How to Disconnect & Pack Light When Traveling

Quicken Loans just published a road trip edition of their Zing Podcast. To accompany that, they interviewed a few travel bloggers about their travel tips! I was one of them.

The podcast covers everything from car maintenance to trip planning, and then the tips below from travel experts dive into topics like safety, traveling with kids, and even being present while on your trip. Go to the full story or read Ronzio’s tips below:

TIME TO DISCONNECT

When we’re at home, it’s so easy to be wrapped up in our emails, work and social media. When you’re traveling, you have the opportunity to disconnect. Step away from the laptop, don’t look down at that phone, keep your head up and maybe even meet some new people and see some new things!

“The lone-wolf vagabond, only out for Instagram pics is not who you want to be. These can be hard habits to break: that awkward moment of walking toward somebody and trying not to make eye contact or looking at your phone when you’re sitting alone in a bar. But when you commit to keeping your head up, locking eyes, smiling and saying ‘hello,’ the world is a friendlier place,” says Johnathan Ronzio, who writes about travel and expeditions at Explore Inspired.

PACK LIGHT

When you’re road tripping, especially if you stay overnight multiple places, it’s a good idea to pack light.

Ronzio suggests packing light but remembering three must-have items for any road tripper: extra cash, a portable charger and a camera.

Why extra cash? There are still places that don’t accept credit cards, and you’re bound to run into one or two of them on the road.

“Credit cards are surprisingly useless in a lot of the world’s coolest places. Cash is still king on the road, and it will save you in so many instances,” says Ronzio.

A portable charger can be a lifesaver when you’re on the road. Whether it’s your phone, GPS or e-reader, electronics will run out of power, and you’ll be thankful you have that charger to bring them back to life no matter where you are.

Lastly, the camera. Ronzio says, “There’s a balance you have to find between living in the moment and documenting your travels. You don’t want the camera in front of your face at all times because you want to truly experience where you are. But you never, ever want to come home from a trip without anything to look back on. Memories are wonderful, but they fade. Make sure to document how you feel, who you meet and what you learn.”

 


Zing Podcast: Road Trip Edition

 

Explore Inspired
Explore Inspired

Explore Inspired is a passionate team of travelers, athletes, volunteers, and content creators, sharing the best in adventure advice and inspiration.

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