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Everyone dreams of a destination that’s captured their hearts with pictures on social media, colorful magazine articles, or immersive television shows. We want these trips to go smooth and spend our time and money enjoying all the beauty a new country has to offer. But how do you plan for such a trip? Who do you call in an emergency? How do you spend your time in great restaurants while avoiding the bad ones?
This podcast is all about making your trip run smooth so you can focus on enjoying yourself. Over the past decade, I’ve traveled to over 20 countries and most of the states in the US, and this is my knowledge and experience on the basics of traveling and focusing on eating amazing food. These are things I wished someone would have told me before I started traveling extensively abroad to save myself extra time, money, and heartache. I know if you keep these tips in mind, your trip will be amazing and filled with delicious food.
Planning
- Do Entry Research
- Read through entry requirements carefully and come to immigration prepared with all documents filled out correctly. Avoid delaying your trip by having your ducks in a row.
- Read through entry requirements carefully and come to immigration prepared with all documents filled out correctly. Avoid delaying your trip by having your ducks in a row.
- Research Your Restaurants
- Avoid going into a city blind. Research and keep track of the restaurants that interest you the most.
- Avoid going into a city blind. Research and keep track of the restaurants that interest you the most.
- Book Your Accommodation Closest to the Best Food
- For larger cities, avoid the city center and focus on a section of the city that has the best food.
- For larger cities, avoid the city center and focus on a section of the city that has the best food.
- Find the Best Transport from the Airport to the Hotel and Getting Around the City
- Trains, Bus, Taxis, Private Transport
- Also look into rideshare apps
- Avoid Packing Too Much into the Itinerary
- Give yourself breathing room and time to roam the city.
- Give yourself breathing room and time to roam the city.
- Know When Reservations Open for Notable Restaurants
- The best restaurants in the world book months in advance.
- The best restaurants in the world book months in advance.
- Fancy and Expensive Does Not Mean Delicious
- Take it from me, fancy and expensive restaurants often disappoint more than casual and inexpensive eateries.
Emergency
- Know the Country’s Emergency Numbers
- Who do you call if there is an emergency or accident?
- Who do you call if there is an emergency or accident?
- Get Travel Insurance
- Avoid losing money and recoup the costs of emergency services abroad. I use World Nomads and only have amazing things to say about their claims process.
- Avoid losing money and recoup the costs of emergency services abroad. I use World Nomads and only have amazing things to say about their claims process.
- Know the Location of Your Country’s Embassy
- In case of major emergencies and evacuations, know the embassy’s location and who to speak with about exiting the country.
- In case of major emergencies and evacuations, know the embassy’s location and who to speak with about exiting the country.
- Bring a Medicine Bag/ Small First Aid Kit
- Here are the essentials I carry with me: Ibuprofen, Mucinex, Tylenol Cold and Flu, Imodium, 24 hour Claritin, caffeine, band aids, alcohol wipes, bandages, sports tape, eye drops, and antibacterial cream.
- Here are the essentials I carry with me: Ibuprofen, Mucinex, Tylenol Cold and Flu, Imodium, 24 hour Claritin, caffeine, band aids, alcohol wipes, bandages, sports tape, eye drops, and antibacterial cream.
- Multiple Forms of Payment
- Make sure to bring multiple credit cards and debit cards on your trip in case one is lost or stolen. Having back ups will help keep your trip running smooth with less stress.
- Make sure to bring multiple credit cards and debit cards on your trip in case one is lost or stolen. Having back ups will help keep your trip running smooth with less stress.
- Get the Necessary Vaccines
- Consult a travel clinic about what vaccines or medications are recommended for your trip. Getting sick is one of the worst ways to spend a vacation.
- Consult a travel clinic about what vaccines or medications are recommended for your trip. Getting sick is one of the worst ways to spend a vacation.
While Traveling
- Eat the Street Food
- For some reason, street food receives a bad reputation for lack of sanitation and making people sick. From my experience, this cannot be further from the truth. The street food embodies the food culture of the city, and is often inexpensive. Follow my guidelines for finding the best street food and how to stay healthy doing it.
- For some reason, street food receives a bad reputation for lack of sanitation and making people sick. From my experience, this cannot be further from the truth. The street food embodies the food culture of the city, and is often inexpensive. Follow my guidelines for finding the best street food and how to stay healthy doing it.
- If the Locals are Waiting, You Should Be Waiting
- Lines are a sign of delicious food to come. Locals are waiting in line because they know the food is going to be amazing! Would you wait in line for bad food?
- Lines are a sign of delicious food to come. Locals are waiting in line because they know the food is going to be amazing! Would you wait in line for bad food?
- Try Foods that Are Funky to You
- During your trip, try new and different foods that express the culture of a city. Sea urchin, fermented squid, bread boats with cheese and raw eggs only scratch the surface of what I think was funky and different but decided to eat them anyways. Some made for unforgettable food experiences while others just make for fun stories.
- During your trip, try new and different foods that express the culture of a city. Sea urchin, fermented squid, bread boats with cheese and raw eggs only scratch the surface of what I think was funky and different but decided to eat them anyways. Some made for unforgettable food experiences while others just make for fun stories.
- Do Not Miss Out On Food Markets
- If the city you are visiting has a food market, please go. Eat your way through the stalls and find fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy. The soul of a city is often in it’s food markets.
- If the city you are visiting has a food market, please go. Eat your way through the stalls and find fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy. The soul of a city is often in it’s food markets.
- Avoid Restaurants That Are Close to Tourist Attractions
- These restaurants are always over priced serving mediocre food. Only eat here if it’s absolutely necessary.
- These restaurants are always over priced serving mediocre food. Only eat here if it’s absolutely necessary.
- Focus on Regional Cuisine
- Skip what’s familiar and try what makes the food so special in that area.
- Paella in Spain
- Bun Cha in Vietnam
- Khoa Soi in Chẳng Mai
- Georgian Khinkale
- Skip what’s familiar and try what makes the food so special in that area.
- Be Happy About the Awkward Entrance
- Sometimes it feels like everyone is staring at you when you enter a restaurant, but this is a good sign. They are not use to seeing unfamiliar faces. These local only restaurants serve the regional cuisine and which is what you are looking for. Work past any awkwardness and get straight to enjoying your meal.
- Sometimes it feels like everyone is staring at you when you enter a restaurant, but this is a good sign. They are not use to seeing unfamiliar faces. These local only restaurants serve the regional cuisine and which is what you are looking for. Work past any awkwardness and get straight to enjoying your meal.
- Consider a Pub Crawl or Other Social Activity
- This is a great opportunity to meet other travelers, make friends and hopefully spend time with when the pub crawl ends. My most treasured memories while traveling stem from these experiences and the friends I made along the way.
- This is a great opportunity to meet other travelers, make friends and hopefully spend time with when the pub crawl ends. My most treasured memories while traveling stem from these experiences and the friends I made along the way.
- Look For Neighborhood Restaurants
- Some of the best places to eat are nestled in the neighborhoods around the city center. Get lost and try a few great options.
I hope these tips helped you and gives you more confidence during your next big trip broad. Food is my ultimate passion, and I want to help all of you listeners experience all the amazing food the world has to offer.
Chris Kretzer has traveled the world visiting over 35 countries and eating his way through every city. With his wife Tiarra, they explore different food cultures and create food guides, podcasts, and travel articles helping everyone experience the world through food.