My Travel Tips

Being on a months long road trip teaches you many life lessons, including handy travel tips. These are learned either by positive experiences, or by mistakes made. Overall, cross-country roadtripping left a very positive impression on me and now I have compiled a list of travel tips to share.

Tips on Saving Money (before trip and during)

-Very simple, most important tip - don't buy anything you don't need. Any money spent on things you don't really need is money being taken away from your great vacation. Instead of getting a fidget spinner in every color or a venti iced coffee every morning, you could take a white water rafting tour down the Colorado River or fill up your gas tank enough to get to California.

-Consider buying used or borrowing first. This is especially helpful with things like tools or camping equipment. Many auto parts and home improvement stores rent tools for free or much cheaper than buying. And if you are not much of a camper and probably won't camp again for a few years, see if you can borrow a tent from a friend. Same with clothes and other household items. Goodwill is my favorite store, and I very often come across items in great condition or even brand new and many people don't think to check thrift stores.

- Write out a list of monthly expenses. This could be a one time exercise just to see how much is spent on bills and essentials compared to nonessentials. You may find you have a lot more money left over after paying the bills and groceries and can contribute a lot more to your savings than you thought.

- When on the road, it saves a lot of money to keep a cooler full of cold cuts and a loaf of bread over stopping for "cheap" fast food multiple times a day.

- Consider cheaper sleeping accommodations over hotels, more on this later.

Things to Pack

I have a hard time writing about this because I honestly can't think of anything I couldn't live without or anything that came in super handy on the road. I could have left with just the clothes on my back and would have been fine. So, I suggest to not worry about packing. Like I mentioned earlier, its nice to have a cooler with food. Also, some nonperishable food, a couple gallon jugs of water, and a first aid kit are nice in the off chance you get stranded somewhere. But other than that packing is very much up to you and the type of trip you are taking. Know the weather patterns of where you are headed and have the right clothes, and bring a camera so you can share on Instagram that you went somewhere.

Where to Stay

Where to stay is highly dependent on your personal budget and preferences. I stayed in four different types of accommodations along the way and they all had their pros and cons.

I always tried to camp when I was visiting a park that had an open campground. I visited during the off season so if the campgrounds were open, I was always able to find a spot. If visiting a park during peak season, most campgrounds are reservation only instead of first come, first served.

When I wasn't camping, I was most likely in an Airbnb. This trip was my first time using Airbnb and after great experiences with it, I very much recommend it. Airbnb's aren't just for big cities either, I found some very remote ones out near the parks. I liked being in an actual local neighborhood in a real house; I felt more secure than if I was in a hotel in a busy tourist district. Also, it was nice hanging out with a local family for a night or two. They loved to hear about my road trip, and I liked to hear about their town. I was also invited to enjoy home cooked meals with my hosts on multiple occasions; there's some really great people out there.

I stayed in a hostel on 5 occasions - 3 times in a shared bedroom. I was never someone that thought I could be comfortable or okay with sharing a bedroom with strangers, but after trying it once, I had no problems with it at all. It was never creepy, I was never scared, and none of my stuff got stolen, so don't let what a lifetime movie tells you keep you from staying in a hostel. Hostels are really cool and a great way to meet fellow travelers. Plus, they have kitchens to cook real food and living rooms to hang out and watch tv or read a book. One of my top memories of my trip is hanging out in the living room of the Lazy Lizard Hostel while I and about a dozen other travelers watched the Oscars. I'm not really an award show person but watching something familiar, in an unfamiliar place, with a big group of really interesting new friends made me really happy. On top of that, hostels are usually in great locations. They are typically right downtown in bigger cities or much closer to the parks than the hotels are, and they are very inexpensive.

Hotels were my least favorite place to stay. First, they are the most expensive option. Yes, they have free breakfast a lot of the times, but in no instance did I find a hotel to be cheaper than an Airbnb or hostel. I did end up staying in a hotel occasionally though, and when I did, it was nice to have a private space all to myself. After sharing a bedroom or bathroom or after not having a shower for a week, it was nice to kickback in a hotel room drinking free coffee with the AC turned how I wanted it.

How to Enjoy

I don't want to tell anyone how to have fun and enjoy their own vacation, but I know some people find travelling stressful or taxing, so here's some tips to help you relax.

- Turn off the radio. Leave yourself with your thoughts. Take time to think and reflect. I found it very rewarding and a nice contrast to the busyness of home.

- Get off the interstate and take the back highways. The highways have more scenery, you get to drive through the small towns of America, and less traffic and construction.

- Be open minded and try new things. Go to a local burrito joint instead of Chipotle. Take the bus instead of Uber. Wake up at 2 a.m. in the middle of the desert to see the Milky Way.

- Talk to strangers. Learn the ways of the world from the people of the world.

- Don't be scared! When I told people I was traveling cross-country alone, I was given dozens of tips and rules on what not to do and how to be "safe" and not end up chopped into hundreds of pieces in someone's basement. If I listened to a quarter of those people, I would have had to just turn around and go home. Don't let the fear of a 0.001% chance of something bad happening keep you from exploring. Be aware of your surroundings obviously, but our country is an amazingly beautiful place full of very friendly people with great stories to tell. So, don't be afraid to wander and explore new places and meet new people, it's worth it!

These tips are all just my reflections on my own life-changing road trip. I encourage everyone to get out and travel on their own and figure out how you like to do things. Traveling is the most immersive way to learn about the world, and it widens your perspectives on different cultures, people, and places. Go explore!

See all of my travel photos in the galleries.