No one was born with all the skills of being a traveler; they get some wisdom from following a few tips here and there, but mostly, it just comes from experience. Everyone must have made one or two newbie mistakes before they got it right. Keep reading to find a list of overlooked travel wisdom travel enthusiasts share in an online forum.
1. Download Maps Of The City Beforehand
We can’t stress this enough. Before you leave for your vacation to a new city, ensure you already have an offline town map. Many things may not go according to plan, and having a backup plan is one of the best things. You won’t be stranded if you’re out of cell service or Wi-Fi in a new city.
2. Learn How To Tie The Trucker’s Hitch
It is an impressive and helpful knot used in the transport industry. The knot can tie down loads tightly, allowing you to tighten the rope as you tie. You might wonder why you need to learn such a skill; you have no idea when a need may arise and find it helpful. Besides, what’s the harm in having an extra survival skill?
3. You Can Use An Extra Padlock For Your Backpack
Most backpacks have holes in their zippers that are big enough to fix a padlock and lock up. If you’re backpacking on your trip, you can have an extra lock on you and use it if you need to drop your bag in a locker somewhere. This way, if anyone were to get into the locker, they would have a harder time getting into your bag.
4. Always Have Wet Wipes
Someone shares a comment about wet wipes, and we 100% agree: “Wet wipes! They have saved my minor/medium scrapes from becoming serious infections in remote locations where there is no access to basic medical supplies.”
You can use wipes for many things that have nothing to do with babies. Having one on you without a restroom nearby to clean your hands is a lifesaver.
5. Pee Every Chance You Get
You would think this is universal knowledge, but it’s not and needs to be addressed. It’s not enough peeing when you have to. Sometimes, peeing when you get the chance can make a huge difference.
In addition to that, don’t drink so much water if you wouldn’t have access to a bathroom. We know you still need to be hydrated, but don’t drink too much, and certainly not every five minutes.
6. When Looking For Ride, Ditch The Shades
You can’t be trying to get a ride from someone who hardly knows you while wearing them. Hitchhiking is an activity that involves your whole body, especially your eyes. Someone who hitchhikes often explains that you have a hint of whether a driver will stop by looking them in the eye.
They further share that even when the car passes, they continue looking at it because they know the driver is most likely looking at them through the rearview mirror and contemplating stopping.
7. Your Shoes + Shower Cap = Best Travel Hack
We know some people hate packing up a suitcase when traveling somewhere. Packing shoes? A different level of stress. Sometimes, we must put them in a separate bag, fearing they’ll stain our clean clothes.
Here’s the trick: pack them inside a shower cap. This way, your shoes’ soles don’t come in direct contact with your clothes. Zero stains.
8. Pack Your Kids’ Outfits In Ziplock Bags
All you need are your children’s clothes, large ziplock bags, and tags for the bags. You arrange an entire outfit; we mean everything they would wear in that outfit: a pair of jeans, a top, a pair of socks, underwear, a headband, etc.
Pack them all into the ziplock bag and have an easy-to-assess outfit. You can tag the day they are to wear each outfit. If you have more than one child, you can also write their names on the tags and put them in the bag to avoid confusion.
9. Carry Your Own Soap And Tissue Paper
This tip came about because someone traveled to Southeast Asia and had to learn the hard way that this is necessary, “When travelling in Southeast Asia, going through the countryside, washrooms don’t usually have soap or toilet paper.
Therefore, carry a roll of paper and soap. I learned the hard way.” You can never tell when you would need that soap or roll of tissue paper in a bathroom. Having them in your bag is always a good idea.
10. Give Solo Travelling A Try
Being alone for a while teaches you so much about yourself. The same goes for traveling by yourself. You would be forced to be independent and fend for yourself. It is also a great way to move out of one’s comfort zone.
11. Take Pictures Of Everything You Have
There’s a greater chance you won’t use them, but if something happens, you will have the pictures to help you identify your luggage. If something got missing or damaged while traveling and you have travel insurance, they can also help with the claim process.
12. A Power Bank Can Come In Handy
Having to carry a power bank might be weird, especially when you’re coming from a place where electricity isn’t a big deal. Like most other tips, you might not need a power bank, but having a dependable external battery can save your dying phone. Plus, you can never tell when a power outage will happen.
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