There are countless travel blogs on the internet, which is a large, wide globe. Nowadays, it seems that every traveler has their own personal blog, and with the touch of a button, they can all share their opinions. I don’t mean to imply that this is a bad thing at all. In fact, the internet has made it possible for a wide variety of travel advice, some of which is, to put it bluntly, rubbish. Every day I get to interact with foreign visitors here at Base (yep… I live the dream). I occasionally hear some of the most utterly ridiculous travel advice I have ever heard. Here is a brief excerpt…
1. Turn off your smartphone
Indeed, I realize that traveling enables us to truly LIVE in the present. It exposes us to fresh perspectives, new encounters, and of course, fresh teachings. Yet if we are glued to our phone displays, how can we actually live in the moment? So we say, screw it! Accept your smartphone!
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We can reproduce and capture every moment in our lives thanks to social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and others. It enables us to reshape, highlight, crop, and enhance any specific moment, allowing us to become “Creative Directors” of our own experiences. By pressing a button, we can IMMEDIATELY motivate our coworkers, friends, and families. We have access to a wealth of travel apps, maps, translations, conversions, advice, and solutions thanks to it. It is beneficial for us to approach any unfamiliar location or culture with knowledge, not inexperience. Most crucially, the smart phone adds an extra layer of security by making it less likely for us to get lost, allowing us to contact anyone right once in an emergency or dangerous situation, and serving as a personal GPS.
So accept your smartphone. Use your newfound flexibility and leisure to learn about and engage with the local culture by embracing technology.
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2. Find the lowest-cost airline
At the time, it ALWAYS appears like the best plan (believe me, I am aware of this). Yet when the time comes, you’ll kick yourself for choosing the longest trip imaginable with the most stops and a 6-hour break at the KL Airport while nursing a boiling hangover. Will your hangover be grateful that you didn’t opt to spend an extra $30 for a quicker flight?
3. Avoid traveling alone
Okay, this one is a piece of croc shit! The portals to new nations and an endless supply of information have been opened by the infinite and borderless world of technology. Instagram is flooded with solo travel bloggers who continue to break travel “rules” and introduce us to new places and opportunities. Whether you want to backpack through New Zealand or the east coast of Australia, setting out on your own is exciting, informative, and fulfilling. It forces you to step outside of your comfort zone and into a new level of worry, causing you to Seriously prepare and research your vacation to a foreign country. We can exercise common sense, awareness, and receptivity to different people. Convinced? Check out these 10 advice pieces for single travelers!
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4. Avoid chatting up strangers
Depending on how you define a stranger, this one can be a little hard. The man looking for half-smoked cig butts in St. Kilda who is illogically defying God while wearing filthy clothes and no shoes? Yes, perhaps pass on that one. So, what about the local on the train next to you? Exactly why not. Smarts are something you should always carry with you. For instance, try not to specify where you are staying or living, hint that you will meet up with some pals when you get there, and avoid sounding “too enthusiastic.” Yet you never know what insider information you might discover from a “stranger,” not to mention the chance to gain some insight into the way of life there.
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5. Keeping away from tourist traps
“Indeed, I visited the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is exaggerated.” Everyone has encountered someone in a hostel who can’t help but brag about the off-the-beaten-path and “hidden” places they’ve been. Well, travel is all about finding that tiny red ‘X’ on the map, taking a few chances here and there, and finding your own private paradise. BUT consider WHY a tourist trap is actually a “trap.” My opinions? The reason a place is a tourist trap is because it is a BLOODY FANTASTIC destination, landmark, or setting. My tip? Embrace the crowds and don’t be scared to “check off” the popular tourist destinations.
6. Don’t reserve your lodging in advance
Personally, whenever I travel to a new country or location, I ALWAYS reserve the first two nights’ lodging in advance. Nothing is worse than showing up in a strange place with a big backpack and no idea where to go or how to get there.
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TIP 1: Do your homework, decide where you want to stay, what kind of hostel atmosphere you want (party or laid-back), and reserve your “base” before you leave. In this manner, you can get there, unwind, and organize the remainder of your journey. In contrast to many tourist hotspots in Asia, large cities in Australia and New Zealand do not frequently feature a “backpacker hub.” Since hostels are typically dispersed throughout the city, getting to them all requires a different form of transportation. Arriving without a reservation may result in there being no beds available or only the most expensive room remaining in some busy and popular destinations!
TIP 2: Purchase a Multi-Night Accommodation Permit; all that is required is a phone call to the hostel to confirm the date of your stay.
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7. Simply book your trip as you go to save money!
This advice is situational, based on your timeframe and destination. six months of travel in South East Asia? Then, I would advise following the flow. But regardless of where you’re going or how much time you have, that doesn’t give you the right to forgo making certain preparations in advance. Continually conduct research. For instance, the east coast of Australia is very large, and you need at least 4 weeks or more to truly see the hot areas like the Whitsundays, Fraser Island, and the rest. So, you MUST pre-book and schedule your travels if you only intend to explore the coastal trail for a few weeks.
8. To see as much as you can, try
Nothing is worse than traveling for the majority of your vacation: Bus, Sleep, Tour, Sleep. Repeat. A vacation is as much a mental state as it is a physical location. Every now and then, give yourself a few additional days to relax, explore, sunbathe, read a book, visit a nearby cafe, or just have a lazy, chubby hungover day.
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The verdict?
Even while it’s fantastic to acquire recommendations from your friends directly, every traveler has a unique experience. Read blogs, use Instagram, and most importantly, do your research before you leave. How much time does it REALLY take to get to each place? How long does it take for the tours to sell out? Is booking in advance more affordable than booking on arrival? What neighborhood of the city would you prefer to stay in, and what sort of hostel atmosphere are you seeking? Choose your own strategy, but most importantly, be shrewd, honest, liberated, and HAVE FUN!
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