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Savvy Travel Advice

Home » Travel Planning and Advice

Categories within Travel Planning and Advice:

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Posts covering the whole of the Travel Planning and Advice category:

12 Tips for Traveling with Perfume

12 Tips for Traveling with Perfume

This guide to traveling with perfume will help you safely travel with your perfumes on your next trip. It covers airport rules for perfume, travel sized perfume bottles, choosing travel atomizers, packing tips, custom duties on perfume, duty free shopping, international shipping rules, perfume etiqu... Read More...

14 Best Travel Journals for Travelers - Guide to Choosing the Perfect Travel Journal

14 Best Travel Journals for Travelers - Guide to Choosing the Perfect Travel Journal

A review of the best travel journals and how to choose the best travel journal for you. We’ll share what to consider when buying a travel journal, including things like size, page count, paper quality, closure types, and sustainability. Then we review a wide selection of different journals for tra... Read More...

24 Things to Do in Nairobi, Kenya

24 Things to Do in Nairobi, Kenya

We've visited Nairobi several times. Here are the 24 best things to do, plus tips on safety, getting around, where to stay, where to eat, and how to book tours.... Read More...

Allbirds Review 2026: 5 Styles Tested After 4+ Years of Travel

Allbirds Review 2026: 5 Styles Tested After 4+ Years of Travel

We've tested 5 Allbirds styles across 10+ countries since 2021. Here's what works for travel, what doesn't, and which pair we'd buy again.... Read More...

Guide to Visiting the Titanic Belfast & Other Titanic Sites in Belfast

Guide to Visiting the Titanic Belfast & Other Titanic Sites in Belfast

Belfast and the Titanic will forever be linked together in history. Guide to visiting all the sites associated with the RMS Titanic in Belfast, Northern Ireland, including the Titanic Belfast museum, SS Nomadic, Titanic Memorial, slipways, Titanic Dock & Pump-House, Ulster Transport Museum, and the ... Read More...

Where to Stay on Route 66: 50+ Historic Motels and Hotels

Where to Stay on Route 66: 50+ Historic Motels and Hotels

We've stayed in dozens of Route 66 motels from Chicago to Santa Monica and picked 50+ favorites. From budget vintage motor courts to grand Art Deco hotels, with booking links, accessibility info, and a map.... Read More...

Plum Guide Review: A New Alternative to Airbnb?

Plum Guide Review: A New Alternative to Airbnb?

An in-depth review of the Plum Guide, a relatively new vacation rental booking website. Our Plum Guide review covers what is Plum Guide, how it works, our personal experiences of using Plum Guide, and tips on booking through Plum Guide. We also note how it compares to other vacation rental websites ... Read More...

7 Travel Tips for Bath Lovers

7 Travel Tips for Bath Lovers

If you prefer taking a bath rather than a shower, then you may enjoy these travel tips for bath lovers! Soaking in a bath can be a fantastic experience after an exhausting day of sightseeing or hiking. We'll provide several tips for traveling bath lovers. We give tips on how to find accommodation wi... Read More...

Best Vacation Rental Websites: Where & How to Book Online

Best Vacation Rental Websites: Where & How to Book Online

We've put together a list of some of the best vacation rental websites where you can book your dream holiday home, cabin, apartment, cottage, or villa. If you are looking for a self-catering stay for your next trip, we have you covered. We list the best vacation rental websites out there and provide... Read More...

Coronavirus & Travel Resources

Coronavirus & Travel Resources

A list of resources and guidance for travelers looking for information related to the coronavirus and travel. We direct readers to authoritizative coronavirus resources from the WHO, CDC, John Hopkins University, National Health Services, U.S. State Department, and LitCovid.... Read More...

11 Ways to Get from London to Paris (& Vice Versa)

11 Ways to Get from London to Paris (& Vice Versa)

A guide to how to get from London to Paris or vice versa. The article reviews 11 different way to travel from London to Paris and compares them by price, time, and convenience. Includes flying, Eurostar trains, buses, driving, ferries, ride sharing, cycling, tours, and private transfers between the ... Read More...

17 Best Travel Scarves for Women

17 Best Travel Scarves for Women

A scarf is a perfect travel accessory because of its versatility. A travel scarf can be used to keep you warm, protect you from the sun, cover your head, or dress up an outfit. They can also be used as a travel wrap, shawl, sarong, or blanket. We'll share all the things to look for when buying a sca... Read More...

Importance of Visitor Donations to Free Entry Museums

Importance of Visitor Donations to Free Entry Museums

An exploration of how much it costs to run a museum, how museums are funded, and the importance of museum donations. We specifically focus free entry museums and the importance of museum visitor donations to these free admission museums. We then discuss various ways that people can support their fav... Read More...

The Best Travel Shoes for Women

The Best Travel Shoes for Women

It can be difficult to find that perfect pair of shoes for travel, so we've put together a comprehensive guide to the best travel shoes for women. We recommend shoes suitable for all budgets, travel styles, and trips so you can find the perfect shoes for traveling. Shoes are one of the most importan... Read More...

7 Day North Coast 500 Road Trip Itinerary for 2026

7 Day North Coast 500 Road Trip Itinerary for 2026

We've driven the NC500 multiple times. This detailed 7 day itinerary covers daily routes, top attractions, where to eat, and lodging for every budget.... Read More...

Ultimate Travel Gift Guide: 75+ Gifts for Travelers

Ultimate Travel Gift Guide: 75+ Gifts for Travelers

The ultimate travel gift guide with over 75 gift ideas for travelers suitable for all budgets, travel styles, and occasions chosen by full-time travelers. We provide travel-related gift suggestions to fit almost any gifting situation and also provide tips on how to choose the perfect gift for your f... Read More...

Best DSLR Cameras You Can Buy in 2026

Best DSLR Cameras You Can Buy in 2026

Professional photographer picks the best DSLRs still worth buying in 2026, from budget used picks to the Nikon D850. Includes where to find the best used deals... Read More...

Travel Tips: A Guide to Doing Laundry While Traveling

Travel Tips: A Guide to Doing Laundry While Traveling

A practical guide to how to do laundry while traveling from frequent travelers. We've put together a guide to washing clothing while traveling for all budgets, whether you are a backpacker or luxury traveler, which covers all your options from hotel services to laundromats to hand washing in the hot... Read More...

Best Mirrorless Cameras in 2026

Best Mirrorless Cameras in 2026

A professional photographer picks the best mirrorless cameras for every budget in 2026. Real picks from Canon, Sony, Nikon, and Fujifilm after 15+ years of shooting.... Read More...

3 Days in London: A Tested Day-by-Day Itinerary with Map & Savings

3 Days in London: A Tested Day-by-Day Itinerary with Map & Savings

Our day-by-day 3 day London itinerary with walking map, suggested timing, realistic costs, and how to save over £100 with the London Pass. Updated April 2026.... Read More...

Best Compact Cameras 2026: Top Picks for Every Budget

Best Compact Cameras 2026: Top Picks for Every Budget

Professional photographer picks the best compact cameras in 2026, from budget point-and-shoots to the Fujifilm X100VI. Tested picks for travel and everyday shooting.... Read More...

Iceland on a Budget: How to Save Money in Iceland

Iceland on a Budget: How to Save Money in Iceland

We spent 6 weeks traveling Iceland and learned how to save money on everything from car rental to food to activities. Here are our 21 best Iceland budget tips.... Read More...

15 Tips to Avoid Crowds on the Isle of Skye

15 Tips to Avoid Crowds on the Isle of Skye

We've visited Skye in every season. Here are 15 practical tips for avoiding the tourist crowds, from off-season timing to lesser-known trails and the quieter corners most visitors miss.... Read More...

2 Week Route 66 Itinerary for the 100th Anniversary in 2026

2 Week Route 66 Itinerary for the 100th Anniversary in 2026

We've driven Route 66 multiple times since 2015. Our day-by-day 2 week itinerary covers attractions, dining, and lodging for every stop on the centennial route.... Read More...

How to Get From London to Edinburgh: Every Way We've Tried (2026)

How to Get From London to Edinburgh: Every Way We've Tried (2026)

We've taken every train, sleeper, flight, bus and drive between London and Edinburgh. Here's our honest comparison of the 10 ways to make the trip.... Read More...

14 Reasons to Drive the North Coast 500

14 Reasons to Drive the North Coast 500

We've driven the North Coast 500 more than half a dozen times and counting. Here are 14 reasons the NC500 is worth it, from world-class golf and whisky distilleries to sandy beaches, wildlife, and the friendliest hospitality in Scotland.... Read More...

12 Reasons Travel Can Be Stressful & Tips for Reducing Travel Stress

12 Reasons Travel Can Be Stressful & Tips for Reducing Travel Stress

Travel stress is a feeling of mental strain and pressure related to traveling. Many people travel as a way to relieve stress, but for some people travel can also induce travel stress. We discuss a number of common reasons that you might be finding travel to be stressful, which might include feeling ... Read More...

Travel Photography: 6 Ways to Take Great Couple Photos while Traveling

Travel Photography: 6 Ways to Take Great Couple Photos while Traveling

Our guide to taking great couple photos while traveling written by a professional travel photographer. We cover everything from selfie sticks to tripods to hiring a professional photographer, and we discuss the pros and cons of each option. We then give tips and advice for getting the best travel co... Read More...

Finland Packing List for Winter: A Guide to What to Pack

Finland Packing List for Winter: A Guide to What to Pack

We have visited Finland multiple times in winter, in temperatures down to -37. Here is exactly what we packed, wore, and recommend for every month from November to March.... Read More...

Driving in Iceland in Winter: Practical Tips and What to Expect

Driving in Iceland in Winter: Practical Tips and What to Expect

We've driven in Iceland in both winter and summer. Here's everything you need to know about winter driving conditions, car rental, insurance, the 2026 road tax, and staying safe.... Read More...

Travel Photography: Do I Need A Travel Tripod?

Travel Photography: Do I Need A Travel Tripod?

An Essential Guide to Travel Tripods. A travel tripod is an easy way to improve your travel photography. Almost everyone travels with a camera of some sort to capture vacation memories while they travel, whether it be a cell phone, a compact camera, or professional DSLR camera. If you are wanting to... Read More...

Paris Pass Review 2026: Is the Paris Pass Worth It?

Paris Pass Review 2026: Is the Paris Pass Worth It?

We've used the Paris Pass on multiple trips since 2017. Our honest 2026 review with current pricing, savings examples, and tips for choosing the right pass.... Read More...

North Coast 500 Road Trip Planning Guide (2026)

North Coast 500 Road Trip Planning Guide (2026)

We've driven the NC500 many times across every season. Our complete guide covers route, timing, where to stay, driving tips, costs, and what to pack for 2026.... Read More...

6 Days in London: Our Day-by-Day Itinerary After 15+ Visits

6 Days in London: Our Day-by-Day Itinerary After 15+ Visits

Six days is enough for the big sights plus proper time in Greenwich, Camden and Kensington. Our itinerary after fifteen years visiting London, with London Pass savings.... Read More...

North Coast 500 Hotels Guide: Where to Stay along the NC500

North Coast 500 Hotels Guide: Where to Stay along the NC500

We've stayed at or visited every hotel on this list across multiple NC500 road trips. Honest reviews of 27 hotels and B&Bs for every budget, plus booking tips... Read More...

Which Barcelona Pass Is Worth It? Barcelona Card vs Barcelona Pass vs Articket (2026)

Which Barcelona Pass Is Worth It? Barcelona Card vs Barcelona Pass vs Articket (2026)

We've used the Barcelona Card, Go City Pass, and Articket across multiple trips since 2015. Compare all four Barcelona passes with April 2026 pricing and which is worth buying.... Read More...

Go City Barcelona Pass Review 2026: Is It Worth Buying?

Go City Barcelona Pass Review 2026: Is It Worth Buying?

We've used the Barcelona pass on multiple trips since 2016. Here's current 2026 pricing, a worked savings example, and when the pass isn't worth buying.... Read More...

7 Day Iceland Itinerary for Winter: A Self-Drive Road Trip Guide

7 Day Iceland Itinerary for Winter: A Self-Drive Road Trip Guide

We drove this 7-day Iceland winter itinerary ourselves, covering the Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South Coast, and Vatnajökull glaciers. Day-by-day driving details, lodging picks, and honest advice.... Read More...

Ski Holidays for Non-Skiers: 25 Things to Do at a Ski Resort if you Don't Ski

Ski Holidays for Non-Skiers: 25 Things to Do at a Ski Resort if you Don't Ski

A guide to what to do at a ski resort if you don't ski. Ski holidays for non-skiers? I personally don't ski but have spent time at a number of ski resorts and winter holiday destinations around the world. There are a lot of fun winter snow activities that don't involve skiing or snowboarding such as... Read More...

FIG Clothing: Women's Travel Clothing Review

FIG Clothing: Women's Travel Clothing Review

Review of FIG Clothing - a Canadian travel clothing company. Finding travel clothing that is both comfortable and stylish can be difficult, and this last year I found both of these qualities in FIG Clothing. FIG Clothing is a Canadian company that specializes in clothing for active women that is app... Read More...

The Best Apartment Booking Websites: 25+ Sites Like Airbnb

The Best Apartment Booking Websites: 25+ Sites Like Airbnb

Looking for sites like AirBnb? Here is a list of 25 sites like Airbnb for booking apartments online or listing your own property. Our guide to booking apartments online lists over 20 websites where you can search and book apartments online and find Airbnb alternatives.... Read More...

One Week Sri Lanka Itinerary for Couples: Luxury, Wildlife, & Tea

One Week Sri Lanka Itinerary for Couples: Luxury, Wildlife, & Tea

Here is our one week Sri Lanka itinerary that we think is perfect for couples, which focuses on wildlife, romance, luxury, and tea. Specifically it includes staying at the top luxury resort in Sri Lanka, soaking up the beautiful scenery of Sri Lanka's hilly Tea Country, exploring ancient sites, admi... Read More...

Tips for Buying and Using the Oyster Card in London

Tips for Buying and Using the Oyster Card in London

Guide to using the London Oyster card on public transit. Using an Oyster card, a credit card sized transport card, is an easy way to save time and money if you are planning to use public transportation in London. An Oyster card can be used on just about every form of transport within London includin... Read More...

Travel Inspired Jewelry Guide: Travel Themed Jewelry for Travelers

Travel Inspired Jewelry Guide: Travel Themed Jewelry for Travelers

The ultimate guide to jewelry for travelers! This travel inspired jewelry guide includes over 70 pieces of travel themed jewelry, including necklaces, earrings, rings, brooches, bracelets, cufflinks, wristwatches, and more. Find the perfect travel jewellery for yourself or find a gift for the travel... Read More...

London Day Trip to Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds

London Day Trip to Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds

How to plan a London day trip to Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds villages. We were able to tour the grand Blenheim Palace, stop at Bladon (burial place of Winston Churchill), and stop at the cute Cotswolds villages of Bibury and Burford. We share how to plan your own day trip to Blenheim Palace, O... Read More...

Is the London Pass Worth It? What We've Learned in 13 Years of Buying One

Is the London Pass Worth It? What We've Learned in 13 Years of Buying One

We've bought the London Pass on multiple trips since 2013. Here's what's included, who should (and shouldn't) buy one, savings examples, and how to get 5% off.... Read More...

Inspiration for Your Travel Themed Wedding or Destination Wedding

Inspiration for Your Travel Themed Wedding or Destination Wedding

Planning a travel themed wedding? Here is all the inspiration you need to plan your own travel themed wedding. Over 100 ideas for travel themed wedding invitations, wedding rings, wedding decorations, cufflinks, table place cards, cake toppers, DIY ideas, wedding favor gifts, and more! Let your love... Read More...

All your Essential Travel Photography Questions Answered by Photographer Laurence Norah

All your Essential Travel Photography Questions Answered by Photographer Laurence Norah

... Read More...

Guide to Planning a Route 66 Road Trip

Guide to Planning a Route 66 Road Trip

We've driven Route 66 multiple times since 2015. Our planning guide covers how to follow the route, when to go, where to stay, and what to pack — updated for the 2026 Route 66 Centennial.... Read More...

Wedding at Sea: Our Cunard Queen Mary 2 Wedding

Wedding at Sea: Our Cunard Queen Mary 2 Wedding

... Read More...

Best Travel Routers for Internet while Traveling

Best Travel Routers for Internet while Traveling

We've used travel routers in hotels, Airbnbs, and campervans for over a decade. Here are the best travel routers in 2026, ranked by what we'd actually pack.... Read More...

Dreaming of Turkey: Colorful Turkish Hammam Towels from sorbet ltd

Dreaming of Turkey: Colorful Turkish Hammam Towels from sorbet ltd

These colorful handwoven Turkish hammam towels from sorbet ltd have us dreaming of Turkey! Ethan and I have been thinking about visiting Turkey within the next year and we were very delighted to have the opportunity to review a set of sorbet-colored hammam towel handwoven in rural Turkey. These towe... Read More...

Travel Advice: A Guide to Passport Photos and Visa Photos

Travel Advice: A Guide to Passport Photos and Visa Photos

Recently we've been needing to apply for several international visas for travel in Asia and Africa, which means we've been filling out application paperwork for each country and obtaining a lot of visa photos. Even though passport and visa photos are just simple digital photos, most people have them... Read More...

indeegear: Unique Collectible Travel Accessories

indeegear: Unique Collectible Travel Accessories

Looking for a unique travel accessory? I was really excited when I first heard about the indeegear luggage belt sleeves on Twitter, and am pleased to now have the opportunity to review these unique travel accessories. The sleeves provide an innovative and creative way to not only make your luggage s... Read More...

Lettr: The New Digital Way to Send Custom Postcards

Lettr: The New Digital Way to Send Custom Postcards

Lettr is a new modern way to send custom postcards using your phone, tablet, or computer.You use your own photo and write a custom message and then submit it digitally. Then Lettr does the rest: printing, stamping, and mailing it to your loved ones! Lettr allows you to personalize and customize your... Read More...

PortaPocket: Versatile Travel Accessories for Storage & Safety

PortaPocket: Versatile Travel Accessories for Storage & Safety

If you are ever find yourself digging in your luggage or purse for your passport, credit cards, cell phone, or airline tickets, you may be in need of a few PortaPocket travel accessories. These nifty travel accessories are designed to store all your small personal belongings and keep them safe while... Read More...

Paris Museum Pass Review: Is It Worth It? Tips for Buying and Using the Pass

Paris Museum Pass Review: Is It Worth It? Tips for Buying and Using the Pass

We've used the Paris Museum Pass on multiple trips since 2012. Here's our honest review with 2026 pricing, savings examples, and tips for getting the most value.... Read More...

Travel Health: Traveling with a Pacemaker

Travel Health: Traveling with a Pacemaker

One of our first thoughts when we heard that Ethan may have to get a pacemaker was what are the complications related to traveling with a pacemaker. Our a search of the Internet turned up only a handful of articles related to traveling with a pacemaker and we wanted to share what information we disc... Read More...

Travel Research: How Much Travel Stress Do People Experience on Vacation?

Travel Research: How Much Travel Stress Do People Experience on Vacation?

Most people plan trips and take vacations to get away from the stress of home and work; however, very few people take travel stress into consideration. While traveling can indeed be an escape or break from the day-to-day routine, planning and taking a trip can also be quite stressful. Let's take a l... Read More...

Our Airbnb Review: Advice and Tips for Booking via Airbnb

Our Airbnb Review: Advice and Tips for Booking via Airbnb

We offer a Airbnb review and our tips and advice for using Airbnb based on our experience using the service for over 8 years to book accommodations around the world. Airbnb is a peer-to-peer booking service for apartments, rooms, and vacation rentals. Using Airbnb to book accommodations during your ... Read More...

Travel Research: Are Travel Guidebooks Still Useful in the Digital Age?

Travel Research: Are Travel Guidebooks Still Useful in the Digital Age?

Do we need travel guidebooks anymore? Recent research suggests that although most people are using the Internet as a source of travel information, most people still rely on travel guidebooks during their travels. Let’s take a look at a research article in the Journal of Travel Research.... Read More...

Missing the Boat on the Canal Saint Martin: Sometimes Things Don’t Work Out as We Planned

Missing the Boat on the Canal Saint Martin: Sometimes Things Don’t Work Out as We Planned

We had made reservations for a boat ride on the Canal Saint Martin in Paris on Canauxrama. We ended up being late and missing our reservations for our boat ride on the Saint Martin Canal.... Read More...

When you Still Want to Hold a Real Book: Tips for Traveling with Books

When you Still Want to Hold a Real Book: Tips for Traveling with Books

Do you like traveling with books? I love traveling with books and this article provides tips on how to travel with books (yes, actual physical books!) while still packing light.... Read More...

How to Start a Travel Blog in 10 Easy Steps

How to Start a Travel Blog in 10 Easy Steps

A step-by-step guide to how to start a travel blog from scratch. Do you want learn how to set up a travel blog or a travel website? This article explains the basics to get your started with how to start a travel blog in 10 easy steps, from selecting your domain name to choosing a web host, from trav... Read More...

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