I don’t believe there is a “right” way to travel – everyone should be free to roam around the world in the way they wish. But all considered, one thing’s for sure: if you want your trips to be more real and authentic, and if you feel like you need to improve your travel experience, you should definitely make yours some concepts!
10. CHOOSE UNEXPECTED DESTINATIONS
Step outside your comfort zone and stop booking only ordinary or conventional vacations. Exposing yourself to unfamiliar situations and new experiences can help you gain a new perspective on your everyday life and a new attitude toward your daily problems.
9. DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND GET ORGANIZED
It’s a pity to waste your well-earned holiday time musing about what you want to do, running from one place to another, or missing fun experiences because of poor organization. The internet may not even be available for you at your destination, and if you have your days already planned, you’ll avoid feeling frustrated about wasting precious time when you travel.
I also highly encourage you to read books about your destination, look for niche travel blogs and check the local news.
Once you’re done, get yourself a cute little journal – or an excel spreadsheet, whatever floats your boat! – and start writing down all the info you have and your day-by-day schedule. Besides, it’ll give you something to look forward to!
8. GET LOST!
As previously stated, planning your trip ahead of time is key.
However, the most memorable experiences usually happen when you stumble upon places that you did not expect – or even planned – to see. And a benefit of organizing everything before traveling lays also in the possibility to make time for totally spontaneous activities. By turning left instead of right, you’ll discover places you didn’t even know existed, like those fascinating neighborhoods and hidden little squares that frequently become favorite finds.
7. EARLY BIRDS GET THE WORM
I know, I like to sleep a lot too, but if you find yourself traveling during peak season, becoming an early bird will ensure a much happier journey. You’ll beat all the crowds and save countless hours in queues (and stress) and get those Instagrammable shots much, much easier.
6. EMBRACE LOCAL CULTURE
Explore the culture of a place by actually learning its history and traditions, admiring the local architecture, and relishing the beauty of everyday life. Don’t stand out of the local culture, on the contrary, dive into it.
Take in all that is lovely and appreciate the experience of just being there.
5. TRY LOCAL CUISINE
Taste something new every day. Even if you end up hating it, at least you tried and put yourself out there! Remember that trying out local dishes is one of the best ways to get a ‘taste’ of a new culture. Besides, it’s not only an essential part of your travel experience but also a great way of supporting the local community.
And if you enjoy cooking, learning some local recipes through dedicated cooking classes is perhaps the best souvenir to take home!
4. LEARN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE
Learning the local language (even just a few sentences) will definitely help you get around places, but most importantly it will help you to communicate and integrate with the local community. Try to learn basic words and sentences like ‘hello’, ‘thank you‘, ‘please’, ‘nice to meet you’, or ‘how are you?’: with just a few minutes of studying, your travel experience will improve tremendously!
3. START A TRAVEL JOURNAL
Make your trips extra memorable by starting a travel journal. I firmly believe that writing down your thoughts while on the road is the best way to enjoy and remember your adventures. Moreover, having your personal creative outlet is not only fun, but it will somehow help you to get new ideas for your everyday life or to reframe some problems that you may have at home.
To get started right away, you could get yourself something cute like this Lamare travel journal or a classic notebook like the Paperage one, my personal favorite.
2. BE RESPECTFUL
Don’t forget that all the cities you visit around the world are not your personal theme park, and have other interests than satisfy your needs or preferences. Get to know the people, listen to them, don’t judge, be respectful, and leave whatever attitude you have at home.
Not only you’ll improve your travel experience, but you’ll become a better person.
1. ENCOURAGE YOUR CURIOSITY
Do you remember when you were a kid and would get totally absorbed in something? Reclaim that curiosity, that joy, and that attitude towards life.
Being curious means, first of all, asking questions, and being eager to know what you don’t know; seeing things with wonder and possibility; embracing the unknown, and being open to trusting the outcome.
Overall, it means enjoying each trip as a unique chance to grow.
