15 travel tips, 3 awesome books, and 1 billionaire.

👋 Hey everyone,

I just got back from vacation, I spent the last few weeks in Dubai, Poland, and Spain (see pics here).

Here are a few travel tips & thoughts:

1. Always get to the airport 3 hours early. 

It’s much better to sit by the gate and be bored than to be stressed and rushing to catch your flight. If you get to the gate early you’ll spend at max 2 hours being bored. If you miss your flight, you’ll spend a minimum of 2 hours being bored.

2. Airport food > Airplane food. 

Always bring or buy food before your flight. I flew Emirates and even though they had the best airplane food of any airline, my cold sandwich from the airport was better than it.

3. Pack one-way clothes.

Before a trip, do a bit of spring cleaning and pack some clothes you like but are a bit old. For example, I packed an old pair of running shoes and gym shirts that I wore during the trip but then threw them out to make space for new clothes and souvenirs that I bought on the trip.

4. Plane lifehack:

If you need to charge your phone or AirPods but you’re plane seat doesn’t have an outlet, use your laptop as a power source or go to the bathroom–there’s usually a hidden outlet there.

5. Traveling is a great way to “stress test” your partner and see what kind of person they are under pressure.

Are they able to stay calm and be helpful when there's an issue with the flight or hotel? Or do they start complaining and become a ball of negativity? If you’re looking for a life partner you want the first kind of person.

6. Always ask about your hotel’s amenities.

After asking the receptionist in Dubai about any perks we learned we had free access to a private beach. In Spain, we learned we had free access to a sauna and steam room. It doesn’t hurt to ask what free perks or amenities are included with your stay.

7. Spend more time in the ocean than the pool.

The ocean is rich in essential minerals beneficial for the body, while pools contain chlorine and urine.

8. When in nature, be aware of nature.

If you're in the desert, watch out for snakes. If you're in the forest, watch out for ticks. If you're in the ocean, watch out for jellyfish. Nature is beautiful, but it's important to respect and be cautious of it.

9. The reason people love all-inclusive resorts is because it’s the closest most people get to living like the top 1%:

• Chefs make your food every day

• Maids clean your room every day

• Direct access to a pool or beach

• Direct access to a workout room

• Prime location with great weather

• 24/7 help and quick support if anything needs fixing

10. Eat at more local spots.

Resist the temptation to dine at chains like Starbucks, Taco Bell, or Five Guys, even if they're your favorite back home. The best food spots will be found at lesser-known, family-run restaurants, not at the huge establishments.

11. Listen to the voice of each city you visit.

Paul Graham has a fantastic essay titled "Cities and Ambition" that talks about how every city has a secret message. For example, New York tells you to make more money while Boston tells you to be smarter. If you listen carefully, you'll find each city you visit has a message for you.

12. Download an ebook or audiobook before your flight.

That way you'll have something to read or listen to on the plane even if you get bored or finish your physical book.

13. Be extra careful with parking when driving in a new country.

There might be no signs saying you can't park in a spot, and even if there are signs, it might not be in English. The last thing you want is your rental car to get towed and be stranded in the countryside (funny and close call about this).

14. If you’re renting a car for more than a week it’s worth getting full insurance.

If the slightest thing happens to the car, the rental company will charge you 3-5x the repair costs. You also never know what you'll encounter on the road. In Spain, I had to dodge huge trucks on tiny roads, herds of sheep, and even chickens crossing the road.

15. Turn URL relationships into IRL relationships.

If you have a social media following, share a post mentioning you'll be visiting a city soon, and if anyone is down to hang out there. Worst-case scenario, no one responds. Best-case scenario, you'll make a new friend and they'll give you tips on what to eat and do in that city.

📚 Book Summary:

Here are a few books I’ve enjoyed and recommend (just haven’t had time to write full summaries for them yet):

• “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Mitch Albom

  • Read this book for timeless lessons on loss, grief, and what’s truly important in life.

• “How To Read A Book” by Mortimer Adler

  • Read this book to learn how to become a better reader.

• “Outlive” by Peter Attia

  • Read this book to learn from one of the world’s leading experts in longevity on how to live to 100+.

💎 Weekly Gem:

Podcast: From PayPal Intern to Starting 4x Billion-Dollar Companies - Joe Lonsdale Interview

Joe Lonsdale went from being an intern at PayPal to starting 4 billion-dollar companies.

He’s a fascinating guy and shares great insights on how to spot new business opportunities, invest your time wisely, tackle hard problems, and more.

Highly recommend this episode.

Thank you for your support, read on everyone!

-Alex W.