LAST UPDATED | Sep 14, 2021
Regardless of whether you decide to travel solo, with a group or as a couple, here are some of the things you absolutely MUST do every time you travel.
Regardless of whether you decide to travel solo, with a group or as a couple, here are some of the things you absolutely MUST do every time you travel.
Sometimes I just want to say “burn the maps and go!” But a little bit of pre-planning and research for your next adventure goes a long way.
Firstly, it can save you money and give you an idea of how much things should cost. Secondly, doing a bit of research will make sure you know what’s going on during your time there and where to be for which days or months of the year.
Here are quick things to do before you go:
1. Check for regional festivals and public holidays
My favourite aspect of travelling is immersing myself in somebody else’s culture. Before I plan any trip, I will always check to see what festivals or events are taking place so I don’t miss out.
Check to make sure you don’t miss any magical moments! Whether that’s a street festival, public holiday, celebration, take advantage of the time you are there.
However, if you are on a budget, you might want to avoid public holidays. Hotels, flights, and transport can cost more than usual due to the high demand.
Seasons vary all around the world. And just like in your own country, the weather can determine what activities are on, how touristy the locations are going to be, whether places will be open or closed and generally how much you will get to see and do when you are out there.
During my stay in Taiwan a few years ago, I went during monsoon season and I was stuck inside for a few days during a super typhoon. Also, pollution can be a factor which can be seasonal as well so if you’re visiting a megacity it might be worth checking.
Google the climate of the country you are visiting and previous year records or download a weather app on your smartphone to get a detailed breakdown near the time of your visit.
Travel blogs are a great way to learn from in-depth, personal experiences.
All in one place.
Reading about different perspectives on a country can also help you decide what kind of traveller you are and what you will enjoy when you get there. Of course, travelling is a unique experience for everybody, so just take each story as a guideline and create your own itinerary!
While you are there
You have arrived! Now that you are here, you will want to make the most of your journey. A good rule of thumb is to strive for authenticity. Avoid things you could do back home and delve deep into the culture that surrounds you.
Just think about how different your hometown can be from one end to the other. No two areas are the same. For that reason, you can’t say that you’ve seen a whole country, if you’ve only seen one part of it. Everywhere I have been to so far, travelling an hour in any given direction tells a different story. Different crowd, different architecture, different cultures and so on.
When I was in Thailand, the south held host to beautiful islands and snorkelling opportunities—but the north told a story of jungles and mountains. In Spain I made a point to travel down from the Catalonia region, Barcelona, to the southern, Andalucian region of Spain. The food was different, the climate was different and surprisingly the language was too! The fascinating history and varying landscapes made me realise how important it is to take in as much of the country (or neighbouring countries) as you can. Not only does your money go further, but your experiences do too.
Talking to the locals is the best way to form a better connection with the country. Learning small phrases such as “thank you” or “good morning” is a polite way of showing the locals you are interested in their culture. I have found that a little effort goes a long way and people generally open up so much more if you are friendly and willing to respect their customs.
There’s a quote I like by James A. Michener, it goes;
"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home."
This goes without saying, but ALWAYS capture at least some memories with photos and videos! Especially for you travel bloggers out there, photography and video is becoming just as or if not more important for blogs than the actual writing.
This being said, taking photos and videos is extremely addictive. As a travel blogger, getting a good image is paramount to depict the places I have been as accurately as possible from my perspective. However, try not to spend the entire time looking at life through your lens; take time to experience it with your eyes too!
While you want to take photos and document your trip with a lens, writing about your experience every day (or every week for longer trips) can help you remember the experience even years later.
Imagine if you could read your journal and remember exactly how you were feeling the moment you saw the Taj Mahal for the first time. Pictures can say a thousand words—but let’s not forget the power of the written word!
We can get so wrapped up in the trip and get burnt out from the jet lag on the way home, that we forget one very important thing we should do when we return home.
Yep. Something we can easily forget about, but important to do! If you’re not editing or looking back at your photos during the trip, it can be a shock when you run out of storage on your phone upon landing.
Chances are, not every picture you took on your trip is a winner or even worth keeping.Don’t forget to save your favourite photos and delete the rest! Doing this right after your trip will ensure you don’t forget to do this later, and help you save storage to take photos on your next excursion.
