Travel is an art which you can experience only after stepping into the abyss. We all have our bucket lists of places we want to go to, adventures we crave for, people we want to meet, the food we want to indulge in and so on. But we just keep on planning and postponing. We are never certain whether we have planned enough. There are certain ways, which if followed, can surely aid us to travel better.
“To travel is worth any cost or sacrifice.”
Be a wanderer. It’s alright to lose the track of time every now and then and get carried away into the depths of the yet-to-be-explored lands. Just keep these few tips in mind and you’ll be good to go.
Learn the local language
This doesn’t imply that you are supposed to excel at the languages of all the places you go to because that’s not even practically possible. But there’s no harm in learning a few expressions and phrases and some basic words. This will help you in your wanderings and will keep you from getting entirely lost. You’ll find it connecting if you are able to work out through the local vocab, it will excite you.
Pack like a pro
Do not carry unnecessary stuff. Pack precisely according to the weather of the place and the kind of trip you are going on. Like if you are going on a luxury vacation then you can pack a bit extra but in case you are planning on making a adventure tour them it is advisable that you carry only the essentials. Don’t forget to take necessary accessories which maybe required during your trip. And lastly, always keep sufficient room for the souvenirs that you would want to bring back after your trip.
Read Also: Ten Best Places to visit in India
Take it slow
It’s a very common trait amongst travel enthusiasts to want to get as much as they possibly can out of anything and everything. But this particular habit kills the joy of travelling. If we are focused only on going to places just for the sake of keeping count, it just isn’t worth it. So travel at a lower pace. Absorb as much as you can from each place you visit. Feel the aura, experience the culture, sit and relax. Spend a few days there if the place demands. Just don’t go hopping around various cities.
Carry cash in local currency
Many a times even some of the major credit cards don’t work in certain places. So, it is wise to carry some cash in local currency. Moreover, if you are travelling to villages or towns you may not even get the transaction facilities there and credit cards also charge higher transaction charges overseas.
Devour your taste buds
Never ever miss out on the local cuisine. Try from the food joints and local eateries that serve a variety of foodstuffs. It is always rewarding to relish your cravings at places that natives recommend. Just make sure about the hygiene and then there’s nothing that should stop you from tasting that cheese or a slice of that famous pudding you always wanted to eat or that pizza your friend considered the best in the entire world. Just go out and savor as much flavors as you can.
Get out of the city
Although it’s become a cliché among the travellers, it is always good to explore a bit. Cities are mostly busy and teeming with people, whereas the outskirts of the cities or villages help you connect more with nature. Walk through some unbeaten trails and let nature speak to you. This contrast between city and the suburbs also adds variety to your trip.
Connect with the locals
This is one of the simplest and yet one of the most vital ways to travel better across the globe. Talk to people around you, indulge in conversations, ask them about the locality and the perks of being there. There is no better guide than a local. They can help you with anything like lodging, local cuisines and various such things. Besides natives only can give you the real picture of their culture and traditions.
Go on expert-led tours
This is the best thing to do if you are visiting a place for the first time. It helps you know more about the history of the place and the significance of its culture. The guides or experts know a variety of folktales and are almost entirely aware of the culture of the place making it easier for you to add to your travel knowledge.
Be a typical tourist
It is well known that we eulogize taking the untrodden path or exploring the unexplored but it is also equally fulfilling to be a typical tourist. One who wants to visit the significant places during his trip, one who wishes to visit the historical monuments or the other famous tourist spots. It is better to admire the obvious first and then go discovering the hidden treasures. Take pictures, buy souvenirs, hire a guide to give you a tour and be the kind of traveler you want to be.
Give technology a break
Let those cameras, mobile phones, tablets and other gadgets rest for a while. Instead of capturing the moment to preserve it for future, live that moment. Just get lost into that beautiful sunset or sunrise…let those hues of the sun sink into you. Hear the chirping of the birds, feel the passing wind, smile at a stranger, roam around the place, get lost intentionally. Memories are composed of what you felt at that moment not just the pictures you captured. So move away from the gadgets and live the little moments of joy and excitement.
Just get going
Don’t ponder over the details so much so that the excitement is reduced to a half. Take the plunge and just get going. Don’t wait for the perfect weather, your companions, better deals in air tickets or other such things. Because maybe when you visit the weather changes and turns into its best, maybe your desired folks never take that trip and so nor do you, maybe you get to find some other travel junkies on that trip, maybe you pay a little extra but it all turns out worth every single penny. So in a series of maybes there are hidden so many possibilities.
So don’t let that spark die. Be instinctive. Plan out the things but keep some room for the surprises as well. And with all the ways mentioned above you are sure to have a fulfilling adventure.
