trends by Americans 65 and older are expected to translate into about $190 billion in spending this year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Travel During the Week

Since you’re retired, you’ll be able to travel during the week, which often is less expensive than on the weekend. According to USA Today, the cheapest days for domestic flights generally are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. For flights to Europe, weekdays also tend to be more affordable than weekends.

Travel During the Offseason

With total control over your schedule, you’ll be able to travel when it is cheapest to reach a particular destination, rather than whenever it fits into your office schedule. This means you can save a significant amount by traveling during the off-season, such as heading to desert destinations during the summer and mountain towns during the spring and fall.

Check with discount travel sites such as Hotels.com, Priceline and Expedia in your search for lower rates on hotels and airfare.

Make the Drive

Since you aren’t pressed for time anymore, consider driving to your destination rather than flying. Even with gas (and maybe hotel) costs, driving can be less expensive than flying.

Rather than driving your own car, consider renting a car for long-distance travel over a short period of time, an approach that, in the long run, could be cheaper than driving the 10-year-old family vehicle. With the right attitude, you might even find a scenic summer road trip even more enjoyable.

Bunk With Friends or Family

You might have that cousin in Cleveland whom you haven’t seen in years. Consider asking them to host you for a night, or more.

“Leisure in Retirement: Beyond the Bucket List,” a study done by Merrill Lynch, said when assessing what is important to them, 34 percent of retirees said that was making family connections, with 23 percent of them looking to boost friendship and social connections. A trip to visit could do just that. You will get more than cheap travel out of this experience.

Take Longer Trips

You likely had a limited number of vacation days when you worked in an office, but now that you’re retired, you can take one long journey instead of multiple shorter trips, saving money on back-and-forth airfare. For example, rather than taking separate trips to Italy, Greece and Spain, you could combine these countries into one trip, establishing a base and then traveling to the other destinations via low-cost air carriers or train.

House-Sitting

House-sitting can be an excellent way to find a free place to stay. Many people simply want someone to watch their pet, water their plants and bring in the mail, and with a lifetime of work under your belt, you’ll have a plethora of demonstrated responsibility to show off to potential hosts. To help decide whether house-sitting is for you, check out websites such as TrustedHousesitters.com.

Take Advantage of Senior Specials

AARP deals exist for many elements of travel, including train fare, car rentals, hotels, flights and entire vacation packages. Take advantage of these retirement discounts to save a significant amount on every step of your journey. Outside of AARP, many hotels, resorts, restaurants and tour operators offer special discounts for older travelers, but those businesses might not automatically let you know about the deals — especially if you seem willing to pay full price.

Find Underground Spots

With more free time on your hands, make it your mission to learn about under-the-radar destinations that might be cheaper to travel to than expensive mainstays such as Paris, London or Rome. As a bonus, you likely will have a more authentic experience at a destination that doesn’t cater heavily to tourists.

Travel With Another Retiree

If you can find other retirees with flexible schedules, you can drive down the cost of your trip by sharing housing. Remember how your sister said she always to travel to Las Vegas with you? Invite her to go and by doubling up in a hotel room, you can slash your bill in half.

Cook Your Meals

It’s amazing what you can do with a small hotel refrigerator, some corner stores and a little creativity. You don’t have to eat every meal in restaurants. Instead, go local and pick up a loaf of fresh bakery bread, some fruit and cheeses and sliced meat from a local deli. Many of the shops will have utensils and condiment packets, too. This approach should allow you to save a significant amount on your food bill — and think of the nice shopkeepers you’ll meet along the way.

Consider Timeshares

Some timeshare companies will offer prospective buyers a free stay at their property in exchange for sitting through a sales pitch presentation. Beware of this option, though. Even people with nerves of steel sometimes have a tough time walking away without signing up.

Rent an RV

After the initial investment, a recreational vehicle (RV) offers an excellent way to travel to scenic mountain, beach and other outdoor destinations without airfare, hotel costs or big restaurant bills. If buying an RV isn’t in your budget, consider renting one through a local RV outfit or a national site such as Cruise America.

Downsize Your Belongings

One way to raise cash for travel is to thoroughly downsize your belongings. Now that you have time, go through everything you own and consider how many possessions you actually need. Put the rejects on eBay, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, or hold a good, old-fashioned garage sale or yard sale at your home. Put the cash you raise toward future travel.

Use Rewards Credit Cards

It can be tough to keep track of which credit cards to use to maximize points that can be redeemed toward travel, but with more free time in retirement, you can research ways to maximize your cards for travel rewards such as free hotel stays and flights. A caution: Since travel credit cards tend to have above-average interest rates on purchases, carrying a balance could cost you more than any travel rewards you earn.

Consider a Home Swap

Now that you’re the boss of your schedule, you can be flexible around the schedule of people who might want to swap homes in areas you’d like to visit. Check out home-swap websites such as Home Exchange, where you can begin the conversation with someone who might like to stay in your home and you stay in theirs.

Take Advantage of Free Days

Many museums and other cultural institutions have select days of the week or month when they’re open to the public for free. Call and ask if they have retirement discounts, too.

Be Flexible With Flight Dates

Since you don’t have to be back home by any certain date, always search for flexible flight dates. You might be able to save hundreds on the same route by being willing to stay an extra night or two or to leave home a few days earlier. By being flexible, you can save a lot of money and stay immune to travel mistakes.

Travel Spontaneously

It probably was difficult to get time off work at the last minute, but without that as a consideration, retirees can save significant money on travel by being on the lookout for last-minute travel deals and specials through airline websites or discount travel sites. A number of apps, such as HotelTonight, make it easy to find such specials.

Use Coupons

You might not have had time to search for coupons and online deals when you were working, but now that you have more free time, you can properly look for coupons and discounts for any destination you’re thinking of booking. You can use a site such as Groupon to find discounts and ideas for activities you’re interested in once you’ve reached your destination.

Do Some Research

Spend a few hours or even a day at home planning your trip and your daily activities online. If you’re headed toward a tourist area, the tourism board there will have a website that lists popular attractions and discounts.

The 5 Best Travel-Friendly Phones for Road Warriors, Vacationers & Business Flyers

Whether it’s a short road trip or an 18-hour flight, our phones are now essential travel companions. No longer do we need a GPS unit, maps, cameras, camcorders, or even boarding passes. However, not all phones are created equal in this regard. Some are more suited for traveling, no matter the duration.

Traveling comes with its own complications that a good phone can solve. Keeping yourself entertained on a long trip is just one example of the issues you deal with, and not all phones can provide an ideal experience. While some can afford two phones, having dual SIM capabilities is another prominent feature, as it lets you keep your number and use a temporary one for calls while away. We tested these and numerous other factors as you’ll see below, and now we can confidently recommend the following five phones for folks who travel often.

Comparison Chart

Key Comparison Points

Starting Price: The phone’s MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price). While you can get these phones for cheaper at some retailers, this is maximum price stores will sell the phone for. Prices listed are for the base models of each device.
GSM Unlocked: A US variant is available which supports GSM radios and isn’t tied to any carrier. GSM is the cellular standard of choice for AT&T, T-Mobile, and virtually every carrier in the world not named Sprint or Verizon. When traveling outside the country, GSM phones will actually work, as opposed to CDMA phones that will have limited service in other countries. As for the “unlocked” part, this means as long as you insert a compatible SIM card, you should be able to use any carrier with the phone, including international carriers.
Dual SIM: A US variant exists which supports using two SIMs at the same time. This can be either two physical SIM cards or a combination of one physical SIM and one eSIM. With dual SIM support, you can keep your main line active while using the second SIM for international travel. This way, you can keep getting calls to your regular phone number while adding a local phone number in the country you’re traveling to, and the same applies to your cellular data plan.
Display Size: The size of the phone’s screen. When traveling, you will have to deal with some wait time. A common activity here is watching videos, and having a large screen helps for enjoying content on your phone. It also helps if you’re planning to use your phone for navigation or as a boarding pass, as the larger screen will make this content easier to see.
Max Internal Storage: The maximum amount of internal storage available on any US variant of the phone. Whether it is movies and music for your travels, or pictures and videos from the vacation, having a large amount of space is necessary for traveling. Since our phones now replace the GPS, camera, and portable media player, we need large storage to avoid having to delete memories. While cloud storage can help, depending on where you are, uploading data to the cloud can either be too slow or not possible, making large internal storage a must have.
Expandable Storage: If the phone supports memory card to increase the amount of available storage and if so, up to how much storage. With memory cards such as microSD, you can expand the internal storage, giving you more space to store media such as photos and videos. Only a handful of Android phones support this feature but there inclusion is a big deal At the time of writing, the largest microSD card is 1 TB which means for a phone like the Samsung Galaxy S10+, this translate to 2 TB of storage if you buy the 1 TB model.
Geolocation Standards: The satellite-based location technologies supported by the device. GPS is owned and operated by the American military. Other countries and regions use their own version of “GPS,” including Galileo (Europe), GLONASS (Russia), BeiDou (China), and QZSS (Japan). While GPS may work in other countries (it is a Global Positioning System, after all), the US government has blocked it in certain regions in the past. So to avoid getting stranded, you’ll want a phone that supports the geolocation standard used in the area you’re traveling to.
Water/Dust Resistance: The dust and water resistance of the phone, depicted as an IP rating. The first number rates the phone’s protection against dust and solid particulates, while the second number rates the phone’s resistance to water. The higher the number the better, with the current highest protection being IP68.
Rear Camera Resolution: The megapixels of each image sensor in the rear camera. Higher resolution means extra detail in photos and an improved ability to crop the image after the fact.
Front Camera Resolution: The megapixels of each image sensor in the front camera.
Rear Camera Aperture: The aperture (size of the physical opening) of each lens in the rear camera. The lower the number, the wider the aperture. The wider the aperture, the better the low-light performance, as more light can reach the image sensor.
Front Camera Aperture: The aperture of each lens in the front camera.
Optical Image Stabilization: Which of the rear camera’s image sensors include optical image stabilization (OIS). With OIS, blurry photos are less of a worry, as it protects against shaky hands. Ideally, you want each of the camera sensors to have OIS to ensure that no matter which lens you are using, you are protected.
Optical/Digital Zoom: The amount of optical and digital zoom provided by the phone’s camera. Between the two, optical zoom is more important, as it provides you a closer look with hindering the quality of the photos, unlike digital zoom.
Max Video Resolution: The maximum resolution video that can be recorded on the rear camera, and at what frame rate.
Front Glass Protection: The technology used to protect the display of the phone. When traveling to an unfamiliar place, our phones often are always in our hands, helping us navigate areas and find things to do. This makes them much more susceptible to drops, which can be combatted with strong glass protection.
Back Glass Protection: The type of glass used to protect the glass back of the phone. With most OEMs pushing for wireless charging, glass back covers have become more common in smartphones. Unfortunately, glass isn’t as durable as metal and therefore requires additional protection.
Battery Capacity: The capacity of the lithium-ion battery. Having a large battery correlates with better battery life, although exceptions do exist. Therefore, ideally, you want a phone with the largest possible battery.
Fast Charging Support: The fast charging technology supported by the phone. Because travel increases your dependency on your phone, having a fully charged phone is even more important. With fast charging, it takes less than an hour.
Wirelessly Charge Other Devices: The phone can charge other Qi-enabled devices wirelessly using its own battery, acting as a power bank for another device. Handy if you’re traveling with a companion whose phone is low or if you use wireless earbuds.
Headphone Jack: The phone includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack. While it’s rare to see nowadays, being able to use a headphone jack instead of Bluetooth headsets not only reduces the power consumed by your phone, but gives you one less thing to charge.
Wi-Fi Version: The highest wireless standard supported. While most phones support Wi-Fi 5 (or 802.11ac), the Galaxy S10+ supports Wi-Fi 6, a faster and more secure standard. With mobile data typically limited when traveling abroad, fast Wi-Fi is almost a necessity.
Wi-Fi Calling: Whether the phone supports the ability to make calls using Wi-Fi. While this feature is also carrier dependent, Wi-Fi calling is usually counted towards your data plan. This means with enough data, you can avoid high call rates and instead use Wi-Fi to make calls.
Operating Temperature: The temperature at which your phone can safely operate. Since there are places on Earth that fall on both sides of the extremes (cold and hot), knowing if your phone can survive these areas can help you decide if you want to visit.
VPN: How VPNs are managed by the phone. VPNs come into play while traveling since some countries block access to certain sites or even track your internet usage, plus there’s the whole issue of region-locked content. Android phones have a feature known as Always-On VPN which forces all Wi-Fi connections to goo through the VPN. iOS supports the same feature, but it requires a lot of work, including enabling Supervised mode. Without this, you can only use the VPN by manually turning it on or using On Demand mode, making it possible to forget, which can be dangerous on public Wi-Fi.
Biometrics: The primary biometric authentication method supported by the smartphone. Biometrics offer the best balance of security and convenience, making them go-to method for those traveling. Apple’s Face ID gets the win here since it’s more secure than a fingerprint scanner.
Translate Text: How many languages the default virtual assistant can translate text from. This includes both typing (in text form) and asking the voice assistant things like “How do I say cheese in Spanish?”
Real-Time Image Translation: If the default virtual assistant can translate real-world text by simply pointing your phone’s camera at it, and if so, how many languages it can translate. This feature is helpful when trying to read a menu or a sign in a foreign country.
Real-Time Vocal Translation: If the default virtual assistant can act as an interpreter with vocal speech, and if so, how many languages it can translate from. Only supported by Google Assistant (which is available on the Galaxy S10+ and iPhone XS Max, but not the default), this feature lets you have a conversation with someone speaking a different language in real-time.
Phone Tracking: The default app which will find your phone in case you lose it. This software also offers anti-theft protection, including the ability to wipe the device or remotely lock the phone.
Battery Life: The estimated battery life of the phone based on PhoneArena’s testing. PhoneArena measured this by running a custom web script to simulate real-world usage, with the displays set at 200 nits brightness.

How We Chose These Phones

First, we focused on US phones only. Our audience is primarily based in the US, so we made sure each of these phones would work both at home and abroad. This requirement eliminated phones such as the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 8 which support dual-frequency GPS, a feature that enhances geolocation accuracy.

Secondly, we only selected phones that were available GSM-unlocked. Many phones, such as the Galaxy S Active line, are only available through carriers. The problem with these devices is they’re generally made to only work on the carrier you purchased them through. Even if you have one of these phones unlocked, it likely won’t support the primary cellular frequencies used in another country or region. Therefore, carrier-branded phones were ruled out to preserve the ability to travel.

We also focused on the US variants of phones. Most phones are released in multiple variants, each aimed for a different market. This even includes GSM-unlocked devices that are designed to work on multiple carriers — such phones will sometimes be tailored for the cellular frequencies in the region where they were sold. So to make sure you get optimal service while you’re at home, the GSM-unlocked models we’ve highlighted here are the variants sold in the US.

Finally, we only chose phones with definitive release dates. While there were many phones announced at Mobile World Congress, we couldn’t include most, as their release dates were either unannounced or vague (such as “in a few weeks”). So while phones like the LG G8 ThinQ and Sony Xperia 1 could have been contenders, they were eliminated until we know the definitive day of their US release.

Phone 1Samsung Galaxy S10+

Few phones offer a more complete package than the Samsung Galaxy S10+. It’s a contender for most “best phone for” categories, and traveling is no different. It has the specs you want in a phone whether you are taking a quick road trip, a long plane ride, or anything in between. Its large screen makes watching video enjoyable and turn-by-turn navigation easier. It has more than enough storage for all the photos and videos you’ll take on your trip, and absolutely top-notch cameras. And with its massive battery, you won’t need to worry about finding an outlet.

GSM frequencies (MHz): 850, 900, 1800
LTE bands: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71

Based on DxOMark testing, the Samsung Galaxy S10+ has the best rear camera available on any phone released in the US. It managed to receive an overall score photo score of 114, tied for highest, and video score of 97, which is only bested by the Google Pixel 3 XL. With features such as variable aperture and Dual Pixel, Samsung provides you with all the tools you need to take the best photos. However, what’s even more impressive is the variability of the cameras.

We often only have one shot at a great picture, and this is even truer when traveling. Having to spend time zooming, moving back and forth, or moving the camera to capture a photo are just ways to miss out on the photo. However, with the Galaxy S10+, you have a wide-angle, telephoto, and ultra-wide angle camera for every type of picture you might need. With the touch of a button, you can quickly switch to the focal length you need for the best image, so you never miss making a memory.

As for video, Samsung upped their game with their Super Steady feature. As the name implies, the Galaxy S10+ uses digital stabilization technology in addition to its OIS to keep the video fluid and steady. No longer do you need GoPro camera to record your action adventure. With the Galaxy S10+’s IP68 rating, Gorilla Glass 6 protection (with Gorilla Glass 5 on the back cover) and Super Steady, you can enjoy impressive 4K HDR10 video from your phone.

Samsung also offers the best phone tracking tool in case you lose your device on a trip. Find My Mobile beats Android’s default Find My Device service and Apple’s Find My iPhone in key areas like the ability to remotely back up your latest data to the cloud, pull copies of your call logs and text history, and even enable battery saver mode to extend your ability to track the device when it’s lost.

The Galaxy S10+ is an impeccable device and has set a higher mark for phones in 2019. With a 1 TB storage option (with support for expandable storage), IP68 rating, and support for Wi-Fi 6, it can replace quite a few other electronics when taking a trip. While its lack of dual SIM in the US model does hurt, its broad support of LTE bands and GSM frequencies should allow you to pop in any number of international SIM cards for data plans, with the only inconvenience being that you have to remove your US SIM card first. While it is the second most expensive phone on our list, for what you are getting, it’s definitely worth it.

2OnePlus 6T

Starting with the OnePlus 5, OnePlus decided to stop selling country-oriented variants of their phones. Instead, they focused on one global version with variants only based on RAM and internal storage options.

While this did change again with the OnePlus 6T (which got official T-Mobile support with a separate variant), the unlocked variant continues to be one global version. Whether in Europe, China, India, or the US, you are using the same version of the OnePlus 6T, and that comes with some benefits. Specifically, US customers now get access to a dual SIM phone, a feature which is usually omitted here.

GSM frequencies (MHz): 850, 900, 1800, 1900
LTE bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71

Because the OnePlus 6T is a global phone, you can be sure it has the cellular bands to work in any country. The 6T supports the highest number of LTE Bands on our list at 27. Wherever you travel, you will be able to use LTE service, as long as your wireless carrier is offering it in that area. This also gives you flexibility, as instead of paying for minutes and text messages, you could opt for a data only plan and use VoIP and messaging services to communicate with others while abroad.

Then there’s the dual SIM feature. Only a handful of phones in the US support this functionality, with most phones reserving this feature for the international variant. With dual SIM, you can use a second wireless carrier (with more favorable international rates) for trips aboard without having to remove your SIM card. Additionally, if you want to use a US carrier SIM for calls at home and another for data service while away, you can keep both and manage how the phone controls each SIM. For example, you can have SIM 1 receive calls and texts but no data, while SIM 2 receives data but no calls or texts.

The OnePlus 6T also has one of the fastest charging systems implemented in a phone. With its 20W Fast Charge, it can charge the 3,700 mAh battery from 0–100% in a little over an hour. However, with such a large battery (and OnePlus’s aggressive RAM management), you can get away with 50% and still have enough juice for the rest of the day, as the OnePlus 6T has the highest tested battery life of the phones on our list.

While its camera isn’t as good as some of the other options, it’s more than capable of capturing your memories. However, with its dual SIM and high LTE band account, it’s difficult for us not to recommend this phone for those making a few trips this year. It will last you all day, charge quickly at night, and help you get around in a country which uses a language you are not accustomed to thanks to Google Assistant. And, at a price tag of $549, it’s almost half the cost of some of the other options on our list.

LG V40 ThinQ

While easily the most unpopular phone on our list, the LG V40 ThinQ has a lot to offer for travelers. Thanks to its deep integration with Google Assistant, including a dedicated Google Assistant button, you can easily translate a menu or figure out what someone is saying to you. With its IP68 rating and MIL-STD 810G certification, it has the highest chance of surviving any environment. And with its focus on videography, you can capture pro-quality video to edit on the plane ride back.

GSM frequencies (MHz): 850, 900, 1800, 1900
LTE bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71

With the V40 ThinQ, the benefits start as soon as you leave. As you travel on your vacation or business trip, you can take advantage of the 6.4-inch QHD+ display. This is a POLED panel, but the second iteration and not plagued with the same burn-in issues as the Pixel 2 XL and LG V30. You can storage quite a bit of video for the trip as well thanks to its microSD support. With 1 TB memory cards now an option, you’ll never have to worry about running out of space for your favorite movies or TV shows.

With its 3.5 mm headphone jack, you won’t have to charge a Bluetooth headset. This is also an enhanced headphone jack, thanks to its Quad-DAC, which improves the listening experience as it can drive more powerful headphones. For those looking to watch videos, there is support for DTS:X Virtual Surround Sound, a feature which emulates the effects of a 5.1 surround system using your headphones.

When you reach your destination, Google Assistant is one button away. With one click, you can pull up Google Assistant for directions, information, translation, and much more. Prefer to use your voice? The LG V40 ThinQ includes Super Far-Field Voice Recognition, a technology which allows your phone to detect your voice even in noisy environments up to 16 feet away.

While its super wide-angle and telephoto cameras are impressive, the real star of the show it is video recording ability. The V40 can capture up to 4K at 60 fps. Video can also be captured in HDR10, and the phone includes OIS and EIS support for steady video. There’s a manual mode which gives as much control as a manual mode for photos, letting you adjust your video as if you were using a professional camera. You can even use Point Zoom to have the footage slowly zoom into a specific area of the video to highlight something.

LG V40 ThinQ is an excellent option for traveling thanks to its versatility. With its IP68 rating, it will be able to handle a trip to the ocean or the mountains. Thanks to its military certification, MIL-STD 810G, it can handle the harsh of the environment. While its battery life isn’t the greatest, it does offer fast charging via Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 to get you back up and running in no time. For those going a trip with a long journey, you won’t find many phones that offer a more enjoyable ride.

Google Pixel 3 XL

The gap between first and fourth place is minimal compared to comparisons we’ve done in the past. While other phones on our list offer an overall better package for traveling, the Google Pixel 3 XL isn’t far behind. With the Pixel 3 XL, you will have a class-leading camera, deep integration with Google Assistant, and unlimited Google Photos storage. And all of this is offered at the second cheapest price on our list.

GSM frequencies (MHz): 850, 900, 1800, 1900
LTE bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 28, 29, 32, 66, 71

The Google Pixel 2 XL had arguably the best smartphone camera at the time of its release, and its successor continues this tradition. According to DxoMark, it has the highest photo score for any single lens camera (tied with the Apple iPhone XR). Unlike the other phones on our list, it uses a single lens to provide all the same features, including portrait mode. Features such as Top Shot and Night Sight help it stand out among the crowd, with the former choosing the best of a series of photos using machine learning and the latter illuminating even the darkest of pictures. Even with its lack of a telephoto lens, it still manages to provide you quality zoom thanks to Super Res Zoom.

New to the Pixel lineup is the addition of a second front-facing camera. This second camera is wider, allowing you to include even more of your friends in the photo without having to position them awkwardly. While the video is limited to 1080p at 30 fps on these cameras, it still manages to achieve a reasonably high score of 83 from DxOMark thanks to its low noise level and accurate face exposure.

Speaking of video, according to DxOMark, this is the best performing video camera on a smartphone with a score of 98. With its effective motion stabilization, HDR, and excellent noise reduction, the Pixel 3 XL can outperform smartphones with two or even three cameras.

With this being a Google-developed phone, it comes with most of the Google-developed apps, including Google Assistant and Google Translate. One of the best features for international travelers is Google’s Interpreter Mode. This feature, which you can pull up using Google Assistant, let you conduct a real-time conversation with someone else who is speaking a different language. There is also Google Lens integration in both Google Assistant and the camera, which lets you translate anything in your viewfinder including streets, store names, menus, and much more.

If you get this phone on Google Fi, Google’s MVNO service, you can enjoy one of the best international plan rates of any US carrier. Unlike the major carriers, Google Fi let you use more than 0.5 GB of high-speed data for free while in 200+ supported countries, paying the same as you would in the US. Text messages are unlimited, and voice calls are $0.20 per minute, but you can use Wi-Fi calling for free. While this same plan is available on other devices, the Pixel 3 XL is one of only a few Fi-certified phones, ensuring you have no issues.

So why is such a great phone listed fourth on our list? For one, its storage is limited. Internal storage is limited to 128 GB (lowest on our list) without the ability to expand via microSD card. Even with all the advances of Super Res Zoom, the lack of any optical zoom does hurt the camera’s capabilities, as optical zoom is essentially lossless while Super Res Zoom is trying to compensate for the degrading found in digital zoom. And finally, battery life isn’t the greatest. Despite having the third largest battery, it has the second lowest battery life.

Despite its shortcoming, the Google Pixel 3 XL is an excellent choice for travelers. With adequate Wi-Fi, you can take advantage of unlimited full-quality Google Photos storage to work around the low internal storage. It takes some of the best pictures of any of the phones on our list with only one lens, and it’s the second cheapest phone on our list. And its deep Google Assistant integration makes it perfect for international travels, as it can act as your interpreter for supported languages.

Apple iPhone XS Max

We couldn’t make a list without including the latest and greatest from Apple. With the iPhone XS Max, its inclusion has less to do with the power of the phone and its amazing display and more to do with its support for dual SIM, making it perfect for international travelers. Combine this with its support for QZSS, the GPS navigation system in the Asia-Oceania region, the iPhone XS Max is an excellent choice for those not wishing to switch to Team Android.

GSM frequencies (MHz): 850, 900, 1800, 1900
LTE bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71

The iPhone XS Max has the second highest LTE band support at 26, only behind the OnePlus 6T. While the iPhone does have one band not supported by the 6T (Band 14), it lacks support for bands 28 and 46. However, with so many frequencies, traveling to different countries and regions is easier, as you can be sure to not only have support for LTE but strong signal.

For your travels, the iPhone XS Max has the largest display available on our list at 6.5 inches. Such a large screen will help you when using the GPS to navigate to an area, and flight attendants can easily scan your electronic boarding pass. Once you’re on the plane, you can be sure you will have more than enough battery to watch a few downloaded movies on Netflix or listen to music, as Apple’s iPhone has the second highest battery life.

Once you arrive at your destination, you will want to start capturing the memories, and there are few cameras better than the array on the XS Max. On the rear are two 12 MP cameras, one wide-angle and one telephoto. This combination provides up to 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom, allowing you to get that far away shot without needing to move up. This camera managed high marks in DxOMark’s testing, receiving a 110 photo rating and 96 video rating.

On the front, there’s a single 7 MP camera enhanced by Apple’s TrueDepth sensors. These sensors can track your face thoroughly, improving the quality of filters for those Snapchat videos you just have to take while on vacation. And thanks to the security of Face ID — which has a lower false positive rate than any fingerprint scanner — you can be sure that you and only you will be able to unlock your phone. This even includes while you sleep, as the biometrics require your eyes to be open.

This year, Apple introduced dual SIM functionality. This makes it one of only a handful of US phones which include the feature and one of only two on our list. However, unlike the OnePlus 6T, the second SIM is an eSIM. While this version of a SIM card is the future, not every carrier supports it, which can make finding an international carrier a bit of a problem. If you want to use this feature, we recommend using your primary (US) carrier with the eSIM to avoid this.

Additionally, the dual SIM capability comes with some caveats. For example, the phone has to be GSM unlocked in order for you to use SIM cards from two different carriers, a must for international travelers. Second, if you are using a CDMA carrier (Verizon, Sprint, or US Cellular) on one SIM slot, the second slot won’t support CDMA, leaving you either with only GSM carriers or LTE-only plan on the second SIM. While neither limitation is a dealbreaker, these problems don’t exist on most Android-based dual SIM phones.

The biggest issues with the Apple iPhone XS Max are the price and the difficulty of enabling an always-on VPN. At a starting price of $1,099, it is easily the most expensive phone on our list, nearly 100 dollars more than the more recent Samsung Galaxy S10+. This makes it a hard buy for some looking to purchase a phone for traveling, where theft, loss, and damage are bigger risks. Fortunately, if you don’t mind giving up the 6.5-inch screen, you can opt for its little brother, the iPhone XS, which has a 5.8-inch di

Conclusion

The differences between each phone on our list are minor when it comes to enhancing your travels. While features such as dual SIM are limited to only two devices, you can always choose to buy the international version for the capability (but you will more than likely lose any manufacturer’s warranty). Each phone is well protected against drops and spills, has extensive LTE reception, shoots amazing photos and videos, and brings something to the table to justify its inclusion.

Ultimately, we ended up choosing the Samsung Galaxy S10+ because not only is it a powerhouse of a phone, but it’s amazing for travels. At its entry price of $999.99, you can get a phone with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage with support for microSD cards. But for $600 more, you can upgrade to 12 GB RAM and 1 TB storage for not only a fast phone, but one you will hardly ever need to erase a photo on (especially since you can always increase its storage with a microSD card). You also get a slightly better anti-theft protection with Find My Mobile, fantastic battery life, and the ability to charge other devices wirelessly.

splay but virtually all the same specs.

However, the limitation of the VPN is a limitation of its operating system, iOS, and can not be changed. While you can use a VPN app normally by using the app to connect to its server, you won’t be able to automatically have your iPhone connect to the VPN servers every time you connect to the web. This feature is known as Always-On VPN, and while it can be enabled on the iPhone XS Max, it requires you to turn on Supervised Mode, which isn’t the easiest thing to do. But, if you can remember to always turn on the VPN and to watch out for the occasional drops, you can be protected abroad when using Wi-Fi at the hotel and the airport.

For those who love Apple, upgrading to the latest and greatest will improve your travels. With Face ID, dual SIM, and its strong LTE support, you can bring your iPhone wherever you go and not only be able to use it, but be protected when doing so. Ultimately, there are better options on the other side of the mobile pond which all include their fast charger in the box, but for those that don’t mind the high price tag, this is the best choice offered by Apple, and a worthy entry on our list.

Machu Picchu Pueblo Becomes First City in Latin America to Be 100 Percent Sustainable

a canyon with a mountain in the background: The majestic Machu Picchu, Peru. (Photo via SL_Photography / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Machu Picchu Pueblo has become the first city in Latin America to be 100 percent sustainable.

The achievement was announced by Inkaterra, a hotel group focused on sustainable tourism and hotel development. Working in partnership with beverage distribution company AJE Group, Inkaterra has succeeded in helping the pueblo manage 100 percent of its solid waste.

“Continuing their initiatives for the conservation and environmental care of Machu Picchu, AJE Group and Inkaterra presented the first organic waste treatment plant to the city,” according to a statement issued by Inkaterra.

“Through the process of pyrolysis, in which the waste is decomposed at high temperatures without oxygen, seven tons of trash is processed per day, generating bio-coal, a natural fertilizer that will be used to restore the Andean cloud forest and contribute to the agricultural productivity of Machu Picchu.”

In addition to the organic waste treatment plant, Inkaterra and the AJE Group previously delivered a plastic compactor plant, which will be used to recycle trash found along the Inca Trail, the most famous trekking route in South America.

The plant was donated in 2017 and helped ensure that the ruins of Machu Picchu were not added to UNESCO’s list of Heritage at Risk. The facility processes about 14 tons of polyester plastic each day.

What’s more, in 2018, a biodiesel and glycerin plant was brought online at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. By processing used vegetable oil from Machu Picchu’s homes, lodges, hotels and restaurants, 20 gallons of biodiesel are produced daily from nearly 6,000 liters of used oil each month.

The glycerin obtained as part of the process is also used by the municipality to clean stone floors, thus replacing chemical products.

This long list of efforts to turn Machu Picchu into a model of global sustainability is being applauded around the world. Already the work has received the Peruvian “Líderes + 1” prize and, in Germany, the prestigious “Die Goldene Palme” award in the category of Responsible Tourism.

“The strategic alliance between Inkaterra, the AJE Group and the Municipality of Machu Picchu aims to change the perception of our wonderful city into a sustainable destination and become an example of management for ecotourism worldwide,” said aJosé Joechlin, Inkaterra’s Founder and CEO. “We have managed to awaken the ecological conscience of the local community, which now segregates waste from homes and establishments.”

Scandinavian Airlines strike affects 72,000 travelers

People are seated after flights were cancelled by Scandinavian Airlines, at Oslo Airport in Gardermoen, Norway, Friday, April 26, 2019. Pilots for Scandinavian Airlines have launched an open-ended strike following the collapse of pay negotiations, forcing the company to cancel almost all its flights. (Ole Berg-Rusten/NTB Scanpix via AP)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Pilots for Scandinavian Airlines on Friday launched an open-ended strike following the collapse of pay negotiations, forcing the company to cancel virtually all its flights — 673 of them, affecting 72,000 passengers.

The Stockholm-based carrier said talks on a new collective bargaining agreement with the SAS Pilot Group, which represents 95% of the company’s pilots in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, collapsed early Friday.

In airports throughout the region, SAS staff in yellow vests were assisting stranded passengers to rebook or obtain refunds.

Mina Kvam Tveteraas and her friend Bettina Svendsen were stranded at Stavanger Airport in Norway after their flight to Copenhagen was canceled.

“We have booked a hotel for three nights and the rooms are not refunded,” Kvam Tveteraas told Norway’s TV2 channel. “I have no idea what to do and I’m mad.”

The pilots’ negotiations that started in March mainly centered on salary increases and working hours.

Details have not been released but the pan-Scandinavian union says it wants salaries to be in line with the market rate, while SAS negotiators have called the requests “unreasonable and extreme.” SAS spokeswoman Karin Nyman said the pilots’ demands “would have very negative consequences for the company.”

Wilhelm Tersmeden, chairman of the Swedish pilots association, said SAS employees are facing “deteriorated working conditions, unpredictability in planning work hours and insecurity for their own job.”

“Almost one in four SAS flights is flown by subcontractors and we want to know what our future looks like,” he told Sweden’s TT news agency.

Jacob Pedersen, an analyst with Denmark’s Sydbank, estimated the strike in average would cost between 60 million and 80 million Swedish kronor ($6.3-8.4 million) a day.

The strike “makes it clear that SAS is more vulnerable than we previously expected,” he said. “Competition is tough, and with a European economy moving at a slower pace, SAS may also fight harder for profits this year.”

The company said the strike doesn’t include flights operated by SAS partner airlines, making up approximately 30% of its departures, and is not expected to affect other airlines’ departures and arrivals.

This is the most beautiful country in the world, according to travelers

Isle of Skye

The largest island of the Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Skye has one of the most incredible landscapes in the world. Historic castles dot the island against a backdrop of mountain scenery, and famous sights include the Old Man of Storr — a rocky crag rising from grassy slopes — and the enchanting Fairytale Pools, made up of beautiful blue and green waterfalls and natural pools you can swim in.

3/16 SLIDES © iStock

Rannoch Moor

Loch Lomond

Located in the southern part of the country, Loch Lomond is Great Britain’s largest inland body of water. Both highlands and lowlands surround the freshwater lake — which lies right on the bounder between the two — and you’ll find serene scenery filled with oak trees and red deer, as well as footpaths and bike trails on the lake’s eastern side for you to explore.

Dunnottar Castle

Along the country’s northeastern coast lies Dunnottar Castle, a ruined medieval fortress made up of remnants from the 15th and 16th centuries. It’s held quite a bit of significance in Scottish history due to its advantageous location, and it is believed that the site has been fortified in some form since the Early Middle Ages. Though the castle went into decline after playing a major role in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715, it saw a restoration in the 20th century and is open today to tourists who want to see this piece of history and the breathtaking scenery surrounding it.

Isle of Iona

The Isle of Iona is one of the Inner Hebrides’ smaller islands, and a serene locale where many people go for spiritual retreats. Its quaint abbey is now a church but remains a feat of medieval architecture that’s of interest to visitors with interest in both history and religion.

Glencoe

A village of less than 400 people in the Scottish Highlands, Glencoe is filled with gorgeously green scenery and mountainous landscapes. Located at the northwest end of the glen of Glen Coe, the village is situated along the River Coe where it enters Loch Leven. Get a breathtaking look at the whole area from the top of the Pap of Glencoe, a spot picturesque enough to propose at.

Slide 8 of 16: Connecting the towns of Applecross and Torridan, Bealach na BÃ is a mountain pass that was built in 1822. Itâs known for its hairpin bends, as well as for having the steepest incline of any road in the United Kingdom. Not for amateur drivers, itâs still a great experience for those looking to take an exhilarating and scenic drive.

Bealach na Bà

Connecting the towns of Applecross and Torridan, Bealach na Bà is a mountain pass that was built in 1822. It’s known for its hairpin bends, as well as for having the steepest incline of any road in the United Kingdom. Not for amateur drivers, it’s still a great experience for those looking to take an exhilarating and scenic drive.

Orkney

A group of islands located off of Scotland’s northeastern coast, Orkney is home to majestic whales and a lot of ancient history. Neolithic sites can be found here, particularly a group of sites on its largest island that are over 5,000 years old, such as Maeshowe, a burial chamber with Viking carvings from the 1300s and Skara Brae, a preserved ancient village where you’ll find a reconstructed house from the era.

Crail

The picturesque parish of Crail on the western coast of Scotland is known for its architecture and scenic location. With many buildings that date from the 17th to early 19th centuries, many of which have been restored thanks to the National Trust of Scotland, the historic fishing village is perfect for a stroll down its cobbled streets.

Finnich Glen

Finnich Glen is a 70-foot-deep glen located in Stirlingshire near Craighat Wood. A circular rock located in the glen is known as the “Devil’s Pulpit,” while a steep staircase, built in 1860, is known as the “Devil’s Steps.” Hidden away under a small stone bridge that people cross to enter the nearby village of Croftamie, the mysterious gorge is made of sandstone that sometimes makes the water look red, a striking contrast against the moss-covered walls.

Slide 12 of 16: The Scottish capital is an interesting combination of tradition and modernity, with modern architecture standing alongside Gothic churches and medieval palaces. Both Edinburghâs New and Old Towns are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with the latter being the home of the iconic Edinburgh Castle that looms over the city from one of its highest points.

Edinburgh

The Scottish capital is an interesting combination of tradition and modernity, with modern architecture standing alongside Gothic churches and medieval palaces. Both Edinburgh’s New and Old Towns are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with the latter being the home of the iconic Edinburgh Castle that looms over the city from one of its highest points.

Isle of Mull

The main attraction on the Isle of Mull is its capital, Tobermory, a waterfront town that’s home to the island’s only single malt Scotch whisky distillery as well as a main street filled with buildings painted bright colors and housing some great shops and restaurants. Mull also has some great beaches, beautiful hills and fascinating wildlife, and it’s where you’ll find the Gribun Cliffs, wonderful for a hike or drive by the water.

Loch Ness

You may not be able to spot the famous monster of Scottish legend, but a trip to Loch Ness is still one filled with mystery and wonder at the beauty of this large and deep freshwater lake, surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. Visit the ruins of the 13th-century Urquhart Castle, which overlooks Loch Ness on its western shore, to learn a bit about Scottish medieval history.

Pitlochry

The Victorian vibe is very apparent in the town of Pitlochry, which lies right along the River Tummel. A tourist resort since Queen Victoria visited the area in 1842 and the construction of a railway in 1863, it’s known for both its historic architecture and for the surrounding hills and mountains, perfect for a gorgeous hike.

Do I need to update carrier settings on iPhone for Mint Mobile?

What’s Mint Mobile?

Mint Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MYVO) that was founded in 2016 by California-based Ultra Mobile. The company offers prepaid mobile plans that run on the T-Mobile cellular network in the United States. Considered a discount carrier, Mint Mobile offers plans starting at just $15 per month. For this, you receive unlimited talk and text, a free SIM card, nationwide coverage, and the ability to use your device as a mobile hotspot.

Mint Mobile plans must be purchased in increments of 3-, 6-, and 12-months. You choose the amount of 4G LTE data per month (3, 8, or 12GB). With Auto Recharge, you can make sure you never run out of data by having your plan renewed automatically through your debit or credit card. Otherwise, because there’s no contract, your plan ends after its completion.

Through the Mint Mobile app or website, you can purchase additional data when you’re reaching your monthly limit for as little as $10 for 1GB. You can also add international calling credits starting at $5.

Can I bring my own phone?

Mint Mobile’s Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program allows you to use the service with any unlocked GSM phone. You can keep your current number or select a new one. The service supports unlocked GSM-network phones from AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Simple Mobile, Straight Talk, and MetroPCS phones. The company also offers unlocked phones via its website from companies like Apple, Samsung, Google, LG, and more.

Updating carrier settings

Once installing the Mint Mobile SIM card on your iPhone, you might have to update your carrier settings. In doing so, you’ll be able to use Mint Mobile’s newest features, including Visual Voicemail, Wi-Fi calling and text, and VoLTE-enabled calling, otherwise known as Voice Over LTE.

To check whether you need to update the carrier settings:

First, make sure you’re using the latest iOS version on your iPhone. If you aren’t, upgrade to the latest version.
Once the phone is updated, go to Settings > General > About > Carrier.
If prompted to update your carrier settings, select Update.

That’s it. Your iPhone’s carrier settings have been updated and you’re ready to use Mint Mobile.

Is a vacation for a caregiver even possible? Yes — here’s your new way to ‘travel’

04 Caretaker Vacation Dogwoods In Bloom Aiken SC

The promise of a coming spring: When you’re a caretaker for an ill family member or friend, time can be in short supply. I was visiting rehab facilities for my mother when I saw this dogwood off Laurens Street in Aiken, South Carolina, in February 2018. It was a busy day full of worry, but I was able to pull over for a few restful minutes and glory in this early spring show. Click through the gallery for ways that you can turn a little bit of time into a “vacation.”

03 Caretaker Vacation Broad Street Augusta GA

City promenade: I had a family member take over bedside duties on a warm, sunny afternoon on March 31, 2018. I took full advantage of the respite and headed to Broad Street, the main commercial street running through downtown Augusta, Georgia, for a long walk. At left is the Lamar Building, completed in 1918. It was topped by a contemporary penthouse designed by I. M. Pei in 1975.

13 Caretaker Vactions Headwaters Augusta Canal GA

Canalside stroll: Water is diverted from the Savannah River at the Augusta Canal headgates at Savannah Rapids Park on April 14, 2018. I had a particularly hard week when I took this hourlong stroll — to me, it was as special as walks I’ve taken along the Seine, Thames and St. Lawrence rivers.

01 Caretaker Vacation Augusta Riverwalk GA

Augusta Riverwalk: A few weeks later, on April 20, 2018, I was able to slip away for about 30 minutes and go to the Augusta Riverwalk, which runs alongside the Savannah River downtown. When you’re spending most of your waking hours in a medical facility or at home caring for someone who is sick, these small breaks can make a big difference.

11 Caretaker Vacations Boundary Road Aiken SC

A lovely oak canopy: By May 5, 2018, we were preparing to take my mother back to her home after four months of hospitalization and rehab, and I was shopping for a new recliner for her. The oaks on South Boundary Avenue in Aiken, South Carolina, provide a natural archway and make for a lovely drive. I grew up less than an hour from here and somehow never made this incredible discovery. I pulled over long enough to snap a picture and got back to shopping.

06 Caretaker Vacation Flower Oakland Cemetery GA

Flowers extend into summer: Sometimes, you can take a “vacation” in your own proverbial backyard. Here, a flower blooms at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 23, 2018. This fascinating cemetery is an easy walk from my place. I’m fortunate that I live in the center of a city with so much to see and do. I can put in a full day of work and still take out time to relax.

10 Caretaker Vacation Seven Points Campground Nashville TN

Finally, a “real” getaway: With my mom doing better and at-home help in place, I took three days off from work and helping back home for a real road trip. This is J. Percy Priest Lake east of downtown Nashville, Tennessee. This picture was taken from Seven Points Campground on August 11, 2018.

08 Caretaker Vacation Lane Motor Museum Nashville TN

An upsetting phone call: Lane Motor Museum in Nashville has a large collection of vintage automobiles. Pictured is the MG TF-1954 from the Morris Garage Car Company (Britain). I was visiting the museum with a friend the same day that I went to the lake when I got a phone call that my mother had been taken to the ER. I was more than 400 miles away. On that frantic drive back, I realized I couldn’t be that far away again. Yet another redefinition of “vacation” would be in order. 07 Caretaker Vacation Friedman's Shoes Atlanta GA

07 Caretaker Vacation Friedman's Shoes Atlanta GA

Take a “trip” while you shop: Sometimes, you can take a trip while you’re doing chores. And to me, shopping is a definite chore. But I needed new shoes back on September 8, 2018. Friedman’s Shoes in downtown Atlanta has been open since 1929 and it was like a trip into the past. 12 Caretaker Vaction Lake Strom Thurmond SC

12 Caretaker Vaction Lake Strom Thurmond SC

Lake break: By October 14, 2018, my mother was two weeks into a particularly rough hospital stay. On this Sunday afternoon, I paid one of her at-home caretakers to come sit with her. My plan was to work, but I ended up going to Lake Strom Thurmond, which straddles the South Carolina-Georgia line. On this same day, I visited cousins I had not seen in decades. One of them came to visit my mother the next day. 05 Caretaker Vacation Downtown Aiken SC

Downtown lookover: A statue in downtown Aiken, South Carolina, reflects the town’s rich equestrian heritage. I explored around the downtown on November 25, 2018, for about an hour while hometown visitors sat with my mother. I think this is one of South Carolina’s nicest downtown areas.

02 Caretaker Vacation Avondale Estates GA

Winter walk: I used to walk a lot. These days, I’m in my car much more. But while a friend was passing through town on January 26, 2019, we were able to take the time to visit one of my favorite spots in the Atlanta area. It’s Lake Avondale, which is in the heart of Avondale Estates, a town east of Atlanta in DeKalb County.

09 Caretaker Vacation Night View Westin Atlanta GA

Do something next door: A nighttime view of Atlanta, looking toward Midtown, from the observation lounge of the Westin hotel in downtown on January 26, 2019. Talk about making use of what little time you have — the hotel is a five-minute walk for me.

Top 10 International Travel Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Planning an international trip, especially your first one, is a thrilling experience. You scour Pinterest and Instagram for travel inspiration, shop for the perfect suitcase, and even use sites like Kayak to score a great hotel. You’re all set for your next adventure…right? Unfortunately, if your prep work stops there, you’re leaving yourself open to a ton of international travel mistakes.

Between visa requirements, voltage differences, and language barriers, preparing for a trip abroad takes more time and effort than a local getaway. Whether you’re gearing up for your first out-of-country adventure or just need a refresher, check out this top 10 list of international travel mistakes and how to avoid them.

#1: Overpaying for plane tickets

There’s a lot of advice on the internet for saving on plane tickets. Buy them on a Monday. No wait, a Tuesday at 7pm! Get them 3 months in advance. But 6 months if you’re going to France in the summer. And the advice changes every year based on airline industry algorithms!

Everyone know buying a last-minute plane ticket is incredibly expensive. But did you know that ticket prices can fluctuate by hundreds of dollars from one day to the next? The old wisdom of buying well in advance and early in the week doesn’t cut it anymore.

How to avoid it:

As soon as I choose my destination, I use Skyscanner to check prices and track fares. Not only does Skyscanner compare prices across dozens of airlines, it also has a handy “show whole month” feature that will help you choose the cheapest days to depart and return. And if you choose dates that aren’t the cheapest, it will let you know how much you can save by changing one of your dates. You can also set up price alerts for multiple options to see if the deals get any better.

Hopper is another great option for price alerts. Simply put in your various departure and return options (put in a few if your trip timing is flexible) and let the app inform you of price changes. I like Hopper’s notifications, because they let you know if prices are expected to drop, or if you should go ahead and book at the current amount.

#2: Failing to get an entry visa

If you’re a citizen of the US, UK, or EU, you’re spoiled by favorable travel agreements. So much so that you may not even think to look into visa requirements until a few weeks before your trip. Depending on your destination, this could be one of those international travel mistakes that ruins your entire trip before it starts.

Sometimes getting an entry visa is a simple affair. But for some countries with strict travel policies, it can take weeks to collect all the necessary paperwork and get your visa approved. And if you wait until right before your trip to apply for the entry visa, you’ll likely pay costly fines to expedite the process.

How to avoid it:

Always check your home country’s government website well in advance to confirm visa requirements. Read the rules thoroughly, as countries have different policies for things like acceptable passport expiration dates and mandatory vaccinations. Even if you’ve been to that country in the past, it’s still good to review the rules, as policies can and do change over time (the United States’ infamous travel ban, for example). If you’re a US citizen, the Know Before You Go page on the State Department’s website has a search bar where you can type in your destination country and view visa and entry requirements.

#3: Forgetting your passport

I know you’re probably thinking “how the heck could someone forget their passport?!”, but even seasoned globetrotters make grievous international travel mistakes. My husband frequently travels for work. Just a few weeks ago, I woke up at 5am to ask if he remembered to grab his passport. He had forgotten, and was literally on his way out the door when I stopped him. And he would have certainly missed his flight if he didn’t realize until arriving at the airport. Not the best way to start your international adventure!

How to avoid it:

When it comes to packing critical items like travel documents and medications, I recommend a two-fold approach.

First, always use a packing checklist. I have a very detailed base list that I use for every single trip, and I cross things off depending on where I’m going and for how long. This ensures I remember everything, from packing my passport to unplugging power strips on the way out the door.

My other trick is to connect grabbing your passport with something else memorable. For example, when I get my passport out of the safe, I take off my wedding ring and put it where the passport was. I mentally associate the two activities, because taking off my ring is so unusual for me. Try to come up with your own memory tricks for remembering to pack the important stuff.

#4: Exchanging a bunch of cash at an airport currency booth

Currency exchange booths dot every international airport, which make them the most convenient option for changing money. Currency exchange companies are keen to exploit our international travel mistakes by offering lousy exchange rates at airport booths. Aside from costing you more, airport currency booths are rarely open 24 hours. Planning to exchange funds upon arrival can backfire if your flight gets delayed and you don’t land until 1am.

How to avoid it:

At first, the solution seems obvious. You can just take out currency at the airport’s ATM/cash point once you arrive, or pay with a credit card, right? Unfortunately, not all foreign ATMs will accept your bank card, even if it’s chip-enabled. And in many countries, you’ll need cash to get yourself from the airport to your next destination.

Instead, change enough currency to cover transportation costs from the airport before you depart. Do a little research online to get an idea of the cost via public transit and via taxi, and exchange accordingly. Trust me, the peace of mind you’ll get from having some of the country’s currency in your wallet is worth it.

Assuming your destination’s ATMs will accept your bank card (always check into this ahead of time), you can take out more cash once you arrive. Base the withdrawal amount on the country’s customs, your itinerary, and your bank’s foreign transaction fee policy. For example, in Japan, where many places still operate as cash-only, it makes sense to take out plenty of money to cover your daily expenses. And if your bank charges foreign transaction fees, you’ll want to make as few withdrawals as possible.

If you need a large amount of cash for your trip and ATMs aren’t an option, many large banks and currency exchange companies allow you to order currency online. They will usually charge a flat fee for delivering the funds, but the exchange rates will be much more favorable.

#5: Not packing a travel adapter

Did you know that there are 15 types of plugs used across the world? If you’re traveling to a country that uses a different plug type, you’ll need an adapter that allows you to power your home country’s devices. Plugging directly into a USB port can help you skirt the issue. But usually your devices will charge at a snail’s pace or not at all, depending on the power needs.

How to avoid it:

Get a versatile adapter with USB ports and store it in your suitcase right away. The universal ones you can find on Amazon are decently portable and work for items that can accept a range of voltages (modern smartphones, tablets, etc.). However, if you’re traveling to the US, Japan, or any other countries that only use two prong outlets, these adapters often fall out of the socket without that third prong for support. Also, many universal adapters aren’t rated for a high enough wattage to charge power-hungry items like laptops.

My personal favorite travel adapter is Ceptics World Travel Adapter Kit. It’s a bit bulkier than the all-in-one universal adapters, but it provides plenty of power to multiple devices without falling out of the wall. A real win-win.

#6. Frying your electronic devices

When it comes to international travel mistakes, destroying your laptop and setting fire to your hotel room are pretty serious fails. Unfortunately, buying a travel adapter with the right plug shape does not mean all of your devices will charge.

Every region of the world has a different voltage (V) supply that comes from outlets. In the US, for example, the voltage supply is 120V (you may also see 110V). In Malaysia, it’s 240V. If you have, say, a hair dryer that’s rated for 120V, and you plug it into an outlet that’s putting out twice as much electrical power, bad things will happen. And plugging in a device rated only for 240V into a 120V outlet can also result in disaster.

How to avoid it:

Confused yet? Luckily, most modern electronics will accept the full voltage range (110-240V). And for countries that have very similar voltages, such as Canada and Japan, you can actually get by with just an adapter. However, items with heating elements or motors, like beard trimmers and hair dryers, are usually single voltage.

Check the plug, the device, or the manual for the accepted voltage range. If your device has a power cord with a brick or a thick type of plug, make sure you also check the rating for the cord. For example, my US Nintendo 3DS accepts a range of voltages, but the power cord is only rated for 120V.

If you really need to bring a device that’s not rated for your destination’s voltage, you have two options: buy a travel converter, or charge it via USB.

I’ve always had success with BESTEK, so if you’re traveling from the US to a higher voltage country, I recommend this step-down travel converter. You can also find step-up converters on Amazon, which allow your higher voltage devices to work in countries with lower voltage outlets (ex. going from the UK’s 220V to Canada’s 120V).

If you can charge your device via USB, you can avoid the voltage conversion hassle altogether. USB power works differently than plugging directly into a wall socket. Many hotel TVs and lamps/nightstands have USB ports that you can use. Modern hotels often have USB ports integrated into their outlet covers as well. Just be sure to leave plenty of time for charging, as USB doesn’t deliver as much power as plugging into an outlet.

#7: Running out of phone battery

Fun story: I once got lost at night in Texas because my phone died. It was 10pm, so pretty much everything was closed. Fortunately, after 30 minutes of frantically driving around in the dark, I found a Target that was open until 11. I plugged my phone into a wall outlet, booted up the navigation, and discovered that I was basically across the street from my hotel. Whoops…

A dead phone battery isn’t just about navigation. It’s also about safety, and connectedness, and capturing moments. When traveling, I use my phone to take photos, translate menus, look up train times, and contact my husband in case we get separated. When you’re on a solo adventure, a charged phone becomes even more essential.

It’s rarely good to put all of your proverbial eggs in one basket. But it’s also uncomfortable to carry around a camera, phrasebook, maps, and phone in your bag.

How to avoid it:

A rechargeable battery pack is perfect for keeping your phone alive no matter where you are in the world. Anker’s PowerCore series are my favorite, and they come in a variety of sizes and charging strengths. Personally, I always carry the Anker PowerCore II 10000 in my bag. This slim little number is small enough to keep in your pocket and holds enough juice to charge flagship smartphones 2-3 times. It also comes with a little travel pouch, which I use to hold the battery pack, USB cable, and USB wall plug (for recharging overnight).

An Exclusive First Look At Asbury Ocean Club Hotel, Opening This Summer

Asbury Ocean Club Hotel will be occupying the fourth floor of AsburyÂ OceanÂ Club, a glamorous residential building, also set to open this summer.

It wasn’t all that long ago when Asbury Park, the Jersey Shore town most famous for its boardwalk and music scene – Bruce Springsteen’s debut album is titled “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” – was reserved for residents. Though it was once was a popular vacation hub for Mid-Atlantic families, the race riots of 1970, along with Atlantic City’s casino boom – which started in 1978 – slipped the beach community into a steady state of decline and neglect.

But today, Asbury Park has regained its former glory, and then some – largely due to the development efforts of iStar. After acquiring 35 acres and meticulously mapping out a ten-year, multibillion-dollar redevelopment plan along the city’s waterfront, the real estate company is squarely on target to “enhance what it has always been,” says Brian Cheripka, iStar’s senior vice president of land and development. “We’re continuing to elevate the city as a year round destination, while trying not to lose the magic that makes this place so special.”

IStar helped redevelop and reopen the iconic Asbury Lanes last spring.

ASBURY LANES

Need proof? Just look at the numbers. “About 15 years ago, the city received less than $100,000 in revenue from its beach operations, and city parking revenue was non-existent,” says Cheripka. “In 2018, beach revenue surpassed $2.5M and parking revenue reached $5.8M. And attendance at boardwalk events has grown nearly 300% since 2010.” In addition, iStar’s much-anticipated reopening of the iconic Asbury Lanes last spring – naturally, hometown hero Bruce Springsteen performed at the reopening party – has helped attract even more visitors to the area.

And this summer, iStar will be unveiling its most ambitious project to date: Asbury Ocean Club Hotel. As the city’s first luxury property, it will encompass the fourth floor of Asbury Ocean Club, a glamorous residential building, whose opening will naturally coincide with the hotel’s.

A chill, relaxed vibe extends throughout the property, even at the hotel lobby, which overlooks the pool deck.

BINYAN STUDIOS

Envisioned by Anda Andrei, the acclaimed architect behind Asbury Hotel and Gramercy Park Hotel and Residences, the design of the 54-room boutique property draws inspiration from its natural backdrop. “The essence of Asbury Ocean Club came from all the elements of effortless beach living: light, sun, ocean, and air,” explains Andrei. “When guests step foot in the hotel, I want them to feel like they escaped to a place of peace and tranquility that should be a flight away – not a 70-minute drive from New York City.”

Asbury Ocean Club Hotel’s accommodations feel more like a chic beach loft, than a hotel room.

NIKOLAS KOENIG

From the moment guests hop off the elevator onto the fourth floor, they’re surrounded by a true sense of relaxation. The hotel lobby, for example, is adjacent to the pool deck, which is kitted out with sunken beds, lush greenery, and a cart doling out icy granitas. And every element in the rooms and suites, from the soaring 11-foot wood ceilings to the luxe bathroom amenities from MiN and Palermo Body, was carefully selected to help guests feel as if they’re kicking back in a discreet, stylish loft (and not just another beachfront hotel). Even better? “Each room has a unique view and seamless connection to the ocean, pool deck, or dune garden,” says Andrei.

The Drawing Room is a unique common space that caters to all occasions, any time of day.

BINYAN STUDIOS

While the accommodations are posh, it’s The Drawing Room that Andrei sees as the hotel’s crown jewel. “Designed in a glass house that appears to float on a glistening reflection pool, it sits at the center of the property, and acts as the beating heart of activity, any time of day,” says Andrei. “I imagine this being one of the most used public spaces in the hotel, in every season.”

The hotel’s spacious fitness center was designed by The Wright Fit, and is filled with cutting-edge equipment.

BINYAN STUDIOS

And since wellness is at the tip of everyone’s lips nowadays, The Asbury Ocean Club Hotel thoughtfully goes above and beyond the usual bleak, basement gym. In fact, hotel operator David Bowd – he’s also the CEO of Salt Hotels, a family of hip East Coast properties which includes Asbury Beach Club Hotel – went as far as to collaborate with a wellness coach to curate a bevy of offerings, to help guests feel their absolute best. “Travel should not and must not change the way you live,” says Bowd. “It should enhance it.” To that end, there’s a spacious fitness center designed by The Wright Fit filled with cutting-edge equipment including Peleton bikes, daily classes (think pilates, yoga, and tai chi), and of course, a soothing spa.

Though the ground floor fine dining restaurant – which will be open to the public – won’t be open until 2020, hotel guests have plenty (including breakfast, an all-day menu, and poolside snacks) to tuck into in the meantime. Bowd says the cuisine will be “inspired by a Mediterranean resort, with a huge raw bar and impeccably done classics including burgers, salads, and sandwiches.”

Days Gone Fast Travel Guide: How to Fast Travel across the Map in Days Gone?

Post-apocalyptic Oregon acts as the setting of Days Gone and the game’s open-world is a marvel to behold. Split into six different regions peppered with story missions, side-quests and survivor tasks, there is a lot to do and a lot of places to go.

However, with the world being so large you might wonder whether there is a faster way to make it from point A to point B.

While driving places on your bike is certainly thrilling, it’s also time-consuming and puts you at risk from Freaker attacks and marauder ambushes.

Thankfully, a fast travel option exists in the game which allows you to immediately travel from one checkpoint to another.

You will only be able to travel to certain areas, specifically camps and cleared-out ambush camps. But because of the number of ambush camps in each region you’ll find that you can fast travel to almost every corner of the map.

How to Clear Infestations to Fast Travel in Days Gone

Before you can fast travel to a location, you must first clear all the infestation zones that stand between you and your destination.

Infestation zones are too dangerous to fast travel through given the amount of Freakers which congregate in these areas, but clearing their nests makes the roads safer and unlocks the fast travel option.

Nests can be destroyed with fire (Molotov cocktails work best) and, once you’ve cleared all of them in a given area, you’ll be able to open the map, select an ambush/survivor camp and press square to fast travel there.

However, there are stipulations. In order to use the fast travel feature, you have to meet several requirements.

Bend Studio (Pic: PlayStation)

Days Gone Fast Travel Tips

Fuel Up

As we alluded to at the start, your motorbike must have enough fuel to fast travel to a location.

Even though you aren’t physically driving yourself to your destination, the act of moving around the world will deplete your bike’s fuel tank.

It’s important to take account of how much fuel you’ll use travelling to each location, and this will be outlined in the cost of each journey when you select which camp you want to fast travel to.

One of the most common mistakes newbies make is travelling too far across the map only to find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere with no fuel. Make sure you plan your journeys accordingly before you fast travel anywhere!

No Fighting

You’ll also be banned from using fast travel during combat, or when enemies are aware of you. This means you cannot evade an angry Freaker horde by trying to fast travel to a safer location. If you’re having trouble with hordes, check out our handy horde guide here.

Fast travel is definitely a necessity in the vast open-world of Days Gone, so make sure you utilise it sensibly!

Don’t forget! Daily Star Gaming also has you covered for Days Gone Historical Marker locations in each of the game’s regions, as well as boss guides, survival tips and more!