The past few years have changed everyone and made us want and appreciate different things. That’s especially the case if you want to travel – we weren’t able to for so long that it made a lot of people want to do it even if they hadn’t thought about it much – or at all – before (that’s just human nature; when you’re told not to do something, it makes you want to do it even more)!
Even though the world has been open for a number of years now, the fact is that some people are still nervous about traveling. They might wonder what the rules are now, or where to go, or whether it’s even safe. The fact is that travel is probably safer now than ever before thanks to the various rules and regulations in place, and if you’re able to do it, it’s a great way to broaden the mind and have an adventure (or take some time to relax – your trip can be whatever you want it to be). The only thing you need to do is know those rules and to understand how to travel smarter to ensure you have the very best time. With that in mind, here are some of the smartest things to do and ways to travel so you can make memories that stay in your mind for all the right reasons. Read on to find out more tips on how to travel smarter from a contributing travel writer.
Research Your Destination
There is definitely something exciting about not knowing much about where you’re going and maybe even being very daring and just sticking a pin in a map (literally or figuratively) and going wherever the answer takes you. However, there are also a lot of problems associated with that, and although you can do it if you really want to travel smarter, it’s better not to go down that route. It’s better to know precisely where you’re going and what you want to do when you get there.
Exploring is fun, but if you’re heading somewhere new, it’s a good idea to find out what it’s like. To begin with, researching the destination means you’ll be sure it’s the right one for you. After all, there are thousands of places you could travel to in the world, so going somewhere that’s not going to suit you just doesn’t make sense when there are plenty of alternatives. By understanding what you’re getting into in terms of the activities you could do, the climate, the food, and so on, you can make sure you’re going to have fun.
On top of that, you’ll know what to pack. It might seem like a small thing, but if you pack the right clothes for the climate and for the events and activities you’ll be involved in, it means you can be comfortable and feel at ease while you’re away. Wearing the wrong clothes can be physically unpleasant (imagine wearing shorts in a cold climate or a thick sweater in a hot one), but it can also be a mental health issue, causing stress and anxiety (imagine going to a fancy restaurant in flip flops and an old t-shirt). Know where you’re going, and that won’t be an issue.
Finally, you’ll be able to book anything you want to do in advance from the comfort of your own home. That means you can really think about what you want to do and consider all the pros and cons, as well as search around for the best price or any coupons that could give you a discount. And you won’t run the risk of missing out because the spaces or tickets are all sold out.
Choose The Right Luggage
Traveling smarter involves a lot of things, and one that you might not think about but that is actually very important is choosing the right luggage. No matter where you’re going, you’ll need to take things with you – you’ll need some changes of clothes, probably at least one extra pair of shoes, your bathroom necessities, and, of course, your electronic devices and their respective chargers. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right luggage. Why run the risk of any of these things – things you’ve deliberately chosen to take away from home with you – getting damaged or lost?
Choosing sturdy, highly-rated luggage such as Bric’s luggage means you can be sure that the things you pack will make it to (and from) your chosen destination without any issues. However, as well as the sturdiness of the bag you pick, you’ll also want something that looks great – something that matches your own taste and preferences. Not only will that give you an extra added element of joy when it comes to travel (it’s a small thing, but an important one), but it will also mean your bag is easier to find when it appears on the luggage carousel at the end of a flight!
Remember as well that you’ll need a couple of bags when you go traveling in some cases. That’s a big bag for the hold and a smaller bag to keep with you on the plane. Your electronic devices can’t be packed in the hold of a plane due to the lithium battery inside them, so you’ll want to have them with you (and it’s better for security as well), and it’s wise to have some things to entertain you on the journey, as well as a spare change of clothes and some toiletries just in case you’re delayed and held up somewhere or, in the worst cases, just in case your larger luggage goes missing, which can sometimes happen. Choose a hold bag that’s not too big so you can keep it with you, and that is comfortable to carry, as you might have to walk a long way with it, especially in a larger airport.
Health And Safety
When travel restrictions were lifted, people still felt a little wary about traveling – was it really safe? As the years have gone by, that worry has grown a lot smaller, but it’s still something to think about if you want to travel smarter. We don’t necessarily mean worry over COVID-19 (although it’s still wise to be aware that it hasn’t disappeared entirely), but we do mean making sure you’re doing all you can to stay safe and healthy so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest and make sure the only things you come back with are memories and souvenirs.
To start with, if you want to travel smarter, you need to have good travel insurance. It’s easy to assume that nothing’s going to go wrong – because most of the time it won’t, and it’s highly likely that you won’t have had any issues when you’ve traveled in the past – so why bother with insurance when it can be quite expensive, and you’ve got other things to pay for? The fact is that it’s true you’re probably going to be absolutely fine, but there’s always the ‘what if’ element to any kind of trip, and you really just don’t know. Anything could happen, and if you don’t have insurance, then illness or injury could become a much bigger problem than it already is; you might have to pay a huge amount of money (much more than the insurance would have been) and potentially stay in a foreign country to heal and recover because you can’t afford to get home. Having insurance means you’re protected, just in case, and it’s a smart thing to have in place.
As well as helping with your health, having travel insurance is useful in case of lost luggage, as mentioned above, or a canceled flight or problems with your accommodation – it’s really worth having, and if you want to travel smarter, it should be a priority.
Insurance isn’t the only important thing to think about when you’re considering the health and safety aspect of a trip – you’ll also want to know all about the vaccinations you might need to have. Some country’s entry requirements include vaccinations for various diseases and illnesses, and unless you organize this in advance, you might find you’re unable to go where you want to go. This is something you can easily find out when you do your research about potential vacation destinations, and if it turns out you do need vaccinations, then you can decide what to do at that point – if you’re not keen on the idea, for example, you’ll need to find another place to visit. Trying to get to somewhere that requires visitors to be vaccinated without getting that vaccination is only ever going to end in disappointment.
Finally, when you’re packing, it’s wise to include a first aid kit. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and it doesn’t have to contain a huge amount of stuff, but having some of the basics, like sticking plasters, bandages, alcohol wipes, tweezers, and painkillers, for example, is a great idea. If you’re feeling a little under the weather or you have a minor accident that you can take care of yourself, having this kit with you means you can do just that and not have to disrupt your vacation. It’s a great way to travel smarter.