Firstly, do you want a break from the normal routine of life? If so,
then don’t approach it the same way as you do at home. Planning,
organising, technology, friendships and rushing around can all be
exhausting. If you want to take a break from the norm, then simplify
things.
1. Chose your Companions Wisely
Hitting the open road, whether to relax or seek thrills, is a big
adventure and naturally you want to share this with friends. However who
you travel with is a key part of the experience and good friends aren’t
necessarily good travel companion. You need to be able to tolerate them
for intense periods of time (and likewise) and have the same
aspirations as to how and where you’ll travel, or you’ll find yourself
sneaking out in the middle of the night and boarding the next bus out of
there.
2. Go it Alone
A favourite of mine for long trips that are going to be life-changing
is to travel solo. It offers you a chance to explore ‘you’ for a while,
so maybe go it alone and find out how good it is to be just you. You’ll
always meet people along the way (whether you like it or not) and if
transient or friends for life, these people will make up a part of your
travelling experience just as friends from home would.
3. Pack Less
Do you really need every travel gadget out there? Simplify your
luggage with a few key items of clothing and essentials. It will hurt
less if it all gets lost too. I love the feel of books and swapping
along the way, but a Kindle is a great way to pack all your reading
needs. Likewise if you want to take a mobile phone with you, a
smartphone that can be used for photo snaps, emailing home, booking
ahead and using travel apps is ideal. Keep it simple – less to worry
about means more time enjoying where you are!
4. Go with the Flow
I love planning trips, I love reading about the places, culture,
history, and trawling through maps of where I want to go. Then I just
go. Not with any plans, but just with an idea of sites and what
highlights I don’t want to miss. I still always pack a guide book
because I like to thumb through it, but the rest is a surprise. If you
have a tight schedule or are meeting up with people, then check
transport isn’t a weekly affair, but don’t get bogged down in booking
every night in advance.
5. But Don’t Get Caught Out
If you’re travelling in peak season or want to be in certain places
on certain dates, then book ahead to guarantee. Now the whole world is
obsessed with online bookings, those people have forced a situation
where no rooms are held for ‘walk ins’ – or people just arriving without
warning – the old fashioned way. If you want to stay somewhere decent
and it’s peak season or during a festival, you’ll only guarantee your
desired accommodation by booking in advance. If you like an adventure,
wing it!
6. Enjoy the Moment
Don’t be the person who doesn’t see anything because your camera is
fixed to your face, or you spent all your time on your hostel wifi
telling everyone on facebook what you were ‘experiencing’. Cut loose the
technology and open your eyes and ears to what’s actually around you.
Other people are more likely to want to talk to you too!
7. Speak the language
Or at least play the guitar. Locals appreciate you making an attempt
at their language, and it’s only polite to learn the minimum. It’s also
useful to be able to communicate. If you’re not good at languages, learn
the guitar. Bought us a meal in India once, and you’ll definitely pick
up some hippy girls along the way as a bonus.
8. Trust your instincts
If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Dodgy men, alleys, drug
dealers, cops and food are all best avoided. You’ll thank yourself, the
worse that can happen by playing it safe is you mildy offend someone,
walk the long way or go without lunch. The other way and you’re in a
world of pain.
9. Get Insurance
The downside of traveling (and life in general) is that shit
happens. You can easily be drugged, robbed, fall out a tree-house, or
leave all your stuff on the roof of a bus. Having done all of these, I’m
an advocat of buying ‘peace of mind'; because when you need it, you
really really need it.
10. Enjoy it! Don’t force it.
If you arrive at your destination and find yourself feeling
disappointed, overwhelmed or even unsafe, then move on. You can always
come back another time. Pushing boundaries should be more about trying
water-skiing than fear and loathing. And not everywhere is exciting and
welcoming either – it’s not just you.
