Anyone who knows me knows that I can be a touch risk-takey.
It doesn’t help that I’ve well and truly caught the travel bug ever since I started having access to big girl money. RIP my savings account.
Taking risks in familiar territory is one thing, but across borders? Not so much.
Because of this, on my most recent trip in February this year where I travelled to both New Zealand and Fiji, I knew I had to do my homework.
I decided to pull together my own top travel tips — that is, all the helpful tidbits I found online so I could keep having a blast without compromising on safety.
I came out with three travel tips and tricks that I implemented to make my holiday run more smoothly.
So which of my tips worked? Which didn’t? Let’s dive in.
Use Smartraveller
If you’re even thinking about leaving the country and you haven’t checked Smartraveller, I am begging you to reconsider.
This website makes planning your overseas trip sooo much easier. It breaks down everything you need to know: from how to stay safe, to what the Australian Government’s official recommendation on visiting the country is.
The Australian Government site maintains travel advisories for over 175 destinations, and has a bunch of information and resources regarding travel insurance, advice on safety, health, local laws, travel, and local contacts to help you plan and enjoy your journey.
You can even subscribe to Smartraveller for free destination updates straight to your inbox.
Now I’m a regular Smartraveller user, and you best believe that last year when I was sent to Sri Lanka for a work conference, I scoured the site like my life depended on it.
This time round, it was interesting to see a comparison between the two countries I was visiting. The travel advice for New Zealand was a bit different to the travel advice for Fiji, so I took notes on the health and safety advice for both countries, and what numbers to use for emergencies.
This was particularly useful for my New Zealand travels. Looking over Smartraveller’s guidelines to partying safe was so handy when it came to being able to enjoy New Zealand’s vibrant nightlife while still feeling in control.
As a 20-something, I’m always down to get lit, but we all know that things can get out of hand… fast. If you’re drinking overseas, sites such as Smartraveller can help you with tips on staying safe at venues and encourages you to think about how you’ll get home. Drink and drug spiking can happen to anyone, anywhere. And in some countries, methanol poisoning is also a risk. Smartraveller also covers advice on what to look for here too.
Using this resource alongside the New Zealand-specific information on the site meant that my mates and I could have fun every single night, whilst staying safe.
I also signed up for their emails that kept me up to date if anything changed whilst I was there.
Can confirm – this travel tip was a success!
@_lilpeet my gate does in fact exist #traveltiktok #anxiety #relatable ♬ A fun fact about me is Ive never been relaxed ever – Cameron McCall
Keep my carry-on light
Okay, so this one was a bust. Let me explain.
Alllll the websites were telling me to only pack the essentials in my carry-on to avoid lugging around unnecessary goods. It sounded great in theory.
But when I packed my wireless earbuds in my checked bag because I had my over-ear headphones in my carry-on, I didn’t piece together that they would technically be considered batteries and not allowed on checked bags.
One broken suitcase lock and one thrown-out pair of earbuds later, I learnt my lesson the hard way.
The moral of the story is that this tip didn’t work for me.
Trust that I will be upping my carry-on bag allowance in future so I can continue to carry even more on me, including a change of clothes in case of a lost checked bag.
Get out of my comfort zone
I might be a little bit of a risk taker, but there are plenty of areas in life where I don’t get out of my comfort zone. This is mainly when it comes to venturing through the great outdoors. I’d prefer reading by the pool.
With the chance to experience two super different countries in one holiday, I really did want to try and make the most of it. I’d recently been getting into bike riding before leaving, so I thought to myself, “Why not hire some bikes and ride across Queenstown?”
Well, just as the roads in New Zealand differ from Australia, so do the biking trails.
After I fell for the third time (this time, into a cactus — yes, New Zealand has cacti), I quickly remembered why there’s a reason I don’t enjoy getting out of my athletic comfort zone — and why I bought comprehensive travel insurance right before leaving, too.
So just as tip two was a bust, tip three was too. I think I’ll stick to my book.
What did we learn, kids?
The trip was a smashing success and I wouldn’t change a thing (yes, even falling into a cactus).
But I did learn to be more conscious, both in general and with my carry-on, and maybe stick within my athletic comfort zone a touch more, which goes against what I had initially planned.
Regardless, through my extensive research (thanks, Smartraveller) and my own planning (thanks, me), I was able to party safe, travel safe, and I came out on top. WINNING.
Smartraveller helps you plan for your overseas trip in one go. You can subscribe to receive free emails as well, keeping you up-to-date when you’re at your destination.
The post I Tested These Three Travel Tips On A NZ & Fiji Trip — Here’s What Did & Didn’t Work appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
