🌍 The Packing Mistakes I’ll Never Make Again

Hey, Johannes from GearUpYourLife here !

I’ve been living out of a backpack for over two years now—through airport chaos, hostel mishaps, lost luggage (twice), and one unforgettable week on a volcano with no Wi-Fi.

Along the way, I learned a lot—mostly the hard way.

So today I’m sharing the real, raw, and ridiculously useful lessons I wish someone had told me before I hit the road. No fluff, no Instagram-filtered advice—just stuff that’ll make your next trip way smoother.

Whether you're planning your first trip or your fiftieth, I promise these tips will save you stress, space, and money.

Let’s dive in. 👇

🍽️ 1. Use Reddit to Find Real Local Food (Not Tourist Traps)

If you want the best food of your life, skip Google Maps and TripAdvisor. Open Google and type:

"[City] food recommendations site:reddit.com"

This little trick pulls up posts by real locals who share their favorite hidden gems. No overpriced tourist menus. No pizza in Bangkok. Just authentic eats, shared by people who actually live there.

This has helped me find $3 curries, grandma-run diners, and local bakeries that never make it to any "Top 10" list.
Pro tip: Search by district or neighborhood, and don’t be afraid to click through older threads—great food doesn’t expire.

✈️ 2. Don’t Just Trust Gate Agents – Think Like a Travel Hacker

Flights get delayed. Connections get missed. And most travelers just wait in line hoping the airline sorts it out.

Don’t be most travelers.

The moment a delay hits, pull out your phone and search alternative routes – other airlines, nearby airports, or even trains. Sometimes you’ll find a faster route before the gate agent even opens their mouth. And yes, screenshot or save all receipts if you book anything yourself. Airlines often reimburse.

Travel is a game. The faster you play it, the more control you keep.

🏩 3. The Right Backpack = Half the Stress

Seriously, your bag setup is everything. If it sucks, your trip sucks. Here's how to make sure it doesn’t:

• Choose the right backpack – I have a whole video about it, but TLDR: comfort, compartments, and carry-on size matter.

• https://amzn.to/4jO8kPg

• Anti-theft gear – Think lockable zippers, cut-proof straps, or RFID-blocking pockets. It’s not paranoia if you’re in Barcelona.

• https://amzn.to/3Hvl3sT

• Merino wool > cotton – It stays fresh longer, packs smaller, and dries fast. Your backpack will thank you.

• https://unboundmerino.com/

• Always carry backups – Scan your passport, ID, and travel docs to your phone or cloud. Losing your passport sucks. Losing your passport without a backup is a nightmare.

• Pack a tote or foldable daypack – Perfect for grocery runs, beach days, or when your backpack turns into a brick at the hostel.

• https://amzn.to/4kCwUnF

These aren’t gadgets. They’re stress-reducers disguised as fabric.

🚗 4. Don’t Rent Cars at the Airport

Here’s a quick money-saving hack:

Airport car rentals are up to 26% more expensive than picking one up in the city. Why? Airport taxes and convenience fees. If you’re renting for more than a day or two, it’s worth grabbing a rideshare into town and renting there.

Same car, same rental company – just $50 cheaper.

Also, compare prices using sites like DiscoverCars, Rentalcars.com, or Kayak. These often show smaller local providers that aren’t listed on big-name platforms – sometimes with deals up to 40% off. Always double-check the location: "Downtown" or "City Center" can save you even more.

And if you're flexible with dates and pickup times, midweek rentals can be cheaper than weekend ones.

🛌 5. Sleep is Gear Too

Jetlag, late check-ins, weird hostel beds – sleep is always the first thing to take a hit when you travel. But it doesn’t have to.

Here’s what I never travel without:

• Quality sleep mask – for flights, buses, and sunrises at 5am.

• https://amzn.to/3Zpm8Zf

• Noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones – because there’s always a snorer.

• https://amzn.to/4l2zPps

• Melatonin or magnesium – natural ways to reset your body clock.

• White Noise Maschine-Natural sounds and its perfect for Hotel stays or your own Airbnb 

• https://amzn.to/3FSyXEK

Sleep well = feel human. Miss sleep = hate your trip.

Alright… that’s it from me for today.

I was planning to take a quick 30-minute nap this morning – and woke up three hours later. So if this email was slightly too chill, now you know why 😅

But honestly – I’m so grateful we just passed 1,000 YouTube subscribers this week. That’s wild. And to celebrate, I’ve got some awesome surprises coming next week for both this newsletter and the YouTube community.

If you’ve been enjoying these emails, it would mean a lot if you share this newsletter with a travel buddy – so they don’t miss the giveaways and hidden content either.

Catch you soon & happy travels,
— Johannes from GearUpYourLife

P.S. Some links above are Amazon affiliate links – they won’t cost you extra, but they help me keep the gear flowing and the newsletter running. Thanks for the support ❤️