I am lucky enough to have been able to travel quite a lot in my life. The thrill of experiencing new places and getting away from my daily life will never get old to me. Over the years I have developed some processes that I always try to do to make my trips more enjoyable.
- Read a book about where you’re going
I love to prepare for upcoming trips by reading about the place I will be visiting. Nonfiction or fiction can both be great, but it really helps to set the mood and give you more background before you leave. I don’t mean just reading travel guides, but books about the history, food, or culture. Novels can also give you great insights into the heart of a country and its people, so I often read a non-fiction book about the place before I leave and bring some fiction to read on the trip. - Plan at least one physical activity
Hiking is one of my favorite activities while traveling, but if I’m in a big city I will visit a local gym and take a Muay Thai, jiujitsu, or yoga class. This is a fun way to break up the more traditional tourist activities and allows you to meet some locals going about their normal lives. Hiking is great because it gets you outside in nature and let’s you see parts of the country you wouldn’t be able to just from driving or taking public transport. - Make one of your first stops a market or grocery store
There’s both a practical and philosophical reason for this. First of all, it is always nice to pick up some supplies like drinks and snacks for cheaper than at the hotel or whatever you find when you need them. But more importantly, you get to see what and how people eat and cook in their every day lives. Of course, some destinations have famous markets that are an attraction in their own right. But I really enjoy wandering through everyday markets or stores and perusing the shelves as well.
- Give yourself at least half a day just to wander
It can be a big temptation to pack every minute with activities, especially if you have paid a lot of money and spent hours flying overseas. But I highly recommend giving yourself some time to get lost in a local neighborhood. At the very least, plan a walking tour that hits a few of the sights you want to see, but gives you plenty of time to stroll down an interesting-looking street, or stop at a cute cafe for coffee. This would probably be best either the first morning after you arrive, or in the middle of the trip to give you a break and some time to unwind. - Travel by train whenever you can
Trains are by far my favorite way to travel from city to city. They are more comfortable than buses, and the view is almost always better. You can get up and stretch your legs, aren’t surrounded by traffic, and may even be able to jump off and take a look around an interesting stop. For me, trains have a sort of romantic nostalgia, and I always feel like I’m on more of an adventure if I’m on a train. - Make a broad plan, but allow yourself to be spontaneous
I have always found that some of the best travel experiences I have aren’t ones that I planned ahead. Whether it is heading to a local site you hadn’t heard of, trying the must-eat hole-in-the-wall that isn’t in any guidebooks, or just making an unexpected stop while passing by, those can be the most memorable parts of your trip. In my experience, planned activities also usually take longer than expected, and museums and monuments get tedious faster than you expect. So I always jump at the chance to visit something off the beaten path. - Picnics are a great meal to give you a break from restaurants and save some money
While I love hitting up the well-known restaurants and trying all the local dishes, eating out for every meal can get old quickly. I’ve found a great way to break it up is to pack a picnic and find somewhere secluded to have a nice meal outside. Even getting food to-go can be a nice change of pace. But if you are in a country famous for its bread, cheese, and cured meats (basically anywhere in Europe), this could be the best picnic you’ve ever had. - Find out what locals eat for breakfast and follow their lead
My other favorite food tip is to skip the hotel breakfast and go for whatever the locals have. This is especially true for example in Asia, where local breakfasts of noodles or savory pancakes will be some of the best food you can have. But even when I traveled to NYC, I made sure at least half my breakfasts were some random bodega egg sandwich, and I couldn’t have been happier.
So there you have it, some quick trips to make your travel experience more enjoyable. Let me know in the comments where you’re going to next!