12 Expert Travel Tips You Need To Know
No matter where you are traveling, here are 12 of the best and most useful travel trips for any trip around the globe, and some helpful tips you can use right back at home.
- Patience Is Important
There are always going to be things in life we cannot control. Don’t sweat the things you can’t control. Life is too short to walk around angry & annoyed. Did you miss your bus? Awesome, there will be another one coming along. ATMs out of money? Great! Take an unplanned road trip to the nearest town and explore. Remind yourself it could always be worse.
- Wake Up Early
Get up at sunrise, it is a good way to avoid crowds and see attractions all to yourself. Early morning light is great for photos due to soft diffused light. It is usually easier to interact with locals and sketchy areas are less dangerous in the morning too.
- Laugh At Yourself
There are time when traveling to new places that we might look silly. Don’t get embarrassed, have a laugh at yourself. Don’t be afraid to look silly and don’t take life so seriously. It is about the journey, not the destination.
- Stash Extra Cash
Cash talks all over the world. To make sure you are covered in an emergency, stash cash in a few different places such as under a shoe insole, in the frame of your backpack, or inside a toiletry bag. Put a couple hundred dollars’ worth to the side. You will be glad you did if you lose your wallet, your credit card stops working, or the ATMs run out of money.
- Meet Local People
Make it a point to avoid other travelers from time to time and start conversations with local people. Basic English is spoken widely all over the world, so it’s easier to communicate with them than you might think. Learn from those who live in the country you’re visiting. People enrich your travels more than sights do.
- Slow Down & Observe Daily Life
Slow down your thoughts and pay close attention to the details around you. The smells, the colors, human interactions, and sounds. You’ll see stuff you never noticed before. Don’t try to cram 6 countries into 6 weeks of travel. The good stuff happens when you really take the time to explore. You’ll learn about activities that aren’t in your guidebook and meet people who are eager to show you around.
- Back Everything Up
Keep digital and physical copies of your passport, visas, driver’s license, birth certificate, health insurance card, serial numbers, and important phone numbers ready to go in case of an emergency. Backup your files & photos on an external hard drive
- Take Lots Of Photos
You may only see these places & meet these people once in your lifetime. Remember them forever with plenty of photos. Great photos are the ultimate souvenir. They don’t cost anything, they’re easy to share with others, and they don’t take up space in your luggage.
- Smile & Say Hello
Having trouble interacting with locals? Do people seem unfriendly? Maybe it’s your body language. Depending on the culture, make eye contact as you walk by. If they smile back, say hello in the local language too. This is a fast way to make new friends. You can’t expect everyone to just walk around with a welcoming grin. Usually all it takes is for you to initiate contact and they’ll open up.
- Keep An Open Mind
Don’t judge the lifestyles others who are different than you, embrace it and learn about people. Listen to opinions you don’t agree with. It’s arrogant to assume your views are correct and other people are wrong. Practice empathy and put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Embrace different possibilities, opportunities, people, suggestions and interests. Ask questions. You don’t have to agree, but you may be surprised what you’ll learn.
- Pack Ear Plugs
This should be at the top of the list. Pack Ear Plugs to muffle the sounds of crying babies, barking dogs, honking horns, and more. A traveler’s best friend.
- Eat Local Food
Think you already know what Mexican food tastes like because of that great ‘authentic Mexican Restaurant back home?”? You are probably wrong. Taste a bit of everything when you travel, especially if you don’t know what it is. Ask local people for recommendations. Eat street food from vendors with big lines out front.
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