• If you want to stay in a city centre, it is probably better to splash some cash. Although the budget motels on the outskirts of towns are usually OK (and sometimes very good), those in the centres are often (although certainly not always) a little seedier.

• Many motels do not have lifts so, if possible, have an overnight bag and leave the suitcase in the car rather than drag it up the staircase.

• Use reward apps to maximize your return on stays. Booking apps like Expedia, Booking.com etc. give rewards and will generally lead to offers, free nights if used frequently. Ideally, it is probably best to stick to a single app although, as I was experimenting, I used the Choice Privileges app as well as the Wyndham app (these cover most of the budget brand hotels in the US), and Expedia. I recently went to a gig in Birmingham and discovered that they have a Comfort Inn by New Street. I had accrued a free night from my US travels, so cashed that in. It was fairly basic, but a good location and all I needed was a place to sleep - with a Wetherspoons 2 minutes away for breakfast :-)

• Pack less and be prepared to do some washing, especially if you are in one location for a few days

• In the US in particular, budget hotels tend to have self-service laundries (worth checking when you book if you need to get some laundry done), where you can get a load washed and tumble dried for a few dollars. More upmarket hotels tend to have laundry services, which are extortionate.

• Carry some detergent with you, which you can use in a laundry, or just in the bath / sink at a pinch. I carry laundry detergent sheets as these take up very little space and are flat (Dr. Beckmann Magic Leaves seem to do the job)

• I have been known to carry a portable washing line and pegs but have never used them as there are usually other options for drying (even if it is balcony, warm back seat of the car etc.)

The USA is very much a tip based culture with pretty much a minimum of 15% expected for basic service. You will generally find that, even when paying by card, you will be presented with a screen for tipping and it is a brave soul who will cancel that in front of their server!

In Egypt (and I believe in other Middle Eastern countries, some of Eastern Europe, parts of Asia), the tipping culture is a bit more extreme, with a tip expected for every service interaction. A service interaction is essentially any time someone gives you advice, directions etc. This is referred to as “baksheesh” and is a deeply embedded part of the culture, so be prepared to tip often!

Some other things to consider:

• It is always worth making sure that you have some cash, as well as physical cards and your phone. This may be unusual, but on my last day in Egypt, there was a major internet outage and none of the card machines were working. It was impossible to buy anything other than with cash.

• Some countries prefer foreign currencies rather than their own, especially if there is an inflation issue. Dollars are generally preferred, followed by Euros, with Sterling being accepted at a pinch. It is worth carrying a stash of small denomination notes for tipping wherever you travel, and ideally some dollars if travelling outside of Europe and the USA.

• If you are staying in a hotel for several nights, make sure that you tip housekeeping. Apart from being good form, it usually ensure that you get clean towels etc.

Some suggestions:

• Have something to boost your immune system, start taking it before you depart and keep it up for at least the start of your trip. I use Turkey Tail mushroom supplements to boost my immune system, but you can take any of the many other supplements like echinacea.

• If you can afford it, get something like AG1 travel packs. AG1 is a daily greens supplement. It isn’t cheap, but it is great for making sure that you have all of your nutritional bases covered when you may not be following the healthiest diet on the road. For a recent trip, I found some “Supergreens and Superfoods” supplement tablets on Amazon, which were much more reasonable.

• Always carry lots of water

• I generally stock up on trail mix so that I have something nutritious to snack on, even if I am not near any restaurants.

• Whenever you are in a fast food restaurant, stock up on napkins - they always come in handy

• If you are travelling to high altitude (which covers a great deal of the western side of the USA), always have sun cream. The UV at high altitude can be quite extreme even if it doesn’t seem hot.

• Obviously ensure that you have travel insurance for emergencies

• Get yourself a UK Global Health Insurance Card - this replaces the EHIC card since the UK left the EU - meaning that you can access healthcare in the EU and some other countries. It is free and you can apply online.

Now most hotels and some public transport will have Wifi access and of course there are always fast food restaurants. If you don’t want to spend you time in McDonalds just to get on the internet, it is worth investing in a data plan.

Depending on your phone contract, you may have some roaming data included but if not, and your phone supports it, an eSIM is the way to go. An eSim is essentially a virtual SIM card that you install on the phone and load up witha data plan. Some bank accounts such as Revolut support these, and there are apps like Saily and Airolo through which you can purchase region specific data plans. They are usually pretty reasonable. I have used Saily a number of times, but it is worth shopping around.

[Side Note: If you are planning to use public Wifi, I would very much recommend a VPN for security. I use Proton VPN, but other VPNs are available!]

For navigation, it is possible to get offline maps such as OpenStreetMaps, but Google maps is still the best. Bare in mind that if you are planning to head to remote locations (especially driving) you are likely to hit places where there is no signal so it is always worth

1. Downloading the route before you set off - Google Maps has an option for this,

2. Having a reasonable idea of which roads you are likely to want to travel down

3. Having a paper copy of the map just in case

It is always worth understanding:

• Are there any places that you want to visit which require booking well in advance due to limited availability? I failed to get to the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta as I booked a cheap trip at short notice and didn’t realize that this, as one of the most popular places to visit in Malta and with limited access, books up several months in advance.

• Are any places that you are visiting running a timed entry system. This seems to be more common these days, with some National Parks in the USA doing this. It usually doesn’t cost more than a nominal booking fee, but you have to have a booked slot to gain entry.

• Does your destination have any public holidays whilst you are there? This can severely limit your options for access to attractions, bars, restaurants etc. I speak as someone who has been in Belfast on 12th July when all the bars are closed and in the USA on 3rd July when (apparently) lots of businesses close down early for Independence Day on the 4th.

• Are any of the places that you are planning to visit very popular and are you likely to turn up at a weekend. If so, it is worth booking accommodation in advance for these places, even if you are winging it elsewhere. Once again, guilty!

I recently spent a week in Malta visiting many of the major sites, travelling entirely on buses. Here are some observations that may be helpful…

• Malta has an extensive bus network and, at least within the towns, there will generally be several ways to reach your destination without having to wait too long.

• Bus travel is very good value. At the time of writing it cost 2.5 euros for a ticket which allows 2 hours of travel. For 25 euros, you can purchase a 7 day Tallinja adult explorer ticket (these are available in the airport and from the many Transport Malta booths). This is great as it means that you don’t have to be concerned about how many buses you have to use to reach your destination, or getting on the wrong one (you inevitably will at some stage) and having to change. Just tap the card as you get on and you are good to go.

• The card does not appear to cover ferries, but these are relatively cheap. A return to Gozo was 4.5 euros. Sliema to Valetta 2.5 euros.

• Every resident in Malta is entitled to free public transport, so the buses are VERY well used and exceptionally busy at peak times or on popular routes. This means that there will often be standing room only, with the buses being so packed that it is difficult to get on or off.

• If the buses are completely packed, they will not stop for more passengers, so be prepared to implement a Plan B!

• Buses generally only stop if (a) someone on the bus requests it or (b) they are flagged down at the bus stop.

• Flagging the bus down takes some getting used to. You have to be very clear and you also have to be careful for blocked views. Sometimes the bus you want is not the first one to the bus stop and if you don’t spot it and flag it down it will just sail past. Make sure that you have good visibility!

• The buses can sometimes vary from their scheduled times quite dramatically, especially when traffic is really bad. It is worth downloading the Tallinja app which will show real time data on where the buses are. A combination of this and Google Maps is great for plotting routes and understanding where you are in relation to the stop you need whilst on the bus.

• Don’t be too reserved. The Maltese don’t really queue when getting on to buses. If you are too polite, you will be left behind.

• Grab a seat when you can. If you are standing, grab on to something. The traffic conditions and often fairly complex manoeuvres, especially in narrow streets with parked cars, can lead to some fairly erratic stop/starts.

• Although not big on queueing, the Maltese are very polite when on the bus. I did see many people giving up seats to older or less mobile passengers. You should do the same. Also, the challenges of squeezing your way through a crowd to the exit requires a relaxed and friendly demeanour.

• Carry a power pack to recharge your phone. If you are travelling all day, the location based apps can take their toll on your phone battery.

• Allow lots of time and be prepared to flex your plans. It very much helps to have a relaxed attitude towards getting where you want to go.

• The buses have free Wifi, so you can save on that data plan.

• Malta is not very big, so be aware that if push comes to shove, you can always get a taxi and it is unlikely to break the bank. A local told me that:

  • Although there seem to be very many more Bolt than Uber taxis, all of the drivers are on both apps and will just flip between them. Apparently the costs are comparable

  • The rate charged varies according to how busy the traffic is so if it is rush hour, go grab a drink and travel later!