Travelling. The only time when I - a normal human
being who hasn’t yet won the lottery - feel
totally free. The only time when I can (temporarily) escape the world of deadlines.
The only time when I come almost within sniffing distance of my carefree
childhood days. I know I am not the only one without a trust fund in my name. Which is why I have drawn up a list of some tried and tested tips. Travel tips that can help us get the most out of our hard-earned holidays.
Research (and more research)
Invest in a good guidebook, of course. But read up on your
destination online too. Search for blogs on that particular place. Blogs get
updated more often than guidebooks. If you are researching on say, which Greek
island to visit, don’t just remain content on reading an article or two about
the top 10 Greek islands. Go to the comments section. Seasoned travellers would
definitely have a couple of more islands to add to that list. If you have a specific query, post it on a forum
on sites like TripAdvisor/Lonely Planet Thorn Tree.
Handling
pre-holiday stress
As
per Murphy’s Law, the week before you go on vacation will be the busiest one.
Your inbox, instead of pinging every 5 minutes now starts pinging every minute.
This is when you need to take a deep breath and remind yourself of the fact
that you are going on a much-needed holiday. Start daydreaming. Begin this
process at least a week or two before your vacation. Otherwise you waste the
first couple of days of your vacation. Physically you may be walking down a beautiful
cobbled street, but mentally you are still clicking the send/receive button on
your Outlook Express.
Adjust
Things may go according
to plan. Or may not. Instead of a 55-minute flight, you might be facing an
overnight bus journey. The sea-view room might have transformed into an alley-view
room. The promised smooth ferry transfer might have turned into an exercise in
keeping your breakfast down. Rather than getting frustrated, face everything
with a sense of adventure. And more importantly, humor. Everything falls into
place then.
Invest
in experiences
There
are times we felt 'Oh…this is too pricey…let's skip it.' Invariably,
much later, once we are back to the daily grind, that expensive experience
didn't look, well, that expensive. In short, go easy on the wallet whenever
possible while travelling. Do not tie yourself up in knots converting liras to
rupees or dollars to dirhams. Cut down on your Starbucks fix. Skip the sales
signs. Forgo a couple of movie nights. But do go for that beautiful souvenir or
a meal in an amazing seaside restaurant. This is called investing in
experiences.
Wake up early (if possible)
I
know this is really hard. But I always make it a point to wake up early
whenever I am in a new place. The essence of a place is really felt in the
early hours of the morning. Try it. You might experience something totally
different.
The
art of seeing nothing, yet everything.
Sometimes due to conflicting flight-ferry-bus schedules, you might find
yourself stranded in a place for a few hours. Avoid the temptation to quickly
head out to explore the city. You could have a better sense of the
place by just kicking back for that day and relaxing in a nice waterfront cafe
and watch the world go by. You are on holiday, after all.
Engage
Strike up a conversation with a local with a
friendly ‘Ola’ or ‘Sawatdee’. It might be the shortest of conversations. Or you
might end up getting a unique insight into the place. Either way, a warm smile
is guaranteed.
Classic
hits vs. off-the-beaten-track experiences
One never knows whether one will be back in
that particular country. So, it’s tempting to head to the must-see-visit
places. But sometimes, it can be very rewarding to ignore the hype and take off
in the opposite direction and discover something new. Something that is yet to
make it to the guidebooks.
Check
into a B&B or a home stay
Next time you travel, consider the more
wallet-friendly B&Bs and home stays. You not only enjoy a more intimate
experience but also get expert advice about local attractions. A restaurant
that serves authentic cuisine, for instance. Staying in B&Bs means you inject funds directly into the local economy too. You also end
up meeting hardcore travellers who can point you to your next destination.
Be
safe
Generally
you meet nice people. But there are always exceptions. Trust your spidey sense. If it starts tingling, respect it. It's better to head back to your lodge at a decent hour than hang around at a bar till the
wee hours of the morning. Remind yourself of the fact that another glorious day of exploration awaits you.