Why You Need to Be an Organized Traveler
European Getaway
My youngest son Skylyr and I traveled throughout Spain with my oldest son,Tyryn.
Ty-Ty (as he is known at home) has been studying at University of Cantabria in Santander, Spain for his junior year abroad through Cornell University.
This mama will admit that having Tyryn gone for a year has been…quite honestly…brutal. However, our glorious trip made up for it, and soon my baby will be flying home!
Spain was an incredibly memorable family vacation. History, ambience, culture, language, warm people, flowers and Mediterranean climate…oh you have to go!
How did we travel fairly high life, yet at a very affordable price?
One word…Organization!
We packed a lot into our adventure and had fantastic private accommodations while still saving money without scrimping on our travels.
For starters, I was organized mindfully a year ahead of time manifesting free flight for all three of us…roundtrip!
Be an organized traveler, so you can relax and have FUN!
Read on for some Traveler’s Organizing Tips. Being organized before the trip makes being organized during the trip a breeze and allows for flexibility and balance, essential when traveling.
Sharing a few photos from our trip from Northern Spain to Southern Spain:
Barcelona: Catalonia, Spain.
Santander: Northern Spain:
Temperate weather and the coast and mountains.
1. Savvy Organized Traveler:
Plan your flight early to take advantage of mileage programs and travel research to find spots known and unknown that appeal to you.
2. Relax:
Let the pros handle the big stuff: AAA turned us onto Viator Tours enabling us to book a walking tour of historic Granada and “Skip the Line” tour of the magnificent gardens and palaces of The Alhambra.
From Santander to Madrid:
We walked everywhere, which to my mind, is the best way to experience a city.
I loved Madrid with it’s Paseo Del Prado…trees arching overhead as we walked, parks with rich fountains and Prado Museum.
The architecture throughout Spain was colorful with wrought iron balconies. Jasmine, such a light yet seductive scent, would relax us as we passed by.
3. Think Safety:
Keep a color photocopy of passports tucked in a secret pocket in your luggage or in your carryon bag. If your actual passport gets lost or stolen, it’s easier to have the information for replacement.
4. Think Security:
Record the contact information for your country’s Consulate. Should you need help as a foreigner in the country you are visiting, you will be able to easily contact the Consulate.
Sevilla: Historic city
We enjoyed Sevilla immensely. The Catedral de Santa María de la Sede is the burial place of Christopher Columbus (although our Granada guide told us no less than 4 different places in Spain claim they have Christ’s body.)
5. Protect your valuables:
Get a travel wallet to secure your passport and any other travel papers or money. I used this one.
People in Spain were friendly and our hosts were very thoughtful and kind.
In every city, dogs seem to be a favorite pet, a surprise for city living. Dogs in Spain are remarkably well trained and follow owners everywhere.
6. Stay hydrated:
Buy a couple of 1 liter bottles of bottled water. Then buy 5 liter bottles to fill up your daily bottles and save time and money. Summer is hot in Spain…it was 114 degrees Fahrenheit (45.5 Celsius) in Sevilla.
7. Avoid foreign fees:
Get a travel bank card that will not charge for foreign exchange fees. My bank offered a free travel rewards card.
8. Plan your accommodations for your style:
We booked all accommodations in advance online through airbnb.com. We had private flats all to ourselves, fully ready, perfectly situated with more comfort for less than 4 star hotels.
9. Break up the monotony:
Sometimes we were too tired, or wanted to spend time as a family in our lovely, private settings. It was heavenly to just chill out if we did not feel like going out after a long day of sightseeing.
10. Reserve online:
Spain requires reservations for trains, so we booked online and had our e-tickets ready.
11. Peace of mind:
Send an email with itinerary to family or a friend just in case. They can help from home should you need it.
12. Free communication:
Use WhatsApp.com or Viber.com, both free apps to communicate for free while abroad.
I confess Spanish food was not our favorite as it was mostly fried, and we are not big seafood eaters. However, we found great Indian and Vegan restaurants.
Having private flats to come and go as we please and buying food at supermarkets made our trip relaxing and comfortable, and cost effective. Honestly Ty and Skye made a delectable Coconut Milk Curried Chicken for dinner…yummy!
Want the recipe? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll share it. Share your best travel tips in the comments as well.
so much fun reading about spain and viewing your photos! i was able to travel to spain twice (to different areas each time), and i loved both experiences. thanks for the great tips (especially the safety reminder). i had my watch stolen off my arm last fall in buenos aires, argentina – and it was my FOURTH visit! i think i’d grown a bit lax.
My pleasure April! I am sorry to hear you had your watch stolen right off your arm…goodness! Yet I am glad you let us know here, because it’s easy to forget to keep on top of safety measures while enjoying travel. I would love to go to Buenos Aires, Argentina…ahh, the list of places to see keeps growing.
Absolutely priceless information Jul’s!! First, thank you for taking me back to Barcelona with your pictures and descriptions! I loved it there and can’t wait to go back! Second, this information is truly valuable. I will follow every step you suggested. Thank you so much for sharing it and keeping us all organized and in a better mind to enjoy life! Congrats on your son coming home soon too!! So glad you all had a wonderful family trip!
Thank you so much April. You’re following my blog and comments are absolutely priceless to me! My pleasure to take you off to Barcelona, even if only virtual 😉
What a detailed list, Jul’s! So helpful for those traveling abroad. Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Your pictures are beautiful – thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much Sarah! We did have such a wonderful family holiday. We are so glad we experienced Spain together. I so appreciate your comments.
Excellent post for those of us who love travel. One question Skype is not good for communication for free while abroad? Thanks a lot! xo
Coming from someone like you, a lover and very experienced traveler…I am so glad you feel my post is excellent! Skype is free and great for many…however, my experience with Spain is the internet is spotty ins many areas, so video freezes so often, surprisingly. I was trying to offer some alternatives than the more known free ways to communicate whilst abroad. xox
As an avid traveler, who have been to over 30 countries, one of the things that help me the most is to create a master list of all the places/thing I’d like to do/see in a new city/country. Then, break them down by day and organize them so the events that are physically closer to each other happen on the same day (as much as possible). That way, whether I’m booking an organized tour or doing it on my own, I know what I’ll be doing every day and can plan for times to relax and simply stop and smell the roses. Thanks!
Wow you are an organized traveller. These are great tips especially for keeping an otherwise pricy holiday on the cheap. I adore sites like airbnb and vrbo – I don’t know if I’ll ever stay in a hotel again, one definitely gets more for their money. I love your tip about the water.
Thanks for your comments and glad you liked my tips. I have to agree, not sure I would want to stay in a hotel again as the private homes/flats were super. The water was a daily necessity in the heat…and I kept a couple small size bottles to keep in my son’s backpack too!
Great organizing tips! You are a seasoned traveler, indeed…30 countries, amazing. I love the idea of the master list for all the places and things to do in your travel destination, to then break down and actually do and enjoy. Thanks so much Jovanka.