It’s now been 4 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.
It all started when I took a one-way flight from Miami to Guatemala
City, leaping nervously into the unknown and leaving much of my old life
behind while embarking on an epic travel adventure around the world.
It’s been a wild ride, and I’ve learned a lot since I first left. To
celebrate my 4 year “travelversary”, I’ve decided to share a collection
of my best and most useful travel tips to help inspire you to make
travel a priority in your life.
Feel free to share your own best travel tips at the end!
1. Patience Is Important
Don’t sweat 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 freakouts happen
regardless.
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.
READ MORE: 15 Common Travel Scams
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 with them 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 thoughts 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.
Travel Tip: Take Lots of Photos
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.
Travel Tip: Smile & Say Hello
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.
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 it’s 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. It’s fun and safe too. 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.
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
4 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.
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).
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 healthy, use sunscreen, and exercise often (check out this bodyweight 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.
Travel Tip: Get Off the Beaten Path
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. Travel More
If there’s one thing I’ve noticed over the past 4 years, it’s that
many people back home love to tell me how lucky I am while making
excuses why they can’t travel. It’s too expensive. They can’t get time
off work. Who will feed their pets?
When I suggest solutions to these “problems”, they still don’t take
action. Why? Because they’re often hiding behind the true reason:
they’re scared.
Unfortunately most people who wait to travel the world never do.
You don’t need to sell all your worldly possessions and become a
homeless vagabond like me. Just get out there more than you do now.
Start with a weekend in a different state. Then maybe try a week in the
country next door.
The new car, remodeling project, and iPhone can wait. If you truly
want to travel more, you can make it happen. Career breaks are possible.
You have friends who would love to watch your pets.
It’s a big, beautiful, exciting, and fascinating world out there.
