Ten Easy Ways To Be A Better Traveler
I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a good traveler lately, and usually those thoughts have gone into higher levels of personal philosophies and self-improvement. At it’s base though, no matter where we go there are a few things we should all know to not just make us better travelers, but better people.
1. Art of haggling – Although for many of us the practice of haggling is an alien concept, it’s a vital skill to possess in many corners of the world
2. How to say “No, thank you,” wherever they are – I mean this in two different ways. First, I literally mean you should take the time to learn this phrase in the local language. It will help you a million times from warding off salespeople to buskers. Second, I mean that you should be somewhat selfish when you travel. Don’t do things you don’t want to do or waste time on experiences not important to you.
3. Drive stick shift (manual) – Many of us have been spoiled by automatic transmissions in cars, a feature hard to find in many parts of the world. Learning how to drive stick shift will open up new travel possibilities and will prepare you to travel anywhere in any kind of car, truck or van.
4. Proper use of chopsticks – Chopsticks aren’t just relegated to use in Japan, they’re a popular utensil all over the world thanks to the massive popularity of both sushi and Chinese restaurants. Plus you look cool when you eschew the fork and knife in favor of two wooden sticks.
5. That local grocery stores are awesome – One of my favorite ways to learn about local culture quickly is by visiting the nearest grocery store. Instantly you will learn what they eat and what importance they place on certain foods. The multiple aisles of olive oil in Madrid, for example, says something about Spanish culture. Grocery stores are also a great place to get cheap snacks, drinks and even meals.
6. Exercises you can do in a hotel room – Staying healthy on the road is difficult, but given how physically taxing travel can be it’s vital to be as healthy as possible. If you can take even ten minutes a day to do yoga or exercise in some way, it will make your travel experience infinitely more enjoyable.
7. Take a decent photo – Almost everyone takes photos when they travel, but not everyone takes good photos. You don’t have to have a fancy camera or be an expert to come home with quality photos, so take a few minutes to brush up on the basics.
8. Sleep anywhere – I wish I could master this skill, but even though I haven’t succeeded yet I know how important it is. So many times we find ourselves in cars, planes, trains or wherever and a few minutes of sleep could mean the difference between sanity and going nuts. If you can tackle this skill, you are on your way to being a travel master.
9. How to change a tire – Many of us will rent a vehicle of some sort when we travel and the chances of getting a flat tire somewhere, anywhere is pretty likely. Instead of being held hostage to roadside assistance, take some time and learn how to change a tire yourself.
10. Travel light – I can’t say that I’m any great expert in this, but I am getting better. No matter where you go and what you do, learning how to be a more efficient packer is a very valuable skill.