10 things every new traveller must know

10 things every new traveller must know

Are you a new traveller who is just beginning to explore this amazing planet? Be warned - travelling is highly addictive! For years, people have spoken about it and many of us have lived it - it is perhaps, the one exhilarating feeling that is unmatched by anything else.

So now you're ready, packed with your bags and you're gripped by mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement. I was 24 when I took my first trip outside my country; I grew up in different cities in India and could only afford to travel to a foreign country once I saved up some money from my job. I didn't know what to expect and I certainly didn't have a clue that I'd one day become so wholly addicted to this feeling of being in an unknown place, exploring, learning, discovering something new every single day. And while there are many things that we must learn on our own as we take the journeys that we are meant to, here are a few tips that'll help you make the most of your trips.

For those of you who have been afflicted by wanderlust and have been following your heart exploring the world for a long time now, I am sure you will relate to these.


#1 Take lots of pictures

When you look back after years, it's these pictures that'll take you down the memory lane and remind you of the amazing moments you spent on your trip. As exciting and fresh as a journey seems today, as time passes, memories fade. It always helps to keep a journal and an album that will transport you right back in time and help you relive your trip, over and over again.


#2 Buy a souvenir (or lots!)

Buy souvenirs from wherever you go. When I walk into my house, I love to see trinkets and accessories that I've picked up from all over the world. Beer mugs from Prague, hand-painted wall hangings from Maldives, hand-crafted ship models from Mauritius, cuckoo-clock from Switzerland, colourful lamps from Turkey and other such wonderful things. Most of all, I love picking up fridge magnets from wherever I travel to.


#3 Stick to your budget but don’t deprive yourself

It is very important to set out with a budget in mind lest we might end up overspending. However, there are certain experiences which might seem expensive but are worth having. Remember, you can always earn that money back one day but you may not get an opportunity to experience something you've missed out on, again. You're in a new country, making sure you experience the very best and unique things is more important than anything else.


#4 Don’t make it about the stamps on your passport

When I began travelling, I wanted to cover as much ground as possible. In a span of 10 days, I went to 6 countries, visiting only the capital cities and spending hardly 1-2 days in each city. However, once I returned, I realised how unsatisfied I was with this manner of travelling! Countries have so much more to offer outside the capital city and most cities deserve more than just 2 days! It cannot just be about stamps on your passport or ticking the boxes; the real satisfaction lies in exploring outside the box.


#5 There may not be a 'next time'

Who knows if you will ever visit this country again - try to make the most of it while you're there. See as much as you can, explore off-the-beaten paths, experience the unique things, try the cuisine, befriend the locals, understand the culture, immerse yourself in their lifestyle and live it while you're there. Take the bullet trains while in Japan, try the street food in Malaysia, jump off the cliffs in Croatia, wear colourful clothes while in India, ride the elephant in Sri Lanka.


#6 …but that doesn’t mean that this is it!

While it is important to make the most of your trip, try not to overdo it and exert yourself, fearing that you might never come back and have the chance to experience things again. Exploring will stop being fun the moment you start feeling exhausted and it's key to find the right balance between doing as much as you can and not tiring yourself out. Give yourself enough time to relax and rejuvenate.


#7 Packing is an art you’ll learn to perfect with time

No amount of tips and hacks will help you come up with the right formula for packing. It is a skill that you'll develop over a period of time. We all want to pack light, but we also want to make sure we don't need to wash our clothes during the trip and still have enough to last the duration of our journey. And many of us even like to change clothes twice or thrice a day! Don't worry, you'll figure it out eventually.


#8 Locals usually know better

Although I do believe in researching and reading up about the place before you travel, so that you at least have a vague plan in place, it is always a great idea to speak to the locals once you're there and get their opinions. Be flexible with your plans and take some suggestions from people who know the place well.


#9 Your accent is NOT weird

English is not the mother tongue for most of us and that's alright! We have grown up speaking different languages and have learned to speak English to be able to interact with people around the globe. This in no way means that our accents will all be alike and there's nothing to be ashamed of in that! The fact that you've learned to speak a language other than your mother tongue is a big deal in itself, do not let anyone ever make you feel like you sound 'weird'.


#10 You can never be fully prepared

But that probably is the best part of it all! Surprises will greet us along the way, some good and some bad. And those are the biggest lesson-teachers. Take it in the stride, try not to panic or get upset and spoil your trip because of unexpected circumstances or occurrences.

If this is the beginning of the journey for you, be assured that there is a lot you'll learn along the way. There will be good experiences as much as there will be bad ones. But once you have begun to enjoy this feeling of being out and about in foreign lands, exploring great places and meeting amazing people, you will never look back.

Comments:

  • May 6, 2018

    I totally agree there won’t be a next time, you’re there in that moment now and maybe never again, take the best of it. And I love to buy magnets I have one from every single town 🙂

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  • May 1, 2018

    Travelling is actually addictive and you can never get bore of it. I liked your last point. Actually you are never fully prepared. Enjoy what is in the present and live those moments to the fullest.

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  • April 18, 2018

    I agree that once you start traveling, it does get addictive. We set out on the road for a year and have been traveling non-stop for almost two years now. I love your magnet collection, we also like to pick a magnet up from the places we travel. Then I stand in front of the fridge and remember all the great experiences we have had. Your tip about talking to the locals is so true. We have found some amazing places by just talking to people in the area.

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  • Ami

    February 22, 2018

    I like your last point – you can never be too prepared. There is always something you will miss but the point you made – stay in the present and enjoy every moment of the travel. A nice set of things for a new traveler.

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  • February 11, 2018

    Great tips!! I definitely stick to the ‘you might not pass this way again’ tip. I make a list of the things I want to see.. if I get the chance to cone back I continue down the list. As for accents.. I think they are cool .. really everyone on the planet has one.. that depends on the listener. 🙂

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  • September 28, 2017

    very well written post. my fav part was stick to the budget but don’t deprive yourself. our kind of traveling style. thanks for sharing. 🙂

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  • September 28, 2017

    The timing of coming across your post is just right as i’m heading out to a multi city tour. So your suggestions are just apt! I love collecting souvenirs for myself and my loved one’s back home! Thanks for sharing this post.

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  • Bee

    September 27, 2017

    I love this post! I also first travelled and left home at 23. sadly, I had no laptop, camera or anything. just an old camera where i had to print out my photo. this is a really honest post for new travellers. i agree on never always being prepared though!

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  • September 27, 2017

    Nice list! Not sure taking lots of pictures is lost on today’s generation. Maybe less selfies 🙂

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  • Followingtherivera

    September 27, 2017

    You’ve made some excellent points here. I’ve been travelling forever it seems, and still haven’t quite got the art of packing! I also agree about not depriving yourself if on a budget; for many people, it’s usually a once in a lifetime trip!

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  • September 27, 2017

    Your fridge looks just like mine! Covered in souvenir magnets! That is the one things I “at least” have to have where ever I travel to. Great post and very accurate!

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  • September 17, 2017

    I can’t agree more on these details for new travelers to get along easily and also goes out to all travelers! Experience is the best way to learn so, next time you can get them under control when similar issues occur.

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  • September 16, 2017

    Great post, especially that my accent isn’t weird!

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  • August 22, 2017

    Great list and agreed, don’t make it about collecting stamps!

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  • August 21, 2017

    This is such a helpful list for prospective travellers – so many things here that I wish I knew before I went off on some of my trips! Really agree about the passport stamps too – I started off by just trying to cram as many countries in as I can, but then realised that to be able to enjoy a place properly you need to spend a decent amount of time there x

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  • August 19, 2017

    I can totally identify with this post. I agree with the point about “the stamps on your passport”. Even I used to rush through places wanting to cover as many places possible and that later made me realise your next point – “There may not be a next time”.

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  • August 19, 2017

    I agree with nearly all of these 10 points, I don’t think there is a single person who has ever traveled that hasn’t returned home without a fridge magnet. You’re so right that packing is an art and how much better at it are we since we first started to travel, and number 10 as you know from my previous post rings so true!! Another great read 😀 😀

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  • Jen

    August 18, 2017

    Wow you have so many magnets, love this, thanks for sharing!

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  • August 18, 2017

    I take so many pictures! I love looking through them later at home 🙂

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  • August 18, 2017

    Okay I absolute love this post. I always buy so many souvenirs for me and other people its probably ridiculous but I’m a very sentimental person. I also love how you displayed your magnets ! I’m looking for a way to display mine in my room. I’m definitely pinning this post for the future.

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