At least half the hotel rooms I end up staying in these days require that you stick your room key in a slot beside the door in order to do things such as turn on the lights or use the power outlets. It's a detail that I forget at least once a trip, which results in me spending a few minutes fumbling around, trying to determine why I can't turn on the bedside lamp.

Even if you've had a holiday filled with rest and relaxation, the trip coming home is often enough to wipe you out and get you disoriented. The next time you plan a holiday, give yourself an extra day to bounce back and get ready for your return to work.

I think there are two types of travellers, those who eat so they have the energy to go to museums and stuff, and those who plan their trips around their meals, snacks, and cocktails.

Japan is a great place to visit, especially for first-time international travellers. It feels completely different than Western countries, yet totally familiar. I recently got back from a trip there, and while it wasn't my first visit, I still learned a whole lot. Mainly, I figured out what kind of items are best to keep on you at all times.

Hostels are an inexpensive option when you want to stretch your travel budget and don't mind sharing space with strangers (who might even become your friends). The downside is that if you want to hang your clothes or towels up to dry, you're fighting for the same common drying spots with everyone else in the hostel. Toss a couple of small magnets in your bag and you have this problem solved!

Flying dehydrates you -- a lot. You probably know that it's a good idea to drink water before, during, and after a flight, but how much is enough?

You're on holiday, and you have your camera out at a well-known tourist spot where everyone and their mother has snapped the same pic over and over. How do you make each click of the shutter count?

When choosing a hotel, it's good to consider amenities, hospitality and quality in addition to price. These brands and chains are the American hotels with the highest customer satisfaction marks for 2017.

Video: Being a casual photographer without much gear, I'm reluctant to spend money on things like proper camera bags and cases. I'd rather MacGyver a solution with whatever's on hand -- like this DIY lens case made from plastic bottles and bubble wrap.

One month after moving into a two-bedroom above our budget, my New York City roommate and I explored ways to make some extra money. We had used Airbnb as travellers and wondered about becoming hosts.

Most fears boil down to a lack of understanding, and in those situations knowledge really is power. If the thought of flying in a plane makes you anxious and break out in a cold sweat, these flying safety facts are your medicine to take before, during and after your flight.

Osprey's Farpoint 55 backpack is really two bags in one. You get a large compartment to keep clothes and shoes in, plus a removable daypack that lightens your load once you set up base somewhere. Plus, the whole thing is small enough to count as a single carry-on bag.

I'm so thankful that I can do my nomad thing in an era where now-indispensable travel resources like Google Maps, TripAdvisor, Wi-Fi and Airbnb exist. They make what I do entirely possible. With Airbnb, I can bounce around and set up a new home base in different countries with a few clicks of a button, and I don't have to pay out the wazoo for a hotel room. Without a doubt, Airbnb has been one juicy, giant cherry on top of my sweet travels.

There are plenty of options for saving money on lodging. If you want top notch service, though, you can often get it at an affordable price by staying at a newly launched hotel.

For some of us, when family announces they're coming to town, alarms go off, panic ensues and a couple of glasses of whiskey are poured. But with a little preparation, it doesn't have to be that stressful, or complicated.