Lessons Learned: What Traveling Has Taught Me
You have a holiday, go on a trip, explore, make memories, and then what? If you don’t take the time to recount, analyze, and learn from the experience, you’re missing out on an opportunity for growth.
Adventure is worthwhile in itself. - Amelia Earhart
It takes time to sit with your thoughts and comb over lessons you learned or should have learned, but I assure you it will save you time and heartbreak in the future. One of the cornerstone blog types you will find here moving forward is “Lessons Learned”. In other words, what mistakes did I make, what near-misses did I learn from, and what ideas and actions did I get right? You can never stop learning in life, and traveling is nothing but the world’s greatest teacher. So, starting here and now, I will start sharing some of my lessons learned while traveling. I have divided these lessons into three sections- Pre-Planning, Travel Days, and Destination Days.
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Table of Contents
1.Pre-Planning | 2.Travel Days | 3.Destination Days | Takeaways
1. Pre-Planning
“To be prepared is half the victory.” - Miguel de Cervantes
The pre-planning stage is a delicate balance. There are pros and cons to planning everything to the finest detail and having a loose plan to follow. I generally land on the latter side of the scale, preferring to “go with the flow.” Due to detailed planning being a very personal experience, I will touch on this topic from a generic, bird’s-eye view.
Before traveling to a destination, ask yourself the following questions:
Where do I want to go? Be as generic (Europe) or specific (Amsterdam, Netherlands) as you desire.
How long do I want to be there? How many days can I get off work? Do I need to work while I’m there?
What is my budget? How much do I want to spend on different categories (accommodation, transportation, food/groceries, activities/entertainment, etc.)? This question might impact your answer to the second question. Depending on your budget, you can determine the length of stay, how many places/activities you go to and do, and how much “extra” spending money you have once there.
Who am I going with? Am I going alone? This question impacts many factors and can even change during your trip. This might also change your budget if, for example, you are splitting the bill with people.
What items do I need for this trip? Below this section, you can find some of my personal favorite items if you need a little inspiration. Here are the categories I like to divide my travel items into:
Personal items (clothes, toiletries, etc.)
Specialized items (sporting gear, instruments, camera gear/technology, etc.)
Documents (visas, driving permits, travel insurance, etc.)
Tickets/passes (plane/bus/ship, accommodation, ferry/lift, entry permit, etc.)
Once you have the answers to these questions, your next task is to prepare. Ensure you have all the tickets, documents, items, money, and time necessary for this trip. Honestly, this is the most stressful part of the process, in my opinion. However, if you plan well enough in advance, the trip will be much easier and worry-free because you have thought through the details.
My Personal Favorites:
Start taking supplements around 2 weeks before you leave. Traveling puts a lot of stress on our bodies; if we help build our immune system beforehand, we can limit the impact of that stress. I personally use Co-Pilot The Travel Brand, and can genuinely say I have seen a difference in how I feel compared to when I don’t take them.
Invest in a pair of noise-canceling earbuds/headphones. My personal favorite are the Loop Quiet Earplugs with the Mute Inserts. Public transportation and accommodation can be noisy. The Loop earplugs are compact, comfortable, and easy.
Find an eye mask that is comfortable for you. My preference is one that has an adjustable strap, cupped eye pockets, and a fuzzy material. Everyone is different, so find one that works for you.
Pack a neck pillow (or wear it while traveling). Some people prefer blow-up ones, but I love this Tempurpedic one that can roll up slightly smaller. I will also use this as my pillow while traveling and bring a pillowcase to put over it for easy washing.
Find a microfiber towel that packs nicely. My favorite is this XL Pocket Towel from Sea to Summit. Be wary of cheaply made towels that wear down quickly; do your research and read the reviews!
If you will be traveling by plane but use wireless earbuds/headphones, get a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver. I use this one by EITIPOK off of Amazon. I have small ears and hate using the free earbuds they offer on planes, so I plug this device into the audio jack and use my favorite wireless headphones.
Buy a quality travel adapter. There are many in the market, and not all are made equally. Research which ones have good reviews, are compatible with the outlets in the country you are traveling to, and determine how many you need. I use the TESSAN Universal Adapter.
Keep a portable phone charger with you at all times. I can’t count the number of I’ve needed to use mine. I use this mini portable charger that plugs directly into my phone, and it’s the perfect size for my fanny pack!
Locks! Every hostel should have some sort of locker for you to keep your things behind lock-and-key when you’re not there. It’s always a gamble with the size and shape of the lockers, but I’ve found the Prosafe 1000 Travel padlock from Pacsafe works well.
As a female solo traveler, I am always looking for safety devices. Aside from my Apple AirTags, I have an InvisaWear necklace. With a click of a (hidden) button, my location is sent to up to five contacts with an SOS message. In the USA and Canada, it will also alert the Police. Knowing I can get help to my location quickly without raising suspicions gives me more peace of mind.
Lastly, always have some cards with you! I fell in love with the game Itchy Feet: The Travel Card Game while traveling and highly suggest it. They also double as a regular deck of cards.
2. Travel Days
The time has come, the day has arrived, and it’s time to leave home for your trip. If you’re like me, the longer you’ve waited, the more anticipation there is, and the more exciting this day becomes. But my biggest tip for this part - make sure everything is packed and double-check that you have everything you need the night before. Something that causes me the most anxiety is not doing this, waking up, rushing out the door, and realizing I left something charging or in a drawer. If this happens to you, though, don’t worry too much about it. As an experienced traveler has told me before, if it’s something you will really need at a destination, you will be able to buy it there because you won’t be the only one who needs it. But, to save yourself the stress and extra money, double-check everything the night before, go to sleep assured that you have everything, and get a good night’s rest.
As far as how you should pack everything, that’s a very personal question. Each person has their habits, reasons for doing certain things, and tricks. Nevertheless, the following are some tricks that I have tested and found to be useful for me.
If packing a checked bag, ensure that nothing you might need in transit is in this bag. Also, ensure you comply with any regulations for the carrier you use (airline, train line, etc.). Generally speaking, liquids go in checked bags, and batteries and electronics go in carry-ons.
If only using carry-on bags, ensure they are the correct size and weight for your transportation type. Also, if you are traveling by plane, try to keep everything you might need in the bag going under the seat in front of you. Sometimes, conditions don’t allow for you to get up and retrieve items from the overhead bins and limit you from getting something you need.
Use a fanny pack! Go-bag, bum bag, belt bag, sling bag, whatever you call it, use it. Yes, they are a bit cliché. In some cultures, though, it is common for locals to use a sling bag daily. For travel days specifically, they are great for keeping your documents, wallet, phone, and earbuds. Keep it close and easily accessible so that you don’t hold up the line digging for your passport and visa.
Download some entertainment on your phone or tablet. Not all transportation offers entertainment, so having a backup plan is a good idea. Download your favorite movie/TV show, podcast, or book/audiobook.
Cash. If available, keep some cash with you, both in your and the destination’s currencies. Airports and train stations usually have exchange counters, but the exchange rate must be watched carefully. It’s common for desks to scam travelers with very bad exchange rates.
Bring a reusable water bottle to fill up throughout the day. You can always find water fountains and faucets (if the tap is safe to drink), and it’s much cheaper than spending $4 for a 350ml water bottle every few hours.
Pre-download a section of the map on Google Maps to be available offline. This is one I learned from a friend, so thanks, friend! Immediately after arriving, it can be difficult to get reception or wifi, but you might not know where to go. You can download sections of the map beforehand so that it works regardless. Here is a link to directions on how to do that!
I also love the Citymapper app, but it only works in select cities so far.
Download the Google Translate or DeepL app on your phone to easily translate for communication on your travel day. Some apps require you to download a certain language to be available offline, so be aware of that before leaving.
At the end of the day, it takes some trial and error to determine what works for you. I encourage you to document your travel days and reflect on them to decide what worked, what didn’t, and what you wish you had done. It’s a learning process, my friends.
3. Destination Days
You have arrived at your destination. Celebrate! Regardless of how much you have planned already, schedule some rest periods. One of my biggest mistakes so far is trying to do everything I possibly can in the timeframe I have, and I get burnt out, lack interest, and end up exhausted, needing a vacation from my vacation.
Take care of your feet. People often think this impacts only those hiking and camping, but I promise it does not. I keep a foot roller ball in my bag to roll my feet and relieve some stress at the end of the day. We often walk far more and are way more active on holidays than at home, and our bodies aren’t used to the stress.
Drink water before you are thirsty. Again, this doesn’t only apply to athletes and hikers. Walking, being active, being in the sun… you lose way more fluids than you would imagine. Help curb heat stroke, dehydration, and headaches by hydrating early and often. Reusable water bottles make this easy and affordable.
Take your time. One of my passions and reasons for starting this community is slowing down while traveling. Resist the urge to rush through the city; you see a lot but miss even more. Sit in one place, listen, smell, feel. Experience the place in all its glory. Slow down.
Takeaways
These lists are by no means comprehensive, work for everyone, or the only aspects you should think about when traveling. But it’s a start. I hope to inspire you to do your own research, ask your own questions, learn your own lessons, and share your experiences with others. Just as I will continue to share the lessons I have learned, you can share yours with this community of like-minded individuals to help others in similar situations. I encourage you to like, comment, and share anything you find useful on my platform and accounts. If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, you will find that’s the easiest place to interact with a community of wanderers. On my YouTube channel, I will share tips, tricks, and lessons learned from each destination I go to, and my podcast will have similar content in a different format. I hope that you find this information helpful and use it as a starting point for your own wonderful, magical adventures! Happy wandering.