As much as traveling is rewarding, it can often be stressful. Especially if you do not plan your trip carefully. A lot of things can be overlooked or go wrong, but if you are prepared for this, nothing bad should happen. These unplanned situations will be just another funny story to tell to your friends when you get back home. Ready? Here are some tips to follow…
- Know where you are going.
Before setting off to any destination, it is important to inform yourself about the local laws and customs. You might think that you know everything about a certain country or place, but make sure to double check. You will avoid misunderstandings and unpleasant situations. Visiting your country’s embassy website is a good starting point to find the latest information and any restrictions that might concern you. Once you get there, remember to keep an open mind. Do not judge the people just because they are different than you are. Learn from these differences.
- Arm yourself with patience.
There are things in life that are out of our control. Buses might be late, or they might not come at all. Your hotel room might not be what you expected. Local currency exchange offices might charge an indecently high commission. The museums might close for renovation. Do not freak out. See this as an unplanned adventure. Who knows where it might take you.
- Stash extra cash.
Cash works all around the world. Make sure you bring plenty of it in case of an emergency, but do not stash it all in one place. Distribute it in a few different places: put some in your wallet, some in your socks, or sew it into your jacket lining.
- Pack less stuff.
An experienced traveler is recognized by light luggage. You do not need half of the things you pack at first. Remember that you can buy most of the things at your destination, probably for even less money than you would at home. The more you travel, the better you will become at packing less things. Also bear in mind that you need a reliable piece of luggage that will not open, get wet, or go to pieces on the second day of your travel. You can find Samsonite luggage on sale for a decent price and rest assured it will never leave you hanging.
- Pack a towel or scarf.
Even The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy recommends bringing a towel with you. We say bring a towel or a scarf. These simple pieces of cloth are the most handy travel accessories you can find. They can protect you from the sun, rain, or cold, you can cover your head (in a Muslim country) or your eyes (in a desert) with them, or they can serve as a makeshift bag.
- Back everything up.
Double check all your travel documents before the trip and bring both physical and digital copies with you. Make sure you back all files up on an external drive or a cloud storage. This way, even if your belongings get stolen from you, you will be safe.
- Listen to local news.
Very often, while traveling, we lose touch with reality. We try to forget about everyday worries and relax. Well, do not get too relaxed. Listen to radio stations occasionally (you can catch one in English almost anywhere in the world). Not only will this make time fly by on a 10-hour bus ride, but you will also be informed about any upcoming bad weather, airport closures, or civil disorders.
Photo by Sofia Sforza
Emma Lawson
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