HOW TO BE TRAVEL SAVVY IN 2025
The way we travel the world today – whether it’s for business or pleasure – is changing.
Travel freedoms and travel requirements are often in flux due to political whims and international security policies.
The power bestowed upon us via our nationalities and passports is now being ranked competitively as our qualifications for international travel privileges ebb and wane.
In 2025, more and more destination countries are introducing travel apps and pre-approved electronic travel authorisation systems or are planning to adopt new electronic visitor data and QR code entry systems making travel arrangements progressively technical and increasingly complicated.
We have all become accustomed to traveling with our phones to hand – for booking flights and accommodating our boarding passes – but now we need our phones to plan and streamline our journeys.
Learning how to be travel savvy is going to be even more necessary and important in 2025.
As travellers and tourists, as well as carrying our hopes, dreams, contacts, and photos, on our phones and digital devices, we now have to have QR codes and E-Visas and Travel Apps to help guard our personal security and the safekeeping of our belongings.
It feels to me like truly spontaneous international travel might be a thing of the past as travel visas and travel authorisation applications by definition must be submitted ahead of any planned travel.
But don’t let your passion for travel adventures wane because of shifting rules and regulations.
Instead, let me show you How To Be Travel Savvy in 2025!
Electronic Travel Authority
Let’s take a look at how it all started: Australia first introduced their Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) back in 1996.
The United States of America has its ‘Trusted Traveller’ Global Entry Program and its ESTA for Pre-Approved Entry for into or transiting through the USA since 2008.
Read my informative post on how to apply for a Global Entry.
Sri Lanka introduced an ETA system in 2012 but is now apparently looking to simplify with a visa-free option for eligible countries to boost tourism.
Canada’s ETA came into being in 2015 followed by New Zealand’s NZeTA in 2019.
South Korea now has its K-ETA and Japan has it’s E-Visa and is expected to also introduce the JESTA.
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO TRAVEL IN 2025
The UK is rolling out a UK ETA Electronic Travel Authorisation in January 2025 to be fully implemented by Spring 2025.
Also in 2025, The European Union have planned that a Entry/Exit System will replace passport stamping and store biometric data and tracking. By mid-2025 the ETIAS European Travel Information and Authorization System will be online.
Thailand has announced it’s expanding e-visa accessibility and introducing the Thai E-Visa ETA for the first quarter of 2025.
And as I write this in January 2025 – in other parts of the world – Belarus, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa, have now also and recently announced they will be launching ETA systems at some point in 2025.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- HOW TO BE TRAVEL SAVVY IN 2025
- Electronic Travel Authority
- WHAT IS HAPPENING TO TRAVEL IN 2025
- WAYS TO BE TRAVEL SAVVY IN 2025
- TRAVEL SAVVY SMART GADGETS
- TRAVEL SAVVY WEARABLES
- TIPS FOR CHOOSING TRAVEL WEARABLES
- TRAVEL SAVVY LUGGAGE
- TIPS FOR TRAVEL SAVVY LUGGAGE
- TRAVEL SAVVY PERSONAL SECURITY
- TIPS FOR SAVVY PERSONAL SECURITY
- TRAVEL SAVVY INSURANCE COVER
WAYS TO BE TRAVEL SAVVY IN 2025
Get the very best out of your international trip with my recommendations and top tips for savvy ways to travel in 2025!
In this post, I’m going to share with you all the clever ways I’ve found to be travel savvy over the past ten years of world travel.
Firstly, let’s take a look at the latest in must-have travel savvy smart gadgets to help you navigate your journeys.
Then we’ll focus on travel savvy wearables, savvy luggage, and how to be savvy about your personal security while travelling.
TRAVEL SAVVY SMART GADGETS
Because our smart phones are used for so many things travel related – boarding passes, electronic travel authorisations, electronic receipts and travel tickets, virtual wallet, and for taking photos and video during our trip – I worry about how I’d manage loss or theft of my phone while I’m travelling.
Our lives and our plans are stored as data on our phones so it’s not hard to imagine the awful trauma of ever losing it.
The answer is, of course, regular travel savvy phone backup.
Except – I don’t know about you – but I always find it challenging to remember to back up my files and photos while I’m on the move and I don’t always have access to my cloud storage while I’m travelling.
Happily, I’ve now completely solved this problem of backups on the move by travelling with my Qubii Duo.
The Qubii Duo is a small cube of smart technology that automatically backs up everything on my phone to a micro-SD Card at the same time that I’m charging my phone. Genius!
AD: Please note this feature for Maktar Qubii Duo is a paid advert for a product I use myself and recommend.
Qubii Duo is a small savvy and intuitive backup cube compatible with Apple & Android Phones that effortlessly and automatically back up your photos and videos while charging your OS and android smartphones & tablets devices to seamlessly preserve your photos, videos, contacts, FB photos and iCloud photos, and more, with a full backup.
Qubii Duo will resume backup from where it left off without you having to think about it or access a remote storage cloud also saving on cloud subscription fees. Data storage is via a micro-SD card in the Qubii Duo that you can swap out when full making storage space capacity unlimited. Qubii Duo offers both USB-A and USB-C and works with the savvy Qubii Pro App featuring a micro-SD Lock to keep your data both safe and private while recognising new data and photos for phone backup.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT: The savvy peeps at Maktar – creators of Qubii Duo – are offering my readers a 5% discount off purchase of Qubii Duo using the code JaniceQubii and this exclusive code can be stacked with existing promotions – for example – if there’s a 15% discount for Qubii Duo on Amazon you can enjoy a total of 20% off!
TRAVEL SAVVY WEARABLES
Long before I discovered high-tech travel gadgets, I was learning how to be travel savvy by keeping my valuables and cash on my person by wearing simple travel accessories, like a secure waist bag or a slim money belt under clothing or a discreet pouch in my underwear to keep cash and cards and a scarf with a hidden pocket to hide my passport.
All of these basic travel savvy wearables are still relevant today.
But now I’m also utilising multifunctional wearables like a smartwatch that’s linked by Bluetooth to my phone for boarding passes, notifications, translations, and with AI-driven travel planners for personalized itineraries.
I also have a digital wallet that uses secure payment options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and country-specific mobile wallets.
TIPS FOR CHOOSING TRAVEL WEARABLES
FUNCTIONALITY: Ensure the device is practical and comfortable and meets your travel needs.
DISCRETION: Choose for wearables that don’t draw attention to themselves.
BATTERY LIFE: For high-tech wearables prioritise long-lasting or rechargeable options.
TRAVEL SAVVY LUGGAGE
When I started out travelling the world with a suitcase and a TSA lock.
But I now savvy travel with an anti-theft luggage with hidden zippers, RFID protection, and anti-slash straps that clip securely and prevent quick snatching or opportunistic tampering.
Lost luggage has always been an issue and a worry for international travellers but now we have small smart travel devices to attach to our luggage to help track exactly where our luggage is located via Bluetooth or GPS.
But again the basics still apply and being travel savvy with your luggage still means always keeping your belongings secure and in sight especially in crowded places like airports or public transport.
Being travel savvy also means travelling light and avoiding extra baggage fees by checking the dimensions and weight of your bag – I carry a digital weigher – to meet the specific requirements of the airline you’re flying with to your destination.
TIPS FOR TRAVEL SAVVY LUGGAGE
PACK LIGHT AND SMART: Stick to versatile clothing and only pack what you truly need. Some favour packing cubes but I like to roll clothes instead of folding to minimize wrinkles and bulk.
Read my post on Travel Light – Hand Luggage Only.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT BAG: Invest in a durable lightweight carry-on with sturdy wheels and TSA-approved locks.
Also read my post on Backpack or Suitcase for Midlife Travellers.
PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED: Pack essentials in your carry-on and add a luggage tracker to a checked bag and take photos of your bag for easy identification and for claims in case of loss.
Also see my post on Travel Insurance for Over 50s.
TRAVEL SAVVY PERSONAL SECURITY
Being travel savvy about personal security involves preparing in advance, staying alert, and using savvy technology to safeguard yourself and your belongings while traveling and while exploring your destination.
Prepare before you go and research your destination.
Learn about local safety concerns, common scams, and emergency contact numbers.
Photocopy your passport, ID, and travel itinerary and store copies in a safe place using a digital backup or using email or cloud storage.
Get travel insurance coverage for medical emergencies, theft, or cancellations.
Avoid showing wealth with expensive jewellery or flashy gadgets.
For extra peace of mind you might want to consider devices like door alarms, keychain alarms, or wearable rings that emit loud sounds to deter an attacker or signal for help.
TIPS FOR SAVVY PERSONAL SECURITY
BLEND IN: Avoid drawing attention to yourself as a tourist by dressing appropriately and learning a few basic phrases of the local language.
CHOOSE SAFE TRANSPORT: Use reputable services like licensed taxis, rideshares, or hotel shuttles.
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS: If something feels off then immediately remove yourself from the situation.
BE PREPARED: Read my post on Scary Travel Horror Stories and How To Avoid Them!
TRAVEL SAVVY INSURANCE COVER
I always recommend that you travel with travel insurance and if you are looking for guidance on buying the right travel insurance as an older traveller then you might want to read my popular post on Travel Insurance for the Over 50s.
Do you prefer to travel Old School or High Tech?
Where are you planning to travel in 2025?
What do you consider to be your best travel savvy advice?
