Episode 36 GTPP Top 10 Travel Tips for 2025

Welcome to the first episode of 2025 on the Global Travel Planning Podcast! In episode 36, host Tracy Collins is joined by travel experts Melissa Kiely and Shelly Marie to share their top 10 travel tips for the year ahead.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or embarking on your first adventure, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you navigate your journeys with ease. From travel insurance to packing light, and maximising your travel dollar, discover essential tips to enhance your travel experiences.

This year, the podcast is going weekly with a fresh format. Expect destination-focused episodes featuring specialists who will provide invaluable insights and practical information to help you plan your travels. Plus, Tracy, Melissa, and Shelly will come together every month for a special episode and deep dive into a particular travel tip, offering their diverse perspectives and experiences.

Click the blue button below to listen:

Listen on Apple >

Listen on Spotify >

Click here to download a PDF Transcript of Episode 36

Loved this episode? Have a question? Get in touch!

Episode 36 – Summary

Diverse Travel Experiences

Tracy Collins starts the episode by expressing her excitement about experiencing snow in Europe, drawing from her upbringing between Europe and Southern Africa. By contrast, Melissa Delaware reveals her plans to spend Christmas in Bali and Lombok, opting for a warm beach holiday. This sets the stage for a rich discussion on diverse travel perspectives, thanks to our British, Australian, and American co-host backgrounds.

Melissa’s Tips

Melissa leads the tips segment with a poignant reminder of the importance of travel insurance. She shares her personal experiences of breaking her foot three times during travels, emphasizing how travel insurance can mitigate the financial burden of medical emergencies. Tracy corroborates this by sharing her own story of being hospitalized for pneumonia in Vietnam, once again underlining the necessity of travel insurance.

Next, Melissa advocates for packing light and using a backpack for hands-free convenience, especially useful when travelling with a child. Both Tracy and Melissa emphasize the importance of minimal stress, advocating for packing only the essentials to ensure you can manage your luggage independently.

Shelly’s Insights

Shelly Marie joins the discussion, adding her valuable insights. She stresses the importance of proper travel insurance, recounting her own overseas medical emergency where it proved crucial. Shelly also introduces the tip of signing up for hotel reward programs, noting a trend where travellers are shifting back from Airbnb to hotels due to rising costs and community backlash.

Another crucial tip from Shelly is to check visa and ETA requirements well ahead of travel, recommending reliable government sources to avoid misinformation and overcharging by third-party apps. Lastly, she provides a tip on obtaining economical airport lounge access during layovers, advocating for spontaneous entry attempts rather than booking in advance.

Tracy’s Tips for 2025

Tracy wraps up the episode with her top travel tips for 2025, focusing on cultural preparation, advance bookings, and savvy currency management. She underscores the importance of learning a few words of the local language and understanding local customs. Tracy advises researching and booking accommodations and activities in advance to ensure availability and avoid disappointment. She also recommends using contactless payment methods and notifying banks of travel plans to ensure seamless transactions.

A Comprehensive Guide for 2025 Travel

This episode offers a comprehensive guide for 2025 travel, blending personal anecdotes with actionable advice. Thanks to the diverse experiences of Tracy, Melissa, and Shelly, listeners gain a well-rounded perspective on the travel landscape for the upcoming year.

Moving to a Weekly Format

Don’t miss out as the Global Travel Planning Podcast transitions to a weekly format with new episodes every Wednesday. Each month will feature destination-focused episodes with specialists, culminating in a monthly deep dive where Tracy, Melissa, and Shelly will discuss specific travel tips.

Engage with Us

Join our vibrant travel community on Facebook and submit your travel topics via SpeakPipe. Stay tuned for upcoming discussions, including a deep dive into solo female travel over fifty. Don’t forget to leave your reviews on your preferred podcast app!

The Global Travel Planning Podcast: Empowering you to explore the world, one episode at a time.

What you’ll learn in this episode

The importance of travel insurance, with real-life examples from Melissa and Shelly.
Practical tips for packing light to enhance travel comfort and convenience.
The benefits of using travel apps to track spending, particularly when dealing with multiple currencies.
The advantages of hotel reward programs for free stays, upgrades, and amenities.
The necessity of checking visa and ETA requirements accurately for seamless travel.
Strategies for gaining cost-effective airport lounge access during layovers.
Tips on cultural preparation before travel to enrich your experience.
How to effectively use contactless payment methods and manage multiple currencies.
Advice on balancing travel budgets, focusing on experiences over accommodation.
How to make the most of travel points for flights and upgrades.

Concepts mentioned

Virtual Private Network (VPN)
- A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that helps you secure your internet connection by creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. This makes your online activities more private and secure from prying eyes, such as hackers or public Wi-Fi providers.

Guest Bios – Melissa & Shelly

Born and bred in Queensland, Melissa is the editor of both The Brisbane Travel Guide and The Queensland Travel Guide, where she shares her tips on travelling around the Sunshine State.

Melissa regularly travels all over the state, so she can create helpful and up-to-date content for anyone planning a trip to Queensland.

Shelly is a passionate solo traveller and food enthusiast with a multicultural background. She is the creator and editor of Solo Her Way.

Growing up in the United States, she developed a love for exploring diverse food traditions. Shelly has been travelling full-time solo for over three years, seeking authentic experiences through food and local interactions.

Shelly’s travels have taken her to stunning locales like Puglia, Italy, and she’s always open to new adventures.