July Travel Tips

A Packing Tip You'll Love!

Roll your clothes to save space, reduce wrinkles, and stay organized-no more digging through your suitcase.

Know Before You Go: Washcloths

One thing we’ve learned through our travels is that washcloths aren’t always provided in hotels and resorts. We’ve encountered this in several destinations throughout Europe and Africa.

After discovering this, we started planning ahead. When we traveled to Greece a few years ago, we packed a few old washcloths from home. After using them during the trip, we simply left them behind, which created a little extra room in our luggage for souvenirs.

More recently, we’ve switched to traveling with disposable washcloths, which are lightweight, convenient, and take up very little space.

It’s a small detail, but knowing what amenities may—or may not—be available at your destination can help you pack smarter and avoid surprises.

Things to keep in mind before you go!

Know Before You Go: Tipping

One travel topic we get asked about frequently is tipping. Who do you tip? How much should you give? If gratuities are prepaid, is additional tipping necessary? What about at an all-inclusive resort?

Our best advice is to do a little research before you travel. Prepaid gratuities are often split between a number of people. Tipping customs also vary widely around the world.

We learned this firsthand during a stay at an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic. After receiving exceptional service, we left a tip for our server. At first, we weren’t sure whether we had made his day or accidentally offended him. A little research later confirmed that we had likely made his day.

On another trip to Mexico, we enjoyed a wonderful meal at a small local restaurant. The food was excellent, the service outstanding, and we tipped as we typically would in the United States. Our waitress’s response is one we’ll never forget: “You come back again soon, amigos.”

Perhaps the best advice we’ve ever received about tipping came while traveling in East Africa: “Tip from your heart.”

When we travel, we usually carry small bills and use them to show appreciation to the people who help make our journey memorable—housekeepers, drivers, guides, servers, and others along the way. When we’re unsure, we simply ask a local or guide what is customary.

What are your travel tipping tips or guidelines? We’d love to hear what has worked for you.