It doesn’t take much to be a smart traveler, just a bit of common sense and some good advice. Luckily for us, Anil from foXnoMad.com has plenty of advice on everything from how to blend into any culture to how to secure your laptop when traveling. Check out our interview with this tech savvy and seasoned traveler.
Jazz Hostels: You write quite a bit on your blog about how to travel smarter. What are your top 5 rules in traveling smart?
Anil: It’s difficult to narrow a question like that down to a top 5 but I’d say in general traveling is a lot easier than most people think. Don’t complicate the process and you’ll find it’s much easier that you might have imagined.
Jazz Hostels: What tips can you give our readers about the best way to find the lowest possible airfares?
Anil: Search from different websites using both the local and (if applicable) international versions of the same site. Also, for multi-leg flights try shifting the layover cities in between to get lower fares. For example, flying from Chicago to Washington DC might be cheaper if you book Chicago to Miami and hop off on your DC layover. Kayak.com/explore is a good tool to use for multi-city flight price hacking.
Jazz Hostels: What are some things travelers can do to get the most of their frequent flyer miles?
Anil: Track them better and automate the process by using free online tools like AwardWallet.com. It will keep you updated about what going on with you account and notify you of any bonuses as well. Seeing your miles makes you more likely to accumulate and use them.
Jazz Hostels: A lot of people travel with their laptops. What advice do you have for those who are concerned about the safety of their laptop and of their personal information stored on it?
Anil: Use Truecrpyt hidden folders to hide your most sensitive files from thieves and governments alike.
Jazz Hostels: When traveling in a new city or country it can be hard to not stand out as a tourist. What advice do you have on how to better blend in with the locals?
Anil: Notice the subtle different in mannerisms and dress and do a bit of Google research prior to arriving. Also, it helps to know at least 4 basic words of the local language, if not more: hello, please, thank you, goodbye.
Jazz Hostels: For people who like to travel without much planning, what are some things they can do to travel smarter?
Anil: I’m a terrible planner but it always helps to know where you’re staying before arrival and how much basic things (like getting to your hotel/hostel from the airport) will cost. That will go a long way to saving you from getting ripped off.
Jazz Hostels: What packing advice do you have for people traveling with a backpack?
Anil: Buy a backpack smaller than you think you’ll need and pre-pack it first to get an idea of what you really need and what you can do without. A backpack shouldn’t be more than 80% full before you head out to the airport. You’re most efficient at the beginning of a trip so make use of it and spare your back while at the same time making space for any souvenirs you may pick up along the way.
Jazz Hostels: Thanks for the great advice, Anil!
[guestinterviewfooter interviewee=”Anil Polat”]Anil Polat is a digital nomad traveling the world indefinitely and writes foXnoMad to help teach others all the ways to travel smarter.[/guestinterviewfooter]