Here are five safe travel tips:

1. Travel with companions

Avoid traveling solo constantly in every destination. Mix up your itineraries instead. Take short and long trips with travel companions or groups for variety and safety in numbers.

2. Inform the hotel of your adventure plans

In many European countries, if you’re heading out on a mountain adventure, it’s expected that you inform the hotel’s front desk of your plans. Should you be delayed returning or missing from the ski trip or hike, the hotel will know where to locate you and contact authorities if necessary.

3. Take your mobile phone

Pack your mobile phone or buy a pay-as-you-go model on-the-road. Mobile phones are an inexpensive way to check in with family and friends via text or voice. Wherever you’re going, a mobile phone can be vital in case of emergency.

4. Protect your personal travel documents

Passports, visas and other travel documents should always be strongly protected. If you’re carrying your documents, ensure they are secured in your carry-on bag. When you’re heading out on day trips, you could leave your documents locked up secure in hotel safes if available.

5. Invest in security-conscious gear

Visit your nearest travel shop and take a look at the latest, state-of-the-art gear. Ask about the most secure locks and luggage. Research online travel stores for hotel door alarms and other gadgets.

Photo of backpackers in London, UK, by Garry Knight

Following the trip, you can share your travel journal with family and friends and revisit the destination again and again. Unfortunately, not all travelers keep up their travel journal while they’re on-the-road.

Here are a few smart tips for keeping a travel journal:

1. Buy a travel-friendly journal

Think about the destination, its climate and weather and your itinerary. For example, if you’re going to a wet, humid place, then ensure you take along a travel journal with waterproof cover and tougher exterior. If weight matters, like on a long mountain trek, you’ll want a lighter, compact travel journal.

2. Gather your thoughts and take time out to write

Set regular times (daily, weekly) to gather your thoughts and update your travel journal. An excellent time to write in your travel journal is when you’re writing and sending postcards. Take excerpts from your postcards and record them in your travel journal.

3. Keep your mementos

From rail tickets to museum exhibition stubs, keep as many travel mementos as possible. Later, you can add them to your travel journal for variety, color and sentimentality.

4. Take a page from scrapbookers

Ask any scrapbooking friends how they do it and you’ll learn a lot. The art of scrapbooking can inspire you with its creativity and design sense.

5. Go online – write your own travel blog

Whether you write on a laptop or frequent cybercafés, you can create your own travel blog on-the-road. Blog platforms like Blogger are easy-to-learn, accessible and affordable. Taking and uploading quality digital photos can instantly share your latest destination with friends and family online.

Photo of travel journal cover by Chamko Rani

How can you travel greener? Here are several easy ways:

1. Choose greener modes of transportation.

Walk, cycle and take the train or bus – they’re the most environmentally-friendly modes of transportation. If you travel by car, rent a hybrid car to reduce your environmental footprint. For longer distance travel by plane, you can purchase carbon offset credits or look for companies which offer them.

2. Reuse hotel towels and bedding.

Every year, around the world, hotels spend enormous amounts of energy and water to daily change and wash towels and bedding. More hotels are adopting environmental programs including reusing towels and bedding. Ask when you check-in at your hotel and offer to reuse them.

3. Support the local community and culture.

There are many simple ways to support the local economy and culture where you’re visiting while reducing your environmental footprint. Dine at locally-owned restaurants which serve local foods and employ local residents. Buy handmade souvenirs by local artisans.

4. Recycle, reduce and reuse on-the-road.

Wherever possible, think about recycling, reducing and reusing while traveling. Many hotels and airports have installed recycling stations for food and beverage packaging so take time to recycle. After finishing reading newspapers, magazines and books, you can give them to fellow travelers or donate them to local libraries or your hotel.

5. Bring your own reusable water bottle.

If you can, bring your own reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic water bottles. Stainless steel SIGG bottles are excellent and stylish additions to your travel accessories.

Photo of Chicago Airport by Idle Type

Here are tips on how to beat layover blues:

• Ask about airport entertainment options.

Inquire about entertainment options at your airline or airport information desk. From airport to airport, they may vary from Internet cafes to cinemas. Maybe the airport offers a sleep pod rental service for long private naps. Or you can always buy magazines or a paperback novel at the airport bookshop.

• Go sightseeing

For longer layovers, take in the nearest city or community. Maybe head out on a 1-hour city bus tour, visit a museum or browse downtown shops. Find out the exact commuting times and schedules for airport trains, buses and taxis so you can budget your time wisely.

• Explore the airport hotel

Traveling into the city might be too tiring for weary travelers. Why not walk over to the airport hotel instead? Like the airport, the airport hotel can be its own lively community of travelers. Dine out at their fine dining restaurant or grab an espresso at the lounge café. Maybe the hotel spa can take you for a relaxing 30-minute massage.

• Send postcards

If your trip is short and sweet, there isn’t always time to write postcards. Take time at the airport to send a few airport postcards to loved ones to let them know you care.

• Learn a new language

Well, no you can’t learn an entire foreign language at the airport. You can begin learning a few valuable words and phrases though like ‘Where is the bathroom?” or “How much does this cost?” If you haven’t had time to buy that language or phrase book, check out the airport bookshop.

• Make friends

If you’re stuck in a crowded airport lounge, make conversation. You never know who you will meet. Fellow travelers might share insider tips on that perfect private beach. Or you can make a love connection or business contact. Whatever the case, time is likely to pass more quickly and pleasantly.

• People watch

The airport is its own constantly changing community. All types of people travel for every reason imaginable. Practice the simple art of people watching. Sit back and feel the invigorating energy of people coming and going.

• Be touched by the reunion of families at Arrivals

Observe the relaxed, experienced travelers and learn from their luggage, clothing, gadgets and habits. Learn the rhythm and workings of the airport – security, baggage handlers, airline check-ins etc. Make a game out of imagining who the travelers are, where they’re going and what they’ll do when they get there.

• Study Arrivals and Departures screens

Looking at destinations and points-of-origin can be fascinating. You could be inspired to travel more or even discover future holiday ideas. Maybe you’ll see that your favorite airline now flies to a much-loved destination.

• Research your next trip

Instead of getting impatient, focus on being creative, present and engaged in your life. The airport can be a valuable travel information source yet we often rush through them. Go to your airline information desk and inquire about current overall schedules, fees, discounts and special offers. If you’re so inclined, seize the day. Proceed to airline ticket sales and book a future flight.

• Further plan your current itinerary

Dream more about your current destination. Further map out your itinerary by visiting airport Internet cafes and browsing related travel websites. Or maybe take a reading break with your guidebook, uncovering new important facts and details.

Photo of Dallas airport terminal originally posted by digiyesica

Unfortunately, the traveler’s tale/urban myth of the $20 Oslo hot dog reflects the high cost of dining out here.

In Norway’s cities especially, a traveler’s budget can be reduced simply by eating smart and cheaper.

Here are three “eat cheaper in Norway” tips:

• Take time for a big, hotel breakfast.

The typical Scandinavian hotel breakfast is an unlimited, smorgasbord-style buffet breakfast. Larger hotels have a wide selection of hot and cold breakfast items such scrambled eggs, cereals, cheese and and breads. If you take time out for a big breakfast, you likely won’t be hungry again until dinner and save money on lunch out.

• Browse local markets, grocery stores and bakery cafes.

Most larger cities feature farmers and fish markets where you can browse seasonal fresh, local produce and catches-of-the-day. At Bergen’s Fish Market, you can buy fresh tasty, classic shrimp-and-cucumber on baguette sandwiches.

Visit the local grocery stores which are smaller and abundant in cities. They sell takeaway dishes, snack foods like fruit, yogurt and chocolate, and cold cuts and bread for sandwiches, usually much cheaper. Some local bakery cafes offer simple sandwiches and dishes for less than prices at neighboring restaurants.

• Avoid food at newspaper kiosks and gas stations.

Stay away from buying sandwiches, drinks and snacks from newspaper kiosks and gas stations. While they are convenient, you will likely pay more than for the same cheaper grocery store prices.

Photo of Norwegian sandwich originally posted by tuey