Travel alone, at least once in your life
Maybe it's not for everyone, I can imagine. So you will not immediately feel comfortable with the idea that you are going out alone. It's ok; I mean, this is not a surprise, especially with everything going on in the world nowadays.
Live every day as if it could be the last
This doesn't just apply to traveling ... but with this in mind, you might be doing that one crazy thing that you probably never would have done otherwise. When I make a foodie trip, I am super scared I will gain more weight. Can you blame me? All those cupcakes, pies, burgers, pizza, croissants ...they only can add up! But that's that! Let it happen first, and then you deal with the issue. Perhaps you could overcome your fear of making that bungee jump or jump off the plane, buy that 40th pair of shoes or donate 3x more in one day. Today is today… tomorrow, we will see what does it bring.
Get up in the early early morning
You will be amazed at the beauty a city offers you when you wake up early and take things slowly; indeed, it opens your eyes and awakens a new feeling in you. The dew is rising from the grass, and the sun is slowly rising in the sky. A cup of coffee and a camera are the must-haves for these moments. Take photos without hordes of tourists, enjoy the locals who have already left the house at this time, and imagine yourself as one of the locals.
Discover the city until the late hours
A mistake that I have made many times myself. Running around during the day and seeing as much of the city as possible. Then, have a quick lunch with a cup of tea and muffin in hand and go again. Happy to hear the clock striking at 7 pm, because then you can finally have dinner and go to bed! But wherever it is so wonderful to enjoy the peace in the morning, you only see how everything comes to life in many cities around nighttime—a bottle of wine on the Spanish steps in Rome or at Sacre Cour in Paris, seeing all the dancers and listening to the music together with the locals. You will definitely find special moments at night.
Buy souvenirs that you keep and that are useful to you
How many pens, ugly shirts, or overpriced mugs and magnets do you have? Ah, no, I don't blame you! I have the same problem as you, and if this collection brought some extra income to the house, well, trust me, I would be rich by now. But I came home from every country and city with something different: a mug, pen, magnet, shirt, flag, or map. So my collection was overflowing, and I had nowhere to put anything. But, of course, if you collect one and the same, I see the absolute beauty in it. But my collection? Oh boy... So nowadays, I try to be a little more careful. A hat there, an old poster there, but I'm really thinking about using it. And that happens a bit more and more ... there are times where I don't even get a souvenir at all.
Meet new people
Be open to new people, different cultures, and the company of strangers. During my travels, I meet the most inspiring people. They tell a lot about their culture and are also extremely curious about the Netherlands or Romania. I still speak to many of the people I have ever met while traveling. Of course, some of them are not, but I have enjoyable memories of that. I couldn't have made it out with all my moves around the world without meeting new people… I'm very grateful to all of them!
Ask the locals
The best way to enjoy good food, drink a good glass of wine, or shop quietly? Ask the locals! When you are in a somewhat quieter city area, you will discover many cafes where you will not see many tourists. If you bump into locals there, please ask about the places and avoid the tourist attractions. Are you at this spot? Perhaps several locals will be there again, ask them about the following location and so on… I'm sure there will be a nice list of local hotspots!
Don't bring too much stuff
Because then you travel much more accessible! Only a backpack or small suitcase should be enough. It is so easy to move around with a backpack, and you don't have to think about where to go with all that stuff. Still, bring a large suitcase? Don't take too much with you, but take a lot back with you. Unfortunately, I am not a backpacker myself; hence I always have a carry-on with me. I bought it a few years ago at a discount, and I am happy to say it's still good.
Ignore the metro
Do not try to do everything by fast train (haha ..) by metro, but at least walk the way towards the museum or the attraction you want to see. In this way, you see more of the city and often discover unexpected, very nice places. Then, if you are tired, relax in a park or take the metro on the way back. I have encountered pleasant, fun, or crazy things so often during the walks towards 'the goal', and I absolutely recommend it!
Get rid of that roadmap!
Go with the flow. How stupid it is that we make tight schedules during our holidays and want to be somewhere punctually at certain times. It's a journey .. enjoy! Get lost just once. Hit the road without that map. You can get there without it. Walk down the alleys you would typically skip (because of that damn map!). In Hong Kong, we did that for the first day, and even though I was exhausted from all the humidity and heat, I can really say I had a more Asian experience than any of the following days.
What are your tips for making travel the best experience of your life?
