Traveling is one of the best things you can do, and there are so many different ways to do it. You can travel within your own country or go further afield. You can choose to have an active trip or you can just find a beautiful beach and refuse to move a muscle. You can even choose between exploring the local culture and merely staying somewhere that’s like a replica of your home country, but with better weather.
If you love to travel a lot, you soon start to pick up habits that help to make your travels smoother and even more enjoyable. However, you don’t have to be traveling for years to work out some of the secrets of traveling well. If you want to be an expert traveler, there are plenty of things that you can learn without even going anywhere.
Be Prepared
If there’s one thing that any seasoned traveler knows, it’s that being prepared can save you from a huge range of sticky situations. Of course, you don’t have to have a fully prepared itinerary every time you travel, but there are plenty of things you should be preparing for. For example, it’s always essential to get your travel documents in order. You wouldn’t want to risk not being let into the country you’re traveling to. Another thing you can always prepare for is the weather and climate where you’re heading. There’s no excuse for having the wrong clothes with you.
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Some trips will require more preparation than others. If you’re going to be exploring a city, you probably don’t need to do a whole lot of preparation. You can wander around and see new things with just a few tips about how to get around the city. However, if you’re going on a week-long hike, you’re probably going to need to prepare just a little better. You’ll need to be prepared for any eventuality, from getting lost to getting injured. That means you’ll need to be a lot more careful about what you pack, who you go with, and what you know.
Be Punctual
Being on time is a big advantage when you’re traveling. While there are times when punctuality doesn’t matter, there are plenty when it does. Getting to the airport on time, checking in and out of hotels when you’re asked to, and even getting to booked activities on time are all essential. If you’re late, you could end up losing money, delaying your journey and even ruining your trip. You don’t want any mode of transport to leave without you, and you don’t want to have anything you’ve paid for canceled because you didn’t turn up when you were supposed to. If you know you tend to be a little lax with time, try to work on that.
Get Fast-tracked in Airports, Hotels and More
Speaking of being on time, traveling can also involve a lot of waiting around. However, if you know what you’re doing, you can cut down on waiting times. When you’re smart about travel, you can get fast-tracked so you can save time. One option is to be a member of a loyalty program, whether it’s for an airline, a hotel group or something else useful, like a rental car company. You can get various perks from these, including getting to jump the line. You can also often pay extra to skip ahead as others, such as having TSA Pre-check for the airport.
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Know All the Tricks to Save Money
Money is always a big deal when you’re traveling. Whether you’re traveling on a shoestring budget or you can afford a little more luxury, you still want to get as much for your money as possible. As mentioned above, being a member of some loyalty programs is a good idea. As well as letting you jump the line, it could also allow you to save money on upgrades, free hotel rooms, and more. A travel rewards credit card is also great for this, allowing you to collect things like airline points or hotel points, which you can then redeem for upgrades or freebies.
There are many different things that you can do to save money when you’re traveling. Some of the ways you can save will depend on where you’re going. In some countries, haggling is normal and often expected, whereas in others it could be seen as a little rude or cheeky. Some countries will have different types of cheap accommodation or dining. For example, hostels are popular in Europe, Asia, and Australia, whereas in North America, you are more likely to find budget hotels.
You can learn plenty of tricks to save while you travel, from buying cheap flights to getting inexpensive souvenirs. When managing your finances, it’s important to check conversion rates so that you can plan your expenses effectively. For example, if you are travelling to India, make sure you check the 1 Canadian dollar to 1 Rupee conversion rate before you go so that you know how much you’re spending and can stick to your travel budget!
Practice Packing
Knowing how to pack well is about more than just taking the right things on your trip. It’s also about how to fit everything neatly into your bag. You want to be able to find one thing from your suitcase (or any other bag) without having to pull everything else out to remove it. One of the best travel tips that you can remember is to try to pack as lightly as possible. Not only can it save you money when you’re flying, but it could also help you to get around more easily when you have to walk. Always think of your most essential items first, then start thinking about the things that are less essential.
In addition to knowing what to pack, you can use a range of methods and accessories to make packing easier. Many people use packing cubes or something similar when packing a suitcase. They allow you to separate your things into more manageable, smaller bags so you can keep everything neat and easily remove a bag if you need it. Another thing to remember is to ensure your bag is identifiable, especially when flying, and has your address on it.
Never Be Too Confident
As you start to travel more any more, you can begin to feel like you really are an expert traveler. However, even if you have plenty of destinations under your belt, it’s important not to get too confident about your knowledge and experience. It’s always a good idea to keep your wits about you, no matter where you’re going. It’s especially important when visiting somewhere new, but still, a good idea when traveling around somewhere you have visited before. Remember that you’re a visitor, and you can often be easily identified as one too. Even when you’re experienced, keep in mind that anything could happen.
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Learn to Communicate in Any Language
Communicating when you’re traveling can sometimes be tricky. If you’re lucky, you’ll visit somewhere where everyone speaks English or has a good understanding of English. However, there are many places where not many locals will speak the same language as you. If you visit the same place frequently, you might start to pick up some of the language. But you don’t have to become fluent in every new place that you visit.
It’s definitely polite and useful to learn a few words and phrases. However, you can also learn the art of communicating with others without having to speak the same language. Gestures, body language, and even diagrams can go a long way to getting your message across. Of course, in the modern age, there are also various gadgets and tech tools that might be able to help you reach across the language barrier.
Take Advice from Locals
When you want to be an expert traveler, you can learn a lot from other travelers. Sometimes, they’re the best people to listen to. But if you really want to get to know somewhere, you should listen to the locals. They will give you the best advice about everything from where to eat to how to stay safe. Even if you don’t talk directly to local people, look for them when you’re choosing things like restaurants so you can see which places get the local stamp of approval. However, in some places, you will need to be careful of locals who want to tease you. If an Australian starts trying to give you advice about drop bears, you might want to ask someone else for advice.
Be Ready for an Emergency
Anything could happen when you’re traveling. From natural disasters to crimes or missed flights, you never know when you might need to quickly take shelter, change your plans, or even go home at short notice. It’s always wise to be prepared for an emergency so that you don’t end up stranded or unable to contact people when you need to most. One thing that you should have is some money set aside, which is just for emergencies. Another good idea is to always have some way of contacting others, whether you have your phone or perhaps even a portable hotspot so you can get online.
Anyone can be an expert traveler if they know how. Take the time to learn how to look after yourself and travel well.
