Things I do before going to my next destination
June 20 2021 | Tagged: Travel Hacks
Tips from Nomadic Backpacker - World Traveller - Global Nomad - 99 countries - 28 years
1. Secure a room for 2 nights
I like to secure a room for 2 nights. This gives me a day to find alternative accommodation if my choice is below par.
My new modus operandi, seeing that I am now bypassing the booking agencies, is to try and get in contact with the hotel directly. I have a bunch of travel blogs that I use to give me a few ideas. Generally, the cheapest hostel 10 years ago is still the cheapest.
But they might not have done any building improvements or maintenance in the intervening period, like in San Pedro, or the place may no longer exist. It happens. I also search incognito mode on booking, the very agency I am now keen to avoid.
I look for the cheapies on GoogleMaps. GoogleMaps also auto-suggests similar places. I check them all out. I Google them, looking for their FB page where I can send them a message.
I now ask them for the nightly rate and weekly rate on a single room, private or shared bathroom.
I am no longer using dorm rooms. And hate a 1-month commitment. 1 week is ok.
Having decided on a room, I write the name, address including the zona (very essential here) and phone number on a piece of paper. Old habits die hard. And save it on GoogleMaps.
I also like to have a few alternatives as well, just in case, within walking distance of the first one.
Nothing worse than traipsing around with a full backpack looking for a room. You'll never find me travelling at the weekend! Give yourself the most options!
My new modus operandi, seeing that I am now bypassing the booking agencies, is to try and get in contact with the hotel directly. I have a bunch of travel blogs that I use to give me a few ideas. Generally, the cheapest hostel 10 years ago is still the cheapest.
But they might not have done any building improvements or maintenance in the intervening period, like in San Pedro, or the place may no longer exist. It happens. I also search incognito mode on booking, the very agency I am now keen to avoid.
I look for the cheapies on GoogleMaps. GoogleMaps also auto-suggests similar places. I check them all out. I Google them, looking for their FB page where I can send them a message.
I now ask them for the nightly rate and weekly rate on a single room, private or shared bathroom.
I am no longer using dorm rooms. And hate a 1-month commitment. 1 week is ok.
Having decided on a room, I write the name, address including the zona (very essential here) and phone number on a piece of paper. Old habits die hard. And save it on GoogleMaps.
I also like to have a few alternatives as well, just in case, within walking distance of the first one.
Nothing worse than traipsing around with a full backpack looking for a room. You'll never find me travelling at the weekend! Give yourself the most options!
2. Locate the main bus terminal or train station
I search on GoogleMaps, Wikipedia and Maps.Me.
Sometimes it'll be hit and miss, like in Guatemala City where bus terminals are spread all over the city and tend to be spots on the side of the road or parking lots.
In Mexico, you'll be riding ADO and they have a dedicated terminal.
Train stations are a bit easier.
Then, using GoogleMaps, I find out the distance from the bus or train station, to my chosen digs.
Depending on which country I am in, I make the call whether I walk, take the metro if they have one, local bus or if I need to take a taxi, always my least favourite option.
On travel days, I am up at the crack of dawn. I try and get the first bus of the day. And try to avoid at all costs, arriving in the dark.
Yes, it's not always possible I know, but in starting my day as early as I can, I give myself the greatest chance of making my destination before nightfall.
In Mexico, the distances are great. Buses travel at night. I do not like arriving in places at 4 am. 7 or 8 am is ok but not 4. Yup, I have done this when there has been no alternative but I do my best to avoid it.
In Guatemala, distances are shorter, but there are no superhighways so journeys can be long here and night time travel is best avoided.
Sometimes it'll be hit and miss, like in Guatemala City where bus terminals are spread all over the city and tend to be spots on the side of the road or parking lots.
In Mexico, you'll be riding ADO and they have a dedicated terminal.
Train stations are a bit easier.
Then, using GoogleMaps, I find out the distance from the bus or train station, to my chosen digs.
Depending on which country I am in, I make the call whether I walk, take the metro if they have one, local bus or if I need to take a taxi, always my least favourite option.
On travel days, I am up at the crack of dawn. I try and get the first bus of the day. And try to avoid at all costs, arriving in the dark.
Yes, it's not always possible I know, but in starting my day as early as I can, I give myself the greatest chance of making my destination before nightfall.
In Mexico, the distances are great. Buses travel at night. I do not like arriving in places at 4 am. 7 or 8 am is ok but not 4. Yup, I have done this when there has been no alternative but I do my best to avoid it.
In Guatemala, distances are shorter, but there are no superhighways so journeys can be long here and night time travel is best avoided.
3. Make sure the GPS is working
I do not have a local sim. My smartphone is an ancient Samsung J5. The memory is full. I do not have space to download Off-line Maps. Getting a new phone would solve many problems.
So having saved my 'places' (bus stations, train stations, hotels), I make sure the GPS is working OK. I make sure I open up my destination on-screen, to let the streets fully load and turn on the location to get a fix.
I start the day with a fully charged battery and the last thing I do before leaving my hotel, using the wifi, is to make doubly sure the map is loaded and my location works.
And I am thus prepared for arriving at my next destination.
Oh and a final tip from Nomadic Backpacker - World Traveller - Global Nomad, I take out my UK SIM. Losing the phone, a mild inconvenience. Losing the sim, a disaster.
So having saved my 'places' (bus stations, train stations, hotels), I make sure the GPS is working OK. I make sure I open up my destination on-screen, to let the streets fully load and turn on the location to get a fix.
I start the day with a fully charged battery and the last thing I do before leaving my hotel, using the wifi, is to make doubly sure the map is loaded and my location works.
And I am thus prepared for arriving at my next destination.
Oh and a final tip from Nomadic Backpacker - World Traveller - Global Nomad, I take out my UK SIM. Losing the phone, a mild inconvenience. Losing the sim, a disaster.