In the past years, travelling to anywhere in the world has become a lot easier than it used to be 15 years ago. There is still a bunch of stuff that can make travelling That being said, there are still a couple of super easy things you can do to make sure everything goes as smoothly as humanly possible. Here’s a list of what I ALWAYS keep in mind, no matter where I go.
Do a bit of research so you know what places you will want to see
I love heading to a country without really having a strict/set plan to stick to, but, especially if your time is limited, it’s advisable to make sure you know what kind of places you want to see and to have a rough overview. Most destinations have everything from crazy parties on beautiful but usually super crowded islands, to awesome cities or cute, sleepy towns to quiet and gorgeous islands that have not been spoiled by mass tourism yet. So, no matter what you like, make sure you know what you’re in for to avoid being disappointed.
Get a sim card at the airport
I know many of you want to disconnect while traveling but getting a local sim card is not only super easy and cheap but will also make a bunch of stuff a lot more convenient for you. At most destinations, you will already find vendors at the airport. The downside to getting one from here is that they can be a bit more expensive as in the cities. The upside is that you can usually get a cheaper taxi ride because you can just order an uber or grab (at most places). No matter when or where you decide to buy a sim card, my advice is to just do it as quickly as possible.
Decide on what time of the year works for what you want
Depending on where you want to go, it’s always good to keep the local season in mind. If you’re heading to the southern hemisphere, remember that your summer is their winter and sunbathing or wearing those awesome summer dresses might not be possible. If you’re heading to countries in South East Asia, there is a rainy season that might sometimes ruin plans. Now, if you’re new to this whole concept a rainy season, I can assure you that it’s usually nowhere near as bad as you might imagine. There is a greater chance of some rain every day, but it might as well happen that it doesn’t rain for a straight week, so don’t stress about it too much. Just keep in mind that prices are usually noticeably cheaper in the off-season and you might get to enjoy some places without the (usually very annoying) crowds.
Bring mosquito repellent (and use it!!!) as well as something for any kinds of stomach problems
These two things are super important for me because unfortunately, I didn’t take them too seriously and hence had to learn their importance the hard way. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first or your 30th time traveling, chances are you’ll experience some form of stomach problems and having the right pills with you will just be the easiest fix for you (trust me, you ‘ll be so thankful if you don’t have to take a trip to the next pharmacy). The other part is the mosquito repellent. Most of us know about Malaria, Dengue fever or even scarier tropical diseases but if you are anything like me, you’ll think the chances of getting them are sooo low that you’ll be fine. And honestly, you probably will be fine. I was fine for almost 7 years of intense traveling with a bare minimum of mosquito repellent… until I wasn’t and caught Dengue. Trust me when I say that it is HORRIBLE, which is why I always use it now (by the way, mosquitos that carry Dengue are active during the day).
Get a scooter but be careful (and please wear your helmet)
Renting your own scooter has become more and more popular in many destinations. Most often, it is not only super cheap but also really fun. It’s pretty much THE number one means of transportation and will enable you to explore amazing places by yourself. This is only one side of the coin, however. If you start googling scooter crashes amongst tourist abroad you’ll read about horrific stories of tourist crashing and not rarely dying. It’s too easy to get caught up in the moment and to forget to take proper security measures, so PLEASE be careful if you do decide to rent one. Start practicing on a super quiet road and even if you do feel more confident, don’t drive too fast and use common sense. It doesn’t matter how safe you feel, all it takes is one second to lose control. With that in mind, however, I can only recommend giving this form of transportation a try.
With these things in mind, you’re pretty much settled for your adventure/holiday/new start anywhere in this world.
Just keep in mind to have fun, to smile a lot, to be respectful and to leave the places you visit as clean as anyway possible.