Find below a virtual discussion held in May/June 2026 that explores the travel experiences of two Antigonish Teacher travel enthusiasts, Mike Hinchey and Chris Lumsden. Part I examines shared travel tips that are roughly organized under the following designations; Organizational, Money, Transportation, Eating, Attraction, Technology, and Security, each heading including a call & response statement.
Organizational Tip (Chris): Let Google Maps be your planning friend. When developing an itinerary, use the “Star” function in Google Maps to note attractions, dining options, accommodations, and public transport options at your destination of choice. Doing so creates logistical “efficiencies”, and a traveller can create daily travel loops in specific location. It supports organized transport that avoids zigzagging back and forth across a city. Further, Google Maps has website, hours, location and user reviews.
Mike – Love it. Way back…maybe when visiting Rome… I used that strategy to make sure we were following a ‘logical’ path around the city.
Money Tip (Mike): When paying bills with a credit card in other countries (ex. restaurants, bars, shops, etc…) you may be asked if you want to pay in Canadian currency or in the local currency. Always choose the local currency as your credit card company will usually provide a much more favourable exchange rate than local rates.
Chris – Excellent tip… that CDN vs local is sneaky and feels counterintuitive. Especially important with ATM’s and larger amounts. Recommendations on ATM is a super question to ask a guide… a recent airport transfer hire in Sarajevo offered us info that quickly gave us the best ATM in regard to exchange rate.
Transportation Tip (Chris): We travel light and make it part of the challenge to pack even “more sparsely” each trip. Advantages are too numerous to list, but we especially appreciate the speed we can travel, cost savings, physical ease in movement and flexibility. We check nothing, utilize one undersized backpack each as carry on, and have learned that almost everything is available upon arrival (should something be forgotten). We’ve never lost luggage, are the earliest leaving Arrivals and spend less time in transport and more time with attractions. A tight “Packing List” is always a good idea, but in essence you can go anywhere with a couple of changes in clothes, toiletries, key tech and your passport/credit card!!!
Mike – Oh… we love that one. We have followed your lead on this one lately. Our last Barcelona trip was carry on and we were surprised at how easy it was. We’ve decided to do carry on to Punta Cana in January after this year’s trip to Mexico. One hour to get through security, one hour waiting for luggage, one hour waiting for transportation and one hour to get to resort. Painful. Friends we made at the resort from Halifax did carry-on. Forty-five for security, 0 at luggage, 0 at transportation wait as they booked a private shuttle and 1/2 hr to resort as no other stops. They had almost 3 extra hours walking the beach. We’re sold. And I love my multiple packing lists. We drove friends to the airport last week for 2.5 weeks in Turkey and Greece. They were talking on the way, wondering if they had everything?? I said…do you have your phone, passport and credit card? If so…you’re fine.
Eating Tip (Mike): You have to eat, so make it a great part of the trip. Do a bit of research beforehand. Not for the Michelin star restaurants but for the local favourites. Never eat close to a tourist site as the food will be overpriced and not great. Avoid a restaurant with an English sign and a pile of food for a cheap price. Walk 4-5 blocks from that spot and look for a spot a place full of locals. Don’t be shy as they’ll usually be very helpful. Order something, even if you don’t know what it is. Try to sit outside and people watch.
Chris – During our earliest travel we seriously neglected food experiences… partially due to minimal funds, but perhaps even more influenced by classic North American meal culture that frames food as a “fuel” more than a social opportunity. Mike, as well as friends Lori & Andrew Graham, have been mentors as to how we now plan food experiences as an attraction, and incorporate active research on what, where and how to eat well while traveling. Breaking bread while abroad is essential to understanding culture… there is little quite as personal.
Money Tip (Mike): When paying, check your slip (or there may not even be one) to see if you can see a word like ‘servizio’ or something which might mean a tip is included. Be sure to read up on the tipping culture of the area as a Euro or 2 might be more than what is expected. Of course, don’t be afraid to tip for good service. If they ask, do you want to pay in CDN or local currency… always choose the currency of the country you are in to avoid extra conversions. On our last trip with 3 couples, our travel friends from Halifax introduced us to SplitWise. Anytime anyone in our group paid for something (groceries, Airbnb, restaurant, etc…) it was entered into the app by that person. Every 4-5 days we’d check it and it would detail everything and tell us who owes what to who. This way we weren’t constantly shifting $$ around and it was amazing how closely it always worked out. A good app for groups.
Chris – Prudent suggestions here… tipping culture varies widely in our experience as well. I’ve taken to YouTube numerous times (most recently for the Balkans) and identified practices in regard to service professionals. We always strive to strike a balance… and will often give monetarily when we have comfortable, authentic eating experiences. Haven’t used that SplitWise App… perhaps as Janie and I don’t normally “group travel” it’s just not been something necessary. A last year “shared” trip to would’ve been a good opportunity. Putting that idea in the hopper!
Eating Tip (Chris): Visiting a grocery store while abroad is a cultural experience… Do it! Not only is it an economical way to stock the larder at your next Airbnb, but a potential path to the what, how, and who of grocery shopping all over the world. What is being sold, how much, deciphering foreign language labels and discovering new to us products. Try a local recipe with ingredients available at the source. Even better… transfer your knowledge and try a dish at home. Just this evening we purchased Ajvar (nicknamed Croatian Caviar), a product we first sampled in Zagreb, Croatia, at our local Sobeys. Do yourself a favor and live in the community you are visiting by interacting at the local grocery store.
Mike – Love, love, love it. I would have to agree….my favourite spot to hit in each city is the grocery store. I could wander around for hours. I grew up in the grocery store world as my Dad and his 3 brothers owned 4 small grocery stores in the 4 corners of New Waterford. Dad taught me how tough it was to compete with the big guys like Sobeys!! One of the first things I do once I select our hotel/Airbnb in a city is to use Google Maps to locate the closest grocery store. Then…once I have the name of the store, I Google it and locate their flyer to learn about products and prices. Of course, the beer and wine page is always popular. Just thought of this anecdote. We were in a small grocery store in rural Tuscany with Kathy’s brother and wife. Paul and I were trying to find goat cheese but no one in the store could speak English. Finally Paul pointed at a block of local cheese and said ‘Baaaaa’. A local gent smiled at us and took us around the corner to the goat cheese. And did you notice, most cashiers in Europe are provided with chairs at the checkout!!
Attraction Tip (Mike): Take the time to arrange some tours with local experts. We’ve visited museums without a tour guide and found ourselves just wandering around for a bit and then packing it in after an hour or so. On the other hand, when we’ve booked a local expert, we hated to leave after a few hours as they just opened our eyes to so many things we would not have noticed. We’ve had guides at the Prado Museum in Madrid, along the canals of Venice and Amsterdam, along the river in Prague and in the streets of Croatia, Rome, Paris, Barcelona, London, etc….. Not once have we felt that it was a waste of money. We have used ‘Free Tours’ in many cities as well. You do the tour and then tip what you think it was worth. These are often some of the best guides as they know they have to be good. Guided tours have been the highlight of most of our trips.
Chris – That was another Mike suggestion I “borrowed” along the way for sure! Whether it be guiding in person with a Sandeman’s Free Walking Tour or virtual selections (like your Rick Steves Audio Guide tip), good guiding takes your learned experience from novice to intermediate in hours. We always highlight good guiding in our blog… it’s an essential travel hack and doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Our favourite… the very knowledgable Juliet that took us on a dramatic “Munich – Third Reich Walking Tour”. Without prompt Janie and I solicited the same answer!
Technology Tip (Chris): Leverage the maximum from your iPhone, perhaps your most powerful & indispensable tech tool, while travelling at home and abroad. Sure you can grab anything on the web (transport, accommodation, attractions) but we find it’s the small organizational things that count. Install necessary Apps (airlines, attraction tix, public transport, museum / audio guides, Google Translate, etc.) before departure and host together in a specific folder for ease of access. Flag important e-mails (you can even change colors) in your inbox so you can quickly filter important travel documents. We “share” an e-mail address for travel, so redundancy of critical messages / attachments is built in as a fail safe. Use the camera… keep secure pictures of your passports, take a photo to note where you’ve parked at the airport, or capture an extra image of luggage drop QR codes. I always follow (on Instagram / YouTube) a local guide or travel authority for notes on tips / tricks or specific on the ground closures, and I never fail to preset the destination in a weather App. It’s only limited by your imagination. While abroad, utilize an e-Sim (we almost exclusively use Airalo) to secure data in one or multiple countries and avoid roaming fees / know your costs. Of course, it won’t work without power, so make sure you have a reliable adapter / regular charging routine!
Mike – Next level!! Great stuff. I will definitely review this one again before the next excursion. I like the shared email thing. Nice way to keep things more connected. After reading this one, I don’t think I ever realized how much I use my devices while travelling. As side note, I have a couple of travel friends who always use a travel app. It’s one of the ones where you put everything into the one app as you build your trip. It holds flight info, hotels, Airbnb’s, museum reservations, currency exchange rates, etc…. It really includes everything. I haven’t used one yet but there are a couple of popular ones out there. I think I’m always afraid of sharing too much info with an app.
Security Tip (Mike): Scams / threats / hassles are real so know how to recognize them. Paris is probably the worst for the ’could you sign my petition’ one. Easy to spot as they are almost often a group of 2 or 3 girls holding a clipboard. While you are distracted, on of them is slipping their hand into your backpack. Pickpockets are real and they are good. The ones on public transport are the best because they can bump into you easily. We always keep important stuff in our front pockets. Leftover Canadian Tire money in the backpack is one I’ve heard people use… just to see if they really do get pickpocketed. A common one in Rome is the ‘I made a bracelet for you’. usually a guy quickly slipping a little rope bracelet on the wrist of a lady, and then aggressively asking for money in return. Or, a couple of ‘gladiator type’ guys roaming around offering to let you take a picture… but then insisting on $$ in exchange. And the popular ‘shell game’ in places like Paris. Everyone seems to be winning big until you play and lose every time. The big winners are all part of the scam. Money exchange places are always dangerous. Prague is probably the worst. People who have not planned well and are looking for some local currency get ripped off quickly. Only use ATM’s connected to a real bank. The ‘grey’ machines charge crazy rates and could contain card scammers. Kathy and I are very careful with all of these and I don’t think we’ve been victimized (knock on wood) but I did get hit with a cute one in Rome years ago. When selfie sticks were just becoming popular, I got hooked into buying one…but why not at just 10Euro. But as I was walking away, the guy smiled and said ‘You’ll need this’ as he smiled and showed me a tiny little remote clicker that would cost me another 10Euro. It clearly had a value of about 50 cents but the stick was no good without it. He gave me a kind of ‘gotcha look’ as I walked away. To get a better insight of the growing number of scams…just type in travel scams on YouTube and prepare to be entertained.
Chris – Scams… there are plenty and, fortunately, most well known! I particularly remember being ready for the “string men” by the funicular in Montemarte… doing the bracelet thing you described above. We had researched and were ready… armed with info is the best case scenario! Prague has a very well known YouTuber (The Honest Guide) who is absolutely worth the watch before setting foot in that otherwise beautiful, safe city destination.
Accommodation Tip (Chris): With destination decided, flight and transportation purchased, attraction ideas gathered the next pivotal decision becomes lodging. For the Lumsden’s this is a collaborative effort. Discussions start with a few key elements. Are there ample beds (couple – group), location near transit, amenities, dining plans, and of course budget? Seems easy enough… Standard with most hotel offerings, right? We’ve learned that where one stays is often more than a bed, and now invest as much / more planning time in our selection as any other parts of the travel process. That started for us in 2015 in Madrid, where we gained new appreciation in how accommodations can really be an attraction during time on the road. We spent a few extra bucks for a plaza view boutique hotel stay (Hotel Europa) that was as much an attraction as a bed. When selecting (whether it be hotel, rental, B&B, hostel), I research and isolate a focused location, using proximity to attractions/public transport, and neighbourhood safety. Then, Janie goes to work zeroing in on the many accommodation types and specific amenities… there is an amazing number of options that suit traveller wants / needs. We call it our version of HGTV House Hunting. Most recently, we have moved more towards rentals, especially for stays beyond an overnighter. Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com search engines are powerful… and filters support efficient research. When cost, amenities and location align, we reserve (early bird gets the worm so it’s best booked early). Our satisfaction rate with these bookings has been excellent!
Mike: Can’t agree more. Putting time into searching out accommodation is key. There are so many possibilities and such a variety of experiences. I can tell you two have this part of the planning well coordinated. From reading your blog, it also looks like you’re pretty well batting 100% over the years. I like to go on a travel forum before visiting an area and just ask…”Any suggestions as to which area might be a good spot to hang out?”…. and it will usually start a discussion involving people who’ve visited and people from the area. Experienced travellers often have a real good understanding of the different vibes in the city. Once I have it narrowed down to a few areas, I often walk the streets of the area with Google Maps to see what it feels like. And then I go in ‘Lumsden mode’ and get to work. We still recommend places like Hotel Europa and Piemonte Hotel in Rome from your suggestions. Another thing we’ve been doing is checking to see if VRBO/Airbnb owners are willing to share their private contact information when we’re leaving. This allows us or friends to visit in the future and to save a few bucks by booking outside of the travel site. If you form a good relationship with the owner, it can benefit both sides.
Organizational Tip (Chris): Thoughtful travel involves reflection. For us that faithfully includes the articling / journaling of planning, details of daily events and curating / collecting photos of the many sights and experiences we encounter. However, as we’ve matured as travellers it has evolved well beyond. Our reflection incorporates reviews of successes, challenges, scores, flops, travel processes, or unforgettable moments lived along the way… a means for examination and incremental improvement. We choose to share our travels in real time (with a limited audience including family and friends) and have done so for over 10 years. Options, whether using specific Apps, vlogging on YouTube or other web-based software, are many and can be tailored to preference. We maintain an ad-free, un-monetized website and host two decades worth of widespread travel through North America and Europe. It’s a labour of love, as serious time / commitment / dedication are important factors to take into account. It has become our thinking piece for the 5 W’s, amassed our growth and learnings as travellers, hosted a myriad of commenting / conversations that expand on destinations and planning, but remains the “family album” of the “Traveling Lumsdens”.
Mike – Your blogs are ‘gems’. It makes me look forward to your travels as much as you folks do. I’ve returned to some of them more than once when planning a trip and I’ve directed others to check them out as well (with your permission I hope). My blogging has deteriorated over the last few trips as the blog sites I’ve used have started charging $$, have added advertising, or have just become too messy. I used to have a couple of ‘goto’ sites but they’ve lost their glamour. Time to refocus on the blogging.
Organizational Tip (Chris): There are lots of “habits” that support being efficient in regard to airport security / customs clearance. This year, with Europe and increased ETIAS security measures, advanced prep is key. Get your boarding pass in your Airline App or Apple Wallet and carefully follow gate information. Although often hectic, loud and loaded with verbal instructions, take your time in security. It saves in the long run. I always leave belt and hat in bag and empty pockets prior to arrival. We continue to use Ziploc bags for toiletries following recommended sizes / allowances. We’ve seen liquids removal requested in some settings, while allowable in others. Know you’re itinerary… where you are staying, for how long, and have passport in hand before walking up to customs officer. Really no place for “chit chat” unless initiated. Use ArriveCAN when returning to Canada 🇨🇦 to make necessary declarations and save time in customs line-up. Answer questions clearly and accurately… and, if you’re packed lightly with carry-on only, you’re either enjoying your next travel destination or quickly making your way home from Halifax Stanfield!
Mike – Consider grabbing a Nexus card. Pretty cheap and it can often get you through Canadian airports a bit easier. Our last few times through the Halifax airport, we didn’t have to remove fluids/electronics from our bags. Security just said…throw your bag there and head through. And stay away from food products, wood products, etc…. if you can. These can often lead to you being sent to secondary examination which can slow things down. I don’t need a Dutch cheese or a cutting board from Tuscany that bad.
Organizational Tip (Mike): So many solid ‘packing’ suggestions here. The packing lists are an essential part of our travel. Mostly for the logical things like clothes and bathroom stuff…. but also for the little things. Grocery bag-the little fabric ones that fold up to the size of a tennis ball but hold 30 lbs of stuff. Power bar-with so many electronics, we used to carry 4-5 adapters to look after each thing with a plug. Now we take one small power bar and no more than 2 little adapters. Plug the bar into the adapter and place it in a spot like a kitchen counter in the Airbnb. Everything stays charged and easy to find. Corkscrew-I always grab one of the little hotel room ones to leave in my backpack. One never knows when one will need one. I remember curling up with a baguette, some cheese and a bottle of wine on the side of a river in France one day, seeing the corked bottle and remembering that the little corkscrew was in my bag. Phew. AirTags/Trackers-aren’t as necessary with carry on but we do now use the credit card style tracker as I leave one in my wallet….just in case it goes missing. Raincoats-depending on the trip, we sometimes throw in a couple of dollar store raincoats…just in case. We usually travel with a rain style jacket but sometimes you’re miles from your spot and the skies unexpectedly open up. Ziploc bags-So many possibilities from keeping paper dry to keeping cheese safely packed…it seems we always find a new use. Reading glasses-I always pack one extra cheap pair of glasses as I know how rotten it would be if I lost my main ones!
Chris – Yay for this batch of suggestions! The cloth shopping bag is a must… especially when we do a rental with kitchen. Off to buy groceries? No worries. Ziplocs… incredibly useful for a myriad of purposes! To add to your list Mike, we take a few Laundry Detergent Sheets (conveniently napkin size and without liquids) when using an equipped rental. A bounce sheet will help with freshening up clothes in backpack as well. We’ve learned it’s as important to know what not to pack! Research what’s available at the accommodation, don’t double pack (ie: why take multiple tubes of toothpaste) and limit to essentials. Less is more, more or less!!!
Organizational Tip (Chris): A lot of what’s been covered in these tips is tethered to heavily planned and organized decision making. However, please, please leave some room in your itinerary for spontaneity! If the spirit moves you… do your best to safely reach for the light! We have examples… how about purchasing on the ground last minute tix to a football match in Belfast. An incredibly treacherous evening of football… We met some amazing people! And hey… if there is a raucous don’t be scared to follow it. We did that in Vatican City and found the Pope saying prayers at St Peter’s! How about heading for an Irish pub in Budapest… rolling into “Trivia Night” hosted by a Pembroke Ontario teacher. We talked shop, enjoyed the company, and shut down Davy’s Irish Pub with a snoot full of Guinness! I guess… when it feels right, have a little faith! Some times you have to own where you’re at! 😉
Mike – Oh how I agree with this one. Early on I felt I had to totally fill the daily itinerary with activities thinking we couldn’t waste a minute in a new city. Some days I think we wore ourselves out. I remember a 28,000 step day crisscrossing Rome. Now we schedule the essentials and then have a list of ‘maybes’ at the bottom of the page. As the days go on, we often check a few off here and there. There are times when you just hear of an activity last minute or see people heading somewhere and tag along. One day we hopped off of a tram near the Vienna Opera House and there was a performance on a big outdoor screen. We curled up for 15 minutes of a free experience