Practical Travel Tips: Simple Choices For Good Trips

Small consistent choices make every trip feel better for you and the places you visit.

Plan your trip one step at a time

Start preparing 3 months before you leave. Not to book everything early, but to note small practical details. When you look at accommodation, check if they supply basics like hand soap, drinking cups and towels. Many do. You do not need to pack these. Choose direct routes where you can. Less waiting between connections means less stress, less chance of lost bags, and less time hanging around stations or airports. When you arrive at your destination, walk the first 10 minutes of any journey if it is safe to do so. You will see small, nice things you would miss from inside a vehicle. Eat at places where local people are eating. You do not need special recommendations. Just stand back for two minutes and watch who walks through the door. Buy small souvenirs from people selling them on the street, not from airport shops. You pay the person directly. 5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose.

Pack only what you will actually wear

Many people bring far more clothing than they use on any trip. This means carrying extra weight, sorting through bags every morning, and leaving things behind by accident. Pick three tops that go with two pairs of trousers. One warm layer. One pair of shoes you can walk all day in. That is enough for one full week. You can wash items in your accommodation sink at night. Almost all fabrics will dry overnight hung over a chair. Use the Mix & Match Studio to test outfit combinations before you pack. You can save your travel outfit list to your Virtual Closet for your next trip. Shop for solid, hardwearing pieces from Everyday Clothing that work both on and off holiday.

Take things you can use again

Bring one sturdy bag that folds flat, for groceries, day trips and laundry. Bring one refillable bottle. Bring small solid bars for washing, instead of liquid tubes. These do not leak, they last much longer, and you can carry them on any transport. You do not need separate travel versions of every item. Use the same things you use at home. This means you already know how they work, and you won't throw half full bottles away at the end of the trip. Do not pack things you will only use once. If you only need an item for one day of your trip, borrow it or rent it when you arrive. You will find suitable hardwearing items for trips in Travel Essentials and Luggage & Travel Bags.

When you are on location

Stay on marked paths when walking in natural areas. Don't pick plants, don't move rocks, don't leave anything that wasn't there when you arrived. This is not complicated: leave the place exactly as you found it, or a little cleaner. Ask before you take photos of people. This is polite everywhere. A smile and a small gesture will always be understood. Don't touch religious items, artwork or animals unless you are explicitly told it is ok. You don't owe anyone your custom, but if you spend a little money with small local businesses, that money stays in the place you are visiting. You will also almost always get a better product, and a friendlier welcome.

Look after your things while travelling

Repair small breaks on the road. Carry one tiny roll of thread, a needle, and a roll of strong thin tape. You can fix a torn bag strap, a loose button or a broken shoe lace in two minutes. This means you don't have to throw something away halfway through your trip. Wash items gently every couple of days. Follow the Fabric care guide for anything you are unsure about. Looking after things means they will come home with you, and be ready for your next trip. When you buy something for travel, ask yourself: will I use this for at least ten trips? If the answer is no, don't buy it. Rent or borrow it instead.

Get home well

Unpack your bag the same day you get home. Wash everything straight away. Put everything back in its place. This means nothing gets lost, nothing goes mouldy at the bottom of a bag, and you are ready for the next trip. Write down three small things that worked well, and two things you would change next time. Keep this note inside your travel bag. Many people repeat the same packing mistakes every single trip. You don't have to. Don't rush straight back into work. Leave one full quiet day at home after your trip before you go back to normal routine. This lets you rest properly, and keeps the good feeling of the trip for longer.

How giving works when you shop with us

5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose. After your order you pick one of three causes: CARE International, Cool Earth or Project Zero. The donation is paid out through PayPal Giving Fund UK. Those three causes, together with how we run our own store (honest product data, fair prices), are matched to 11 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

That is the heart of the 1% Movement: small choices × millions of us = change. It is a giving promise we can show you, and it is the only promise we make on this page.