James and Susan

When it comes to a credit card, it makes sense to get a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees (most cards charge around 3% so you’d pay $30 in fees if you charge $1000). Don’t wait until you’re out and about because once you’re hungry, you’re much more likely to settle for anything that’s convenient — which often means you’ll pay too much and/or settle for a sub-quality meal. Know how long it takes to get to the train station or airport: Public transportation isn’t always efficient or on-time so give yourself some extra time. If you need cash, skip the money exchange offices that you’ll find in every airport/train station and simply withdraw it from ATMs.

sized GoToob+ refillable bottles — specifically, because GoToob makes some of the best leak-proof bottles that I’ve tested. These silicon bottles come in a variety of sizes (1.7, 2.5, and 3.4 ounces are all carry-on sized) and a variety of colors — they come in a few larger sizes as well if being carry-on compliant isn’t an issue. I’ve found that different countries use different deodorant formulas so I always pack a regular-sized stick of whatever I normally use — stick with a solid deodorant instead of liquid/aerosol since they don’t count against TSA restrictions. If you have a specialized hair care routine, then I recommend putting your shampoo and conditioner into refillable no-leak travel bottles like the GoToob+ bottles, or check out Amazon to see if your favorite product comes in a travel-sized option.

Aside from the comfort, the main reason to buy Allbirds comes down to the sustainable materials they use — notably wool in their Wool Series of shoes and eucalyptus tree fibers in their Tree Series of shoes. The Tree Runners are the same as the Wool Runners but they’re made out of eucalyptus tree fiber instead of wool. When compared to the Wool Runners, I’d say that the Tree Runners breathe better so they might be a better option if you’re wearing them in hot weather. In terms of comfort, the Dashers (their running shoes) have the most cushion/support but the Runners (their everyday athletic-inspired shoes) is a close second.

I’m always on the hunt for comfortable minimalist shoes, and the brand that’s become famous for making the “world’s most comfortable shoes” is back with a new pair of sustainable/eco-friendly merino-wool sneakers — the Allbirds Pipers. And, of course, Allbirds uses sustainable materials like wool and Brazilian sugarcane midsole (in fact, they’re carbon neutral) so that’s a big selling point for a lot of people. The Wool Runners, like all their shoes, are made from sustainable materials like Merino wool, eucalyptus pulp, castor bean oil, and sugarcane. In short, the Allbirds Pipers are a minimalist casual sneaker that lives up to Allbirds’ reputation of being super comfortable, but I personally think they’re a little less comfortable than the Allbirds Wool Runners and Tree Dashers since they provide less arch support than their sportier cousins.