The HerCanberra team spills their travel tips – just in time for a Canberra winter
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The HerCanberra team loves not being in Canberra almost as much as they love Canberra.
And we know we’re not alone. Because we Canberrans are prolific travellers – whether it’s a last-minute drive to the coast or a much-planned overseas holiday.
So, ahead of that frenzied rush to book in winter holidays to warmer places, we thought we’d share our top travel hacks for a successful overseas jaunt.
Bon voyage and thank us later.
Amanda Whitley, Founder + Editor-in-Chief
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Last holiday: UK, Italy and France. Next holiday: Not sure – still paying the last one off!
Plan well, travel light
I was converted to Emma’s ‘carry-on only‘ rule when I travelled to Mexico for three weeks at the start of last year. However, a wardrobe that could traverse both cold and warm climates was a little challenging to accommodate in one cabin-size bag.
The answer? I developed a Canva document – allocating one page for every day of my trip – and used it to visualise what I would wear on each of those days. I went fully monochrome with a couple of touches of denim and that allowed me to mix and match a wide range of outfits from 20 items. I didn’t stick religiously to my guide, but it meant that I could discard items that were only going to get one look in, and think about when I needed to find a nearby laundromat!
Book all the bucket list activities well in advance
There are few things I love more than travel planning and I have to force myself to not over-program the itinerary when I’m away. Instead, I’ve learnt to select a few ‘bucket list’ activities, book them well in advance, and then leave a lot of time between them for organic exploration.
For example, if you are determined to visit the summit of the Le Tour Eiffel, research when tickets will go on sale and be ready to buy as soon as they open – I delayed by a day before our last trip and only just got my hands on them!
Don’t be a slave to the itinerary
Following on from my last point, be sure to give yourself time to soak in the place you’re visiting and tailor your activities to your mood.
When I travelled to Mexico solo, I had packed in activities because I didn’t want to just be hanging around by myself – but there were times when all I wanted to do was chill. So I gave myself permission to go ‘off itinerary’ and soon realised that doing things like sitting at the open-air rooftop bar at my hotel in Oaxaca with a glass of wine, some nachos and a book was a brilliant cultural experience in itself.
When I think back, it’s often the moments of ‘living’ rather than ‘touring’ that bring me the most pleasure.
Beatrice Smith, Managing Editor
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Last holiday: Seoul and Bangkok. Next holiday: Singapore, Bangkok and Koh Samui.
Get tricky with flights and stopovers
Some national carriers specifically include long layovers in their cheapest fares to encourage tourists to stay a while, which means you can score a 24-hour mini-holiday en route to your actual holiday.
Yes, you have to add in the cost of a hotel room to the bottom line, but it all balances out in the cheapness of the flight and I will never complain about adding an extra destination to the itinerary.
For example, this winter I’m spending 20 hours in Singapore en route to Bangkok. A cheeky hawker centre dinner and a swim at Sentosa in the morning? Say less.
Live your best Barbie life – and save money
I can personally attest to the genius Amanda’s Canva hack – last holiday I left Australia for two weeks in Korea and Bangkok with 6.5 kg of luggage. Yep. In total.
The Canva hack allowed me to test outfits and cut the chaff in my packing list. Did I need three black singlets? No, I did not. I also didn’t need that expensive checked luggage.
Don’t be uncomfortable for the sake of other people
I have endometriosis that mostly sits around my tailbone and therefore, I sit on a latex cushion when I drive. On my last overseas holiday, I was nervous to bring it along to help me feel more comfortable on the plane. It’s shaped kind of like a neck pillow but…would people look at me?
Nope, they didn’t. In fact, no one cared but me and I was so glad I didn’t leave it behind out of fear of judgement.
Spoil your future self by travelling budget
This is probably my biggest travel hack – travelling on ‘budget’ airlines as much as possible. Why? Because I can’t afford business class on a full-service airline but I can sure as heck afford an exit row seat, a premium economy seat or even a wide business class-eque leather seat on a budget carrier.
Usually offered as add-ons after you select your base fare, these carriers allow you to maximise comfort for as little as $100 while not spending big on things like check-in luggage or meals you don’t even want to eat and trust me – when you’re up in the air in your comfortable seat, you’ll thank your past self.
Erin Cross, Online Editor
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Last holiday: Edinburgh, York, Bath, Oxford, Paris and London. Next holiday: Maybe Italy. Or Spain. Or Greece. The possibilities are endless, but ideally somewhere warm…
A capsule wardrobe is key
As a chronic shopaholic and over-packer, choosing what clothing and shoes to take on a five-week trip felt almost impossible. I knew I wanted to be comfortable, warm and presentable enough that I could grab an Insta snap without having to worry about the practicality of looking cute while also walking 20,000 steps a day. The solution? A neutral capsule wardrobe where I could swap and change all of the pieces I packed.
Black and brown pants, blue jeans and black and white jumpers made up the entirety of my wardrobe and a change of shoes and the addition of accessories made each combination feel refreshed and revitalised. Next time I’ll take a leaf out of Amanda and Bea’s book and use Canva to be even more organised (because somehow, I still took a lot more than what I needed).
Also, pack things that don’t need to be ironed and dry quickly – it’ll make life so much easier.
Want cute Insta photos? You need to plan that sh*t
Speaking of cute Insta pics and being organised, my biggest tip for anyone hoping to grab a cute travel snap is to plan it all. I’m talking: where you’re going to take it, what you’d like to wear and even the time of day to go (early mornings are usually best if you want to avoid having lots of other tourists in your photo).
For all of the shots I knew I wanted – like The Circus in Bath, The Shambles in York, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris – with the help of my amazing partner we actually visited the location during one of our more ‘tourist-y’ days to see if they where what I pictured in my head. Then (on a day where I felt less sweaty and had on a cuter outfit), we went back and grabbed some snaps before venturing off to our next activity. For Notting Hill in London, and the Christ Church College stairs in Oxford (where I couldn’t scope out the location IRL), I had a vague idea of where I wanted the picture and what I wanted it to look like. So I made sure to put on something I felt good in and off I went!
Instagram and TikTok are amazing if you want some ideas of where to go and how to pose for that perfect ‘gram-worthy shot – including some more unique locations that aren’t overflowing with other tourists trying to do the same thing.
Google those menus, pin those restaurants and have absolutely no shame
Travelling as someone who can’t eat gluten (and probably shouldn’t have a lot of dairy) is already a daunting task, but when heading to a city like Paris where their main food groups are bread, butter and cheese, you need to have a plan. So plan I did.
Prior to my trip to Europe, I went on a social media deep-dive on the best places to go for gluten-free food and I uncovered some absolute gems (keep an eye out for a separate post with all of my suggestions). But the biggest hack here is saving each restaurant/café/bar/supermarket on Google Maps along with all of the locations your visiting, so you can quickly and easily pre-plan your day – cause the last thing you want to do on holiday is get into an argument cause you’re angry.
It also makes booking places a lot easier because you can visually see when you’ll be near them!
Ta-da! So many places to eat in Paris, so little time…
My other tips? Download the Find Me Gluten Free app (which is an absolute Godsend) for when you’re in a pinch and make sure to stock up on snacks.
Also booking accommodation that has a fridge and/or kitchenette can take a lot of stress out of finding safe places to eat all the time – it’s amazing how far something as simple as fruit, eggs and some toast can taste when the idea of going out for food makes you want to stick pins in your eyes.
Dion Pretorius, Contributor
Last holiday: Peru, Argentina and the South of the USA. Next holiday: Argentina again in 2025.
Stay hydrated
Honestly, this has been the best thing I’ve learned as an adult travelling – drink too much water, all the time. For me, it’s made jetlag easier to overcome, kept stomach problems to a minimum, prevented headaches and fatigue, helped me walk further and for longer, and I felt healthier and better able to enjoy my holiday too.
Reviews are your friend
Google reviews were a golden ticket to a good time this trip. Sorting by most recent and not settling for anything under a 4.5 star rating really helped us maximise the time we had in each city. Over five weeks of roadside cafes, restaurants, drive-throughs and convenience stores, we only really had one or two dud meals our whole trip.
Walk, bike or roll!
These are a great way to exercise, meet people, see unexpected parts of a city, and stave off the jetlag. In most new cities I go to, I search for a walking tour to get started.
You can also orient yourself in the city this way and get familiar with some landmarks for when you inevitably get lost the next day. Even when I don’t feel the need to socialise, I often plot in a few destinations into my Google Maps and build my own DIY walking tour.
Finding our bearings in LA.
Build a med kit
As you may have guessed by the stomach problems and headaches mentioned above, I am not a stranger to the odd health-related interruption to my travels. This trip my friend introduced me to the wonders of a travelling med kit – gather any over the counter emds you might need, Google they’re legal in the countries you’re heading to, and enjoy limitless peace of mind.
The best bit? You can also (carefully!) offer solutions for your travel buddies. No one was more popular on The Inca Trail than the person handing out ibuprofen, de-gas and hand sanitiser!
Going right, stay tight
Driving on the wrong side of the road, rhymes were my saviour. Nothing helped more than every time I turned right saying out loud “Turn right, stay tight!” so that I kept close to the kerb. Switching from the left was a much easier transition than I thought, partially because it’s easier to feel okay about a mistake when you chastise yourself in rhyme.
Emma Macdonald Associate Editor
Last holiday: America’s Deep South y’all. Next holiday: Seoul, London, Paris and Belgium (next month, don’t hate me). Next year I will be ticking a bucket-list item to walk part of the Camino de Santiago.
How it started, carry-on for life
When my family and I went around the world in 2019 taking carry-on only, some people refused to believe it. Now I am proud to say many have converted—not least some of the HerCanberra team—and I no longer even stress about what to take overseas. I have it down to a fine art. Monochromatic pieces which mix and match. Maximum three pairs of shoes. Be prepared to hand wash or find a laundromat.
My one caveat is that this is easier to achieve leaving for a warmer hemisphere. Winter clothes are bulkier and I cannot promise this formula will work. But my mantra has always been: If in doubt, leave it out. P.S. I always post a photo from the airport to prove I remain true to the carry-on cause.
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Latest must-have accessory
Before my last trip, I was watching podcaster and disco chick Lise Carlaw prepare for her own European holiday and I saw she had a fabulous bag from Verstisi. I ordered one in black and fell in love hard. It is a big slouch shoulder bag with straps that can also make it a backpack. And it has a zipper.
In 30 years of voracious travel I have gone through many a bag and this, I declare to be perfection. (Disclaimer, I filmed a reel which the company reached out to ask permission to use and then they sent me a gift of the same bag in tan and in the extra large, which makes it even more perfect. Not sponsored just love it.)
Carry on only works as well as the bags you carry your stuff in. Vertirsi’s viral Bella backpack is my must-have.
Hire a whole castle
Ever wanted to hire a whole castle and stay with friends? Do it. You would be surprised at how a group can pool funds to make it affordable. For the last 20 years, our group of five families has been indulging in magnificent holidays across Italy, Spain and France.This year we have a castle (with a moat) in Belgium.
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Top tips on achieving this include choosing a great group of friends, all have kids around the same age, be flexible, and trust the process. Forgiveness is also key for those times you get on each other’s nerves (we all do at some stage).
Practical considerations include sharing groceries and cooking for the time you are away and keeping a box for all the receipts. Then at the end you can tally it up and divide expenses (avoiding angst over who bought what and who owes what). It is also important to have your own hire cars to do family adventures on your own.
We usually do 7-10 night trips and everyone packs in other countries and adventures before and after the set piece. It is important to research your booking thoroughly and to find some local adventures to punctuate the stay. We have been doing it so long that we now farm that bit out to our teenaged kids to sort. We also look forward to seeing each other more than the actual castle (although we have consistently been gobsmacked every time we arrive at some ridiculously beautiful location).
Instagram and Tiktok are your best guides
Rather than Googling locations and restaurants while we were in the US, I just jumped onto Tiktok. No one does better food guides than social media and what a privilege it is to follow a local to see what they do, so you can do it too!
Back in the dark ages we had to rely on dog-eared copies of a paperback guide called Lonely Planet which was usually between three-to-five years out of date before you even passed through customs. Thankfully, we have moved on.
Before we fly to Seoul, I have been immersing myself in some local Korean food bloggers and have a list of places I am keen to try. Same for London (although I have suddenly carved out a few days of our itinerary to do everything Erin did). We can blame social media for all the world’s ills but if you want to know the best toasted sandwich, rooftop bar or hidden laneway, then let the algorithm be your friend.
Budget schmudget. YOLO and when in Rome…
As I say to my other and more financially prudent half, we have come this far, we may as well…. When travelling I have never regretted spending the money to do the thing. Whether it is buying the embroidered cowboy boots in Florence (still have them), lugging back enormous antique books from Cuba, or reserving the tables at the Michelin-starred restaurants, you sometimes need to stop doing the currency conversions and soak it all up even if it means eating toast for dinner for a month after you come home. Because you may never be back in that city again.
I now understand that there are only so many trips one can cram into a lifetime, and do you want to get home and always regret that they simply don’t make boots with leather that soft in Australia? Or wonder whether Thomas Keller’s salmon cornets taste as good as they look? Or do you want to wander past your bookshelf and see two ageing leather-bound books containing Dante’s Divine Comedies which, when you press your nose to them, still reveal the sweat and tobacco smoke of Havana?
