Ten tips for smart travelling
Every bit of travelling experience counts. In the past few years, I have taken several trips within and out of Australia. Every trip has provided me with more wisdom on how to travel better. I have recently developed a ritual where I take time to plan my travel and I have realised that it has significantly made my travel smooth. Below I have created a list of basic things that make my life easier and my experience smoother while travelling.
Plan - While I am all for spontaneous travel and a few of my amazing trips with friends have been spontaneous, I truly believe in the power of planning. If I am spending a lot of money to visit another country/place, I want to make sure that I visit the places which make the place what it is. Hence, I create a spreadsheet and enlist places that I really want to visit in a specific country, including the dates and transport. I also like to include the food I want to try. A great way of getting immersed in the local culture is eating the local food specialities. Closer to the trip, I check the weather forecast to see what kind of clothes/shoes I should be bringing on my travel.
Check Frequent Flyer - Make sure to always register your frequent flyer details with the airlines you are flying - it’s a great way to get upgrades.
Go to a travel doctor - Better to be safe than sorry. Check your country’s official travel website - it should have details of the country you are planning to visit. I use Smartraveller. Speak with a travel doctor and they will guide you the best. Take note of the vaccines you need to get before your trip and get them at least two weeks before your travel dates.
Get your travel insurance - Chances are you would not need travel insurance but it’s better to have it if you are travelling overseas. If you own a credit card, check what kind of travel insurance they provide. Book the flights with that credit card and take advantage of the complimentary travel insurance.
Travel light - Not only does travelling light make it easy to get around, but also gives space for shopping. Getting souvenirs is like bringing back a teeny-tiny part of the place you travelled to. Not just that, you can also get fancy items at a bargain outside your home country such as scotch in Scotland, leather in Italy, green tea in Japan, Pashmina in India, and tequila in Mexico.
Comfortable shoes - I cannot stress the importance of comfortable shoes. You will be walking a lot - it’s better to be comfortable and enjoy your entire trip than have sore feet during some part of the trip.
Power bank and other technology - A few years ago, I went to Singapore for a very short trip. A short trip meant that I was exploring a lot of places in one day and I needed technology to ensure that I do it more efficiently. However, the younger me decided that a power bank is not a necessity when you are trying to cover almost an entire city in one day. It was no walk in the park to tick off all the places on my list without GPS. The worst was that I couldn’t take all the photos that I wanted because my phone was out of battery.
Having said that, sometimes it is good to have that battery run out. Let the city streets guide you and take you to places you had not planned or thought of. Sometimes, uncertainty gets the best memories.
Take photos - I get an itch in my heart when my trip is nearing the end. The light at the end of the tunnel is photos. I love photos - photos are mementos to cherish for life. Memories fade but photos can be kept intact. Having said that, do not forget to live in the present. Do not forget to enjoy the place where you are - there is a balance, you just need to find it. And believe me, you can do both.
Immerse yourself in the culture - Get to know the history and culture of the place. Getting good travel guides with history, fun facts, and photos is a great way to know more about the place and culture. I have used Eyewitness’s travel guides - those are one of the good ones I have found. Immerse yourself in the culture - have their local cuisine, try their traditional outfits, learn a few words - do not just stick to touristy stuff.
10. And lastly, have a great-great time. You are on holiday, so relax and enjoy. There’s a saying in a famous Bollywood movie, which goes “Life mein jitna bhi try karo, kuch na kuch toh chootega hi. Isliye yahin, isi pal ka mazza lete hain” It translates to No matter how hard you try, you will miss out on a few things in life. So let’s enjoy this moment we are in….