1.  Beware the low-cost deal

Times are tight. Everyone wants to travel, but we also want to spend as little money as possible while getting an amazing experience. The more you travel the more you realize that time is money. A cheaper 8-hour layover? You just lost a day of PTO and you’re buying expensive airport food. That bargain hotel? Now you’re paying for cabs because you can’t walk anywhere and you are watching the joy of your trip fade away. It’s okay to spend a bit more on great flights and city-center hotels.

2. Don’t Try to Mimic Social Travel Influencers

A travel influencer’s job is to inspire you to book the trip and pack your bags. I have traveled with them and witnessed the job it is to create that content you’re drooling over. It. Is. Work. We all want amazing shots from our hard-earned vacay, but don’t forget – you’re on vacation. Don’t waste time lining up with hundreds of other people to get that Instagram shot. Go on a hike. Get a coffee at a local shop. Quietly explore a place of worship for a moment of peace. Immerse in the destination and you will take an enviable shot those influencers never saw.

3. Make time for the unexpected.

I am a professional travel planner (yeah – still in disbelief I get paid for this). I am a research queen. I will build you the perfect itinerary, but I’m not going to plan every moment of your day. You need to build in down-time. You want to be open to meeting someone unexpectedly. To find a waterfall while driving and deciding to hike to it. To (twice) going an hour out of your way to get selfies with 30’ tall statues of a moose and a squirrel (#DeanGirl). The unexpected moments are the ones that make the core memories.

4. Just breathe when things go wrong.

I know you paid a lot of money for this. I know you want this to be perfect, but until Scotty can teleport us, things aren’t always going to go as planned. The travel gods are not targeting you. Sometimes life just happens in a way we don’t want it to. I always try to think of the people trying to help me out of these situations and how much worse their lives are dealing with outraged people that can’t be satisfied. Take a breath. Smile even if they aren’t. Say please and thank you. Karma rewards the better person.

5. You’re not in the U.S. anymore

I personally travel to experience what I can’t experience at home, otherwise, why leave? I’m fascinated with how the red caps hustle their butts off in Caribbean airports to haul your bags for a tiny tip. You think cab drivers in NYC are rude? Hah! Try Italy where road laws are mere suggestions. It’s rude to turn down the offer of a cup of tea in Ireland. Never eat with your left hand in India (sorry, lefties). Expect to be turned away after that long wait in line to visit a church in many European countries (travel hack – pack a shawl). The point is, the world outside your home is different. Being temporarily uncomfortable is allowed. You might even grow from it, so embrace it!