How to make the most out of your Travel Adventure

Hello friends,

Since the Holiday season is here and I know all of you are pretty excited to spend the New Year in your favourite travel destinations. Well, so am I. But here is the catch, most of the times we are not able to make the most out of our travel adventure.

Going out on an adventure can be an exciting experience. You may feel as though you have the whole world at your disposal and you may even think that there are so many activities you can take part in as well. This is what travelling is all about, and the thrill that it gives you cannot be compared to anything else. If you want to make the most out of your travel experience however then there are a few things that you can do about that.

Don’t Sweat It

You can’t control everything, so don’t try. Life is far too short to be angry or even annoyed all the time. If you missed the bus, don’t worry about it because you know that there will be another one. If the ATM has run out of money then now is the perfect time for you to walk to the next town over and explore on foot for a little while. Things happen from time to time, and you can either spend your time worrying about them or you can deal with them and make the most out of a bad situation. It could always be worse, and sometimes when you look at things in this way, you will soon see that what’s happening right now is not bad at all.

Get up Early

If you want to see the most attractions while also avoiding as many crowds as possible, then you need to get up nice and early. Now is a magical time for you to take some photos because the lighting is so soft and calm. You will also find that it can be easier for you to interact with the locals in the morning as well because the streets are quieter and people generally have more time to talk. Dark streets and alleyways are no longer dangerous and you can really take in what is around you when you wake up just a few hours earlier.

Laugh

You will absolutely look like a fool from time to time. This is especially the case when you travel to a new place. Rather than being embarrassed about it, try and laugh about it. Don’t be worried about screwing things up and always try your best to not take life too seriously. The main reason for this is because if you do then you will never be able to relax, and you may even find that you don’t enjoy your experiences as much as you could.

Stash Cash

Cash is king. If you want to cover yourself in an emergency then make sure that you have some put to one side. You should put some money in your hotel safe and you should also try and keep some in your wallet. If your card stops working or even if you can’t access an ATM then you know that you are always covered. This can make a huge difference to your experience and it can also make it much easier for you to make the most out of the experience. If you are worried about your money being stolen, then you can sew a patch onto your backpack. This will give you a convenient hiding spot for your cash and it is somewhere only you know about. If you are looking at an affordable HDB for rent, then consider taking your own portable safe. They’re usually super small but they can give you a ton of extra security.

Local Knowledge

You may not have a long time to travel. If you don’t want to take time out of work then you may end up having to travel over the weekend, which means that you only really have a maximum of two days in any given destination. An authentic travel experience may seem impossible when you are only spending two days in the given destination, but this is not the case at all. If you want to get around this then you need to do your research and you also need to speak with your international friends as well. They can advise you on the things that you need to see, the places where you need to eat and so much more. This will give you the chance to intensify your travel experience, so you can get everything done in a very short space of time. You have to remember that there are absolutely people out there who are willing to help you, so don’t be afraid to ask them for some tips and tricks now and again.

Take a Scarf

You would be surprised at how useful scarves can be. You can use them to cover your face if you happen to be in a dusty area, you can use them to keep warm or you can use them to shield yourself from the sun. You can even use them as a makeshift towel if you ever find yourself in a sticky situation as well, so it is well worth looking into things like this.

Observe

Have you ever just sat there and taken in whatever is around you? If not, then you really do need to give it a go. You can get a feel for the place and you can also relax a bit. Choose somewhere like a park or even a busy street corner. When you do this, just watch the people pass you by. You can get a good idea of the area and you can also learn things that you never knew as well. This can really help you to make the most out of a great experience and it can also help you to understand that country’s culture as well. You may also want to pay close attention to the things that are around you. Think about the smells, the colours, the human interactions and even the sounds. This can be quite relaxing!

Back Everything Up

Theft happens. For this reason, you need to try and back up as much as possible. You will probably have a lot of documentation that you need, and you may even have some memories saved as well. You need to keep a digital copy and a physical copy of your visa, your passport and even of your birth certificate as well. When you do this, you can then have everything you need ready to go in case an emergency happens. You would be surprised at how convenient this can be and you would also be surprised at how much it can help you out when you are in a bind.

Smile

It’s completely normal for you to have trouble interacting with the locals. Sometimes people may seem unfriendly, but have you ever thought that it is your body language that is the problem? If you want to sort this out, then smile as you walk past someone and make eye contact. If they happen to smile back then say hello in the local language. When you do this, you can make a ton of new friends and you can also really benefit yourself as well. Sometimes it is up to you to make the initial contact, but when you are able to do this, you will soon see that people open up and that they are always happy to have a conversation with you. It doesn’t take a lot to do this, but it can make all the difference to your travel experience. If you’re shy then start out small and do it to the people who seem approachable rather than doing it to everyone.

I hope these tips will help you to make your next trip a memorable one. Your travel story will be incomplete if are not making the most out of your travel. So, think beyond the usual, follow these tips to get started with your adventurous travel journeys.

Until next time,

Sayanti, xx

This blog was originally published on Binge on Basics.