If you do only one thing before you leave, make it getting travel insurance. It is not just for cancellations, it protects you medical and in so many other ways.

Ask me how?

If there’s anything I’d be upset to lose, I keep it in my daypack, which is always by my side on travel days. For me, that’s my passport, laptop, camera, external hard drive, a debit card, and some spare cash. 

Wear sunscreen every single day. You’re in the sun more than you think. You could be island-hopping with lots of beach time, or spending the entire day outside exploring the Tuscan vineyards. 

Photos of the beautiful places you visit are great, but when you get home, they look exactly like the ones everyone else has taken there, too. Photos with you and your family or friends in them are special and they’ll mean a lot more to you when you look back at them.

You’ll gain more respect from the locals if you can at least say hello, please, sorry, and thank you. On that note, remember: if you don’t speak the language it's ok. Try miming instead or using a translation app on your phone. 

The main tourist attractions are popular for a reason. While getting off the beaten track can be fun, the things you’ll see are rarely as impressive as the popular sights.

Ask me when the best time to visit those attractions are?

This is one of the first things you need to do the week before you leave. Call your banker or institution and let them know where you will be each step of the way. Even if you are staying in the United States. Fraud happens way to often.

That’s where you’ll get the worst exchange rates. Go to the currency exchange window at a local bank or check with your concierge in your hotel. They always give much better rates than the ATM or airport.

You think you won’t forget anything, but you will. Keep a journal to remember those small details because you’ll treasure them in a few years. However, a cool way to do this is to buy postcards in each city/country you are in and write what you did while you were there.

There are so many ideas I could tell you - just ask!! 

Scan a copy of your passport, any visas, and any debit/credit cards you’re traveling with. Password protect the documents and email a copy of them to yourself and to a family member. If everything you own gets stolen, you can access them safely from your email account, take your copies to your embassy as proof that you’re who you say you are.