You'll Get Lost But It's Ok.
For many of us, traveling is a luxury we plan ahead of time and look forward to venturing. Everyone on vacation always looks happy right? The harsh truth is, although there's so much about traveling that's wonderful, it's not always a smooth ride. From taking a wrong turn to dirty hotel rooms, you'll face many obstacles while traveling. Don't expect a perfect trip but there are smart ways you can prepare to keep you on the right path.
1. Google Maps Won’t Get You Lost
We tend to rely on our smartphones for everything these days but don't be fooled–– they're not always the smartest. Apps like Google Maps can be great but if you're in an area that's newly constructed or out in the middle of nowhere, your app might direct you the wrong way. You might enter an area with no service or run out of data which will also make your online maps unreliable.
2. Hotel Is Picture Perfect
Correction–– hotel rooms and accommodation rentals don't always look exactly like the photos. People often expect to walk into the pristine photos they browsed online but that's not often the case. Photographs don't often expose any flaws and photographers are clever with angles, showing the best possible representation and ignoring the rest.
3. Plans Are Set In Stone
You planned it so it's happening! You may have spent hours planning and booking excursions, accommodations, and restaurants but that doesn't mean you're locked in 100%. From unpredicted storms to mechanical issues, you never know what could happen. Your boat trip could get cancelled if there's a thunder storm and the sightseeing tour won't run if the bus broke down.
4. You’ll Get By With A Few Words
If you're in a country that speaks a foreign language to you, you'll probably be fine until you hit an obstacle. If you need any help or directions you better hope someone speaks your language. Knowing how to say "Hello" and "Thank you" won't cut it this time. A lot of us English-speakers assume everyone can understand us but depending where you are, that's not always the case.
5. An Itinerary Means You’re Always On Time
You're late for a very important trip! You might have a tight schedule but your airline doesn't work off your itinerary. Delays happen all the time–– if it's not your flight it could be your train, bus, or shuttle running behind. Even if you rent a car there could be traffic.
6. Your Luggage Is Safe
We've all heard the stories of the long lost luggage. If it hasn't happened to you yet, consider yourself lucky. There are millions of bags being transported every day, some of them are bound to be left behind. Although you can travel frequently without this issue, don't assume it won't ever happen to you, there's always a change your luggage could get lost or stolen.
7. Travel Is Always Fun
There's no travel quote on a mug that says "Traveling will beat you up" or photos of a jam-packed subway train advertising Paris. Traveling is always supposed to be fun, right? Wrong!–– All you can do is embrace the fact that traveling will have it's ups and downs and just roll with it. Don't expect to see only sunshine and rainbows, you may have to trek through the fog too.
8. Reality Looks Like The Instagram Posts
If you follow any travel influencers you're bound to get lost in their jaw-dropping photos of the most luxurious places on the planet. Social media is full of gorgeous people posing in front of a perfect postcard background without any other tourists around. Not only are these people probably taking 100 shots to get the best one, they're using filters and editing tools to polish them up. We're not saying there aren't stunning places in real life, we're just pointing out that reality isn't often as flawless as the posts we see on the internet.
9. Traveling Brings You Closer
It's true, traveling can definitely bring you closer to your travel partner but it can also do the opposite. Traveling with somebody else means you'll be spending a lot of time in a lot of small spaces with them. Traveling together can either make your relationship stronger or make you realize you're on completely different paths.
10. You Won't Get Sick
You're on vacation so there's not time to get sick and everybody on the brochure is happy and healthy. Unfortunately, our bodies don't go on vacation mode and we might get sick. You can do your best to avoid it but you could pick up a cold from the airplane or your stomach might not handle the sudden diet change.
Once we have a realistic idea of what could go wrong while we're traveling we don't need to fret over it. You can make the best out of traveling even with the bumps in the road. There are things we can prepare beforehand and there are proactive ways we can handle situations when they occur.
1. Have Backup Maps
In case you get lost or run into a no service zone, have backup maps handy. A good old-fashioned paper map could come to the rescue when our technology fails us. It's also a smart idea to download maps on your phone ahead of time so you can use them offline.
Julentto Photography on Unsplash
2. Do Your Research And Lower Expectations
After you marvel at the hotel's photo gallery, be sure to check out the reviews. You'll discover more truth about what to expect when you read what previous visitors experienced. If you're using a rental website like Airbnb reading reviews is crucial and it won't hurt to ask the host any questions you have about the place, especially if they don't have a lot of photos or descriptions.
3. Treat Itineraries Like Guidelines
Make an itinerary and do your best to stick to it but if you treat it more like guidelines than a strict schedule, it'll be easier to handle when something goes wrong. Prepare yourself to encounter delays or cancelations and either have a backup plan or be ready to just go with the flow.
4. Carry A Translation Book
If you don't know the language very well, carry a pocket translation book with you, it could save you from miscommunication. You can also download a language translation app on your phone that can translate written text as well as spoken words.
5. Prepare Yourself For Change Of Plans
Sometimes the best adventures happen when there's a change of plans. Mentally prepare yourself for hiccups in your plans that might redirect you elsewhere. It's wise to have a few alternative plans as well so you aren't left to do research in the middle of your vacation. Be open-minded to trying something different or going somewhere you've never heard of .
6. Pack Smart And Label Your Luggage
Prepare your luggage the best you can until it's out of your control. If it's too risky, don't pack all of your best items in one checked suitcase in case you don't get them back. Make sure your suitcase is distinct by adding a keychain or a ribbon, especially if it's black. Always secure a luggage tag with your contact information to your checked bags as well.
7. Don’t Expect Everything To Be Easy
Traveling takes a lot of mental preparation if you don't want to be unpleasantly surprised. Get ready for difficult situations that may occur on your journey such as painfully long queues or getting caught in the rain. Pack snacks and entertainment for long rides, toss a travel raincoat in your bag, and give yourself extra time to deal with any room changes or unexpected delays.
8. Always Remember: Realty Vs. Instagram
When you're endlessly scrolling through perfect travel photographs, remember to do a reality check. Consider what's happen behind the scenes to create these flawless posts. Not everything you see on social media is accurate and true. When you know this, you'll more likely to be blown away at the beauty in real life than if your expectations are too high and unrealistic.
9. Traveling Will Expose The Truth
You'll find out if you're travel buddies for life or if it's this one time only. Traveling will expose a lot about a person and how they handle situations and what catches their interests. Maybe you'll learn to give each other space or do things separately sometimes. Ask what their priorities are beforehand and work out a plan that balances both of your interests.
10. Prepare To Get Sick
Before your trip, eat a healthy well-balanced diet and get any of the required vaccines if there are any. Pack medications like pain killers and nausea or ginger pills and keep yourself hydrated. Be extra mindful to wash your hands while you're traveling but if you get sick, know what medical care is available to you at your destination. And, always get travel health insurance!
