Here’s How to Avoid Getting Pickpocketed While Traveling

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: To avoid being targeted by thieves, leave your passport in the hotel safe, carry your valuables in front and beware of distractions, especially in crowds. Getting your wallet, phone, purse or passport swiped can really ruin a vacation. You shouldn’t stress too much about the possibility of being robbed, but taking precautions to …

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First Trip to Europe? Here’s How to Plan and Prep

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Traveling in the right season and knowing the local customs and culture ahead of time can help make your first trip to Europe a special experience. If it’s your first trip to Europe, you’re probably excited — and maybe a little nervous. Whether you scored a cheap airfare or finally saved up enough …

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Tips & Tricks For Budget Backpacking (in Style) Through Emerging Countries

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Planning ahead, choosing your destination wisely and using your points for splurges can help you backpack on a budget while still having some luxury moments. You don’t have to be a recent college graduate or student to take a budget backpacking trip. Backpacking can be done at any age, by anyone, even families. …

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How Online Shopping Can Earn You Bonus Travel Rewards

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Shopping summer sales online for back-to-school supplies and more can earn you bonus points and miles, getting you closer to free travel. You may not realize that online shopping can earn you points and miles beyond what you’d already earn by using a specific credit card. But many airlines have shopping portals, which …

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How to Be an Eco-Friendly Traveler

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Traveling responsibly can be as easy as packing items like reusable water bottles or metal straws or biking at your destination, instead of taking a taxi. Eco-friendliness is on the minds of 87% of travelers want to travel sustainably, according to a 2018 study by Booking.com. But only 52% of people actually manage to do …

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How to Prevent and Deal With Lost Luggage

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Make sure to book travel with a credit card that offers baggage delay reimbursement. Taking precautions like tagging both the outside and the inside of your bag, avoiding short layovers and using a tracking device can also help protect you against luggage loss. “How about $5?” I asked the woman selling overflowing piles of tank …

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Why You Should Plan to Travel Solo On Your Next Trip

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Take your next trip solo. You’ll travel on your own terms, boost your self-confidence and maybe even learn a new language in the process. Solo travel is on the rise, especially among millennials, baby boomers and females. But what is it about solo travel that’s so intriguing and why is the trend growing? …

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How to Reduce the Effects of Jet Lag

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: There’s no fast fix or “cure” for jet lag, but apps like Timeshifter can help your body handle it better.  Insomnia. Exhaustion. Stomach issues. Difficulty concentrating. These are all side effects of jet lag, the disruption of the body’s internal clock and circadian rhythms that happens to travelers when they cross multiple time …

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Pack This, Not That: Keep Yourself and Your Belongings Safe While Traveling

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Pack light and right, taking what you need to keep yourself and your personal items safe. Staying safe when traveling is a broad topic, but today, I’ll be focusing on what you can take with you to keep yourself and your belongings safe, but first, heed this advice: Pack light. Your “stuff” will be …

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7 Reasons You Need Global Entry (And How to Get Your Application Fee Covered)

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Global Entry gives you expedited entry into the US and TSA PreCheck. Certain credit cards will cover the application fee. Global Entry is the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) system that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to have expedited entry back into the United States after an international trip. After filling out an …

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Hotel Room or Home Rental: How to Choose the Right One for Your Trip

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Home rentals may be better for large groups or extended vacations. Hotel stays can be a better choice for business travelers or special occasions. To Airbnb or not to Airbnb? That is the question. Factors like price, location and type of trip all play a part in the decision. It’s not an exact …

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Use These 12 Travel Hacks for Packing Light and Right

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Consider purchasing a travel jacket or vest that safely holds important items like passports and money and comes with features like a built-in eyemask and an inflatable neck pillow. We’ve all ended up at our destination with too much stuff — or too little. If your least favorite part of traveling is packing …

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Could (and Should) You Have Two Valid US Passports?

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: If your current passport has stamps for specific countries or you need to send it away for visas while continuing to travel, getting a second passport may be right for you. Most US citizens won’t ever need to have two valid US passports at a time, but there are some people who would benefit …

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Everything You Need to Know About Traveling During Hurricane Season

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Pack right, register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and make sure to book your trip with a credit card that offers trip cancellation/interruption insurance when traveling during the Atlantic hurricane season. If you couldn’t resist those low fares to Cancun in July or have already booked a family trip to Florida in August, …

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How to Avoid Travel Scams When Traveling Abroad

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: To avoid travel scams when traveling abroad, take photos and videos of your rental vehicles, be wary of anyone who approaches you and work directly with your hotel or a reputable tour company to organize your transport and excursions. Always listen to your intuition. Brian, a savvy traveler and veteran backpacker thought he’d …

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You Could Be Denied Entry to a Foreign Country With a Valid US Passport

Written by Lori Zaino @ Million Mile Secrets

INSIDER SECRET: Make sure to monitor your passport’s expiration date and renew nine full months ahead of time so you won’t be turned away from entering countries that have a six- or three-month passport validity rule. Ken and Silvia were heading to Italy for their honeymoon. Everything on the two-week escape to the Mediterranean paradise …

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