30 minutes, 60 hacks

me

me: travel junkie, need monthly fix, too old to bum, 5* luxe at 3* prices

me

what stops you

what stops you: don’t have leave? yes, you do. ask for time, not cash

01

don’t have money? you don’t need much. read on.

02

you’ll take a package tour? oh heaven, please don’t.

03

me

what stops you

visas etc

visas: go without prior visas to 59 countries.

04

oh.pn/visa

05

have a valid US, UK, Schengen visa and add another 50 countries

me

who to go with

what stops you

visas etc

who to go with: don’t go with the obvious

06

07

best test for love and a relationship. strangers in strange lands.

08

kids? till the age of 7, please don’t bother. leave them behind.

09

if you do take kids, buy diapers & milk locally. don’t kill your luggage

me

who to go with

what stops you

when to go

visas etc

when to go: any time really. there is no good or bad season.

10

11

don’t wait for once a year. try micro-holidays. 3 days is fine.

12

off-season is often the best season. goa rains. scandinavian lights. fares.

13

indian holidays a great place to start Jan 26, aug 15, oct 2, nov week

14

don’t be scared of the cold or heat. experience it, live it.

15

joobili etc will tell you what’s up. edm festival? thai lights? sakura?

16

don’t do unconnected countries. you always will come back.

me

who to go with

what stops you

air travel

when to go

visas etc

air travel: theory says tue is best time to buy. disregard this.

17

18

subscribe to all email, get on every useless frequent flyer program.

19

jump on to every air sale. now announced on twitter & fb.

20

air asia: the ecstacy & the agony: 7 kg baggage, charge for everything

21

see ixigo & akbar in india. skyscanner & kayak for outside.

22

many lcc’s are not on ota’s. check wikitravel for all airlines to a city.

23

take the less popular airline. 3 seats in economy beat 1 in business.

24

bom-nyc return for 27k, bom-male for 12k, bom-gau for 8k, ibz-lon 3k

25

be on it, sink into it. get into the zen of airfare deal hunting.

me

who to go with

what stops you

air travel

when to go

visas etc

surface travel

surface travel: so much better, to actually see the place

26

27

rent a car with a gps. completely worth the little cost. Or buy one.

28

international license not needed. our license works most everywhere

29

europe by eurail is more fun. buy thomas cook guide. sleep free.

30

usa by amtrak is hugely underrated. first class flights at ground level.

me

who to go with

what stops you

air travel

when to go

visas etc

stay

surface travel

stay: all hotel rooms look the same when you’re asleep.

31

32

on tripadvisor, look at ratings not recommendations.

33

on tripadvisor, look beyond hotels to b&b’s and specialty lodgings

34

connect your facebook and enjoy airbnb

35

pools don’t matter. free wifi, breakfast, access & parking do.

36

learn the zen of priceline, better bidding & score 5*s at 2* prices.

37

goibibo, travelguru give the house away with promocodes. enjoy

38

use google + agents to find amazing well-fought deals

39

Rs. 1,500 for a lifetime at IYH is great for $10 beds around the world.

40

thorntree.lonelyplanet.com for the really local take on places.

41

JW Lon for $65, Hyatt SFO for $40, JW Sing for $70, Pat-mase for $100

me

who to go with

what stops you

air travel

when to go

visas etc

stay

surface travel

packing

packing: never, ever check luggage in especially going out.

42

43

at best, check in on the way back with your shopping

44

7kg, not more. 1 extra over-shoulder half the weight, double the fun

45

100ml is more than enough for liquids. Try it.

46

You need half the clothes you think you need. And then less.

47

Travel / technical /stretchable clothes Not denim.

me

who to go with

what stops you

air travel

when to go

visas etc

stay

surface travel

packing

what to take

what to take: cameras aren’t really needed any more.

48

49

switch off international roaming. Get free wifi all over.

50

don’t take books. download guides.

me

who to go with

what stops you

air travel

when to go

visas etc

stay

surface travel

shopping

packing

what to take

what to do

shopping: almost everything is shipped by amazon / borderlinx.

51

52

Obscure, local foods. Easy-to-pack stuff. Or freight it.

me

who to go with

what stops you

air travel

when to go

visas etc

stay

surface travel

shopping

packing

what to take

what to do

what to do: please stop eating and meeting desi.

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54

eat local.

55

drink local.

56

party local.

57

work local.

58

live local.

me

who to go with

what stops you

air travel

when to go

visas etc

stay

surface travel

shopping

packing

what to take

what to do

inspiration

inspiration: flexibility. Buy a flight in 10 minutes. Do the impossible.

59

first, I let the planet leave a dent on me.

60

maybe then I can better leave a dent on the planet.

@maheshmurthy

mahesh@seedfund.in +91 98922 49969