8 Tips for International Travel in 2024 (DO NOT Use Airbnb!)

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Welcome to Portable Professional: your go-to resource for stress-free travel. I’m Megan, and I’m here to share my tips and tricks from 300+ flights to help you feel confident about your travels while making the most of every trip.

Join over 5,000 travelers diving into smart travel secrets, receiving personalized advice, and uncovering savvy hacks.

00:00 Travel tips for 2024
00:20 Mistake #1: flight booking
00:48 Tip: where to book flights
01:22 Mistake 2: airline scam
02:29 Tip: NEVER pay for this
03:07 Mistake #3: Airport security (TSA line)
04:17 Mistake #4: where to go
05:04 Tip: tours I've LOVED
06:16 Mistake #5: when you fly
07:18 Mistake #6: Airbnb
08:30 Airbnb Mexico experience
08:54 Mistake #7: booking hotels
09:29 Tip: hotel hack
09:55 Mistake #8: insurance
10:40 travel insurance experience
11:00 Tip: entry requirement!

[andrenadeau]

I have never had a bad experience with an Airbnb. I like that they are all different unlike hotel rooms that always feel the same. You usually get a lot more space for the same price in a airbnb. However, the main reason that I use them is because they have a kitchen that I can use to prep my own meals and save my leftovers. I am a light eater and restaurants just don't make sense for me, especially in Europe when dinner is very late in the evening. Furthermore, I save a fortune by cooking my own food.

[alltogethernow]

SECRET TIP - visit the most popular sites (Eiffel Tower, Coliseum, etc) in later afternoon - after the tour groups are all finished. Whereas, lesser known museums are empty in the mornings (require a lot of walking) so tour groups don't visit them. I realized this trick when my hotel was near the Hagia Sophia and I saw all the tourist busses in the morning and right after lunch, but it was always empty in the late afternoons...

[susanwestfall]

I was at the airport one morning for my flight home from visiting my sister when my flight was cancelled. There was a mad rush and long line to the agent for information, rebooking, etc. I just got on my phone directly to the airline and booked a later flight, then called my sister who came back to pick me up to enjoy an unexpected extra afternoon together.

[DanDougherty-tk]

We've stayed at over 50 Airbnbs on our travel adventures. Most were great; several were spectacular (a month stay at a farmhouse in Ireland, a small house overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Oregon, a house with a fantastic view of the Ligurian Sea in Cinque Terre, a small house in Vains with a great view of San Michel, ...). There were just a couple that were just OK. No disappointments. As others have noted, a kitchen saves us so much money. Free laundry, too, on long trips saves us time and money.
Hotel stays, for the most part, leave us disappointed. Too noisy, disappointing free breakfasts, run by corporations, not locals.
Now, it does take considerable research to find great Airbnbs, but I love doing that.

[gaillesarge]

I have used airbnb many, many times in multiple locations and have always had a very positive experience. No problems whatsoever and I have saved myself a LOT of money!

[wendypaisner]

I only once used an AirBnB for a domestic trip. On a subsequent trip to Lisbon, Portugal, a tour guide mentioned how AirBnB and other such companies are ruining their city by taking away housing that could be used to house the local population. From that point on I decided to only use hotels.

[jolimiller]

Back in our more foolish days of traveling, we didn't hesitate to fly in the day of our cruises, NOT ANY MORE. Our last cruise we flew in 2 days before, nothing like starting your vacation with a mini vacation and worry free. Also several years ago we got PreCheck, what a game changer at the airport! As always great info Megan !

[fireflyrobert]

As a single traveller I use AirBnbs all the time and never had a problem. In fact I've just returned from 2 weeks in Playa del Carmen in Mexico and the level of security where I stayed was excellent.
I find you can get a good idea of what a particular AirBnb is like by reading previous reviews.

[shirlynb]

One of my most memorable and best access to all of Romes tourist attraction was booking a late night Segway tour! We zipped around the city with no traffic, got up close to every must see location and it was a blast. I’m a 64 yr old female and always stay in hostels in Europe.

[holly]

On cruise destinations, I always plan my arrival for at least 2 days before departure day.
On Airbnb, I take a few things into consideration when deciding hotel or Airbnb/VRBO type platforms like cost, length of stay, availability, type of trip, who I’m traveling with and amenities. Have used private accommodations around the world and I take time to assess reviews/ house rules and location before diving in. Also, given dietary preferences, having a kitchen to cook is an advantage, Not everyone wants to cook on trips but it does save a lot on eating out daily especially if it’s my dime. Tip: read both positive and negative reviews of Airbnb type stays, I avoid places where ratings dip below 4.8, something’s up! 😊

[lms]

As a vegan, staying at an Airbnb is a must. I want (and often need) a kitchen to cook and store food. Even if I'm traveling to a place with plenty of vegan restaurants/options, I don't want to eat out for every single meal every day for 1-2 weeks; the thought of that makes my stomach hurt, not to mention the financial expense. When my husband and I were planning our elopement and honeymoon in another state, we booked three Airbnb's, and they were all lovely, with only a couple minor inconveniences (I did insist that we only book the ones with "super hosts"). While there are sketchy things about Airbnb, there are many sketchy things about hotels as well (many people do have access to your room, and theft does happen in hotels), and I just prefer Airbnbs so I can cook the majority of my own food. Plus, if you stay at an Airbnb when traveling to another country, it makes you feel more like a local. :)

[acefox]

I just flew to LA for a Friday-Sunday weekend trip in January. As soon as my arrival flight touched down in LA, my phone notified me that my return flight back to Washington state 48 hours later was cancelled.

I had to spend most of my weekend getting a replacement flight booked. My original flight home was scheduled for 7:30 pm on Sunday. The only replacement flight back with an open seat was Sunday morning at 6:00 am. I basically lost most of my weekend dealing with the flight cancellation and then flying home early. Lots of time and money down the drain. Very frustrating.

[rab]

The other advantage with hotels is that most major hotels will offer free transportation to and from the airport, whereas with Air BNB you're on your own.

[gopusa]

I typically take afternoon flights. I'd much rather risk being delayed than risk oversleeping. When it comes to connecting flights, I look for a two hour layover. I will absolutely will not book a connecting flight with less than a 45-minute layover.

[bethearl]

I absolutely agree you should always book directly with the airline. Third party websites, even Chase travel that gives you a 5% incentive are NOT WORTH IT. Booking through the airline also lets you cancel and rebook at a lower cost if you are booking business class. Chase will not give you the refund. They just pocket it.

[hiviolet]

I will choose a hotel over Airbnb only if it’s less than 3 days. Main reason is that I like to have a kitchen. I feel more like a local when I can do some grocery shopping a make simple meals and salads. Also, I find that the cost is comparable or cheaper than a hotel. If I were to go to somewhere I didn’t feel comfortable or safe, I would choose a hotel. That never happens though. 😊

[jstanovic]

The best way to see world attractions... go off season! Especially in Italy!

[sarai]

I always prefer Hotel mostly for security and room cleaning.

[ColleenJoudrey]

My husband was glad to have travel insurance when he ended up getting a Staph infection while training in NY and needed to find medical care pronto. He's a big supporter of it (and now also travels with a prescription of Keflex)

[debrahall]

I am staying in an Airbnb in Wales at the moment, a 150 year old period property with giant rooms and high ceilings, giant suite with en suite, king size bed, office and couch , she throws my laundry in with hers and I get it back pressed and on hangers, Giant kitchen, no other guests, no lift or commercial kitchen noises . On the outskirts of town with bus stop 50 yards away, bonus, the owner has 3 dogs, we go to the grocery store together to take advantage of 2 for 1 buys, she is totally awesome and less than $50 a night .