Shape the Travel Experience YOU Want
When it comes to getting travel advice before you go on a trip, some of it is helpful while other advice should really be taken with a grain of salt.
There are some travel tips that are commonly passed around that, in my experience, are pretty silly and don’t make a lot of sense. Advice has its place, but your travel desires are solely your own. Don’t let what anyone else recommends stand in your way of making those dreams come to reality.
The first step? Ignore these travel tips.
Travel While You’re Young
Many people say you should travel while you are young, because once you pass a certain age and you start to settle down with kids you will move past the window in your life when you can explore foreign lands. I totally disagree with this.
Although traveling when you are older and have a family can be more complicated, it is certainly not impossible. Search for “family travel blog” and you will find so many examples of parents with children of all ages who embrace their wanderlust and take their families on adventures.
There are even older travelers who take amazing trips well into their 60s, 70s and 80s. And not just cruises, either!
I believe if you love travel there is no age limit on it and you can make it a part of your life at any time.
Women Shouldn’t Travel on Their Own
Complete rubbish. Disregard anyone who tells you this.
As a female, traveling solo was one of the most empowering things I have ever done. As long as you educate yourself about your destination, use common sense and keep your wits about you, you won’t necessarily be in any more danger than you would be in your home town.
There are so many females who partake in solo travel and have an amazing time.
Don’t Visit Tropical Destinations in the Rainy Season
If you are planning on visiting somewhere like Thailand or Malaysia, you might think you have to avoid the rainy season. However, depending on the country, this isn’t always the case. In fact, sometimes the rainy season only brings with it an hour or so of showers and then warm sunshine for the rest of the day.
Plus, sometimes the rainy season in a tropical destination will be when the flowers are blooming and everything is more lush and green. Another advantage is that you will enjoy cheaper prices on flights, hotels and attractions.
Don’t Talk to Strangers
Disregard this advice, because talking to strangers is one of the most interesting aspects of travel! Chatting to the locals in the bar, asking your taxi driver questions, talking to the sellers in the market stalls, and just generally being social and outgoing will greatly enhance your travel experience.
You’ll have a chance to make friends and learn more about the local culture. In reality, not being open to meeting people while traveling means you’ll be missing out! Of course, just because you should talk to strangers doesn’t mean you should trust them. Keep your guard up, be aware of scams and don’t let anyone take advantage of you.
Families, couples and solo travelers alike will all love the benefits that come along with slow travel. Here's why you should give it a try.
You Should Have Everything Planned in Advance
People might be telling you that you need to have every bit of your trip booked and scheduled in advance — but the truth is you don’t have to if that’s not your style. Personally, I prefer to allow myself room for spontaneity on my trip.
Let’s say you get to your destination and discover an amazing side trip or attraction you hadn’t heard about and you really want to experience. However, you already have every day of your trip booked and you don’t have time to do it!
I like to leave some of my trip plans open so when I get to my destination I have the freedom to take other opportunities for travel experiences that might pop up unexpectedly.
You Need to See X, Y and Z to Really Experience This Destination
When you arrive at a destination with this attitude, your travel experience will consist of you running around like crazy trying to complete a checklist, which can leave you stressed and exhausted.
There is no need to see all of the top 10 attractions in your destination just because you think you should, especially if you are not that interested in them. In fact, you’ll find that many tourist traps, especially in Europe, are ones you can go without seeing and should consider avoiding altogether.
Instead, narrow down the list to things you are genuinely excited about seeing and don’t worry about the rest.