No matter what part of the world you’re in; whether you’re
breathing in the fresh scent of honeysuckle as the world blooms around you, or
crunching your way through piles of leaves with a pumpkin spice latte in hand; no
doubt you are starting to feel the travel bug come upon you once more.
With the New Year approaching, a sense of anticipation is in
the air. We are filled with a yearning to take more chances, learn new things,
surround ourselves with like-minded people and explore every inch of this
beautiful globe of ours. The time is ripe for exploration – both of the
external world around us, and of our own complex and intricate internal world
as well. And what better way to do that than to pack a suitcase and go on an
adventure?
Whether you’re planning to head to a different country, or simply
go on a weekend road trip down to the beach, I have complied a little list of
travel tips to take with you into the glorious new year that we’re all going to
have.
Go without expectations
Often when we plan getaways, we go with a little map in our
minds of how we want everything to play out. Unfortunately, the more detailed
our map is, the more likely we are to be disappointed. If there’s anything that
I have learned from my times abroad (and life in general), it’s that things
never go according to plan. So rather than bemoan the fact that it’s raining,
or the place that you wanted to go to is closed for renovation, or your friends/partner
are not as keen on hour-long hikes up steep mountains as you are, embrace the
moments that you do have. Throw away
your checklist and plans, and learn to live day-by-day, taking and enjoying the
opportunities that come about naturally. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the
amazing experiences that can come out of spontaneity.
Get creative
It cannot be denied that all of us have a creative side.
It’s just that a lot of us are unable to find the time to express it as often
or as loudly as we wish. Well, now is your chance to let it shine. The beauty
of travel is that you have the time and the freedom to get to know who you
truly are. So rather than spending all of the travel time that you do have on
the things that everyone tells you that you should be doing, such as ticking
tourist sites off of your checklist, make the effort to get in touch with your
creative side. Spend a morning writing, try a new dance class, paint the
beautiful scenery around you, or make up a fun new game to play with your
travel companions. Life is too short not to be completely, unashamedly ourselves
– and to withhold our innate, unique creativity is to sacrifice who we truly are.
Explore the unfamiliar
Too often when we go on holiday, particularly to somewhere
popular with a very rich history, it can so easy to spend all of our time at
the tourist hotspots. I found it was hard to avoid doing that in Europe,
particularly as we were catching trains everywhere, and getting to places off
of the beaten track was a bit of a nightmare. While that was an incredible
trip, some of my best experiences have been through hiring a car (which is getting so much more affordable than my first trip abroad, due to things like the RelayRides airport rentals initiative) and getting well away from the tourist
destinations: exploring the ruins of castles in Frances, finding 1950s style diners
in the desert in America, chilling out in a field with some buffalo, driving
through wheat fields listening to Billy Joel with my family, and finding teensy
tiny little Christmas markets in the storybook villages dotted around rural
Germany. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t make an effort to see the
historical monuments and natural sights that are so popular, because usually
they’re popular for a reason. But at the same time, make an effort to branch
out in the real heart of the place you’re visiting, because you may just find
that your trip is the richer for it.
Meet new people
While I love traveling with my friends, partner and family,
traveling solo for a few weeks was one of the best things that I have ever
done. Everywhere I went I met the most incredible people and heard so many
awe-inspiring stories. It’s not that there aren’t incredible people around you
right now, nor that they don’t also have fascinating stories to share, but
there is something about travel that opens us up. We feel a strong sense of
wanting to share and listen that is often absent from our day-to-day lives. Whether you’re traveling alone or in a group,
make an effort to get to know those around you, and really connect with your
fellow human beings. You’ll be a much wiser and more empathetic person for it,
I promise.
Use your travel time to evaluate where you are in life:
clarity most often comes when you have space to reflect
As I said earlier, so many of us are time-poor and it can
stop us from getting in touch with who we really are. So many of my epiphanies
have been abroad, and everyone I know who has been travelling has said the
same. It’s not just because a change of scenery can give a new perspective, but
also because it may very well be one of the only times that you have to really
get to know yourself. It all sounds a bit touchy-feely, but it’s also true. How
many of you devote some space in your day to just sit in silence and breathe?
How many of you have the time to lie on your back in the grass, pondering the
universe, life and death? If you’re anything like me, your answer will be
rarely to not at all. Traveling gives us that much needed freedom and space to
reconnect with our thoughts and ourselves. So rather than busting out your
mobile phone or music as you trek through the unknown, immerse yourself fully
in the moment and let yourself be fully alive, something that we don’t often
allow ourselves to do.
So, now that I have shared a couple of my travel recommendations,
it’s over to you guys: What is your number
one travel tip? Please share in the comments field below J
(Image credit: 1.)
Comments