Travel Tips for Happy Travelling

Travelling is an expensive hobby but, an activity worth every penny that you spend on it! Travelling changes you in ways that you cannot imagine. I learned adaptability at a young age since my dad was in armed forces and we moved from one city to another quite frequently. Those travels were compulsory for me, however, now I travel voluntarily -  for the love of travelling. My travel experiences now, I believe, have made me tolerant and appreciative of differences. In my pursuit to understand different cultures, traditions and attitudes, I realize how issues in my mind are so insignificant in the vastness of this world. Exposure to the world outside your own teaches you things, you’d never learn in a classroom. Travelling is not something I would have quoted as my hobby a few years ago. It is something that I started liking when I got married to someone who loved to travel more than I do. 

So, if you think you don’t like it without trying, I’d say give it a try. 

 Balochistan, Pakistan                                        PC: www.ahsanqureshi.com

I save all year to be able to go to a new place. Be it a short domestic trip or a long extravagant holiday. But I do try to do at least one trip every year. It does not need to be a perfectly planned luxury trip. I am happy with a weekend getaway too. But whether a short trip or long, travelling is a luxury. It requires discipline, planning and effort to maximize the money, energy and time spent.

Based on my travel experiences, I have come up with some tips I religiously follow that makes travelling experiences a bit more fulfilling and fun! 

Make a budget:

One reason why people do not travel is financial constraints. If travelling is something you want to do, you need to handle your finances really well. Consider flying in budget airlines and staying at budget hotels. There are numerous services nowadays like Airbnb, for example, that you must explore. Carefully plan where you will stay. My tip is to stay in a central place so that you don’t spend on taxis and public transport as sometimes the money you spend on travelling is more than what you save on accommodation. If you make a budget, it will be easy for you to see whether a cheap place in the suburbs is better or a slightly expensive place in the city centre. I make budgets not just for the travelling necessities and plans but also for shopping. I only spend on souvenirs (fridge magnets to be specific) and things that the country is really famous for and would be useful for me. I know it is difficult to control but I have thrown away so many things that I just bought impulsively and never used. Spend on experiences rather than things so that you can travel more often. 

Become a Researcher:

Read blogs and reviews before visiting a new place to know what to expect. Information is just a click away now. You can check prices online to understand what kind of things to buy and how much you need to spend on leisure activities. Charges of recreational places such as zoos, museums etc are all available online. You can also estimate how much each lunch and dinner will cost to be able to manage your finances. This is not just about saving money. It is about not wasting money and time. 

To do List:

Make a list of the top things you want to do. You don’t have to follow the list from top to bottom but it will just organize you better and you will be able to do the maximum in the time you have in any foreign land. Ask people about their experiences. While making the list, see online how to get to the places you want to visit so that you can wander around independently. You will find other interesting things if you wander yourself and usually the best and most enjoyable are the things that you discover randomly

China House, Penang

Travel Toiletry Kits:

Invest in travel kits of whatever skin care, shampoos or makeup products you use. Never experiment with skin or hair by trying new products in a new place. I always avail promotions where you get travel kits with purchase of something as such kits come really handy during travelling. If you don’t have a travel kit, make your own. You can buy small sized jars from pharmacies and fill them yourself. I also keep the extra toiletries I get from hotels (shamelessly). The consumables provided in hotels are yours and will not be used by the next guest. You have already paid for them. It is only wise to utilize them. I replenish my toiletry pouch every trip when I stay in a fancy hotel and use them when staying at a budget hotel :) 

Medical Box:

Please never forget to keep your medicines and prescriptions. Like a toiletry travel kit, you must also have a medical kit which contains all your medications. If you don’t take any regular medication, keep painkillers, anti-allergy, band-aids and something for cold, flu & fever. I also keep anti-diarrhoea drugs (Sorry TMI, but it is very important). It saves a lot of time and worries during an unwanted situation. Yeah, I am like a walking pharmacy but, that is better than running around looking for a pharmacy.

Gadgets & Wires:  

Find out the plug type in the country that you are visiting and check if you have the converter or adapter. Buy one universal adapter that you can use just everywhere. Make sure you keep all kinds of wires and chargers, plus buy a good quality power bank that you must charge every night before going to bed during your travel. Though more than taking photographs, it is the experience that matters, you will not be at peace if you have a camera or phone that is not charged when it should have been.

I have one dedicated drawer in my house where I put all my travel related things, chargers, wires, travel pouches, kits, (stolen) toiletries so that I don't have to buy new or waste time looking for things when I am packing. 

Plan Your Food:

If you are a selective eater due to any reason like health, religion or personal preferences, find out where you will be able to find the food of your choice before flying. And see if all those places are easily accessible. For example, in some countries, halal food is available only in Muslim dominated areas and suburbs and going there might not be that easy. In such situations, you will be mentally prepared that you need to settle on alternatives like fruits, salads etc and you will not waste time and effort in trying to find food. I always buy fruits, chips, biscuits and other snacks and keep them in my bag in case I don’t get proper food. And I have survived on breakfast and just ice creams for three days in Korea. 

But, do try local food if there are no issues other than the fear of trying something new. I think the best meals that hubby and I have had are the risks we took with local food. Once in Sri Lanka, we asked our Tuk Tuk (Trishaw or Rickshaw) driver to take us to a place of his choice… and trust me, it was one of the most satisfying meals we have had on that trip. 
  

Thaipusam Festival, Kuala Lumpur

Travel Light: 

Muslim Bagh, Pakistan

I know for some it is a very difficult thing to do but, when I am packing, I plan what I will wear each day and keep one set extra.  If I am travelling to places where the weather is cold, I literally keep only a few Tees and spice up my wardrobe with different scarves. Jackets and warm clothes already take up most of the space in the suitcase. Scarves are useful and plus do not occupy much space. I usually just carry one bag with me, a pair of slippers and comfortable walking/running shoes. Unless of course, you have other plans for which you require additional stuff, you should keep as less as possible. I also took a while to get this right. I started by buying only a medium sized bag for myself. I don’t have space to stuff extra things, so, I automatically travel light.


Buy Internet Package:

I know that the purpose of a trip is to relax and you don’t need Facebook to stay connected but, an internet package will help you with other things in a new country. Use maps and other apps to be able to independently travel without having to worry about getting lost. Local people that you meet on the roads mostly cannot help you with your queries due to language issue and also, not everyone knows everything. Apps like 'Grab or Uber' in Malaysia will help you call a taxi and will also show you estimate of how much a taxi should charge from one point to another. You can read reviews immediately or google other information for hotels, restaurants and any other recreation. And anyway, it is so cheap and easy now to have internet that you should not have second thoughts about it. 

Just Chill:

Chill about everything. Don’t stress while travelling. Take photographs and selfies even if people stare at you. Explore, try new food, do new things, dress up as you please – laugh and let go. Don't go wild. Or maybe go wild too!  If you have forgotten any of things from the list above, even then…. chill and enjoy your vacation. You have spent money on this trip, try to make the most of it and enjoy to the maximum.

Siem Reap Cambodia                                      PC: www.ahsanqureshi.com

I would love to hear if you have any tips to add to this list :)

Happy travelling!

All photographs courtesy www.ahsanqureshi.com