Comments on: 12 Things I’d Tell Any New Traveler

By: Joy Winterstee

Joy Winterstee — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 22:20:25 +0000

Good stuff! Thank you! My backpack size has shrunk considerably over time, and I now travel with a daypack, knowing I can get almost anything I need on the road. Other backpackers look at us in disbelief! So, that means two shirts, one pair of pants, one pair of shorts, a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of Chacos. Every night I wash my clothes out, which are synthetic and dry quickly over the back of a chair. Early in my traveling life (early 90s) I spent too much time handwashing my clothes, or looking for somewhere to wash my clothes. Never again! The result of so much time on the road is that I am a total minimalist, with little tolerance for stuff.

By: Chesley Davis

Chesley Davis — Thu, 20 May 2021 17:15:52 +0000

I normally travel solo and love meeting new people. One of the easiest ways I have found to meet people is to sit up at the bar (alcohol or coffee) where other people are sitting and just say hi. Always be safe and watch your alcohol consumption. My best travel tips have come from the people I meet on those outings.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Tue, 11 May 2021 08:33:46 +0000

These are incredible tips (as usual)!
I learned a few of these things while doing a year-long world-trip that started right before Covid hit the world (such bad timing!).
As I battle Ulcerative Colitis and belong to the risk-group, I almost gave up on the plan (though that would have meant staying home for a whole year doing nothing as my unpaid leave of absent at work was already running) because of fear. So glad I pushed through!
Also, travelling during these uncertain times toally changed my way of travelling! I used to plan every single detail ahead and tried to squeeze as much as possible in a short time.
This time, I booked flights for a destination like one day prior to actually boarding and I spent for example one whole month in Cusco and another one in French Polynesia – that’s something I wouldn’t have done in normal times. And I absolutely LOVED it!

By: Kieran

Kieran — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 19:34:48 +0000

One that is never mentioned on any blog website ever:

Make sure you aren’t returning home with no money in your bank account.

How are you going to job interviews when you have no money to get there?
How are you going to pay first months rent and/or deposit when you move into a new place upon your return.

There are many other questions I could pose, but you get the idea.

By: William

William — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 09:26:40 +0000

In reply to Michelle. Great tips for new travelers. Especially the point of traveling slow is the one I was struggling with at the beginning. Would make my itinerary quite tight so that I often ended up missing something to earn time.

By: Erki

Erki — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 14:54:37 +0000

Every point is so true. After completing my first backpacker travels, it’s now so understandable. My moto during the travels were: “know your way, but be flexible while reaching there”. It was okay to change plans, stay somewhere longer or just meet some random people from couchsurfing or other places. Best way to enjoy your travels are with no plans and to be open for every oppurtunity.

GenemTravels

By: Maria

Maria — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 19:27:03 +0000

My partner and I love to travel slowly, especially because we like to do long term travel like you mentioned 🙂 We usually do a program called Workaway to volunteer for free food and accommodation.

Some great advice here, thanks for sharing Matt!

By: Elisa

Elisa — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 15:09:31 +0000

I would add visit places off the beaten path. The best places are off the beaten track

I love to visit places that do not get the big write-ups in the travel books.

Off-the-beaten-path means looking at completely new places to explore, places with a rich history that showcase the culture of your destination away from the classic tourist hotspot. It also means intimate experiences—standing in line with dozens of other people doesn’t cut it, with 61% of people agreeing that being in places with large crowds is a negative aspect of travel.

Elisa from Buenos Aires Off the Beaten Path Tours

By: Eshan

Eshan — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 04:45:11 +0000

Okay so maybe it isn’t exactly true because if you buy a house, it may grow in value and if you buy stocks, you may get lucky and hit the jackpot, but you can never go wrong with travel.

But travel brings riches in life with experiences, learning and making new friends.

By: Jeff Yip

Jeff Yip — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 13:53:48 +0000

Some awesome advice here! The thing I had the most difficulty with on my travels were when things didn’t go according to plan. Once I accepted that it was part of travelling, the stress of planning went out the window!

A couple of things that I think could also be useful when packing for your trip –

• Packable poncho! Great in the tropics and only cost a dollar or so!
• Ear plugs – not all overnight bus drivers turn off their music at night!
• Debit card with no international fees!

These helped me no end!