Traveling doesn't always have to be about racking up countries on your passport. It's not just seeing the sites, checking off the monuments and museums, or making yourself exhausted to keep up with a guide or an itinerary. I've been to eleven countries (soon to be thirteen), and I can tell you from experience that the best way to travel is to get lost. Get absolutely lost in the experience. Allow yourself to relax and let where you are have your attention more than your final destination. Don't be hung up on seeing every famous site a place has to offer. Don't be obsessed with the tourist traps of the area that all travelers flock to. Take a walk through the streets, through the buildings and museums and neighborhoods and just listen. Just look around. Appreciate every milestone, every moment and thank God for the opportunity to see, uncensored, how another part of the world lives. Here are my top ten tips for getting the most out of your visit:
1. Take an interest in public transportation.
Public transit is so useful for visiting any city, and in Europe especially traveling from country to country by train (or inexpensive plane) is a great experience. The systems are so different in each country and city, and it is an unexpected way to get a glimpse of the culture. So don't blindly Uber everywhere or stay so focused on your specially bought AAA map; read the maps in the train station and look around. And save every ticket: they make great souvenirs.
2. Travel light.
Don't take your entire life with you. Plan your outfits and take only the necessities. If you plan on traveling a lot and taking plenty of day-trips, try to only take a carry-on of the essentials (clothes, chargers, toiletries, etc) for about 7 days. It is possible, and it makes traveling efficient and effective.
3. Don't go to the fancy restaurant every night.
There's no need to blow your entire budget on pricey meals. Often, you can find good food at a reasonable price, especially in the cities. Try out a street market if you want to be adventurous but not to spend $40; my favorite is the food vendors in the Camden neighborhood of London.
4. Always check the exchange rate.
Currency is pretty simple in the European Union, but some places do not have the Euro, and it's important to remember what they are (the United Kingdom has the pound, which is almost twice the value of the US dollar). Exchange rates can also change depending on the health of the economy in the country or countries reliant on a certain currency. So make sure to check the rates when you're approaching your trip, and factor in the rate of exchange to your budget, especially if it's tight.
5. Buy one souvenir per place.
I know that when you visit a place you love, you want to have a remembrance. Trinkets, trifles, or a beautiful blouse may catch your eye. But there's no need to go on a shopping spree; you are already in a beautiful place, why go broke when you have something priceless right in front of you? My advice is to stick to your set souvenir limit, make room for maybe ONE pricey souvenir, and finally, take a ton of pictures. Pictures are the best souvenir.
6. Learn a few words of the language.
It's important to remember you are not in your own country, so you shouldn't be presumptuous. Try and learn these few phrases in whatever language you need for your travels so you make a good and friendly impression on any locals you meet:
"Hello/ Good morning/afternoon/evening"
"How are you"
"Do you speak english?"
"Is there a restroom nearby"
"Which way to the (blank)?"
"Thank you"
" Goodbye"
"Have a nice day"
Learning these few phrases let's people know you do not want them to cater to you, and you are not just an annoying tourist, but a traveler.
7. Dress appropriately.
Try to dress for the weather, or in layers if you don't know what to expect. Make sure you have an umbrella, and comfortable, versatile shoes. Do NOT wear white sneakers, floppy hats, or a ton of t shirts if you want to not seem like a tourist. To err on the side of safety, dress in a comfortably casual, but classy way. Also, if you are traveling to a place where you may walk into many churches, do not dress scantily, and cover your shoulders with a scarf or sweater when you walk in. I'm not being sexist: I'm pointing out that you are entering a sacred space and it is not the time to throw your ultra-feminism around (and honey, it's tasteless, and no one cares enough to know).
8. Be aware.
Be knowledgeable of any recent dangers or known threats of the places your visiting. Unfortunately, these are not peaceful times and it would be naive to not prepare for the unexpected. And some places have a reputation for dangers. For instance, Madrid is known for pickpockets. Check the news, learn the local police contact information, and stay alert. If possible, never travel (especially to another country) by yourself.
9. Check your check-ins. Know how to navigate the airport.
Navigating the airport is a nightmare, but we need to cooperate and be patient. My advice is if your flight is international, get to the airport with four or five hours to spare. You will be thankful for that extra time when the TSA takes forever, or your gate changes, or you have any last minute things to check. Make sure you have your documents, and don't hesitate to ask for help from the airline workers. It's not exactly simple, but soon you'll be jetting off to great adventure!
10. Have an adventure.
Remember that this is a unique opportunity, and God is the creator of many wonders; and you're off to see one. So don't stress, or get upset, but marvel at His wonder and take the time to get excited. It's a vacation! How much better could it get?!
11. Make a memory.
Be adventurous. This is travel, a chance to do something different. Don't go looking for routine or familiar, take a chance and try something new, strange, different. You only have a new experience once, so live it brilliantly!
Safe Travels, and Bon Voyage!
Prayer for Safe Travel:
O Almighty and merciful God, who hast commissioned Thy angels to guide and protect us, command them to be our assiduous companions from our setting out until our return; to clothe us with their invisible protection; to keep from us all danger of collision, of fire, of explosion, of fall and bruises, and finally, having preserved us from all evil, and especially from sin, to guide us to our heavenly home. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
