My Top 10 Travel Tips

After many years of travelling and living in Germany i have decided to share with you my top 10 travel tips to help you avoid the common mistakes and help you travel like a pro. Travelling the world and seeing new places can offer incredible lifetime experiences. Overtime, you will become travel savvy and will be able to share all of your tips you have learnt, however for now, this list will help to get you started. 

If you have any travel tips please share them in the comments section below.

I am so excited to have Nick from Black and White 1987 on the blog for a guest post today! I hope you enjoy his top 10 travel tips! – Shelly

TRAVEL INSURANCE IS A MUST

The number one travel tip that you will hear from all travellers. Get your travel insurance. How many horror stories have you heard about thousands of pounds being spent on medical bills?. The option is there for a reason and the second you reject that option, things turn sour. Don’t think that it won’t happen to you because you will find many travellers with big debts who felt the same way. There are many different companies that offer travel insurance so make sure you shop around to get the best deal that suits you. This will always be the most important of my top 10 travel tips. 

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LEARN KEY PHRASES IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE

It is not difficult to learn the basics of a language. And the locals appreciate the effort to communicate with them in their language. It is fun and respectful. Key words such as hello, please, thank you, sorry, goodbye will gain you a lot of respect from the locals. Please remember it is your problem if you don’t understand, not the locals. Around Europe, many locals will speak English but please attempt their language and do not speak louder to force understanding, a great mime will go a long way. 

GIVE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS A COPY OF YOUR ITINERARY

Let your family and friends know where you are going to be and when you will be there. Just to be on the safe side if anything should go wrong, there are people who are ready to help if you are lost or are not on schedule. It is always safer to let people know where you are going to be located. This is not a sign of showing a lack of independence. It is a sign of safe travelling. Check in with family and friends through Skype and other systems to let them know where you are and how you are doing. 

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EAT THE LOCAL CUSINE

What better time and place to experiment with foods than when you are travelling. The local cuisine is always the best option when eating out and is a big part of the whole experience. Some local cuisines you may not be able to get back home so make sure you make the most of your experience and opportunities. To find the best areas and knowledge of local cuisine, make sure you do some research prior to travelling. Some cities may have dedicated food tours, therefore, do your research. 

DOWNLOAD CITY TRAVEL MAPS AND APPS

Download maps and travel apps. This was a huge help when i was living in Munich. Being able to know the transport times and having an understanding of the correct train and bus lines are a necessity. Having these apps will limit the likelihood of getting lost. If you have limited wifi or data, then invest in local maps and travel timetables. These are a lifesaver and will keep your anxieties down to a good limit. 

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MAKE A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT AND DOCUMENTS

How many people have gone travelling and have either lost their passport and documents or had the stolen?. It is far to common and the safest way around this issue is to make copies of everything and store it in a safe location. If you do happen to lose your passport you will be required to go to the local embassy and get a replacement, and they will ask of proof of identity. Just like travel insurance, you always think it won’t happen to you until it does. Therefore, be prepared and don’t let anything that can be avoided, ruin this magnificent experience. 

CARRY A BASIC FIRST AID KIT

This is one of the most important tips when traveling. You will pick up the odd bump and cut along the way and you will not want to be caught short. It does not have to be anything special. Just the basics, so you are able to patch up and keep moving. Remember you will want to be travelling light. Also remember that you will have travel insurance, so anything big will be covered by your insurance. Remember the number one rule is to be prepared for any outcome that will not ruin your overall experience due to lack of planning. 

TAKE YOUR CAMERA AND GET SNAPPING

I had to add some photography into the mix. In years to come you will want to look back at a time in your life when you were free and lived life to the fullest. These photographs might be some of the most important memories in your life so make sure you invest in a good camera, and learn how to use it before travelling. You don’t want to be caught short or realise your photographs are all blurry and poor lighting. Take photographs with the locals if they consent. It is always a nice to remember the local that helped you or spent time talking to you on the long train journey. 

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WAKE UP EARLY TO AVOID CROWDS

You may think that sleeping in and not having the stress of having to wake up is living the dream. However, when you are travelling it is the opposite. Sure rest some of the time but make the most of the time you have. The greatest secret of all is being able to visit the greatest places on earth at the least populated times of the day. Many popular destinations will get crazy busy, especially during peak season. Also, heading out early may mean you are first in line for the popular attractions which get huge queues throughout the day. Remember to plan ahead and be early. 

BREAK OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Everyone loves to live in their comfort zone. It is safe and constant, however, sometimes your comfort zone will not allow you to grow and spread your wings. Leaving my comfort zone allowed me to move from the UK to Germany. It is something i would have never imagined doing but i understood it was the only way i could grow and live one of my dreams. 

It helped me overcome my anxiety of dealing with the things i was most nervous about actually never really happened. You are always a phone call away from your loved ones. And it introduced me to new experiences and people i would have never imagined if i did not leave my comfort zone. You don’t get many opportunities in life to travel. So take the opportunity and remember how lucky you are. 

So there you have it, my top 10 travel tips. Here is a list of all the travelling tips I wish I knew before I started travelling. I hope you’ll find them useful. Are there any travelling tips you agree with? Are there any you would add to the list? Comment below!

Nick from blackandwhite1987.com