Travelling tips. From lodging and transportation to health and safety, as well as international travel restrictions, embarking on your first major domestic or international trip can be daunting. Having some travel tips and tricks up your sleeve and conducting some research before your trip can help you feel ready and confident when you set out. Below are some of our top travel tips for first-time travelers.
TRAVELLING TIPS
Experience begins to save you money and hassles when you travel overseas. We reflect (face-to-face) on the expensive errors we made during the first several months of our trip. In order to protect you from the predicaments we find ourselves in, we wanted to provide these recommendations.
1. Take the path less travelled;
Many travelers find comfort in staying inside resort boundaries or visiting just the popular attractions. However, their tales are all the same when they arrive home. Take the less-traveled route whether you’re traveling alone or with a group. Go to the left where fewer people are if you’re alone in a market. Ask the tour leader for suggestions for places to visit off the beaten route during your downtime if you’re exploring a new city in a group.
2. Take public transport;
Using public transportation is the quickest method to live like a local since you can interact with regular people going about their daily lives, pick up a few essential phrases, and start a discussion.
3. Strike up a conversation;
TRAVELLING TIPS
Start a conversation with the locals to turn your trip from average to spectacular. This, in my opinion, is the greatest approach to socialize and hone my language abilities.
4. Avoid the tacky souvenirs;
When traveling, avoid purchasing the obvious memento to bring back home. Visit your neighborhood markets to discover truly local products. I could have purchased a lot of lanterns and slippers a la Aladdin from tourist traps when I was in Marrakech. Rather, I purchased a handwoven rug from an elderly woman who had been creating them for her entire life at a market, which I still treasure today.
5. Never miss a moment;
TRAVELLING TIPS
Don’t get caught up in taking photos – yes, they are wonderful keepsakes to remind you of your travels when you get home, but often travellers get so distracted taking a photo that they miss the magic moments.
6. Eat somewhere local;
Whenever I travel alone, I always ask locals to recommend their favorite eateries—that is, assuming they are willing to divulge their trade secrets! When I go on a group trip, I always ask the guide to recommend their best restaurants so I may indulge in them during my free time.
7. Get lost in the moment;
TRAVELLING TIPS
When I travel, my favorite times are when I venture into the back streets and get lost while wandering aimlessly. If I start to feel anxious, I know I can always check my phone’s GPS or ask for directions; but, it’s these carefree moments that make me happiest.
Summary
One of the most liberating things you can do is to travel the world. Although “winging-it” often works well, here are some backcountry survival advice we picked up throughout a year overseas.