1. If you travel by train, avoid the top bunk
The arrangement of passenger carriages varies slightly from country to country, but in any case, try to stay away from the seats on the upper bunks. Firstly, itâs easier to sleep underneath. Secondly, you donât have to worry about your luggage. And thirdly, in some countries they leave so little space for passengers on top that it is difficult for a European of even average height to squeeze in there.
2. If you have to get off the train at a small station, don’t sleep
If you need to get off the train at a small station, do not rely on someone to wake you up or notify you of your arrival at your destination. The conductor may simply forget about you, and the train may be behind schedule and stop at your station for just a couple of minutes. So don’t relax, be collected and ready for any surprises.
3. Give yourself something to do while you wait.
On any journey, there are annoying setbacks when you just have to wait for some event to happen. Wait for your bus, wait for the rain to stop, wait for a lagging companion or for the start of an excursion. Make sure that this wait, which can sometimes last for long hours, does not become the worst time of the trip. Think in advance about how you can entertain yourself in such a situation.
4. If you find yourself in a hot place, then dress
The first reaction of a novice traveler who finds himself in a country with a hot climate is to take off as much clothing as possible in the hope that it will not be so hot. This is a mistake that can result in sunstroke, burns, and dehydration. Experienced travelers, on the contrary, wear a hat, a long-sleeved shirt, sunglasses and try to stay out of the sun as little as possible.
5. If you are traveling to a cold place, remember the âcabbage ruleâ
Any tourist knows: several layers of clothing warm better than one, even if it itself is thicker than these several. Take this into account when preparing for a trip to cold countries. Instead of one thick fur coat, it is better to take several sweaters of different densities and a light jacket. Additionally, you will be prepared for the weather to not be as severe as you expected.
Traveling is a great excuse to relax. But not for our skin, which can experience severe stress due to flight, scorching sun, strong wind and other factors. If you are traveling to a country with a different climate, it is important not only to pack your suitcase, but also to prepare your skin. It is also worth buying all the necessary cosmetics in advance and trying them before the trip to make sure that you are not allergic to them.
6. Keep your eyes and ears open
Most likely, you have met these strange tourists with black glasses on their eyes and headphones in their ears. Perhaps they are completely uninterested in all these bright colors and sounds of exotic countries, although in this case the question arises why they came here in the first place. But this can be downright dangerous. Especially in eastern countries, where traffic on the streets does not obey any laws.
7. Google Maps is excellent. But the locals know the way better
Modern mapping services make it possible for any traveler to find the right place and the road to it. But sometimes they are powerless or their information turns out to be outdated. Therefore, do not be lazy to double-check the information from your smartphone by asking the local population. Sometimes this saves much-needed time and effort.
8. Wash your hands
Trivial advice that many people remember only after they feel the first signs of poisoning. And itâs not at all about the horrors of Indian cuisine or the peculiarities of Thai gastronomy. Itâs just that when you travel, you are more often in public places, in contact with strangers, and changing your usual diet. Therefore, try to wash your hands whenever possible when traveling. This will definitely not make anyone worse.
9. Always take water with you
Water is life. You understand this especially well when there is no water nearby. Therefore, always try to keep a bottle of water near you, especially in hot countries or areas where the quality of drinking water is questionable.
10. Leave your suitcase at home
Many people think that backpacks are made only for tourists who go to mountains and deserts. However, it can be useful to you even on the most ordinary trip. Estimate how many transfers you will have, how many times and over what distance you will have to move your luggage, and it is quite possible that you will leave your beautiful rolling suitcase at home and prefer to put all your things in a backpack.
11. Learn a few words in the local language
The international language of communication is still English, and you can fulfill most of your needs with its help. Yes, a few days before your trip you are unlikely to gain impressive knowledge of Turkish, Arabic or Chinese. But this is not necessary, it is enough to know at least âhelloâ, âthank youâ, âpleaseâ, âhow are youâ and a few more words. Locals really like it when a tourist knows something in their language, and in this case it serves more as a means of gaining sympathy rather than as a means of communication.
12. Compare prices
You shouldnât buy anything on your first impulse. Most likely, in ten minutes you will see the same thing, but at half the price. Remember that when buying souvenirs, things, food in popular tourist places, you pay a completely different price than you could pay if you had controlled your desire and looked for at least a few other options.
13. Never keep money in one place
Another rule, the validity of which you would not advise anyone to check on themselves. Just accept it as truth, as an axiom. Always divide your monetary resources into several parts and keep them separate. In your pocket – a card and some local money, in your luggage – some currency, in your account – money for force majeure.
14. Make digital copies of your passport and important documents
While traveling, you will have to deal with a bunch of documents, and if they are lost or damaged, the entire trip will go down the drain. It is better to immediately photograph ID cards, licenses, travel documents, reservations and tickets with your camera or at least a smartphone and back them up to one of the cloud storages.
15. Smile
This is perhaps the most useful advice, and it also costs absolutely nothing. Residents of the post-Soviet space sometimes look upset or even angry about something just because they are lazy or embarrassed to smile at strangers. Smile more, more often and wider – this will help you in a variety of situations and make your journey more pleasant and safe.
What advice could you give to novice travelers? Share your experience in the comments!