- Guidebooks are fine, but one book will never cover everything in the city you visit. There are two main categories to watch out for – The essential items that everybody must see at that particular location; what is this city famous for. And the great undiscovered places; does the guidebook or internet list the great cafes, museums, lookout or other sites that most people don’t know about? Not every one of these is a winner, but there will be a several worthwhile destinations.
- Contact the local tourist board, and benefit from their experience.
- If there are local lunchtimes or siesta breaks then use these periods to visit crowded destinations. This will be the least crowded time of the day.
- Get contacts with other tourists or people you meet. This is fairly safe today; we can use email rather than addresses, so there is minimal risk of security breaches.
- Travel slow, but get everything in. The point is to experience another country, not just tick off the item on your list.
- Prioritize time over money. You may never come back to this place. And if you do come back you will be spending yet more money. If an opportunity comes along don’t be afraid to spend a little. Memories and enjoying time with friends are worth spending money on. Don’t regret the things you didn’t do.
- Pack disposables. You will tend to accumulate souvenirs when travelling. These can be bulky and exceed the weight limit for the plane ride home. Start the trip with cheap socks, underwear, personal hygiene products and other items that you do not intend to bring home. You can buy these cheaply a dollar store. This will leave space for the items you buy.
- Find a bank/ATM system that works both at home and at your destination, and get a no-fee card that works there. As long as you have the card you have little financial worries. If you can get a travel rewards card, all the better.
- Have one good photographic device and a monopod. If you can post the photos to an online site this will make a good backup.
- Take a scan of your passport and other documents and email them to yourself. If everything is lost you can always get these details off the internet.
- Email relatives at home on a regular basis.
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