This summer, my husband and I celebrated our 20th anniversary with a river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland. As always, we came home with wonderful memories...and a handful of lessons that I'll be using on every trip from now on.
Here are a few that might make your next adventure a little smoother.
1. Fly Direct Whenever You Can
A direct flight can make all the difference - even if it means driving an extra couple of hours to a different airport.
On our flight home, we experienced something none of us expected: a medical emergency on board. Our plane had to divert to London so the passenger could receive medical care before we refueled and continued to the United States.
Because we had booked a nonstop flight, we simply arrived home a couple of hours late.
Most of the passengers around us weren't nearly as fortunate. They missed their connecting flights, had to be rebooked, and many ended up spending the night in airports or hotels.
Travel doesn't always go according to plan. Every connection is another opportunity for something to go wrong. When possible, I now view a nonstop flight as insurance against the unexpected.
2. Eat Like a Local
One of our favorite lunches wasn't at a restaurant.
While wandering through Lucerne, we stopped at the grocery store inside the train station. We picked up local meats, cheeses, fresh fruit, and incredible stromboli-like sandwiches that had just come out of the oven.
It was delicious. It also cost about one-fifth of what we had spent at lunch the day before.
Even better, it felt like we were experiencing everyday Swiss life instead of just visiting tourist attractions. Sometimes the best meals are the ones the locals eat every day.
3. Download the Apps Before You Leave Home
A little preparation goes a long way.
In Switzerland, nearly everything revolves around the train system. Having the SBB Mobile app already installed made traveling incredibly easy. We could purchase tickets as our train was pulling into the station, compare routes instantly, and even take advantage of discounted fares that weren't always obvious at the ticket machines.
The same idea applies almost anywhere you travel. Download the transportation apps, airline apps, museum apps, or park apps before you leave home. It's much easier to set everything up while you're sitting comfortably on your couch than while standing in a busy station trying to find Wi-Fi.
4. Don't Automatically Accept ATM Fees
A little attention can save surprising amounts of money.
A few years ago in Italy, we discovered that using credit union ATMs often eliminated extra withdrawal fees.
This summer in Germany, we noticed something different. The ATM offered us the option to accept or decline an additional currency conversion fee. We declined it—and still received our cash without any problem.
Every country is different, but it's worth reading each screen carefully before automatically pressing "Accept." You may be able to avoid unnecessary charges just by letting your own bank handle the currency conversion.
5. The Day You Travel Can Save You Hundreds
If your schedule is flexible, let airfare help determine your travel dates.
Historically, Tuesday and Wednesday departures tend to offer some of the lowest fares, while Sundays are often among the most expensive. More recently, Fridays have also become surprisingly economical for many international flights as business travel patterns have shifted.
The best strategy is to search using the airline's flexible-date calendar before locking in your plans. Moving your trip by even a day or two can sometimes save hundreds of dollars—money that's much better spent enjoying your vacation.
6. Know Your Credit Card Benefits
This may have been our biggest lesson.
We purchased approximately $750 worth of travel insurance for this trip.
Afterward, I learned that if we had simply booked the trip using a different credit card, much of that coverage would have been included automatically.
As a real-world example, a friend of mine had to cancel an international trip because of a health issue. His credit card's built-in trip insurance reimbursed the costs with very little hassle.
Yes, premium travel cards often have significant annual fees. But if you travel even occasionally, the benefits—trip insurance, rental car coverage, airport lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits, baggage protection, and annual travel credits—can easily outweigh the cost.
Before purchasing separate travel insurance, take five minutes to review what your credit card already provides. You may already be paying for protection you didn't realize you had.
7. Reserve Airport Parking Ahead of Time
This one surprised us.
When we flew out of Philadelphia, we discovered that if you reserve your airport parking online at least 24 hours before your scheduled entry time, you can save a significant amount of money—even in the long-term economy lot.
The process took less than two minutes, and the savings were substantial. It's one of those simple things that's easy to overlook because most of us assume parking costs what it costs.
Before your next trip, take a minute to check whether your departure airport offers advance parking reservations. You may be pleasantly surprised by how much you can save before your vacation even begins.
8. Pay Attention to What Your Travel Teaches You
Travel has a funny way of teaching life lessons.
Some lessons come from breathtaking mountain views. Others come from delayed flights, grocery store lunches, or ATM screens written in another language.
One thing I've learned—both in travel and in financial planning—is that success rarely comes from predicting every twist and turn. It comes from making thoughtful decisions ahead of time so that when life inevitably throws you a surprise, you're prepared.
The same is true with your finances. We can't control what the markets will do, how tax laws will change, or what unexpected events life may bring. But we can build flexibility into your financial plan so that when the unexpected happens, it's an inconvenience—not a crisis.
Looking back, every one of these lessons had the same theme: a little planning up front made for a smoother, less stressful—and less expensive—trip. That's true whether you're traveling across Europe or planning for retirement.
Happy travels, and as always...make great decisions.