So,

You’re thinking about taking the leap: booking a trip, seeking out a destination, creating new memories in a new location. I am a firm believer that travel is one of the most important experiences a person can pursue. It encourages growth through discomfort and challenges; it expands the mind through exposure to new cultures and atmospheres; it causes a person to reassess their own life, goals, perspective.

It’s important to be gentle with yourself when planning your first trip. And when I say “first trip,” I mean the first one you are booking with a pure intent to travel. Not a work trip, not a destination wedding, not a family reunion, but a trip booked with exploration and discovery in mind. Booking a trip can be intimidating, and it’s important to be kind with yourself as you determine the best way to tackle variables like travel routes, daily itineraries, and cost-effective lodging.

I’m here to share just a few of the tips I learned from my own travels, and I hope they help you too.

1. Book in Advance

   Deciding to bite the bullet on an adventure is exciting, but don’t get so eager that you forget to take into account that booking 2-3 months in advance will be in your best interest. Save money on flights and give yourself time to plan a great trip. It will be so worth the wait.

2. Ask Hostel Staff for Suggestions

   Even if you’re not staying at a hostel, keep in mind that the staff there deal with budget travelers every day. Not only are they a great resource for directing you to local spots, they can also help you find the best deals and most cost-effective local travel options.

3. Bring Your Own Medicine

   Take my word that you do not want to learn this one the hard way. Getting sick while traveling is one of the most miserable and costly experiences. You miss out on chances to explore and experience your surroundings, and you can spend way too much on medicines that are often more confusing to read than they’re even helpful. Bring medicine from home, the basics. Think: something for headaches, indigestion, allergies, nausea, sleep-aids, even basic first aid materials. If you’re far from home, it’s not as easy as heading to your local drug store to find your go-to meds. You need to bring what your body is accustomed to in order to get well fast, and get back to your adventures.

4. Use CouchSurfing

   Couchsurfing, Airbnb, EatWith, BlaBlaCar, Gumtree, Getaround – these are all incredibly helpful resources when abroad. From finding accommodations, to ridesharing, to cooking classes – the best thing about all of these sites/apps is that they connect you with locals, who are the best tour guides (when you’re kind, polite, and respectful when connecting with them).

5. Take Free Walking Tours

   The first, easy step to exploring your surroundings is just to get out there and see what there is to see! Free walking tours are a great way to learn and explore with guides. You also get to connect with other travelers, which is so fun. Bonus tip: be safe and self-aware, but always be open to connecting with others. Travelers are often far more enthusiastic about connecting than people in your hometown. Don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation during a walking tour, you might get tips, advice, directions, and even a new friend!

6. Learn to Haggle

   So many countries utilize and expect haggling during sales. Be aware of where you are and what’s acceptable so you’re not rude or offensive. Chances are, if you’re at a crowded market area with lots of other travelers, you can easily haggle every marked price down to much less. Salespeople expect this approach and mark up their goods accordingly. Propose a lower price, stick to your guns, and even begin to walk away until the vendor agrees or meets you partway. At the end of the day, though, know your desires as well as your spending limits. Bring a certain amount of paper money with you in order to avoid overspending, and don’t be afraid to spend a little more on that thing that you must have, just try to haggle first 😉

I hope these tips are helpful as you book and prepare for your next trip! Keep an eye out for my next series of tips to make traveling an experience you’ll never forget, for all the right reasons.

Peace!

So,

You’re thinking about taking the leap: booking a trip, seeking out a destination, creating new memories in a new location. I am a firm believer that travel is one of the most important experiences a person can pursue. It encourages growth through discomfort and challenges; it expands the mind through exposure to new cultures and atmospheres; it causes a person to reassess their own life, goals, perspective.

It’s important to be gentle with yourself when planning your first trip. And when I say “first trip,” I mean the first one you are booking with a pure intent to travel. Not a work trip, not a destination wedding, not a family reunion, but a trip booked with exploration and discovery in mind. Booking a trip can be intimidating, and it’s important to be kind with yourself as you determine the best way to tackle variables like travel routes, daily itineraries, and cost-effective lodging.

I’m here to share just a few of the tips I learned from my own travels, and I hope they help you too.

1. Book in Advance

   Deciding to bite the bullet on an adventure is exciting, but don’t get so eager that you forget to take into account that booking 2-3 months in advance will be in your best interest. Save money on flights and give yourself time to plan a great trip. It will be so worth the wait.

2. Ask Hostel Staff for Suggestions

   Even if you’re not staying at a hostel, keep in mind that the staff there deal with budget travelers every day. Not only are they a great resource for directing you to local spots, they can also help you find the best deals and most cost-effective local travel options.

3. Bring Your Own Medicine

   Take my word that you do not want to learn this one the hard way. Getting sick while traveling is one of the most miserable and costly experiences. You miss out on chances to explore and experience your surroundings, and you can spend way too much on medicines that are often more confusing to read than they’re even helpful. Bring medicine from home, the basics. Think: something for headaches, indigestion, allergies, nausea, sleep-aids, even basic first aid materials. If you’re far from home, it’s not as easy as heading to your local drug store to find your go-to meds. You need to bring what your body is accustomed to in order to get well fast, and get back to your adventures.

4. Use CouchSurfing

   Couchsurfing, Airbnb, EatWith, BlaBlaCar, Gumtree, Getaround – these are all incredibly helpful resources when abroad. From finding accommodations, to ridesharing, to cooking classes – the best thing about all of these sites/apps is that they connect you with locals, who are the best tour guides (when you’re kind, polite, and respectful when connecting with them).

5. Take Free Walking Tours

   The first, easy step to exploring your surroundings is just to get out there and see what there is to see! Free walking tours are a great way to learn and explore with guides. You also get to connect with other travelers, which is so fun. Bonus tip: be safe and self-aware, but always be open to connecting with others. Travelers are often far more enthusiastic about connecting than people in your hometown. Don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation during a walking tour, you might get tips, advice, directions, and even a new friend!

6. Learn to Haggle

   So many countries utilize and expect haggling during sales. Be aware of where you are and what’s acceptable so you’re not rude or offensive. Chances are, if you’re at a crowded market area with lots of other travelers, you can easily haggle every marked price down to much less. Salespeople expect this approach and mark up their goods accordingly. Propose a lower price, stick to your guns, and even begin to walk away until the vendor agrees or meets you partway. At the end of the day, though, know your desires as well as your spending limits. Bring a certain amount of paper money with you in order to avoid overspending, and don’t be afraid to spend a little more on that thing that you must have, just try to haggle first 😉

I hope these tips are helpful as you book and prepare for your next trip! Keep an eye out for my next series of tips to make traveling an experience you’ll never forget, for all the right reasons.

Peace!