Destination Anywhere
Learn about the customs and culture of your destinations. Appreciate the differences, learn from them & most importantly, respect them.
A few basic words in the local language go a long way. You don't have to be able to converse at length but everyone appreciates an effort (and no, shoving your I-phone translator in someone's face is not the same thing).
Watch the world go by in a local park, or from a comfy coffee shop overlooking the village piazza or a neighbourhood restaurant. Ask questions, eat where the locals eat, take a reputable locally run orientation tour – who better to give an insight into their town, village or city, than a local?
Invest in a good guide book and map. Especially in Europe where cities are not laid out in grids, so a quick short cut down an interesting laneway could end up being a cross city excursion. Same thing goes for taking a wrong turn and ending up on the wrong side of the tracks in a vast number of places, whether you are on foot or in a car.
Familiarise yourself with the local currency and the exchange rates. Where possible, have a small amount of the local cash on you when you arrive. Searching for an ATM or moneychanger when all you need is a bottle of water or a quick trip to the loo (yes, in some places you have to pay!), is nothing but annoying.
Pack appropriately. This could really be an article on its own! Clothing aside, take a comfortable pair of walking shoes, a torch (and extra batteries), your required medication, copies of your passports and credit cards (keep them separate from the real deal), hand sanitiser or wipes, a travel adaptor & your chargers. And for me, something I no longer travel without - earplugs!
Pack your sense of humour. The smallest things we take for granted at home, may simply not work the same way overseas. Run with it; it is part of the journey and usually makes for a good story on your return.
Always take out Travel Insurance. It is less to do with "but I am healthy" and more to do with stepping out in front of a bus because it is on the "other" side of the road. You never know what could happen at home on a day to day basis - why should being overseas be any different? If you cannot afford Travel Insurance, you cannot afford to travel. Simple.
Register yourself with Smartraveller and sign up to receive their updates on your particular destinations. Leave a copy of your itinerary with someone at home.
Always put your safety first & trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right it probably isn't.
Travel with an open mind. Embrace your destination. Have FUN!