Traveling the world for work allows you to see some beautiful sights.
What It's Actually Like to Be a Travel Writer
Flying around the world to report on destinations isn’t always as glamorous as it seems. This is what it's really like to travel for a living—and how you can also travel like a pro.
Though being a travel writer is an infinitely rewarding career that has taken me to far-flung corners of the globe, it’s not always as dreamy as it might seem. For every beautiful beach hideaway, there’s been a missed flight or delay; for every delicious meal, a nasty case of "Delhi belly." Needless to say, traveling for a living has taught me a thing or two about travel, from how to avoid luggage drama, to how to make every trip just that extra bit more meaningful. Here, I’ve listed my top tips for traveling like a pro, based on real life, on-the-job experiences.
1. ALWAYS CARRY ON YOUR LUGGAGE
This was something I learned early on thanks to a rookie mistake I made on one of my first travel assignments to Costa Rica. I’d flown from Los Angeles to San Jose via New York, and upon landing at SJO, I discovered that my checked bag—which contained all my clothes, toiletries, underwear and camera—had been delayed in New York. To my dismay, the ground staff were unable to tell me when my luggage would arrive, and, worst of all, I couldn’t even provide them with an address to deliver it to as I’d be spending the next seven days making my way down the country’s western coast. Long story short: I spent the entire week wearing only the clothes I had on my back. (I was finally reunited with my bag back at SJO a week later—just in time for my flight back to New York.)
The lesson: Even if you’re traveling for vacation, it still pays to carry on your luggage (see our guide to packing for 10 days in one carry on). It's the only way to ensure your luggage arrives when you do, plus you get the added benefit of traveling lighter by only bringing the essentials. Pro tip: Plan all your outfits in advance, based on your trip’s itinerary, so that you’re bringing only exactly what you need. Travel-friendly clothing is the way to go: I always bring along my Uniqlo ultralight down jacket and Bagllerina flats, which can both be folded up into small drawstring pouches and take up virtually no space.
2. DON’T LOOK LIKE A TOURIST
I never truly understood the importance of blending in until an unfortunate incident in Mumbai: I’d hopped into the back of a tuk-tuk with two other American journalists, and instead of being driven to our destination, we were taken into a dark alley in the seedy outskirts of Bandra where another vehicle was waiting. Not only were we forced to pay our tuk-tuk driver, we were told we had to fork over 6,000 rupees (just under $100 USD) to the other driver in order to be taken to the original destination we'd requested. Being scammed was jarring, but, in hindsight, it was painfully obvious why we’d been targeted: We stuck out like a sore thumb. We were all wearing shorts and flip-flops (only a tourist would dare wear this combo in Mumbai), lugging huge designer totes, and had expensive cameras slung around our necks. Low-key and inconspicuous? Hardly.
The lesson: Find out what locals are wearing prior to your trip and pack accordingly, particularly in cities that are very religious or conservative. I've found that the best way to blend in is to pop into a local clothing shop upon arrival and buy one piece that you can easily incorporate into your existing wardrobe. For example, a simple kurta in India, or a sarong to cover bare legs in Indonesia might save you from being mistaken as a tourist and automatically less vulnerable to street theft and scams. If that’s too much effort, minimalism is always a safe bet and is stylish in any city, whether you’re on the streets of Bastille or Bangkok. (Check out our guides to acting and looking like a local in Rome, Tokyo, Beijing, Chicago, and Barcelona).
3. ALWAYS PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE
I’ll keep this anecdote short and sweet: While on an assignment in Bangkok, I got a bout of food poisoning so awful that I ended up spending a night at Chaophya Hospital. I had not purchased travel insurance and so was slapped with a medical bill of around 40,000 baht (over $1,000 USD) upon discharge. Had I paid just a third of that amount for a comprehensive annual travel insurance plan prior (recommended for frequent travelers; I’m with Allianz Global Assistance, which covers emergency medical and dental coverage anywhere in the world up to $50,000), I would have saved myself a lot of money and added stress.
The lesson: Invest in travel insurance. If my story hasn’t convinced you, read our Ombudsman Eric Jordan’s guide to why you need it and which kind you should get.
4. INVEST IN PORTABLE WI-FI
While I certainly don't advocate that travelers be constantly “plugged in,” it’s necessary for me to have access to emails, Skype, and WhatsApp while I'm on the road for work. Sadly, even the best roaming plans tend to be pricey, restrictive, and fairly confusing (case in point: the New Zealand man who unknowingly racked up $23K worth of roaming charges). I’ve found that besides purchasing a local SIM, the best option to stay connected while overseas is to invest in a pocket Wi-Fi service. It’s simple: You pick it up at the airport, turn it on whenever you need it (it can be used with cell phones and laptops), and then drop it off when you leave. It's also cost-effective, with plans as little as $100 for an entire month of travel across multiple countries. I swear by Hip Pocket Wi-fi whenever I’m in Europe, and have filed countless stories using it.
The lesson: Even if you’re not working, it's useful to have access to Google Maps, travel apps, and messenger apps like Viber and WhatsApp when you're roaming the streets in a strange new destination. (And let's face it: You want to update your Snapchat and Instagram in real time). Shelling out for a pocket Wi-Fi service is a worthy splurge and can save you from "accidentally" racking up thousands in international roaming charges. Still can't part with your cell-phone plan? At least know how to avoid additional charges.
5. STAY LOYAL TO ONE MILEAGE PROGRAM
Though there’s plenty of debate over whether sticking with one airline’s mileage program is worth it, being loyal to one program has made my life easier on countless occasions: it’s afforded me with frequent long-haul upgrades, free lounge access at most major airports, and award tickets to destinations as far-flung as Queenstown and Perth.
The lesson: Most travel writers I know agree that it pays to stick with one mileage program—even our own Ombudsman admits he’s been loyal to one program for over 20 years—but don’t obsess over it. Stay loyal to one carrier if you can, but don’t skip a flash sale to a destination you want to visit just because it’s offered on a different airline. If you do choose to stay loyal to one program, here are nine ways to make the most of your frequent flier miles.
6. BUILD AN ARSENAL OF APPS
On a recent assignment in Paris, I went on the best walking tour I’ve ever experienced in my life—except I wasn’t accompanied by a tour guide; in fact, I was by myself the entire time. I'd been told to download Cities Talking, a Google Map-based audio walking tour that allowed me to soak in the city and learn the secrets of some of its most famous landmarks and hidden gems, at a pace that suited me. Inspired, I went searching for similar apps and fell in love with HistoryPin, Like a Local, Google Goggles, and Foodspotting (and Paris, all over again).
The lesson: There are so many terrific apps out there that further enrich the way you experience any given destination, whether it’s through revealing offbeat, under-the-radar attractions, historical facts, bits of trivia, or just good places to eat. (They’re also largely cheap or free). Check out our roundups of the best walking tour apps and international travel apps.
7. TOSS YOUR ITINERARY—FOR A DAY
I was recently in Brazil on assignment and spent my days eating my way through the country: oysters in Santa Catarina, street food in São Paulo, and burgers and foie gras in Rio. I’d fill the hours between meals with trips to Sugarloaf Mountain, Leblon, and Santa Teresa; I’d go on hikes and sunbathe on empty beaches in Florianópolis, Brazil’s surfing capital. But then one day it rained. Torrentially. It was the kind of violent, relentless downpour that immediately turns any day into a complete writeoff—or so I thought. Being forced to stay indoors meant all I could do was sit by the window and watch the rain pelt the angry surf, tumbler of cachaça in hand. That day, I did absolutely nothing significant or worth writing about—and it ended up being the best day I had in Brazil.
The lesson: We might live in a culture of perpetual FOMO, but it’s perfectly okay to travel to a destination to do absolutely nothing. It’s okay to skip the Empire State Building in favor of reading a book in Central Park, or to ditch the Colosseum to sit at a café and drink espresso. For just one day, toss the itinerary, and don't feel guilty about it. Any travel writer will tell you: The best stories happen when you're not trying to find them.
Written by Krisanne Fordham - cntraveler.com
