What makes traveling easier? How do you find the best prices on airfare? Read these six secrets of travel to find out.
Photo of Secrets (modified) © Amnesty International UK
1. Go with the flow
Making travel plans and lists of things to do and see can be a lot of fun. However, many times plans don’t work out exactly the way we want them to. Planes are delayed, sometimes we get lost, tourist attractions sometimes close. Getting frustrated or upset when this happens can ruin a perfectly good vacation. Always be open to plans changing and accept that this is part of the travel experience. Most of the time, when you can go with the flow of what is actually happening rather than what you wish was, opportunities for the most amazing and unforeseen experiences and adventures happen.
2. You don’t always have to go far to travel
Travel doesn’t mean you have to take two weeks off from work, spend lots of money, and travel thousands of miles. Traveling in your own area for a day trip or a weekend can be really fun and exciting. We so often have our sights set on far away lands that we can forget what is available to us nearby. Maybe it’s a visit to a winery, the beach, the countryside, or even the biggest city near you. You can even be a tourist in your own town! Stay in a hotel for a weekend and pretend you’ve never been there before.
3. Travel on off-peak times for the cheaper airfare
Traveling during off-peak times can save a lot of money. it’s usually cheapest to travel on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday afternoon. If your travel dates are really flexible, websites like SkyScanner and Kayak give comprehensive overviews of when the cheapest flights are. You can also bid on flights using Priceline’s name your own price.
4. Remember you’re not at home
If you’re traveling to a foreign country, remember that things are going to be different than they are where you live. The food is going to be different, the smells, the customs, people’s ideas about personal space. Be mindful and respectful of what is normal in the country you’re visiting rather than judging it and comparing it to your home country.
5. We are all the same
Underneath our different languages, cultures, religions, colors and ethnicities, we are all the same. When you feel disconnected or disoriented while traveling, remind yourself of this. The more we travel, the more we come to realize that, no matter where we come from, we are not so different from people elsewhere in the world.
6. Travel is Addicting
The more you travel, the more you are likely going to want to travel (and that’s a good thing!). Exploring the world, including your own backyard, is exciting and there are so many new experiences to be had. You can read all about New York City but unless you’ve been there, you can’t really know what it is like – what it feels like, smells like, tastes like. So keep in mind that traveling will likely cause feelings of happiness, excitement, and contentment. The best kinds of feelings to be addicted to.
great tips!