‘These are the five travel “rules” that I happily ignore’

By Josh Martin, a London-based journalist who writes across business and travel topics.

OPINION: Travel advice comes thick and fast.

You so much as hint that you’re off for a week in the islands or swanning about in Europe for a bit, and the deluge of helpful hacks hits you.

It starts with “you simply must” and “so, here’s the thing…” and then you’re waist deep in a set of rules, tricks and commonsense to apply to your trip away, when all you wanted was some downtime, a chilled drink and a bit of sun.

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It’s all well-meaning and borne from likely some hellish experiences criss-crossing the globe. But how much of it is still helpful and relevant?

Rule 1: Book online to get the best deal

In the last 30 years it has become gospel that booking anything online – travel related or not – is both easier and cheaper. It makes sense at face value: digitalisation made everything more efficient and cut costs.

And although you can easily book direct with airlines or hotels, we’ve essentially just swapped travel agencies on the street for online travel agencies, and just like their bricks and mortar forefathers, these intermediaries will be looking to clip the ticket and suggest you pay inflated prices for convenient add-ons (insurance, checked luggage, seat reservations…).

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There’s definitely a place for comparison websites and intermediaries, which save a lot of time and effort when researching flights and accommodation, but many hoteliers and tour operators prefer if you book direct and they can avoid a hefty commission payment to these tech companies.

It means they have wiggle room to offer you lower-than-advertised rates or extra perks.

Rule 2: Book early to get the best deal

The early bird gets the worm, right? Well, yes, sometimes. Peak-season flights, ferry crossings and soon-to-sell-out accommodation are things to book well in advance and with some consideration (and insurance for cancellations!).

However, the early bird nowadays also gets locked into plans, hotel rooms and airfares that are non-refundable even 12 months before your departure, so your apparent discount comes with a hefty penalty if you want or need to change course.

And, if market dynamics change – a rival airline adds seat capacity to a route, or other seats and rooms aren’t selling as well as they should – the price may dip to the same or lower than early bird deals.

Rule 3: Never talk about politics, sex or religion with strangers

I can’t imagine going to a city like Belfast, Sarajevo, Havana, or Ho Chi Minh and feeling it inappropriate to discuss recent history.

But to do so would be to go against the “good advice” doled out in Lonely Planet guides and blogs, but also the amateur lessons of etiquette doled out by parents, grandparents, teachers and wider western society.

Much better to discuss banal things like the weather or the fortunes of the local sports team, I’m told.

A hugely rewarding part of travelling is learning and expanding your horizons of how others live – the good, the bad and the ugly. And a central part of that is observing and asking questions.

Of course, there’s a way to approach topics that might be a little sensitive – you don’t have to use, “So, how about that bloody revolution, aye?” as an ice breaker, just be an inquisitive traveller.

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Rule 4: New is always better

There’s a subtle tut-tutting of snobbery in my head when I hear that people go back to the same beachside resort, or even hotel year after year after year. They call it homely and familiar, I argue that it’s lazy and safe. Maybe both are right.

However, that’s not to say that that returning to a city or destination time and time again is not just as rewarding as adding a different stamp to your passport.

You could visit London, Berlin, Shanghai or LA five times each and have completely different experiences, and discover new angles each time, never setting foot on the same streets.

These are not one-time only places, you haven’t “done Paris” just because you stayed in Montmartre for three nights in 2015.

Similarly though, there is value in returning to some paths you’ve trod before and reminiscing, seeing what’s new and seeing old faces.

Rule 5: Avoid alcohol on flights

You’ve survived the labyrinth of check-in rules, assertive frisking of security and shepherded wayward members of your travel clan through queues and duty-free deals only to be reminded that the experts recommend you stay teetotal throughout your flight.

It’s better for your health don’t you know.

Science says that alcohol consumption will impact your ability to sleep on board, worsen jet lag and reduce blood oxygen levels while increasing dehydration.

Be that as it may, in my own long-running study of one, I’ve found there is an unmistakable dopamine hit, and drastic reductions in the stress hormone cortisol when the trauma of airports is bookended by imbibing an airborne aperitif to toast the adventure ahead.

Choose your poison, you’re on holiday.

This story was originally published by Stuff.co.nz and has been reproduced here with permission.