11 Lessons Learned While Travelling
Whether it’s being sick in Thailand, New York or South America, or nearly missing flights due to unexpected celebrations, or realising this is your one chance to do something in a particular place, there are so many lessons learned while travelling!
Umbelle, Leopard, Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary
I could almost write a book on the topic! I won’t though, instead I’ll keep my lessons short and snappy for any traveller to learn from!
1. Travel with travel insurance
Just do it. Whether you are going for a short or long trip, you’ll get sick when you don’t expect it, loose or break something when you don’t expect it or have to cancel plans — you got it — when you don’t expect it!
2. When you feel unwell see a doctor sooner rather than later
Don’t put off the enviable and have to deal with ongoing sickness through various countries. If your insured (see point 1) whether it is a small or big issue you’ll generally be covered at no permanent cost to you. I learned this the hard way. Do as I say, not do as I do.
monkey chichico, volunteering in Ecuador
3. Always bring tissues or toilet paper and hand sanitizer
Especially if you’re camping in Africa. Or travelling through South America. Or going to a military hospital on the edge of the Amazon. In fact, next time I go to Africa I’m even going to look into the female device to go toilet while standing!
Sea lion on the pier at San Cristobal, Galapagos
My new Dutch friend Eveline and I in Patagonia
4. Be flexible on longer trips
I used to plan down to the tiny details of how to get from the train station to the hostel, granted on shorter trips planning can help optimise your time. However, on longer trips — say backpacking around South America, one of the best things I did was keep myself open for meeting people and changing plans based on recommendations. Next time I do a long trip I think I’ll also consider paying extra for flexible flights — you never know when things will come up or become too much and you’ll want to change your plans.
5. Time vs Money
Option 1: Pay the most amount of most and get somewhere quickly to appreciate the time you have there.
Option 2: Pay as little as possible, deal with out-of-the-way airports, arrive at stupid times that you can’t check in and be exhausted at a destination
Option 3: Somewhere in-between. This is what I’ve grown to do more and more. I realise cheap travel is great, but only if you are not too tired to enjoy it and sometimes spending a bit more can help the process a bit more seamless.
Me with Bobby, the baby baboon in Namibia
6. Be a responsible traveller
It’s easy to do things that you’ve never experienced before without thinking of the implications, but I urge you to think carefully sometimes. When it comes to animals consider what they have gone through to allow you to be there with them. Riding elephants and touching drugged tigers is not something to be proud of. Those poor animals have gone through hell to be there for your enjoyment – don’t encourage it! Sometimes there is a fine line when it comes to voluntourism, with this one it’s important to do your research and speak to people who have been there before if possible! With animals, consider why they can’t go back into the wild and if places are doing anything to assist those that can return to the wild. Are the animals even really endangered that they need a breeding program? Are those orphans really orphans?
Leopards, Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary
Atlanta Couple, San Fran
7. People aren’t as scary as you think
When it comes to solo travel it’s easy to avoid talking to people for fear that they could be creeps and hurt you. Pick and choose those that you talk to but learn to be friendly and open, some of the best chats I’ve had are with complete strangers over breakfast or a rainy afternoon in a hostel.
8. Take a spare set of clothes in your carry on
You never know when your luggage will go missing! Always consider one night/day without your luggage, what do you most need.
9. Doing things because you’re there, not worrying too much about money
Bungee Jumping, Jinja, Uganda. Definitely outside of my comfort zone.
I’m a budget solo traveller, but there is always somewhere new to visit and I may never return to experience a place in the same way as I did the first time. I’ve learnt to appreciate opportunities as they arise, take the bull by the horns and jump straight into it… literally.
Imagine someone saying ‘But this is your one chance you bungee jump over the Nile!’ Well, it had to be done then didn’t it?
At the top of Machu Picchu Mountain
Imagine the incredible view over the ancient Machu Picchu City from the highest mountain in the valley — yet the fear of heights and falling crawls up your feet to your brain and tells you it’s dangerous… you may never return… do it!
10. Don’t not go somewhere because you’re alone or scared
This is one in particular for the solo travellers. I was nervous as hell the first time I went to Africa and South America. I’d read so many horror stories in blogs, so much so, that I got out of Brazil as soon as I arrived, because I was scared I’d be mugged or get hurt as a skinny white chick travelling alone.
Iguaçu Falls, Brazil
Some of the best experiences I have ever had were in places I was afraid to go. I won’t readily admit to being afraid of these places, but as long as you have your wits about you, make friends with genuine people, you’ll be as safe as you can be. Things will happen wherever you travel. You could get hit by a car tomorrow, you’re never 100% safe, it’s better to make the most of life than live in fear of what could be!
11. Avoid expectations
Do guidebook reading, research and plan, but limit how many photos you look at and stories you hear. Everyone has different expectations and experiences, just because I was sick as a dog in Ecuador doesn’t mean it’s a bad place to visit. Venice isn’t stunning, clean and white, but it’s incredible with all it’s canals and unique architecture and bridges. Bosnia and Herzegovina aren’t filled with land mines, in fact it’s one of the greenest lovely non-touristy countries I’ve been to!
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzgovina
This extends not only to travelling to places you’ve never been, but also to returning to places, whether it be travelling, visiting friends or moving home. Nothing is ever the same twice over, people and places change, you change. Sometimes it can be best to marvel at the time you had and be open to something completely different the next time.
Sheep on Papamoa Hills, New Zealand
This was part of a monthly travel linkup, so I hope it’s helped you all as much as it’s made me remember a thing or two!
Oh man once you learn that travel insurance lesson you never risk it again do you! I’ve learnt to find a happy medium with time and money as well.
I can imagine! I’m now learning though that my 5 year old SLR will rarely be covered at full price, so it’s more for medical and travel cover
I definitely feel #2! I recently went to Norway and was ill the whole time because I procrastinated booking my doctors appointment until too late, and that was no fun!
Easier said than done esp with language barriers, but it’s better just going to see someone isn’t it?
Such fantastic tips! I especially love the ones about not doing something because you’re scared and travelling alone – it’s taking those plunges that led to some of my most memorable travels.
Yes I never would have seen half if not more of the places I’ve been to if I hadn’t gone alone!
Great tips! I agree that a mix of budget and comfort is great, and that you should take opportunities when you have them – bungee jumping looks amazing! Thanks for linking up 🙂
Cheers! Yes opportunities don’t come around everyday – have to make the most of them!
Nice one Ngaire! Although “Always bring tissues or toilet paper and hand sanitiser” isn’t just a travel lesson for me – i carry this kind of stuff everywhere haha!
Also like what you’ve said about travel expectations – so true, and something I know I might try to do (or avoid really) more!
Haha yes well I’ve become a bit more relaxed with the tissues etc. in NZ, but it’s vital in Africa and South America! Travel expectations are always so hard to manage, I guess it’s about having the right attitude too! Thanks for reading
Great list of tips. I definitely agree with not having expectations and I always carry a spare set of clothes in my hand luggage!
Cheers! Thanks for reading!
This is a great, varied list and it includes many lessons that I hadn’t thought of but are so very true! Toilet roll is always a must and a lesson that one must never forget! Being flexible on longer trips is a must for me too, I think it’s so important 🙂
Thanks for reading!
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes YES!
Great list of travel lessons. The one I liked best – ‘do guidebook reading, research and plan, but limit how many photos you look at and stories you hear’. Also I think sometimes don’t go just for the photos. Sometimes, just soak it up.
Totally. I’ve learnt to take a few photos then just stand and really appreciate the moment and where I am
the last one is hard:)
Sure is!
Great post! So many good lessons here – luckily I’ve always gotten travel insurance and only had to use it once but it’s so worthwhile! 🙂
Wow I use mine every year it seems!
These are all great tips. I am learning to balance budget and exhaustion, and now have a blacklist of airlines and airports I absolutely will not fly to/with, no matter how cheap they are. The stress just isn’t worth it. Also, completely agree about not being paralysed by fear. I say the same thing too about being hit by a car tomorrow – you never know when your time’s up so just enjoy it!
I’m with ya! I also have my own blacklist! On the upside hopefully one day I’ll get an upgrade if I fly with my preferred airlines more often!
I loved reading this and found myself nodding along to all your points – especially number two! I got bitten by a spider in Argentina a few years ago and whilst I hadn’t realised it at the time, my recovery time took far longer because I left it so late to seek treatment. Always seek medical attention the moment you feel unwell 🙂
This is great. Good advice. I travelled to Ukraine and Chernobyl solo recently. I was really apprehensive before the trip, but once there I had a great time. Met so many great people too.
Good on you. I would have loved to visit Ukraine as well, I ran out of time when I was in the UK to go there. Bet it was incredible.
It really was, I stayed in Kyiv which was a great city. When were you in the UK? I hope you liked it. I just returned from Portugal but itching for my next adventure. Do you have any travel plans ahead?
Awesome having the travel bug isn’t it? I was in the UK for 5ish years from 2010, epic travel back to NZ so most of my current trips are rediscovering my homeland… Hopefully skip over to Japan next year though
It really is awesome! Although now I need to consider my next trip and think about saving up haha. I’ve been teaching but after a bit of a stress breakdown need a change. Will be travelling on a budget haha.
Wow 5 years, that’s cool, it’s funny we often don’t discover the things in our own homeland.
Japan sounds great, I was actually chatting to a friend about visiting there but I have so many places on my list.
Budget travel is how I usually do it. If it’s your passion then you’ll find a way even if it’s just small trips. My post coming out in a few days might give you ideas for stress relief trips too! Good luck!
I look forward to reading it. I actually used to think travelling cost more than it actually does. I used Skyscanner for the Ukraine and it was so good for finding cheap flights etc. I’ve heard other travellers use it too.
Yes skyscanner is great! Plenty of travel tricks around for the budget traveller!
So true ♥ love your blog!
Thanks for reading!