“Bathrooms By Baggage Claim”: 40 Lesser-Known But Useful Travel Hacks

Bored Panda got in touch with seasoned traveler Victoria from Bridges and Balloons to hear more about her experiences and ideas. Firstly, we wanted to hear what advice she would give her younger self.

“When I was younger, I seemed to think time was endless and I’d definitely return to the places I loved. As it is, I still haven’t made it back to some of them. The lesson from this is to make sure you see the things you want to see wherever you go and savor every moment. You don’t know if you’ll ever be back there. That said, I don’t believe in “ticking off all the must-sees” and doing things because that’s what you think you should. Everyone’s “must-sees” are different, so do what you like rather than what you think you should.”

We were curious to hear her thoughts on saving money versus paying a premium for convenience. “I definitely value time over money and will often pay extra for convenience or comfort. But that’s a luxury and a privilege. When I was younger, I didn’t always have that option, and to be honest some of those adventures were the most memorable. For example, I once traveled 48 hours on a bus to go whale watching in Patagonia. If I’d had the money, I’d have certainly flown, but the effort made it extra special. When you have a choice, it’s hard to pick the days-long bus trip!”

“I’ve always been a complete geek when it comes to planning. I love to do my research and make a rough list/itinerary of everything I want to do. But I’m not a slave to that plan. In a way it’s a back-up in case we don’t find things naturally while there. I much prefer to find things spontaneously, but sometimes, without that research and list of back-ups, you find yourself in tourist traps or crappy restaurants (and that’s my travel nightmare!).”

“I used to use guidebooks, but nowadays I turn to travel blogs. I always recommend finding a blogger you relate to and using their guides - it’s like having a really knowledgeable friend with great recommendations. But remember not all blogs are created equal - many are vacuous SEO machines. You just need to find one you can trust,” she shared.

“For me, travel has always been about perspective. I love to get outside of my bubble and see other cultures and ways of life. It’s a type of therapy for me, and one I think everyone could benefit from. It’s the antidote to getting stuck in your ways. And while I am willing to pay more for convenience and luxury, I don’t think expensive always equals better. We always seek out places that have character and creativity, and that could just as easily be a budget guest house as a luxury retreat. For us, it’s the experience that matters most.”