Top Tips For Traveling Long-Term
Whenever you are out on the road, you never know what might happen to you.
What makes travel so exciting is the fact that as soon as you step out of your door, you are surrounded by an unknown. I believe that every day brings with it endless possibilities, but not all of them are good or only for the good. You might find yourself enjoying a day of sightseeing in Paris - or you might get robbed in Berlin. On a beach, in Thailand, you could spend an incredible day, or in Costa Rica, you could suffer food poisoning.
However, if you are prepared, you can deal with whatever happens on the road:
Taking Multi-Purpose Equipment
When you pack multi-purpose stuff, you can easily adjust the gear according to changing conditions, and it provides you with a lot less clothing to keep you warm during the day. In order to be able to wear my swim trunks as shorts, I like pants that can be folded into shorts, walking shoes you can wear with a dress, and pants that can be zipped up into shorts. In addition to taking up less space in my bag, I also save money since I do not have to buy as much stuff. As a result, you will always be prepared for any event (after all, who often knows when they might be suddenly invited to a party?!?!).
Always Carry A Small First Aid Kit
I always carry a small first aid kit with me containing a few essential items for safety, even though we live in the year 2021 and not 1921 and we can find modern medicine anywhere in the world. In addition to Tylenol, eye drops, Band-Aids, scissors, hydrocortisone cream, antibacterial ointment, and a small supply of prescription antibiotics, I also carry a small supply of Tylenol. When I need a pharmacy I can usually find one easily, but when a health emergency arises I will be glad to have these items on hand.
Bring A Small Flashlight With You
People don't realize how useful a flashlight can be when they suddenly decide to cave in Panama, when they hike longer than expected and it gets dark, or when the power goes out unexpectedly, which happens a lot.
Make Sure Your Water Bottle Is Reusable (with a filter)
Water is life, and while it’s unlikely you’re going to be lost out in a desert or the jungle, it always pays to be prepared. Using reusable water bottles and filters will not only save you money, but it will also keep plastic out of landfills and the ocean by using reusable water bottles and filters.
Furthermore, you'll be prepared in the event of a medical emergency. It isn't hard for most people to make it 3 weeks without food, but it isn't too easy for you to make it 3 days without water. You should always carry a reusable water bottle as well as a water filter with you, such as SteriPen or LifeStraw.
Learn Basic Phrases
There is no expectation that you should be an expert in the local language, but knowing the words "hello," "goodbye," and "thank you" will go a long way toward making you more popular with the locals. I think it would be irksome for you if someone came to your home and they expected that you knew the language they were speaking?
You will not only be able to interact more easily if you know a couple of key phrases, but you will also be better prepared for times when you have to bargain for goods, order food, or need assistance. Looking at tools such as Duolingo Spanish voice chat could help you massively when traveling long-term.
Use Nonverbal Communication
People communicate both verbally as well as non-verbally, so observing the facial expressions of people can help you understand a situation more accurately, even if you are not able to understand the verbal part. Take a moment to observe the way the individual feels and take it into consideration if you do not know the language or may misunderstand words spoken. I've been able to turn around tense situations with taxi drivers, vendors, and hotel owners with the help of this method. Getting to know the nonverbal language isn't something you can learn overnight.
Keep Emergency Cash On You
Even though you can almost always find an ATM nearby these days, you just can't anticipate when you'll need cash in an emergency. The chances that you may end up in an airport (like I did a couple of weeks ago) with no money and no ATM card will not work are quite high. You should always keep a cash reserve of at least $200 USD for those emergency situations that may arise. In case of an emergency, I keep this amount of money in my hotel room safe so that I don't have to carry it around. If you lose your wallet or get robbed, this will be useful information.
Have Emergency Credit And Bank Cards
I always have an alternative bank card and a backup credit card on hand in case I need them in an emergency. When you are dealing with a bank, you never know when they may decide to lock your account without notifying you of suspicious activity (this has indeed happened to me) or when you might be robbed. A few weeks ago, while I was on a trip to Europe my bank account information was stolen from me. I had to cancel my credit card with my bank, and if I didn't have a second card with me, I would not have been able to access my money.
Passports And Important Documents Should Be Copied
Keep a copy of your documents in case you lose your originals during an unforeseen emergency. This can come in handy during any kind of emergency. The process of filling out new documents and filing police reports becomes so much quicker and easier if you have copies ready for officials in the event of a robbery or the loss of a passport. As soon as I lost my passport, I used my backup copies to submit my police report and prove that I was the real owner of the passport at the American embassy in Toronto. Make copies of your credit cards, your passports, and your health/travel insurance documents.
Carry A List of Emergency Contacts
When something unfortunate happens to you, you are more likely to be able to help medical professionals know who to contact if an emergency occurs. Additionally, I keep a record of my allergies with me at all times so that when I go to the hospital I don't have to worry about doctors not knowing what I'm allergic to.
My hotel room contains a copy I keep with me while my handbag contains a copy I keep in my room. Backups are very important since we can never be sure what will happen in the future.
Make Sure You Have Travel Insurance
When you travel, you should have a travel insurance policy to ensure you are protected when something goes wrong. It will be a blessing when you end up in the hospital because you popped an eardrum while scuba diving or fall down and break your leg. It is somewhat likely that nothing is going to go wrong during your travels, but it is still a good idea to have insurance in case something does go wrong. There is no traveler who does not take it with them.
Research Before You Go
In order to fully appreciate a place you are visiting, it is vital to learn everything you can about it. Get a few books on what life is like where you're going to be and take them to your nearest library or bookstore. Using the same common-sense guidelines that governed the situation where you were a guest at someone's home and they ignored all the rules you set up for them, we must assume that they would be outraged if they did the same thing while we were overseas. In order to ensure that you do not cause any confusion or upset your host, know the basic rules and etiquette so that you can leave a positive impression on them.
Even with the best-laid plans, sometimes things can go awry and you never have any idea when something unexpected will happen. I have learned this from my years of travel and it was an important lesson that I learned in my life. There is no guarantee that you will use all of the items on your list all of the time, and, hopefully, you will never need some of them, but the point is to be prepared when you need them. After all, a scout is always prepared for anything. Are there any others tips that you think could help? Please share some of them in the comments area below.
