I love traveling so much but I’m not in a position to head out as much as I may want. This means when I do get the opportunity I try to maximize the experience. I try to enjoy as much as possible without overwhelming myself. In some of my Texas travel vids I started the Soph’s Travel Tips and I wanted to put those down here as well.

No matter the service, reviews are vital. When booking Airbnb’s or finding places to eat, I always go to the reviews. With Airbnb, I am very wary of booking anywhere without reviews yet. Obviously new listings won’t have the opportunity, but when it comes to safety and experiences with your living and sleeping arrangements, it’s hard to compromise on that. Hotels need this check too, especially if you’re travelling on a budget. Check Airbnb between hotels but also check for bedbug reports for cheaper motels and hotels. With food, Trip Advisor has been the best for quality. I choose restaurants only in the top 20% of total places. My family didn’t listen to me when we visited San Antonio and my dad spent the next day reliving his meal which was not worth a second trip. This won’t be always true but man, does it help get the best experience.

Let’s talk more about food. When I travel my biggest goals are to experience the local culture as much as possible. While you better believe my butt can be found doing tourist attractions, I also try to balance this with local places not on the tourist circuit. I avoid chain places I have back home completely, unless it’s an emergency when it comes to eating. I also try not to go to the same place twice unless it was that life changing or if I run out of places I can try. Trip adviser has the local flavors. That said, sometimes it’s easiest to find them by just getting out on the streets and walking, then compare what you find with the app to make sure it’s safe and people recommend it. My friend has also taught me the value in local folks. We find a bar and meet the bartender. We give bigger tips than recommended and ask questions. What places do they personally like with their friends? What is a place that might get overlooked by anyone but a local? What other places are worth checking out to get that local experience? Adventure begins here.

I handle my trip planning with flexibility. I plan simple things of my trips such as I know a few places I want to try and see, but I don’t plan every day to the last detail. This way you have room for changes and whims. This way you can relax and find more things to do while there. Few things are more frustrating than plans gone bad or ruined, so make sure you have that flexibility. Get a template but fill the details while you’re there.

I mentioned walking the streets for food but this is also useful in other ways. I try to walk as much as possible when staying in cities and use uber when I have to. If I’m staying downtown, walking around shows me all the shops and things I might have missed just driving somewhere. I found a hidden museum and convention this way in Austin. Posters on the streets, food stalls and more are all potential experiences that are just lost if you’re driving everywhere. This is within reason for safety, time, distance and personal capabilities of course, but don’t lose an adventure for convenience.

Ultimately that’s what travel is about right? Getting an adventure and doing it your way. Experience as much as you can new, but keep it in your limits so you always stay safe and aware. This is a great big world and so much to see and do. Take my advice or don’t. Get out there and do it your way and enjoy yourself.