Getting out and seeing the world is nothing short of amazing. It can shift perspectives, inspire you to greater things or simply give you a wider appreciation of what’s going on in the world. There are a few pitfalls, however. Some of these are small, while others can be quite damaging. They vary, of course, depending on where you are going or who you are going with. They also differ because people carry themselves in different ways. Advice that might be obvious to one person might be like a light bulb turning on for someone else. There’s a huge amount of excitement involved in travelling and visiting new places, however you need to temper this so that you get all of the preparations right and leave yourself able to enjoy the best of trips. Here are some top tips to get you started. Don’t forget to apply them to your own situation to ensure you get the absolute best out of them and research further to ensure you’re totally covered.
Agency or Not?
A lot of people take pride in booking everything themselves. Plane tickets, tickets for attractions, itineraries, etc. However, others might like this to be done for them. For example, if you’re on your own you might look into singles travel tours so that you can travel with someone else. At the same time, you might just want to book it and save some money. Some agencies are brilliant and have stellar reviews while others should be avoided at all costs. This is why it’s important to do your research and know. Check the reviews, talk to friends who have used them before. Also, if your trip isn’t exactly a complex one you might consider just booking it yourself. Have a look and price it all up, then see how much more an agency would be. Always worth doing the work to get the best price because that way you have more money to spend on the actual travelling.
Be Battery Ready
When you’re travelling it’s so easy for your device battery to deplete fast. This is especially the case if you’re travelling by train or bus for a long distance when you haven’t got a power source to plug into. It can also occur if you’re going into the sticks camping off the beaten track. You need to plan your charges wisely. Make sure that you get the charge you need so you have battery for emergency calls. A power bank can be a wise move. Or a smartphone battery case which can extend the battery life of your phone. A power bank can be used to charge a laptop and other devices too like a GPS. They vary in power offerings so be careful what you buy. Also, banks themselves need to be properly charged and can take quite a while to absorb all the charge they have so factor that into your travelling. A good tip is to charge everything whenever you have the chance to do so or you may end up rueing it later on.
Research The Area
Not just the country, the area you’re staying in. There are good and bad places in every city and district. Be aware of them and try to steer clear of them. You also want to research the common scams. Tourists are often clear targets for scammers looking to make a quick buck, this can be at an ATM or by trying to get you to buy something. Be careful and be informed and you should be able to steer clear. The same applies to taxi rides. Pre book for a fair fee if you can and don’t grab a taxi right from the airport. If you’ve done some research into the area then it’ll be a lot safer for you. Knowledge is power.
Going off track? Prepare
A lot of travellers like to go off track so that they can see more of the country. Yet each year a lot of people get into trouble, some even end up losing their lives because they’re not prepared. To get around this, you need to do a lot of research. See if you can get a local guide who knows their business. They also need to be great at what they do and have reviews. Perhaps they’re attached to a good travel company. Once you’ve got the guide you need the gear. If you’re hedging somewhere cold, don’t just buy an ordinary sleeping bag. You’ll need something a lot heavier to ensure you get a good night’s sleep and don’t fall into danger. You could end up in the hospital, or worse. Somewhere hot? You need water and lots of it. You might also need things like sun resistant clothing, a hat, sunglasses, mosquito spray or nets. A good tent which isn’t too hard to put up and take down. You need the right gear for the right environments.
Be Currency Safe
Take a bit of everything. Don’t just take cash because if it gets stolen you’ll be in trouble and without money. Take some of your home currency if needed, the dollar usually goes far anywhere in the world as does pounds. Then take some cash for smaller purchases and then take a credit card (one which doesn’t charge a fortune for use abroad) and maybe a prepaid card or something similar. Research each place you’re going to and check on what’s widely accepted. To cut down on the amount of cash or currency you have to carry, pre book all you can before you leave. This usually includes flights, excursions or long distance train fairs. Most importantly accommodation. Sometimes you’ll play it by ear and find accommodation wherever it turns up. But if you can book beforehand there will be less of a need to carry large sums of money with you.You’ll only need money for food and other essentials making you less of a target, or if you are a target there will be less of a fallout.
Roaming free - tales of wanderlustbykelley 