Travel Hacks for Planning Your Best Trip Ever with Brandon Presser All the Hacks

#53: Award-winning travel journalist Brandon Presser shares advice on choosing accommodations, critical factors to consider when planning a trip, his top travel hacks, and his favorite off-the-beaten-path points of interest. He also discusses his traveling philosophy and shares his top lesser-known travel destinations!
Brandon Presser (@brandpress) is a freelance features writer and travel expert. He’s written 50+ travel guidebooks, contributes to numerous influential publications, and can be seen on Bravo's television series, Tour Group where he led a group of eclectic travelers around the world. He recently released his latest book: The Far Land.
Full show notes at: https://allthehacks.com/best-trip-brandon-presser

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Selected Links From The Episode
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Connect with Brandon Presser: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Brandon’s Work:

Latest Book: The Far Land


Guidebooks

Articles Published

Bravo’s Tour Group


Where to Travel in 2022

Photo of Juxtaposition in Kyrgyzstan

Brandon’s Hospitality Jobs:

Maître d’ at Nobu

Butler @ The Plaza Hotel

Deckhand on a Luxury Yacht

Commercial Flight Attendant

Private Jet Flight Attendant

Vegas High Roller Suite Manager

Honeymoon Planner

Madagascar Club Sandwich: Le Pavillon de l'Emyrne
Japan Recommendations:

Yanaka

Kanazawa

Kaga Hot Springs

Shikoku

Setagaya


Shimokitazawa (Bear Pond Espresso)


Daikanyama (Tsutaya Bookshop)

Jiyugaoka

Book mentioned: Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending
Travel Shoes: Palladium
Iceland Recommendations:

Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Hotel Egilsen

 
Full Show Notes
What most people get wrong about the way they travel and plan vacations (1:25)
Advice about travel planning and critical factors to consider when choosing your destination (1:59)
What's so fulfilling about authentic travel (4:04)
Why having a ‘checklist’ may not result in the most meaningful travel experience (5:28)
The most effective (and non-insulting) ways to show generosity while traveling (9:27)
Authentic travel experience versus a ‘commercial vacation’ (10:44)
A career as a fixer and advice for finding a trip planning guide (13:36)
Writing guidebooks for Lonely Planet (16:10)
How social media has changed travelers’ need for guidebooks and review sites (18:11)
The importance of using your instincts, hotel concierges, and online resources (21:14)
Having stayed in 3,000+ hotels, Brandon offers advice on what to look for in a ‘nice’ hotel (27:02)
“I don't want people to skimp on a crappy Q-tip. I want a good Q-tip.” (29:39)
Using a quality rating metric of club sandwiches! (29:51)
Why Japan, as a destination, is always at the top of Brandon's list (32:20)
The downsides of a career in travel writing, and even living in incredible places, especially on someone else’s dime (37:43)
Favorite luggage and travel footwear (39:32)
Finding the balance between taking photographs and being fully immersed in your travel experience (41:48)
“I don't want a photo that someone's already taken a better version. I want to capture my moments of serendipity, that's what I use photography for" (43:50)
Brandon distills his favorite travel hacks (44:00)
Alternative cost-effective travel locations (45:42)
Brandon’s bucket list of travel destinations (54:08)
What constitutes a true ‘visit’ for the purpose of country counting (56:51)
Working high-end hospitality jobs at Nobu, The Plaza, and Barneys (57:21) 
Brandon on his search for ‘Eloise moments’ (01:00:41)
Top tips and tricks from years in travel service (01:03:51)
How carrying tokens of gratitude can affect your travel experience (01:07:54)
The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific (01:10:06)
Travel Recommendations for Iceland and Japan (01:15:40)
 
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