Traveler's Tips

It doesn't have to be expensive, but you may have to rough it a little bit. We're talking about traveling after all, not vacationing, BIG DIFFERENCE. Look for cheap airfare at kayak.com, hipmunk.com, studentuniverse.com, cheapoair.com, etc (and places like ryanair.com and easyjet.com when in Europe). Set a budget and when airfare reaches that price, buy. Travel during the off season. Stay in hostels. Sleep in airports. Sleep in your car. Camp. Couch surf (but be safe about it). Eat cheap.

Pack light. Trust me. You don't need all that crap you think you need. How you pack will greatly depend on where you're going, but a good standard rule is if you're packing more than you can carry on (as in carry-on) the plane, you've packed too much.

Buy a map before you go (or look at/print out googlemaps). Sometimes you won't be able to find a map once you get there, and it's smart to at least get somewhat acquainted with the lay of the land if you're going to a new place.

Take facial cleansing cloths/wet wipes. Showers can sometimes be few and far between when traveling, but when you remember these bad boys you packed away, it will be a like a day at the spa. You might also want a little bottle of hand sanitizer.

Leave a copy of your travel info with someone back home. This includes passports, IDs, flight information, and even a little list of things you might be taking with you. Chances are those people will never need to use that stuff, but in the case you find yourself in a tight spot or go missing, it will help them out. 

Every trip needs a playlist. It's a rule. So make one before you leave.

Eat what and where the locals eat. Keep an eye out for restaurants that seem busy, but not with tourists, and don't be afraid to eat street food. Eating local food is a great way to experience the real culture of a place, and it will save you money.

Talk to people. You'll never have more interesting conversations than the ones you have with strangers while traveling (but just remember you don't want to be that guy that never shuts up).

Wander. This is my absolute favorite thing to do while traveling. I love the solitude of being alone in a new place with no agenda. Your senses are so much more receptive when you aren't stressing about a schedule, so you'll observe little things you would have never noticed. Give me the whole day in a new place with just me and my cameras, and I'm in heaven.

Some tourist stuff is actually pretty cool. Try to stay off the beaten path as much as possible, but sometimes places/people/things are a big deal for a reason. Usually if a famous site is free, and won't take all day, I'll at least take a peek. I do, however, get really grumpy if I get stuck on an expensive tour that involves many stops at gift shops.

Take pictures. Most people (parents usually excluded) forget about taking pictures after a few days into the trip. I, being a photographer with no excuse, am one of the worst culprits of this. Take. Pictures.

If you ever find yourself in a public restroom without toilet paper, use your sock. But really, it's just kind of nice to avoid that situation by packing some tissues with you in the first place (especially if you're more of a sandal wearer like me).

Speaking of bathrooms, go. I hate to treat you like a 5 year old, but if you're about to leave the train station/hostel/restaurant/whatever, go to the bathroom before you leave. You never know where/when your next one will be. The same thing goes for getting gas (for your car) on road trips.

Respect the culture you're in. Don't expect a country to adapt to you, you adapt to it. Yeah, you might think some customs are a little weird, but that's the fun of it! Get outside your comfort zone, people!

Don't be stupid. This includes flashing huge amounts of cash in the open, leaving anything unattended, telling strangers intimate details about yourself, wearing white New Balance sneakers and a fanny pack, etc. In short: don't act like a tourist. Try to blend in. A game I love to play while traveling is to try to get the locals to think you're a local. If they try to give you the locals discount, speak to you in their language, don't try to sell you crap, don't try to steal from you, or if they aren't completely annoyed by your existence... you win.

Don't stress. Mistakes, mishaps, setbacks, and delays are the spice of life.

peace,
k.