What has travel taught me about life—the big lessons and the small? I thought it would be fun to share a few of my thoughts on the subject. In no particular order, here goes:
My Top 15 Travel Life Lessons
- Trains are the most fun way to travel. Getting to spend hours eating, reading, and staring out the window watching landscapes unfold while someone else does the driving and you get to stay on the ground—as long as the distance is reachable by train, it’s always my favorite way to go.
- The only food worth eating on Amtrak trains is the cheese and cracker package. Avoid the rest.
- Jet lag is best beaten by staying awake until bedtime in your new destination, then collapsing for eight hour or so and waking up ready to face the new day. Get into the rhythm of your new time zone fast. Don’t be one of those people who’s always looking at your watch/cellphone saying “It’s only 4 am back on the East Coast…” It doesn’t matter. You’re someplace else now. Adjust asap and you’ll be very glad you did.
- I’ve never regretted paying extra for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When I visited Capri on my Italy trip a few years ago, for example, I initially hesitated at paying about 11 euros (as I recall) to enter the world-renowned Blue Grotto, with its magical light, via a tiny boat. I hadn’t planned to spend the money, but I finally decided I’d come this far, so how could I not go all the way? And it was such a great decision. If you travel halfway around the world to have amazing experiences, don’t do things halfway.
- That said, you don’t need to have an experience that doesn’t appeal to you just because others tell you that you should, especially when you’re on a budget and money is involved. Be open to new opportunities, but also listen to your heart: do you really care enough to shell out for this, or take time out of your trip for it? I’ve been to the Eiffel Tower several times but have never forked over the fee to go up to the top, because it simply doesn’t interest me. I’ve never regretted that either. It’s all about knowing what’s important to you, and what you can gladly live without.
- Talk to new people you meet during your travels as much as possible. This is actually something I’m still working on. As an introvert, I generally don’t tend to go out of my way to chat with strangers. But when traveling, it can really make a difference and help connect you with new people and gain fresh perspectives. Even the creepy guy my friend and I met in the hostel in Budapest gave us a great restaurant recommendation that led to the best meal of our trip!
- No matter how excited you are to see monuments, museums, and whatever else a new place has to offer, it’s also really important to build in some relaxation time. Have a picnic in a park, while away an hour or two in a café over coffee, or just sit in a plaza and people-watch. Whatever you choose to do, remember that balance is just as important in travel as it is in day-to-day life, and often your best travel memories will be of the times you allowed yourself to slow down and enjoy the moment.
- It is possible to pack two week’s worth of clothes and toiletries into one small suitcase. It’s even possible to pack several months’ worth of belongings into two suitcases. I’ve done it, and I recommend it highly. You almost never need as much as you think you will, and less luggage = more freedom!
- Take lots of photos. They will be your best souvenirs.
- Write down your travel experiences. One of the reasons I started blogging is to do exactly that: have a better and more organized way of recording my thoughts on the places I’ve been. I’m not great about notebook writing on short trips, but when I lived in Praha for a year I was pretty good about journaling, and I’m so glad I have that memento now from my time there.
- If at all possible, seize the opportunity to live in a place that interests you, even if only for a few weeks or months, rather than just traveling there. I don’t say that to minimize travel: it’s fantastic to see as much of the world as possible and you can have a great experience in a new place in even a few days. That said, the rewards of digging deeper are manifold, and I’m so glad I lived in Praha and London and had the chance to get to know those cities on a deeper level than I possibly could have if I’d just passed through for three or four days.
- When it’s hot out and you’re walking around all day, don’t forget to sunscreen and hydrate! Simple advice, but it saved me in Bangkok and Rome.
- As did the gelato in Italy. When you are in that country, or anyplace that excels at ice cream, you have carte blanche to eat it as often as you like. My usual rate is two cones a day. You’re on vacation; just go for it!
- Your passport is your single most valuable possession when you travel. Do not let it out of your sight; do not put it down for just a minute and then forget where you left it. ALWAYS either have it with you or stored someplace safe you can easily access it.
- While bucket lists are fine, keep your mind open to new possibilities, and seize opportunities to travel any place that interests you. I’m currently contemplating a trip to Guatemala—which was never really on my radar before—because a friend lives there and has invited me to visit. Now I can’t stop thinking about how incredible it would be to go there. Always remember that the world is huge, diverse, and fascinating, and probably contains hundreds more incredible places than any one person would ever get to see. So don’t dismiss a destination out of hand because it wasn’t on your travel wish list for as long as you can remember…chances are that if you go, you’ll love it, and come away with an even richer appreciation of what makes our world so astonishing.
Anything you’d add to this list? Share your thoughts below!