Here is a list of 8 Things You Should Do Every Time You Travel.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert wanderer, a seasoned solo adventurer, a novice traveller, or a group tour enthusiast; it takes a lot of courage and determination to travel. The secret to travelling well is to tap into instinctive everyday behaviours that will transform your trips from ordinary to extraordinary.
Get Tips from Locals
It can be all too tempting to stay within the confines of your resort or only hit the top tourist sites in your plans. While keeping your safety in mind, challenge yourself to do something—anything!—that requires a little bit of digging. Try talking to locals, asking your concierge for off-the-beaten-path recommendations, or starting your pre-trip research early.
Take public transportation
I feel like this is one of the best ways to travel when in a foreign country. Granted, it can be a daunting experience trying to figure out the language, timetables and tickets, but this is essentially the true essence of travelling.
Figuring out where you need to go, then trying to explain this to somebody and realising you have been pronouncing it incorrectly, is a memorable experience! You will most certainly gain knowledge about the area and how to get around as well as encouraging yourself to engage in conversation with the locals. I also find it is a great way to find out how much things cost.
Record Your Memories
This goes without saying, but ALWAYS capture at least some memories with photos and videos!
Keep a diary. Take photos. Recap your days with your travel mates. Afford yourself every ability to look back on this trip and remember the most wondrous of details, big and small. Just be sure not to spend too much time on Instagram. You’ll miss out on the adventures you wanted to remember in the first place!
Stay in multiple locations
Just think about how different your hometown can be from one end to the other, no two areas are the same. For that reason, you can’t say that you’ve seen a whole country if you’ve only seen one part of it. Everywhere I have been to so far, travelling an hour in any given direction tells a different story. Different crowd, different architecture, different cultures and so on.
When I was in Thailand, the south held host to beautiful islands and snorkelling opportunities but the north told a story of jungles and mountains. In Spain, I made a point to travel down from the Catalonia region, Barcelona, to the southern, Andalucian region of Spain. The food was different, the climate was different and surprisingly the language was too! The fascinating history and varying landscapes made me realise how important it is to take in as much of the country (or neighbouring countries) as you can to not only make your money go further but your experiences too.
Take a Day Trip
If your trip involves one destination city, make a point to arrange for a day trip to a nearby city or town. Often the most popular tourist destinations—though popular for a reason—overshadow some equally worthy yet smaller nearby locales you may regret missing.
Avoid the tacky souvenirs
Don’t go for the obvious trinket to bring home when you travel. Hit the local markets and find something seriously local. When I was in Ecuador, I could have bought lots of coats and scarfs from touristy shops. Instead, I bought a homemade hand woven rug in a market from an old lady who had been making them all her life, which I still cherish to this day.
Be Respectful of Local Customs
This is my favourite thing you should do every time you travel. At least one day in each destination, live like a local – get up early and grab a cup of coffee from the local coffee shop, catch public transport, go to the supermarket and buy ingredients to make lunch, enjoy the afternoon walking around a local park, and relax in the evening by treating yourself to dinner at a locals-only restaurant.
Don’t give legs to the “ugly American” stereotype. Before your trip, read up on essential phrases so you’re not clueless upon arrival. If you missed the study period, pick up a pocket dictionary at the airport and try it out—most locals will appreciate your effort, even if you’re struggling
Enjoyed this blog post? We have more like this, follow me on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest.
Guest Posting is welcome, email me here.
.