How to Travel Better
Every one of us travels, at least some of the time. It could be a visit to a city park, to grandma’s house, or halfway around the world, doesn’t matter it’s still travel. Usually, here on Go Budget Travel I limit my posts to topics pertinent to the budget travel crowd, however, today I would like to provide some very simple, though often overlooked, tips on how all of us can “travel better” or “enjoy travel MORE”.
- Move Slowly: Probably the most expensive, exhausting, and in my opinion WORST way to travel is by racing from site to site in an attempt to see it all. It’s much better to really enjoy and understand one site, than to “see” 10 of them just to cross them off your list.
- Blend In: Don’t be “that guy” from out-of-town. Arguably the most interesting and enlightening aspect of travel is getting to know other cultures. However, it is very hard to get to know other cultures if nobody wants to talk to you because you’re the “idiot from Springfield”. Take a cue from the locals, and live as they do. If they are loud and brash, join right along, but if they are a little more reserved, tone it down some. Live like they do, eat like they do, move like they do, and you will start to understand a little more about who they are.
- Talk to the locals: Locals hold the key to the city, the country, and the culture. Sure, you can see all the “tourist sites” without them, but if you want to find the best pizza in New York, the best Pub in London, experience authentic native culture in Africa, or hear insider thoughts on Islam in the Middle East, you really need to talk to the locals. They will make your experience so much more interesting and enjoyable.
- Try New Things: Travel is an adventure. Get out and try new things! Eat local foods, try local drinks, get out of international hotels and stay in local bed-and-breakfasts or backpacker hostels, give it a shot! Some of your most memorable moments will be the unexpected adventures. Like taking shots of fermented snake juice with an wannabe cowboy named Sasha at a saloon in rural Ecuador (me last week).
- Cut Loose: One of the greatest things about travel is that you’re not going to be there forever. You can make a complete fool of yourself, then just move on. So, enjoy yourself, don’t worry about how you look, and have fun!
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I agree with your aim of encouraging travellers to “travel better”. I receive many enquiries particularly from North Americans who want to “do’ several countries in Europe in a week or 10 days. I try to advise them not just to whizz around the tourist traps and end up actually seeing very little and only spending time with other tourists.
In my business I promote getting off the beaten track in Europe in order to have a more authentic travel experience but this often saves money as well.
I totally agree with moving slow. We’re currently in Mykonos Greece filming for Jet Set Life and we did just that. Instead of doing a fast paced island to island hop- we decided to spend 10 full days on one island and go slow. Get vertical into the culture if you will. No regrets. I feel like a Mykonoan!