“We’re closer than ever to an iPhone camera being a replacement for a DSLR camera,” (when it comes to travel photos) Tiffany Nguyen says.

Tiffany Nguyen didn’t set out to become a professional photographer. She, like many of us, started simply by snapping photos on her iPhone 4 to document her everyday life. Slowly but surely, she learned a few tricks of the professional trade, using tools available on her mobile, which have now made her one of the most respected travel photographers in the game.

“I was in my first year of dental school, and I hadn’t started my photography career yet. Fast forward to 12 years later, and I’ve transitioned to a career as a full-time photographer,” Nguyen told Travel + Leisure. “The iPhone was definitely an integral part of my journey as a photographer and made me realise how much I enjoy taking photos and creating something unique.” She added, “I didn’t take the straight line path that I expected to take in life, but I hope [talking about it] encourages others to chase their passions as well.”

With the release of the latest iPhone 14, Nguyen shared that she’s been “so impressed with the image quality” thanks to its 48-megapixel RAW capability, that she says “can stand up next to DSLR images better than ever before. There is so much information contained in each image which allows for much more in-depth adjustments when editing.” She added, “I think we’re closer than ever to an iPhone camera being a true replacement for a DSLR camera.”

To help others step up their game, Nguyen shared a few pieces of critical advice to level up when it comes to travel photos right from your phone and shared a few of her favourite photos from Los Angeles taken on her device to help inspire you to get out and shoot more too.

How to take travel photos like a pro

Try shooting in RAW

“A lot of people don’t realise that you can shoot in RAW, which allows you to have more information to work with in order to maximise your editing capabilities,” Nguyen explained. RAW is an uncompressed file format that allows your camera (or, in this case, your phone’s camera) to capture as much data as possible. This way, when you go to edit an image, you can do so in much greater detail. (The only downside is that shooting in RAW takes substantially more data space.)

“With 48 megapixels to work with, you have so much flexibility and can really bring an image to life with editing. Being able to lock your exposure and focus when shooting also helps you to capture the scene exactly as you envision it,” Nguyen added. “Dialing in your exposure in camera and making sure it’s as close to ideal as possible can make the editing process a lot easier.”

Get to know the basics of composition

Taking great photos isn’t just about having fancy equipment. It’s also about understanding a few basics of composition.

“I would recommend shooting close to sunrise or sunset to capture your images during the most ideal light,” Nguyen shared, pointing to the time commonly known as “golden hour” to give off those dreamy warm tones.

“Having a strong composition can really make or break your image,” Nguyen added. “Some of my favourite composition techniques include leading lines, negative space, symmetry, the rule of thirds, and using layers. Utilising these techniques along with shooting during periods of soft light will really help take your iPhone photos to the next level.”

Pick a subject and practice, practice, practice

Nguyen’s favourite thing to practice with when it comes to travel photos is cityscapes, as evidenced by these gorgeous L.A. shots. Picking a favourite, she explained, helps people want to get out and practice even more.

“The best camera really is the one you have in your pocket, and the iPhone allows me to quickly capture moments in high fidelity while I’m on the go,” she said. “There’s so much that goes on around you when you’re walking through a city, and shooting on an iPhone lets me stay fully immersed in the moment while still being able to capture high-quality images of my favourite sights and memories.”

Learn how to edit on the fly

Yes, taking stellar pics is key, but learning to edit travel photos, Nguyen noted, is also a big part of levelling up.

“Editing is half the fun and is where I really get to bring my images to life,” she said. “I edit all of the images taken on my iPhone with the iPhone as well. The apps I typically use are Lightroom Mobile and Touch Retouch. It’s the quickest and easiest way to edit my images when I’m on the go and gives me almost the same editing capabilities as compared to editing on my laptop. I’m always amazed at what I’m able to create 100% on my iPhone.”

Over the past few decades, Mexico City has made headlines for crime and violence, but that shouldn’t overshadow the world-class cultural and historical experiences it can offer to travelers. Of course, as with anywhere, it is still essential to have your wits about you while traveling around the country’s capital, so here are our top 10 tips for staying safe while there.

Use public transport during the day and private transport by night

The public transport system in Mexico City is chaotic and crowded but very affordable, and using it will certainly give you a taste of local life. However, the UK Foreign Office website states: “Be particularly alert on public transport, at airports and in bus stations,” and warn that women should be especially careful. Women should take advantage of the “female-only” carriages available on the Metro whenever possible.

At night, especially if you’re travelling alone, you shouldn’t hesitate to order a taxi to get from one place to another. Use sitio taxis from authorised cab ranks, or ask your hotel to order you a car,rather than hailing one down on the street. While in the cab, always make sure that your driver is using their taximetro to ensure you pay the correct fare.

Learn basic Spanish

Having some knowledge of basic Spanish will help you immensely on your trip. Mexico City is neither Cancún nor Puerto Vallarta, and the number of people who speak English fluently or near fluently is far lower than in both those places. Learning some basic phrases, therefore, will make you seem far less ignorant and will help you navigate your way around.

Exercise caution in certain areas of the city

Some neighborhoods in Mexico City are considered more dangerous than others. Tepito, a barrio located in the Cuauhtémoc borough, is one, as are the areas of La Lagunilla, Mercado Merced and Doctores. Outlying barrios like Ciudad Neza and Iztapalapa have also developed dangerous reputations. Stick to well-lit, central streets while in these areas and try to avoid them at night.

Be cautious with your cash

This encompasses everything to do with money and cash-carrying while in Mexico City. Obviously, don’t carry around every peso you brought with you. Only carry what you’ll need for the day and preferably in two different locations; for example, take 200 pesos in your purse and another 200 in an inside pocket. Take care when withdrawing money, too. “It’s generally safer to use ATMs during daylight hours and inside shops or malls,” says the UK Foreign Office.

Be careful with the cuisine

Mexico has a reputation for excellent street food, but you should always choose wisely. To avoid getting ill, stick to the stalls that have people flocking to them, especially if those people are locals. That way, you know they’re reputable and affordable. It is also considered best practice to avoid drinking the tap water in Mexico City and stick to bottled instead.

Keep your valuables hidden

This kind of goes hand in hand with the previous point, but don’t make yourself an obvious target. Keep jewellery to a minimum—no flashy earrings or designer watches—and please carry your camera in a bag rather than slung round your neck. That DSLR probably set you back a chunk of money, so you wouldn’t want to have it snatched within your first few hours in the city. Keep wallets and purses out of pockets that are in easy reach, as cramped, rush-hour Metro travel will see them swiped in the blink of an eye.

Know your emergency numbers

This is a crucial piece of advice for anyone traveling in a foreign country, whether it’s Mexico City or elsewhere. Keep a list in both your phone and on a separate piece of paper of all necessary numbers. In Mexico City, the police can be reached by dialling 911 and ambulances and fire services are available on 066 or 080, although it’s worth adding that you’ll need to know Spanish to communicate with any of these services. You should also carry the number of your home country’s embassy with you, as well as any personal emergency contacts.

Blend in

Many travelers come to Mexico City expecting the tropical weather of Cancún, and while the country is definitely not cold all year round, you should make an effort to do as the locals do. Try not to wear shorts, sandals and vest tops when everyone else is in jeans and jumpers. That’s not to say you need to be uncomfortable, just don’t dress for a day at the beach when you’re actually just exploring the city.

If something does happen, don’t fight back

If you are unlucky enough to be mugged or, worse, kidnapped while in Mexico City, you should never resist. On this topic, the UK Foreign Office says:

“Short-term opportunistic kidnapping—called ‘express kidnapping’—can occur, particularly in urban areas. Victims are forced to withdraw funds from credit or debit cards at a cash point to secure their release. Where victims have friends or relatives living locally, a ransom may be demanded from them. You should comply with requests and not attempt to resist such attacks.”

As frustrating as it might be, you should allow your attacker to take the possessions they want. Purses, phones and money can all be replaced, and they are not worth risking your safety for.

It is important to note here that you should invest in decent travel insurance that covers all these eventualities before setting off on your trip.

Keep copies, not originals, of important documents with you

It’s always a good idea to keep a copy of your passport and visa with you at all times. However, instead of carrying the original, which, if lost, could cause some serious problems at airport immigration, just take a decent-quality photocopy instead. If anyone asks to see your documents at any point (unlikely, but it sometimes happens), show them the photocopy and explain the original is at your hotel.

Sam Shank, co-founder HotelTonight, is here to help make sure you never make these common mistakes upon hotel check-in or checkout.

When it comes to staying in a hotel, there are some definitive dos and don’ts to follow. Don’t walk around the hallways barefoot. Don’t steal the towels or bathrobes. Do put all your trash in the bin before you leave. Do tip for good service. Just as these unofficial rules will make your stay more enjoyable for both you and the staff, so will the dos and don’ts of checking in and out of the hotel.

To ensure your hotel check-in and checkout process is as smooth as possible, we called on a hotel expert: Sam Shank, co-founder of the booking app HotelTonight. With Shank’s invaluable advice, we’ve outlined the 10 biggest mistakes to avoid when checking in and out of your hotel.

Not Asking About Resort Fees

The last thing you want on vacation is to fall victim to hidden fees. Sometimes built-in additional costs are inevitable — “resort fees are unfortunately becoming more common,” says Shank — but at least knowing about them ahead of time allows you to prepare and budget accordingly. Even when they seem set in stone, he always asks if they’re optional. “Sometimes,” he says, “I am successful.”

Not Requesting an Early Check-in or Late Checkout

When booking your hotel, remember that many properties are making moves to nix the typical check-in and checkout rules. Take The Hoxton for example. The hip chain with hotels around the world from Williamsburg to Rome has a Flexy Time policy that allows you, the guest, to choose when you check in and out. So, don’t be afraid to ask about arriving early or leaving late. Shank says it’s best to be flexible about your room type, as that may increase the chances of the hotel being able to accommodate your request. “I have found that early check-in and late checkout is as easy as asking nicely about it at the front desk,” he says. “Be willing to trade a particular room type for early access.”

Not Asking for a Specific Room If You’re a Light Sleeper

Always be aware of your sleeping preferences when traveling — this is, after all, your time to recuperate and relax. If your sleeping habits dictate the type of room you’ll be happiest in, speak up. “I’m a light sleeper, so I always ask for a room far from the elevator, on a high floor, and facing the least busy street or a courtyard,” says Shank.

Forgetting to Do a Final Sweep of Your Room

Do you ever stop before leaving your house and whisper to yourself, “wallet, phone, keys?” If you don’t, now might be a good time to start. Go through a mental checklist and do a walk-through of your hotel room before leaving. “I can’t count all of the device chargers I’ve left in hotel rooms,” Shank says. “Now, I make sure to look at every outlet during my final sweep of the room.”

Not Providing Your Contact Information at Check-in

Shank makes an interesting case for leaving his information with the front desk as soon as he arrives at a hotel. “During check-in, I leave my email address and ask for my folio to be sent to me after checkout,” he says. “This way, I can skip checkout and walk out of the hotel, knowing I’ll have a chance to review any charges later on my own schedule.” This isn’t acceptable at every hotel, so read up on the checkout policies before dashing out the door.

Not Leaving a Tip for the Housekeeping Staff Before Checkout

In the U.S., it’s customary to tip servers, bartenders, hairstylists, and cab drivers. Leaving gratuity for the housekeeping staff at a hotel is also a good travel habit. If you’ve forgotten to tip housekeeping daily during your stay, the best thing to do is leave a tip in the room before you check out. “I always make sure to leave a tip for the cleaning staff — they do as much as anyone to make sure I had a great stay,” says Shank. The American Hotel and Lodging Association suggests a tip amount between $1 and $5 a day.

Waiting in Line to Check Out If You’re Crunched for Time

Hotels today don’t always require you to stand in line at the front desk to check out. You usually just have to make sure you vacate the room on time, whether that’s at the designated checkout time or a previously agreed upon late checkout time. Make sure you have a chance to review your bill and that the hotel has a credit card on file for any room charges. Go ahead and visit the front desk if you prefer to review your bill in person, but if you’ve followed Shank’s tip to give an email address and card upon checking in, you can typically just head out. Don’t forget to leave your keycards in the room so the hotel can reuse the plastic.

Forgetting to Look at the Itemized Bill

If you’re worried that the hotel will not email you a bill — or that you won’t see it because your email inbox is a mess — then skip the last tip and leave yourself extra time to review your bill with the front desk before checking out.

Not Asking (Nicely) for an Upgrade

Shank is very much in the camp of asking for an upgrade if there’s an opportunity to do so politely. “On the day of arrival, the front desk will have a lot of discretion to assign rooms,” he said. “They likely will have a few nicer rooms that they have to put someone in. That someone could be you, so ask nicely.”

Overpaying for an Upgrade at Check-in

The song and dance of getting an upgrade at a hotel is not unlike trying to qualify for an upgrade on a flight. In either instance, you’ll want to put in the request as soon as you can, and you should have a threshold for the amount you’d be willing to pay. If it comes up, Shank recommended “offering a reasonable amount for an upgrade — my rule of thumb is 10 percent of what you paid.”

While some parts of the country are experiencing scorching heat waves, some others are experiencing heavy rainfall. So, it’s crucial to stay informed about destinations that might not be ideal for visiting at the moment. While these destinations offer incredible natural beauty and cultural experiences, it’s essential to prioritise safety and well-being when planning your travels. Stay informed, follow official advisories, and consider alternative destinations or travel dates if necessary. By taking precautions and staying vigilant, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable travel experience.

Whether due to extreme weather conditions, or other factors, here are some popular tourist destinations you might want to avoid for now.

Kerala

Kerala, known as ‘God’s Own Country,’ is all about lush greenery, tranquil backwaters, and picturesque landscapes. However, the region is currently facing heavy rainfall, and as per the news reports, it is likely that the situation might not improve in the next five days. So, it’s advised that travellers should exercise caution and stay updated on weather forecasts before planning a visit.

Gujarat

Gujarat is experiencing extreme heat, making it less than ideal for tourism activities. Travellers are advised to avoid prolonged outdoor exposure during the hottest parts of the day and to stay hydrated.

Madhya Pradesh

Similarly, Madhya Pradesh is also facing extreme heat conditions, which can pose risks to travellers. It’s advisable to postpone visits to outdoor attractions until the weather becomes more favourable.

Meghalaya and Assam

Both Meghalaya and Assam are on high alert due to heavy rainfall forecasts, with flights being cancelled in some areas. Travellers should monitor weather updates and consider postponing their trips until conditions improve.

Chopta

Set amid the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Garhwal Himalayas, Chopta is a tranquil hill station celebrated for its verdant meadows, pristine woodlands, and breathtaking vistas of snow-capped peaks. Often hailed as the ‘Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand,’ Chopta offers a serene getaway from the hustle and bustle of tourist-heavy locales. Since, it serves as the base for the renowned Tungnath trek and lies en route to Badrinath, it’s advisable to check travel advisories before planning a trip to this area.

Mussoorie

Mussoorie, another beloved hill station, is famed for its colonial allure, verdant landscapes, and sweeping panoramas. While it might draw crowds on weekends, there are plenty of lesser-known trails and secluded spots where travellers can revel in nature’s tranquillity. Along the route to Yamunotri, visitors can explore the serene beauty of Kempty Falls, although it’s essential to note that this spot might also witness significant foot traffic given the current situation.