Travel Tips
It’s now been
7 years since I sold everything and left the United States to travel the world.
These are the best travel tips I’ve discovered along the way.
1. Patience
Is Important
Don’t worry
about the stuff you can’t control. Life is much too short to be angry &
annoyed all the time. Did you miss your bus? No worries, there will be another
one. ATMs out of money? Great! Take an unplanned road trip over to the next
town and explore. Sometimes problems happen.
Just take a
deep breath and remind yourself that it could be worse.
2. Wake Up
Early
Rise at
sunrise to have the best attractions all to yourself while avoiding crowds.
It’s also a magical time for photos due to soft diffused light, and usually
easier to interact with locals. Sketchy areas are less dangerous in the morning
too. Honest hardworking people wake up early; touts, scammers, and criminals
sleep in.
3. Laugh At
Yourself
You will
definitely look like a fool many times when traveling to new places. Rather
than get embarrassed, laugh at yourself. Don’t be afraid to screw up, and don’t
take life so seriously.
Once a whole
bus full of Guatemalans laughed with glee when I forced our driver to stop so I
could urgently pee on the side of the road. Returning to the bus and laughing
with them gave me new friends for the rest of the journey.
4. Stash
Extra Cash
Cash is king
around the world. To cover your ass in an emergency, make sure to stash some in
a few different places. I recommend at least a couple hundred dollars worth. If
you lose your wallet, your card stops working, or the ATMs run out of money,
you’ll be glad you did.
Some of my
favorite stash spots include socks, under shoe inserts, a toiletry bag, around
the frame of a backpack, even sewn behind a patch on your bag.
5. Meet Local
People
Make it a
point to avoid other travelers from time to time and start conversations with
local people. Basic English is spoken widely all over the world, so it’s easier
to communicate than you might think, especially when you combine hand gestures
and body language.
Learn from
those who live in the country you’re visiting. People enrich your travels more
than sights do.
6. Pack A
Scarf
I happen to
use a shemagh, but sarongs also work great. This simple piece of cotton cloth
is one of my most useful travel accessories with many different practical
applications. It’s great for sun protection, a makeshift towel, carrying stuff
around, an eye mask, and much more.
I can’t tell
you how many times a scarf has come in handy around the world.
7. Observe
Daily Life
If you really
want to get a feel for the pulse of a place, I recommend spending a few hours
sitting in a park or on a busy street corner by yourself just watching day to
day life happen in front of you.
Slow down
your train of thought and pay close attention to the details around you. The
smells, the colors, human interactions, and sounds. It’s a kind of meditation —
and you’ll see stuff you never noticed before.
8. Back
Everything Up
When my
laptop computer was stolen in Panama, having most of my important documents and
photos backed up saved my ass. Keep both digital and physical copies of your
passport, visas, driver’s license, birth certificate, health insurance card,
serial numbers, and important phone numbers ready to go in case of an
emergency.
Backup your
files & photos on an external hard drive as well as online with software
like Backblaze.
9. Take Lots
Of Photos
You may only
see these places & meet these people once in your lifetime. Remember them
forever with plenty of photos. Don’t worry about looking like a “tourist”. Are
you traveling to look cool? No one cares. Great photos are the ultimate
souvenir.
They don’t
cost anything, they’re easy to share with others, and they don’t take up space
in your luggage. Just remember once you have your shot to get out from behind
the lens and enjoy the view.
10. There’s
Always A Way
Nothing is
impossible. If you are having trouble going somewhere or doing something, don’t
give up. You just haven’t found the best solution or met the right person yet.
Don’t listen to those who say it can’t be done.
Perseverance
pays off. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told what I want isn’t
possible, only to prove it wrong later when I don’t listen to the advice and
try anyway.
11. Smile
& Say Hello
Having
trouble interacting with locals? Do people seem unfriendly? Maybe it’s your
body language. One of my best travel tips is to make eye contact and smile as
you walk by. If they smile back, say hello in the local language too. This is a
fast way to make new friends.
You can’t
expect everyone to just walk around with a big stupid grin on their face.
That’s your job. Usually, all it takes is for you to initiate contact and
they’ll open up.
12. Splurge A
Bit
I’m a huge
fan of budget travel, as it allows you to travel longer and actually experience
more of the fascinating world we live in rather than waste your hard-earned
money on stuff you don’t need. In fact you can travel many places for $50 a day
with no problems.
That said,
living on a shoestring gets old after a while. It’s nice (and healthy) to go
over your budget occasionally. Book a few days at a nice hotel, eat out at a
fancy restaurant or spend a wild night on the town.
13. Keep An
Open Mind
Don’t judge
the lifestyles of others if different from your own. Listen to opinions you
don’t agree with. It’s arrogant to assume your views are correct and other
people are wrong. Practice empathy and put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
Embrace
different possibilities, opportunities, people, suggestions, and interests. Ask
questions. You don’t have to agree, but you may be surprised what you’ll learn
from the people you meet during your travels.
14. Try
Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing.org
is a large online community of travelers who share their spare rooms or couches
with strangers for free. If you truly want to experience a country and its
people, staying with a local is the way to go.
There are millions
of couchsurfers around the world willing to host you and provide
recommendations. Expensive hotels are not the only option, there are all kinds
of cheap travel accommodation options out there.
15. Volunteer
Occasionally
Make it a
point to volunteer some of your time for worthwhile projects when traveling.
Not only is it a very rewarding experience, but you’ll often learn more about
the country and its people while also making new friends.
There’s a
great site called Grassroots Volunteering where you can search for highly
recommended volunteer opportunities around the world.
16. Pack Ear
Plugs
This should
actually be #1 on the list. I love my earplugs! Muffle the sounds of crying
babies, drunk Australians, barking dogs, honking horns, dormitory sex, natural
gas salesmen, and more. A traveler’s best friend. These are my favorite
earplugs for comfort & effectiveness.
If you’re
looking for other gift ideas for travelers, make sure to check out my ultimate
travel gift guide for those travelers in your life (or, just a treat for
yourself!)
17. Don’t Be
Afraid
The world is
not nearly as dangerous as the media makes it out to be. Keep an eye out for
sketchy situations but don’t let that be the focus of your whole trip. Use
common sense and you’ll be ok. Most people are friendly, trustworthy, generous,
and willing to help you out.
This goes for
women too. I realize I’m not a woman, but I’ve met plenty of experienced female
travelers who agree.
18. Get Lost
On Purpose
If you want
to see the parts of town where real people live & work, you need to go
visit them. The best way to do this is on foot — without knowing exactly where
you’re going. Write down the name of your hotel so you can catch a taxi back if
needed, then just pick a direction and start walking.
Don’t worry
too much about stumbling into dangerous neighborhoods either, as locals will
generally warn you before you get that far.
19. Eat Local
Food
Think you
already know what Mexican food tastes like? You’re probably wrong. Taste a bit
of everything when you travel, especially if you don’t know what it is. Ask
local people for recommendations. Eat street food from vendors with big lines
out front.
I’ve been
very sick only twice in my travels. Don’t be scared of the food.
20. Say Yes
Often
Be impulsive
and say yes when someone randomly invites you to meet their family, try a new
activity, or explore a place you didn’t know existed. It’s these unexpected and
unplanned situations that add spice to your travels and always turn into the
best stories later.
Accept the
kindness of strangers when you travel — you’ll have plenty of opportunities.
21. Slow Down
Please don’t
try to cram 6 countries into 6 weeks of travel. All the good stuff happens when
you really take the time to explore. You’ll learn about activities that aren’t
in your guidebook and meet people who are eager to show you around.
I can
honestly say that NONE of my best travel experiences happened within the first
few days of arriving somewhere. Spend more time in fewer places for maximum
enjoyment.
22. Keep Good
Notes
My memory for
details sucks. When I first started traveling the world 7 years ago, I didn’t
keep a good journal, and now I’m regretting it. Information like the names of
people I met, conversations I had, feelings about a new experience, or what a
particular town smelled like.
If you ever
want to write about your travels, these details are handy. These days I use an
incredible note-taking app called Evernote, which I use as my 2nd brain. So
useful for all kinds of applications — from planning trips to journaling about
them later.
23. Break Out
Of Your Comfort Zone
Challenge
yourself to try things that normally give you anxiety. The more you do this,
the more that anxiety will fade away. Not a hiker? Go on more hikes. Have
trouble talking to strangers? Talk to everyone. Scared of weird food? Eat the
weirdest thing you can find.
The reason
this works so well while traveling is because everything is already so
different, what’s one more new/uncomfortable experience?
24. Don’t
Plan Too Much
I cringe when
readers ask how many days they should spend in a particular country or city.
The truth is I have no idea what you’ll enjoy or who you’ll meet. I thought I’d
rocket through Nicaragua in a week or two, but ended up living there for 4
months.
My advice is
to pick a starting point, 1 or 2 must-do activities, and an ending point (or
not). Then just let the universe determine the rest.
25. Pack Less
Stuff
You don’t
need 1/2 the gear you think you do to travel anywhere. We’ve all done it. It’s
a right of passage for travelers to slowly become better at packing less. My
first backpack was 70 liters packed full, my current bag is only 38 liters.
As a full-time
vagabond, everything I own fits on my back. If you’re not sure about packing
something, you don’t need it. It’s also possible to buy most things at your
destination country if you discover you need them.
26. Listen To
Podcasts
Podcasts are
awesome. It’s like creating your own personal radio station and filling it with
shows and music you always want to listen to. I never thought I’d actually look
forward to a 10-hour bus ride. But with podcasts, it’s possible (well, as long
as the seats are comfortable).
Time will fly
by as you listen to incredible storytelling, fun music, or interviews with
experts. Here are some of my favorites: This American Life, The Moth, Tim
Ferriss Show, Radiolab, and Smart Passive Income.
27. Treat
Your Body Well
Travel can
throw your body out of whack. When you’re moving from place to place it’s
difficult to maintain a workout routine, and many of us slack off. Or we don’t
sleep enough. Or we eat too many cupcakes. I’m guilty of not flossing my teeth.
Remember to
be nice to your body. Get enough sleep, stay hydrated, eat healthily, use
sunscreen, and exercise often (check out this body weight routine, no gym
required!). And, yes, flossing too I guess.
28. Stay In
Touch
Remember to
call your family & friends from time to time. Maybe surprise them and go
old-school by sending a postcard (it’s in the mail, Mom!). Travel isn’t lonely,
far from it. You constantly meet other people. But many of those relationships
are fleeting. So maintaining a strong connection with the people who know you
best is important.
29. Get Off
The Beaten Path
I know it’s
cliché, but you should still attempt it. Seek out interesting and unusual
places that don’t see much tourism. Many memorable travel experiences have
happened to me in areas that are not easy to visit. By all means, travel to
popular sites, but don’t rule out other locations just because they’re not on
the tourist trail.
Although
please realize that just because an area is remote or dangerous doesn’t
necessarily mean you’ll have a life-changing experience.
30. Don’t
Forget Travel Insurance
No one ever
thinks they’ll get sick, injured, or robbed while traveling. But it happens.
I’ve sliced up my head on a volcano, contracted Dengue fever, and lost my laptop
to thieves. With travel insurance you don’t have to worry about huge hospital
bills or stolen gear when it eventually happens.
For all kinds
of trips ranging from a weekend up to a few months long, I always recommend
World Nomads Insurance.
Explore some
of it now, rather than later. ★
