Once again a new top 10 post during lockdown – hopefully one of the last! Lockdown does seem to be easing off now with more and more places open to visit so a trip will no doubt be planned soon. However, until then we continue with our top 10’s and this time it is my top 10 travel tips! Now this list is not in an particular order except from tip number 1 which I maintain is vital to having a great trip, so 10 to 2 are all equally important in my mind. People my disagree or think that there should be other things on the list and to that I say, leave a comment and we can discuss. So without further ado, here are my top 10 travel tips. Disclaimer – I cannot be held responsible for any injuries you may sustain by following this advice, also the pictures used are not my own.
10: Take extra socks.
If you are anything like me then you will be walking a fair bit and exploring during your travels as transport often cripples a small budget trip. I personally take a couple of extra socks everywhere I go and always have a change of socks on me when I leave the hotel/hostel/tent or wherever it is I may be. Now there are obvious reasons for this, for example, to change if your feet get wet or sweaty from walking. However, another reason for bringing extra is for some reason I often lose pairs or single socks when travelling! I am unsure as to why, maybe its because I’m messy and just throw them on the floor, but I suspect gremlins.
9: Learn some basic phrases.
This one is rather self explanatory, yes, no, please, thank you are obvious phrases that will come in handy though I find my favourite, “Good sir/madam, could you please direct me towards the lavatory?” is a rather useful one to have in the bank too! I have also found that the residents of the country you are visiting are more willing to help you if you at least attempt and give them the respect of speaking in their native language, as long as you also remember to learn ‘sorry, my *insert language* is awful, do you speak English?’
8: Make a plan but don’t feel obliged to stick to it.
A plan can be organising the whole trip down to the minute details or simply, on the Tuesday I want to go here. Using a map to where you want to go can really be helpful in order not to miss what you really want to see. Not to mention that planning is also that time when you get excited about your adventure! I personally avoid planning the whole trip in order to leave time for the unexpected, doing so has lead me to often finding something or somewhere that has been an absolute gem and highlight of a trip.
7: Be open to new experiences.
I personally travel to experience the cultures of other countries and to do that fully I try to immerse myself in that place. You might never have been to a temple before, or on a kayaking trip, or skydiving! But a trip could well be your chance to experience these things! Trips are when we splash out and just go for it so the next time you find yourself being hassled by a person on the side of the road asking if you want to go on their kayaking trip or visit their restaurant, don’t dismiss them immediately, have a chat, because you might just be passing up on an amazing experience.
6: Try the local food.
Now I’m sure many who know me will be thinking, “John! trying new foods?! No way!” However, when I have travelled I have always tried new and different foods, in Viet Nam I found Pho, Germany it was Kolsch and in Greece, though a mistaken order, I had horse and it wasn’t in a Tesco lasagne! This point also ties into the new experiences. Don’t get me wrong there is a time and place for familiar and comfortable food and drink, but try something new! Why not?
5: Pack light.
When in Europe, in recent years, I have only ever travelled with one backpack and no case. Travelling lightly gives you a bit of freedom and if on a budget stops you from making unnecessary purchases! This is also important when going out when you are in your country of choice. There is nothing worse than lugging around a case twice your body weight through an airport only to realise when you return you didn’t used half the clothes, read half the books or need that fourth bottle of sun cream after all!
4: Lunch time.
Lunch time is the best time of day, not to eat, but to visit attractions! Why? Because all the other tourists will be eating and you can zip in and out of all the places you want to see whilst they push the backs of each others chairs in a crammed restaurant screaming profanity in their own language at each other as they saw that free table first! This relies on you stocking up for breakfast and being able to wait a little longer for your lunch but trust me it is worth it! Also going back to planning, find out when the locals eat! In every country citizens have certain times when they eat, in some it might be 11am others might not be till 3pm so make sure you know your local meal times as this will often dictate opening times and trust me when adhering to tip 4, skipping lunch to see the castle without tourists only to leave and find everywhere shut, is a mistake you don’t want to make!
3: Stay away from the big stuff.
Often when travelling people will want to see the obvious, for example I say Paris you say, Eiffel Tower and Arch du Triumpth. Now there is a time and place for those kinds of trips and if that’s the one you have planned then so be it, but you won’t see the real Paris I can tell you that now. This once again comes down to planning should you choose to do so, the best things in some places are often the ones you have never heard of down the back of a small alley that, well, looks a bit dodgy!
2: Travel on your own.
I love my wife, but our idea of travel is very different, if she were to plan a trip it would be to a Caribbean Island with a week on the beach doing all of nothing. That may well be your kind of trip too but I like to explore and that is why travel alone is on the list. Travelling alone, especially the first time, can be a bit scary but it gets rid of all the faff. No discussions on where to eat or what to visit, you just go. I’m not suggesting you never travel with other people but travelling alone is something I advise all to try at least once in their lives. You might find you are sad that the other half isn’t there to see what you can, but you might also find the true freedom of being alone and able to explore what you want, when you want is fantastic.
1: Get lost!
Now I said at the start number 1 was in this place for a reason, the other 9 tips are interchangeable but this one, get lost, is non-negotiable. It ties into a few from above but has been, and continues to be, a rule for myself when travelling. Getting lost is the best way to discover hidden gems, to force yourself to try and attempt to speak the language to some random locals as you are trying to navigate your way around. It is my tried and tested method of travel and has led me to seeing almost all of my favourite places in the world. Be open to a random left or right turn, keep walking forward just to see what is over the next hill and soon you’ll find you have more stories and memories to share of your time.
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