In the waning hours of the day that has been as atypical as the rest of the week, there is always a little bug making itself known in the back of the mind. ‘Travel’, it screams, ‘travel now’. The need to travel is not just a luxury; it has become an imperative part of our desires. It is an essential slice of the stress buster we look forward to breaking the monotony and anxieties that are part of our everyday life.Seven things that you can do to have an even better travel experience.This is a list of techniques to improve travel experience.
The world has become smaller and more accessible than it had been before. Countries now try to make their tourists feel welcome to create a thriving industry. As travel becomes a commonplace experience, there are some secret tips for seasoned travelers want you to know. Here are seven little genius recommendations that will improve your experience.
Mid-Week Travel Dates Are Gentler on Your Wallet
While flight fares during holidays are usually through the roof, you can save a lot through smart booking. Weekdays are typically the dates with relatively less demand, hence, the prices are lower. More specifically, Tuesdays and Wednesdays have been deemed by travel experts to be the best days to score some cheap tickets. Red-eye flights are often cheaper compared to the flights during the daytime and if that is your choice, prepare to use good sleep hygiene to nurse your body back to order. Sleeplessness can put a hamper on your travel experiences, so it is best to be well prepared.
It might be difficult for many people to begin their planning early, but studies have shown that booking tickets between 42-57 days prior to travel can yield the best prices. Finding that sweet spot and securing a discounted flight rate can help you increase the budget for your experiences.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Lack of sleep can cause irritability, fatigue and a weakened immune system. Plenty of people experience lack of sleep while traveling because of crying babies, uncomfortable seats and snoring passengers. At the destination, itchy sheets and uncomfortable beds can cause sleep deprivation. Be it traveling for business or pleasure, lack of sleep can affect the optimum functioning of mind and body.
Habituated travelers make it a point to know exactly the number of hours they would need and the time to go to bed to ensure a rested mind. Little hacks like picking the window seat in a flight or a bus allow fewer disturbances from fellow passengers. It is also advisable to avoid alcohol as contrary to popular belief, you will experience a more disruptive sleep cycle. You can also find the best sheets to buy and pack them to avoid troublesome surprises in budget accommodations.
Get recommendations from locals
In every city you visit, there are things tourists do and then there are unexpected gems that only locals are aware of. Be it a scenic location or a must-try restaurant, it is always better to rely on the word of locals. It is easier if you have friends or acquaintances staying in the city to offer you such insight. If you don’t, fret not. With the internet, it is easier to ask for recommendations on multiple community platforms and acquire some valuable feedback.
Another easy way to get recommendations from locals is to stay with local families. Through host accommodations, you get an insightful opportunity to experience local culture to the tee. Not only are the tourist areas expensive, but you also end up mostly interacting with other tourists. Couch Surfing is a popular way to stay with a host family.
Be prepared with your own luxuries
Not every place you visit can offer you a luxurious stay. Sometimes the best you can get is actually not a lot. It is places like these that warrant you to carry your own personal luxuries. From bedroom rugs to patented pain relief pillows, you can pack your own travel essentials. While travel itself is an experience that pushes you out of your comfort zone, that doesn’t mean you have to starve yourself of the luxuries you are used to.
Travel experts always often say ‘prepare for the worst’. However, it only improves your experience if you can prepare for a prickly, bumpy ride as well. For those light sleepers who find it difficult to fall asleep in a new place, carry along your own arrangements. Eye masks and noise-cancelling headphones are things you might consider an essential. Does music help you sleep? If so, then bring along your relaxing playlist to put you right to sleep.
Capture your moments
Of course, all travelers know to capture precious moments of your trip. However, upon return, they might erase half of them because the pictures itself may not have done justice to what you have seen. The best way to capture interesting moments is to find the most unique angle to do so. You can also take pictures of local people to add to your memories. Scenic places, however breathtaking, may appear flat in your pictures. Using yourself or a traveling companion as a focal point may bring life to scenic views.
You don’t need a fancy camera to take good pictures. As long as you are able to tell a story with your images, you can use a regular phone camera to capture life-long memories of your adventures. Using options like burst mode will help you seize a moment before it is gone.
Learn phrases from the local language
The importance of learning a few local phrases cannot be understated. It shows the locals that you are friendly and respectful of their culture. It makes you more approachable than using an app on your phone. Some phrases that you can learn are ‘Thank You’, ‘Hello’, ‘Sorry’, ‘Goodbye’, ‘Excuse Me’, ‘How much does it cost’, ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. If you allergic to certain types of food, it is best to learn how to say that in the local language.
Not every country you visit is going be an English-speaking country and expecting them to do so for the sake of tourists is disrespectful. Learning the local language will definitely make your life a lot easier in restaurants or to not get lost while using transportation. In addition to that, you are more likely to get support and help from locals if they see you making an effort. It will also open you up for new experiences that you might have missed out on otherwise.
Use Travel Cards to make finances easier
While carrying around cash can help you in local markets, it can also be unsafe. You can find bad elements in every country and for them, tourists are an easy target. By using travel cards, you avoid becoming a target of muggings or robberies. Travel cards are an easier, safer method of spending in another country. You can buy and reload foreign currency directly to the card at the best possible exchange rate before traveling.
You can also load multiple currencies in case of layovers. By using a travel card, you can monitor your expenses. It is easy to get lost in the products available in a new place and overshoot your budget without realizing it. With a travel card, you will know how much you have spent in a day and how much of your budget is left over.
Bon Voyage, Fellow Traveler
There isn’t an experience that compares to exploring the world you live in. Every country you go to is baked in its own history, culture, tradition and style. The more you explore, the more you know. Your experiences shape your personality, likes, dislikes and knowledge. We are fortunate enough to live in a world where every place is made accessible to us, so it makes perfect sense to take advantage of it and live life to the fullest.
