Things I've learned in my ten plus years of traveling
Hello there! Here are some tips and things to keep in mind as you plan your next adventure!
Since my first trip abroad in the Summer of 2005 I have been learning the best things to do to maximize experiences while traveling. I have made countless "mistakes" out of pure ignorance, but then again I am a firm believer that no experience is a mistake if you learned something from it. I didn't have anyone to tell me these things, so I learned from trial and error. I am now on my fifth journey overseas and have also traveled quite a bit throughout the States. Here is a list of tips, tricks and thoughts I have compiled from my journeys. I hope reading through it will help you to be prepared for your own adventure, whether domestic or abroad. Hopefully I can help you to avoid making some of the mistakes I did and you can enjoy your journey to the fullest. Thank you so much for reading and feel free to reach out to me if you have any further questions. Have a great day and happy travels!
Cultivate an Attitude of gratitude. Simple as that. when you look for things to be grateful for and make this a habit you will find more and more to be grateful for. Period.
Be CRAZY positive. First of all you will attract other positive people and deter negative people from hanging out with you and ruining your good time. There are nice people and mean people in every place you could travel on this Earth. Your positive attitude will be infectious, but also you will have a better time, your health will be better and you will inevitably have a richer, more wonderful time and make way more friends if people see you smiling and searching for the silver lining, rather than scowling all the time and complaining. Remember you want to represent yourself and wherever you are from in a great way and nobody likes a whiner!
Be yourself. This may seem like a cliche and there will always be people you see that will make you think "Oh if I could only be like that person then life would be so much easier and more awesome" but don't be fooled by your mind! If you get in touch with the things about yourself that are unique and the things that make you truly happy then you can find your path to happiness so much easier than trying to follow some formula that you think will lead you to some abstract thing that will make you happy. Don't force it. Take some deep breaths and try to (as my dear mama always says) "Stay in your body", follow your heart. Yes, another cliche but again, cliches are such usually because they are the simplest truths in life.
Go at your own pace...within reason. You don't want to sleep all day, but you don't want to be doing 100 things, rushing yourself and then not remember half of your experiences either. In each city you visit prioritize, as much as possible, which things you are most interested in and go and do those things first. It is so much better to take it a bit easier, do a few things that you really want to do and be present on your adventures. You will remember these things more clearly and they will be more meaningful to you than if you power through a ton of activities that don't mean much to you. Plan and prioritize ahead of course, but when you are in that new city, try to take things one day at a time. If you are exhausted, rest. If you are starving, eat. Treat yourself right and you will get so much out of your adventure.
Write things down. Even if you only write a few sentences a day you will be able to remember things so much better when you get back home or when you go to reflect. Also if you have a fabulous experience in a place and want to plan a trip back, you'd be surprised how much these few sentences can help you get clear on what to do again or skip next time. I also travel with one small roll of washi tape. You can get super cute tapes in a lot of stores these days and this way you can tape little bits of ephemera in your "one-liner" book or journal. No need to bring the whole plastic tape dispenser-thingy, just bring the roll of tape to save space. Even if you are only traveling for a few days or weeks you'd be surprised how many paper bits you will collect. If you have that train ticket stub and the street name of your hostel taped/written on the same page it's all right there for you and you don't have to worry about trying to remember things later...or sift through a giant pile of papers that no longer have as much emotional resonance.
Get some washi tape and a book to put your finds in.
Become a minimalist and build your "Ten Item Wardrobe". There are excellent Ted Talks about both of these topics at the end of this paragraph. Hopefully they will inspire you as much as they inspired me! A great piece of advice I grew up hearing my dad say is "When you are done packing, half your clothes and double your money". Obviously it may not be possible for you to double your money, however it is amazing how much simpler your travel life becomes when you half your clothes or at least bring ONLY what you absolutely need. Another great piece of advice is "One color story", meaning where a lot of black (or one specific color) and then add pops of one other color. This way most all of your clothes will work together. For all of you shopaholics out there, only bringing a small amount of clothes also means you can shop while you travel, just make sure all of your new fabulous finds can fit in your bag and try not to go crazy! One other very important piece of advice would be that if you don't wear a garment at home, you probably won't wear it on your journey either, so leave it behind! "The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes", this quote means that if you go to another country you are not suddenly another person. Going to a new place doesn't change you, change comes from a shift in your perspective. This may seem like a really deep way to tell you to leave your clothes at home but just go with it. Traveling to a new land will not make you magically appreciate something that you don't appreciate or use at home.
Minimalism Ted Talk. You owe it to yourself to watch this.
Ten Item Wardrobe Ted Talk. This video changed my life, she has a really cool perspective.
Take vitamins. Whether you bring them with you or buy them upon arrival, they can be a lifesaver. I always like having some sort of multivitamin, vitamin C and tryptophan, which helps with production of the feel-good neurochemical serotonin. A great resource for learning more about serotonin and tryptophan is a book called "The Mood Cure" by Julia Ross. This book has completely changed my life and I highly recommend it.
Check the weather. This seems simple and silly but can make all the difference. You don't want to be freezing, soggy or otherwise miserable all day while your trying to soak it all up. You also don't want to be carrying around that heavy jacket you won't need, or paying to check in and store your extra crap at museums and the like. It's relatively easy to get weather apps on smartphones, pick your favorite and add that to your repertoire. I never have made a habit of this and have regretted it many times.
Invest in a tumbler or a reusable water bottle, you can even get one with a built in water filter. Wherever you are in the world, it's ALWAYS helpful to save plastic and trees by not having to buy tons of water bottles or use a bunch of extra paper cups. Also you can carry your drinking vessel onto the airplane. Some airlines charge for water now and so you can save anywhere from two to six dollars by bringing your own, and use that money on some snacks or booze (if that's your style), or save it altogether. Take that airline! Also on the first day being in a new city figure out if it's ok to drink the tap water. Some cities this would be an astronomically BAD idea, but other it is totally fine and can save you a lot of money. Two or three bucks here and there adds up super quick so do yourself a favor and ask around to see if you can just refill the cup you already have, especially if you have one with a little filter in it.
Wear a watch. When you're on the plane adjust it to the time of the city you will be landing in. I know pretty much everyone has a smartphone that will do this for you but having a watch is a good idea too. Also adjusting and thinking in your new cities time will help you to beat your jet lag much faster. When your phone dies or it would be rude to pull it out, then you will always have the time on your wrist.
Invest in shoes. Go for comfort over super fashionable (although if you have enough to spend these two things can overlap) and get a color that matches a lot of stuff. I like traveling with one pair of good boots, one pair of flats and one pair of shower shoes - just get a cheap pair of flip flops. Make sure you can walk all day in both pairs of your shoes and break them in before you leave. I wear my boots to the airport because they are going to be bulkier than your flats and so it will leave you more room in your suitcase. Also make sure to stuff your shoes with socks or something, don't let that inside-shoe space go to waste! Every square inch counts.
Have a list of addresses with you and some pre-addressed envelopes as well. If you are traveling within your home country then place postage on your envelopes before you go too. Envelopes take up very little space and if they are already addressed and have postage it will save you so much time and energy which you can put into focusing on what you want to say to your loved ones. Is there anyone who helped you achieve your dream of traveling? Make sure to thank them first by sending them a letter or even just things you have found on your trip. These don't have to be long poetic letters or fancy cards either! It will be so meaningful just to receive something from you on your trip. Some ideas of things you can send through the mail are paper menus (circle what you ate, or draw a picture of your waiter on the back), napkins with logos on them, wrappers from candy not available where you are from (be sure to open them carefully!), free brochures you have received, museum pamphlets or programs and things from wherever you are staying (most hotels and a lot of hostels will give you a piece of letterhead if you ask nicely), these are just a few ideas. I also think it's cute to send someone kisses in the form of sugar packets! I'm from the south so at home I often here the phrase "Give me some sugar honey!" Send some "sugar" to anyone who would enjoy a pun like that, it doesn't have to be limited to your partner. Also if you are a bit crafty like me then consider printing out an envelope template to take with you on your travels. It is just a simple piece of paper that takes up VERY LITTLE room in your suitcase but can have a great impact. You can then turn paper bags, maps and all manner of other things you find on your travels into super cool, unique and fun envelopes to send your goodies in. Below are examples of envelopes I have made recently, from things that would otherwise have become rubbish. Now they have a second life and can brighten someones day back home.
Here are three envelopes I made recently from a free map of Amsterdam, a paper bag from the Barcelona airport and a paper bag with a cool pattern from a clothing store.
Grocery shop instead of eating out all the time. Now sometimes this may not be possible if you don't have access to a kitchen or if you are traveling with a group with preset meals. If you can though, buy some staples to save yourself money and prevent yourself from getting hangry. This can be a great way to connect with locals in your neighborhood. Find a market or grocery near you and hit them up! Also don't be afraid to step out of your box and try some of the local products they have, especially if the area your in is famous for a particular good. Try it! If you like to have a glass of wine or a beer in the evening then grab a bottle or a 4/6 pack instead of buying by the glass. You also now have the opportunity to share. Offer some to your host, flat-mates or fellow hostelers and make friends.
Don't fear the hostel. They are awesome! Yeah there are scary movies and stories out there but seriously, the scariest thing you will encounter about most hostels is the bathroom situation! Adjust your expectations, get some shower shoes and bring your own towel. Hostels are fun places filled with fellow travelers and adventurers of all ages and types. You rent a bed instead of a room and pay WAY less than what you would to stay in a hotel. Most hostels also have private rooms available, generally these fill up slightly quicker than the dormitory style rooms so plan a little further ahead for those. The private rooms are a little more expensive but if you are traveling with your honey, or your family, for instance and want some privacy but still want discounted rates, consider going with this option, it will still be MUCH cheaper than a hotel. All of that being said use your common sense, read reviews online and if you travel quite a bit, or if you are going to be staying in a bunch hostels in the space of one year, than consider getting a hostel organization membership. Having a membership to a hostel organization can save you money and help ensure you will be staying in the safest and most highly rated places. I have a membership with Hosteling International and can highly recommend them. Hosteling International is basically a network of hostels that has established certain criteria for safety, cleanliness, price and overall value. You renew your membership every year for a fee and it saves you booking fees throughout the year. You also get discounted rates for your stays, which are usually taken off when you arrive at the hostel and pay your balance. Most all of the hostels I have stayed at as a member have offered at least 10% off of the quoted prices and some offer more. If you are going to be staying in more than a couple of hostels in the next year it's worth it to get a membership.
Hosteling International Homepage: https://www.hihostels.com/
Get comfortable with public transit. Navigating a new public transit system in a foreign city, especially if it's in another language, can be overwhelming at best, but you can do it! Taking cabs everywhere, again, gets very expensive and also cuts you off from a lot of life in the city. Be brave and hop on a bus, train or on the metro. You may feel silly for a few minutes while you try to figure out where to go, how to pay and where to get off but this will lead you to being a public transit pro, just be patient and don't give up. Most metro systems work in pretty much the same way. There are different colored lines and the last stops going either direction are listed. You may not see the stop you need listed anywhere obvious but if you figure out which direction you need to go then that will usually be listed and you can continue and figure out the next piece of your journey on the train, which usually will have a map in the car as well. I have found that the book company Moleskin makes really nice (although relatively pricey), "City Guides". I have used the London, Paris and Washington DC editions, all of which have tiny metro maps which have been very helpful. You could also print out your own tiny version at home before you go and put it in your wallet. The books are nice because they can be really discreet. You are not constantly staring at the map in the train car or carrying around some huge fold out map that alerts everyone around you "I'm a tourist!"
Moleskin City Books: http://www.moleskine.com/en/collections/model/city-notebooks
Trust your instincts. Follow your gut. If you feel a pull toward something that you can't explain, do it (again, within reason)! This is where the magic happens. I've touched on this in a few other places but it is super important.
Make sure you are in the correct queue. Just some practical advice that may seem silly but it can save you so much time, even if you feel a little awkward, make sure you are standing in the right line. I cannot say how many times I and other travelers have wasted various amounts of time standing in lines and then realizing we have been in the wrong line, thus increasing waiting time. Being as aware as possible of your surroundings and staying present can help save you heaps of time and stress.
Find meet ups. I like using Couchsurfer for this, you can make a profile for free and stay with people or just go to meetups and events. There are tons of meet up websites and you can meet other travelers and make friends. It can be nerve racking to go to a meetup where you don't know anyone but be brave this is what traveling and challenging yourself is all about! Maybe you are also nervous because you are not fluent in the language of your new "home country" but you will meet other travelers who have these same nerves as you and trust me, they want to meet you just as much as you want to meet them! The whole point of going to a meetup or a language exchange is that you don't have to know it all, you just have to be yourself. Don't put too much pressure on yourself! Breath. Remember, you only live once and if you put yourself out there (safely of course) then you will be so proud of what you can achieve. I always LOVE it when I've had an amazing experience and I remember how nervous I was and that I went any way! It is an awesome feeling and will make you braver in so many areas of your life.
Couchsurfer "How it Works": http://www.couchsurfing.com/about/how-it-works/
Thank you so much for reading my tips and thoughts about traveling. Check back for part two and coming soon: Brennah's List of Favorite Museums in the Western World. Have an awesome day and travel safe!
