Traveling tips for a newly-minted flyer

Book in advance. We always end up procrastinating about booking flights and hotels and end up paying a premium for it. You can also save money going off-season - for example, New York is surprisingly affordable in January and February. I find places I like to go through a combination of travel guides, internet (AskMe is great for travel tips), and word of mouth. We tend to choose destinations fairly randomly unless there's a particular reason for us to go somewhere (like a wedding or visiting friends). For food and drink-type vacations I think larger cities are a good starting point unless you're looking to do brewery/winery tours or something like that. The one thing I wish I had done when I started traveling was to not be quite so penny pinching. I'd often skip things that I had been really interested in because $20 for museum admission are they crazy?! but in the end it's an adventure and if you can afford it you should just do it and not worry so much about it.

Most people overpack. Take only what you need and would be okay losing. You'd be amazed at how easy (e.g.) toiletries, tshirts, cheap shoes, etc., are to find everywhere. Be willing to leave things behind if you get sick of carrying them. Say yes. Not only to splurging a bit for the $20 museum admission but anytime you get the chance to eat something, see something, or do something you wouldn't probably do otherwise or didn't know was available.* If you're physically able**, consider a bag that you carry on your person rather than drag behind you. I hate your*** roll-y bag, but not (only) because you manage somehow to take up THE ENTIRE FUCKING CORRIDOR with it when I'm behind you (I walk fast). The bigger issue I see with travelers is that they forget that rolling the bag down the jetway isn't the crucial thing - it's lifting it into the overhead, or onto a train in a third-world country, or onto a pitching boat, or schlepping it two miles because there's no taxi stand near the awesome little AirB&B place you found. If you've just got a pack on your back, these issues largely disappear. Also, your hands are free, and your gear is secured. Get a good one, get it fitted properly. I love http://www.atlasobscura.com for offbeat travel ideas. One I'm still pretty bad at but still try to follow: no matter how scuzzy traveler/casual you're going, bring one (and only one) outfit you can spruce up well enough so as not to feel self-conscious if you find yourself in a social setting where people are dressed like grownups. * Considerations of personal safety obviously acknowledged here. ** If you're not, no worries - I'm happy to help you lift that big sucker or even carry it for you if need be. Good on ya for getting out there. *** Generic your.

My biggest suggestion is that if you're looking for the cheapest flights, use one of the big travel search sites (Expedia, Orbitz, I'm sure there are better ones others here can suggest), but then go book directly through the airline and hotel. Generally I find that I can get the same price on the airline/hotel sites, and then when/if something goes wrong or needs to change, there's no middle man. On one of my first big vacations of my life, many years ago, I booked through Expedia (months in advance), and then the airline canceled that route. Getting it fixed was a nightmare, because Expedia kept saying we need to deal with the airline and the airline said we need to deal with Expedia. Ever since then, I've used those search sites just to see #1 which airlines fly to where I want to go, and #2 what the price range is like. Also, IMHO you should balance price with other stuff. If you can afford it, paying a little more for a direct flight is worth it. Also you may find that you prefer some airlines over others (I travel a lot and have very strong preferences - they all have their issues, but I find some less annoying than others for the routes I fly). I find that a lot of the complaints and troubles that less frequent flyers have are rooted in the fact that they shopped solely on price, and didn't consider other factors. With a direct flight you don't have to worry about missing connections, your luggage is far less likely to get lost, and your overall travel time is generally much shorter. Obviously you have to work within your budget, and if the choice is between having 3 connections (or an airline you dislike) and not going to where you want to go, then you just have to live with the less enjoyable flights. My point is just that it should be a conscious decision. If you spend a lot of money on credit cards every year, it might be worth getting an airline credit card. This whole thing can be a time suck, and some people put a lot more into it than it's worth, IMHO. That said, since I travel so much I do have several travel-related credit cards. If you do it, choose carefully. Do research to figure out which airline (or at least alliance) flies to the most places you want to go from where you live. Also do some research to figure out which sign up bonuses are available for the card you're considering. Often you can get a bonus that's enough for a free flight right off the bat. Another option is something like the Chase Sapphire Preferred which lets you redeem points for a number of airlines and hotels.

Congratulations on overcoming your fear! The world awaits :) 1. Airbnb - can't say enough about how great this is - not only in saved $ but also in meeting local residents. My only tip on this is to find and book your place early (2 months beforehand at least). As well, stick with those that are well-rated. I booked only with people that had more than 10+ solid reviews and so far have had a half-dozen memorable and fun stays. 2. I like the offbeat side too. So I usually google "offbeat + place name" and "secret + place name" (this works better with the big cities. Tripadvisor is excellent for checking out the food scene and sightseeing attractions. 3. Pack only carry-on. This may be tougher for women, but the hassles you avoid not having to juggle suitcases is worth it. Whatever luggage you do have, mark them brightly and distinctly so you can pick them out easily, if (for example) the plane runs out of overhead storage bins and you're forced to check your bag.

Second the only carry on. Purse inside a second large laptop bag that will fit under the seat, with room for a book, a meal, trailmix. Take in an empty water bottle you can fill at a drinking fountain. Airports now have drinking fountains with water bottle filling stations. The water falls in a stream from directly above, no contamination. Only buy a rolling carry on. Tie a bright scarf to the handle so it is easy to find yours again, if you have to check it at the plane door. Put a business card in the luggage tag. Airport car rentals won't take debit, only credit.

From Minneapolis, attempt to fly first class on Sun Country (at about $100 each way). Get a Global Entry (or better, NEXUS) card. Skip airport lines. Make sure your frequent traveler number is on file with the airline, so you can get Precheck status.