Travel Tip/Hack of the Week! ✈️

[Zahid_Niyo]

---

Hey, Travel Enthusiasts!

Introducing “Wanderlust Wisdom: Travel Tip of the Week”!

Got an awesome travel tip or hack? Whether it’s a packing trick that saves space or a money-saving tip that’s worked wonders, we’re all ears! Share what’s helped make your adventures smoother, more fun, or lighter on the wallet!

Here's your chance to shine:
Drop your best travel tip below and discover amazing tricks from fellow travelers!

The tip with the most reactions/replies will be pinned for the week, and the admins will also choose their top 3 favorites!

Check out our other exciting programs and contests in the community:

Photo of the Week
Travel Tales/Experiences
Best Lounge Moments
Local Cuisine Chronicles
Hidden Gems/Off-Beaten Destinations

So, let's get sharing and uncover some new travel magic! 🤩

---

[Mohammad_Zahid]

Tip: Google Maps Offline Navigation + Download Location Pin Hack!

Before you travel, especially abroad, download the offline map of your destination city in Google Maps. But here’s a lesser-known hack: while you have internet access, drop pins at all your planned spots (like hotels, restaurants, and attractions) and at potential emergency locations (like hospitals, police stations, and embassies).

For each pin, add critical info in the notes section, such as:

• Local address in the local language
• Key phrases for taxi drivers
• Operating hours
• Emergency contact numbers
• Nearby landmarks

With this setup, even without internet or when facing a language barrier, you can:

• Navigate offline easily
• Show locals or drivers exactly where to go in their language
• Access crucial info without searching online

I hope this helps you on your travels! Cheers!

[Sai_Charan1 (Sai Charan)]

My must to do Tip, Before traveling to a new destination, consider joining local Facebook groups for that area about a week in advance. This way, you can connect with residents, discover hidden gems, and gain valuable insights into the best local experiences.

[anuragalive (Anurag Singh)]

Hey everyone! I’m really excited about this initiative and can’t wait to see all your fantastic tips! Here’s a money-saving hack that’s worked wonders for me: While the Niyo Card is great for avoiding foreign transaction fees, having some cash on hand is always a good idea. In some places, cash is still preferred, especially in local markets or smaller shops.

Instead of exchanging a large amount of INR in India, consider doing it in the country you’re visiting. For example, when I traveled to the UAE a few months ago, I was initially offered around 1,290 AED for 30,000 INR in India. I decided to wait and exchange the money in the UAE instead. To my surprise, I received around 1,520 AED! That’s a difference of 230 AED, which translates to approximately 4,500 INR saved!

Not only does this approach often provide better rates, but it also allows you to familiarize yourself with local currency exchanges. Just be sure to check the exchange rates before you go, and try to find reputable exchange spots.

Having cash on hand really made my trip smoother, and I could take advantage of some great local experiences without worrying about card acceptance.

I’m excited to learn from your experiences too! Together, we can all make our travels more enjoyable, hassle-free and affordable. Happy travels, everyone!

[Prantick_Santra]

It’s a bit of a struggle to share my travel hacks because, honestly, as soon as my trip’s over, I forget every sneaky trick I used to save money, time, or energy. It’s like my brain thinks they’re ‘limited edition’! But hey, I managed to remember a few from my Vietnam adventure!

---

Use VND Over USD: Vendors typically quote prices in Vietnamese Dong (VND), and while USD may be accepted, the exchange rate isn’t favorable. Withdraw VND from ATMs or exchange currency at airports/banks using your Zero Forex Niyo credit/debit cards. Or exchange cash at reliable currency exchanges like banks or jewelry stores in larger cities.

---

Bargain Like a Local: Haggling is common in markets, but do so respectfully. Offer about 50-70% of the starting price, and see if you can meet halfway.

---

Street Food Etiquette: Many vendors sell delicious dishes right on the street. Look for stalls that are busy and popular with locals for the best quality.

---

Follow these hacks, and may your wallet stay full, your haggling skills sharp, and your stomach adventurous—because in Vietnam, every corner is a new adventure waiting to be bargained for!

[Alphin]

Hey guys, I hope everyone is doing well. During this week’s travel tip/hack, I’d like to mention something known as skiplagging. It’s an effective way to save money on flights, especially last-minute flights. This practice is common in America but not so popular in India.

Basically, skiplagging means that, suppose you have to fly from “A” to “B” and the price of the flight is high, you should book a flight from “A” to “C” that connects through “B” and exit at the "B"th airport. To be more clear, suppose I want to fly from Kochi to Sharjah, and the prices are very high, what to do is to book a flight from Kochi to Muscat or any other destinations which connect trough Sharjah. And when the flight lands at Sharjah, we can simply exit the airport. This example has worked for my friend a month ago. That time the price of Air Arabia flight was 52k from Kochi to Sharjah but he booked a flight from Kochi to Mascat for 27k which connect trough Sharjah and exited at Sharjah airport.

A few points to remember: this usually works only if you have a cabin bag. And if you have a checked-in bag, the airlines will only give you the checked-in bag at your final destination. Also, don’t do this continuously on the same airline, as there’s a chance they may ban you from flying with them in the future.

This trick works best for last-minute or urgent flights. My friends and I have done this many times and saved a lot of money. Please let me know if you have tried it.

Happy flying

[Animesh_Sharma]

Hello fellow travellers! As some of you know this year is going to be one of the best for Aurora sightings for almost a decade, I thought of sharing my personal tips that we followed on our 16-day Iceland trip last month to see the amazing display of Northern Lights.

Tip 1: Check the weather forecast for cloud cover and the KP index forecast. Ideally, no cloud coverage and a KP index > 3 will improve your chances. We used vedur.is for weather and the Aurora app for KP forecast.

Tip 2: Pack warm layers - This is very important, as aurora hunting is something you are gonna do at night during winters in countries close to the Arctic circle. So don’t underestimate the weather and the winds. Don’t forget gloves, caps and woolen socks

Tip 3: Find a place with less light around to get the perfect viewing experience. It was easy to find remote areas in most of Iceland except the capital, where you would need to drive out of the city.

Tip 4: Take a tripod for your phone or camera - As much as viewing the lights is an experience, you would want to capture them as well for the memories. Having a stand will enhance your Aurora pictures by a huge margin. This keeps your phone stable since your camera needs 3-5 seconds of exposure to get the perfect shot at night, and keeping the camera still using your hand might not be the most optimal way.

Tip 5: Avoid the Northern Lights tour - Okay, this might be debatable, but hear me out. If there is a high cloud coverage forecast or low KP index, then no tours can show you any lights. You just need to check the apps and websites, and you should be fine. This is an example of an Aurora sighting from the backyard of our stay .

But I am talking from my experience in Iceland where there are a lot of remote places and you don’t need to drive a lot to chase the lights. People might have a different experience in other places.

Tip 6: Be patient and take snacks and water with you - It could be a looooong night of Aurora gazing because when the KP is high, there are chances that you will spend 2-3 hours outside. Solar activity happens in bursts which will give you 10 mins of intense lights and then a brief break. It is like the silence before the storm and then suddenly you will be struck with an even more intense display of lights. So keep calm, pack some food, warm clothes, and brace yourselves for the show of a lifetime.

Happy Aurora hunting!

[akuzo_niyo]

Wow, this is amazing @Animesh_Sharma

Thanks for sharing.

[Zahid_Niyo]

Thanks so much for sharing these tips @Animesh_Sharma! They’re super helpful for anyone heading out to see the Northern Lights. Checking the KP index, finding dark spots, and packing warm layers are all great reminders.

This will help other travelers have an amazing aurora adventure. Happy travels, and thanks again for adding such value to the community!

[Prantick_Santra]

This is undoubtedly one of the best pieces I’ve read . Thank you @Animesh_Sharma for sharing such valuable insights. I’ll definitely be saving this post for future reference!