At the beginning of each year I subconsciously plan two or three trips in my mind. The first two are smaller and probably within India and Asia, the bigger ones are usually far off and in a foreign locale.
But yes, when people ask how do I manage to travel so often and so smoothly, I tell them it's really not that hard because honestly, sometimes I create the itinerary when I've just landed in the country. Ofcourse, I show my bookings for obtaining the visa but I seldom follow the travel spreadsheet. First of all, I have no wish to travel every single country in the world. I travel to only those countries that I'm attracted to, countries that are ancient with tonnes of history, and then I spend a relevant amount of time figuring how to get there. So, here are some quick ways to travel, light, fast and yes, like a fish who swims her way around anyone, anywhere and anything.
Always book a place within 5 km around the City Centre
Every city has a main tourist hub. Mumbai has Colaba, Istanbul has Sultanameh, Lima has Mira Flores, Medellin has El Poblado. Before I Travel I always google which is the main tourist hub of the city and I usually book my stay within 5 km of that radius. This has many advantages as most of the main attractions are within that space and everything is a lot more safer and smoother especially if you're a solo traveler.
Join free walking tours, pub crawls, group activities
The moment I land in a city, I go online and check their free walking tours, pub crawls and group activities. Most of these are run by young students and freelancers and they really know and show you the best parts of their city. At the end of the tour you just end up paying a small tip. For example when I was in Medellin (Colombia) I joined a free walking tour to Comuna 13 (the famed hood of Pablo Escobar and and his henchmen) and had the best experience of my life as the tour leader was a resident of Comuna 13 and she even invited us to her house.
Don't book all your accomodation at one go.
I always book one place a week. Which means if I land in Lima then I book myself to a place for just 5 days. If I like the place I then re-schedule my booking or else, I move to another town or city.
Stay in one place but take day trips regularly.
Over the years I've realized that changing locale and hotels every two days can be exasperating and draining. So normally I stay 5 days in one place, like if I stay in Rome I spend three days enjoying Rome and then I take day trips from Rome to neighboring places like Pompei, Salerno and Napoli. These cities are really small and you can cover most of them in a short span of time. In the end I feel less exertion and gain more energy.
Or, stay in an artsy suburb
Every major city has an artsy suburb which has all the chic cafes, restaurants and artsy vibes. Mumbai has Bandra, Lima has Barranco, Rome has Trastavere, Delhi has Haus Khas Village. So, when I get fed up doing the touristy stuff ( hanging too long around the city centre) I move to these suburbs and chill there for a bit. The hostels/hotels are cheaper and you get a different non- touristy vibe of the entire city. Also, most of these 'burbs' are connected by metro so if you need to get back to the city , there are plenty of options.
Get a U.S Visa
If it's possible or you already have a U.S Visa then travelling to other countries becomes a lot easier. For instance a lot of countries in South America even Central America like Cuba , Mexico require a U.S Visa for entry. When I was in Peru I figured Colombia was possible via a U.S Visa, so I ventured into Colombia. Same with Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Ecuador.
Join an app and meet other travelers
Sure, you can meet other travelers offline too but I've realized I have met some cool folks online who kind of show a different side to their city. When I was in Cusco I met this guy from Argentina who told me about this very cool and famous restaurant that serves the best cerviche in the city. We met up and he showed around me his cool neigborhood as well. Made plenty of friends along the way. Finally, do mention in your bio that you're looking for a travel buddy to show you around and specify your ideal bud.
Nothing is written on stone
I despise having a strict and fixed itinerary, and for that reason I sometimes chill longer in one city than I should. First of all I never act like a tourist, in the sense where I'm merely ticking off boxes. I've come across plenty of tourists who travel purely to tick off their wish list. So not happening! Ofcourse! if in Pisa one much check the Leaning tower but when in Paris I skipped almost all the museums and explored the unknown parts especially to feed my delicious appetite for street photography and black and white pics.
Pack light and easy
I don't need to stress enough here as there are a hundred videos online where you can get tips to pack light and easy. But yes, to travel like a fish, be light and ephemeral both physically and metaphorically. Less baggage is always welcome.
Lastly, chill and be open minded
Yes, yes, this is such an old cliche but it works. I still remember the time when our flight got cancelled from Medellin to Lima and a bunch of us got stuck and were put up in a small hotel on the outskirts. Inadvertently, our plans went a little haywire but we had a great night of fun, random partying and getting to know travelers from all across the world. That was a memorable night to remember. And, yes, one last final advice, be the cool fish you've always wanted to be. Ahem! :) Safe and Happy Travels !