Travel Tips – pennlive.com

Recently, your humble local newspaper staffer had what he can only describe as the experience of a lifetime: he gave it all up and took a shot at 11-day solo expedition through Central Europe. In accordance with the law of multiplication, which states that knowledge and lessons gained multiply when they are shared, he intends to translate his experiences for the pleasure and betterment of his beloved community. This article is part four of four, containing tips for other travelers.

Traveling abroad is one of those experiences that changes the way you look at the world and yourself. My recent trip to Budapest, Vienna and Prague. was filled with awe-inspiring moments, unexpected challenges and a few hard-learned lessons. This latest article in my travel series is full of practical tips for anyone planning to set off on their own adventure, from dodging tourist traps to learning how to avoid ruining your stomach on day one. Consider this your roadmap to making the most of your next trip without the headaches I encountered along the way.

First, hydration. “Drink or die,” I was told many times during my time in the Marine Corps, but I didn’t pay much attention to this advice at the beginning of the trip. Flights are more drying than you’d expect, and the tiny cups of water handed out by flight attendants aren’t enough. Try to bring your own reusable water bottle and be careful with foods and drinks that cause dehydration, such as alcohol, caffeine, sugar, salt, etc. If you choose to participate, keep water running and take your time.

• More: Stage II: Travel from Budapest to Vienna, Austria.

Good walking shoes are a must, but don’t be afraid to use public transport. Public transport in many European countries is convenient and makes it easy, quick and cheap to get you where you’re going. Don’t be afraid to walk if public transport takes a while. Google Maps can help you estimate the time it will take to walk versus take public transportation. If you decide to use public transport, Google Maps will help you get to a transit stop, tell you which line to take and which stop to get off at.

Don’t be afraid to visit local places. Try to learn basic politenesses in the local language, such as “hello”, “goodbye”, “thank you”, “please”, “help”. Also, Google Translate is a godsend. Be careful of areas that are clearly overrun with tourists, as there are many tourist traps to look out for. I’ve found a quick way to figure out if a place is worth visiting is to look up your location on Google Maps, find the business on the map, and read reviews. Thanks to this I saved a lot of money.

When planning your trip, be careful not to overcrowd your itinerary, especially in the first few days of your trip. So many unexpected problems can arise, and if your route doesn’t allow for time or detours, you’re in for a bad time. At each destination I had a few key spots and I told myself that I would be content if I only saw those and the rest of the time I was free to adapt, explore and go on whatever adventure I came across.

The main joy I experienced throughout this entire trip was the sheer pleasure of wandering through these cities while listening to the right music. My headphones were my best friends on this trip and they accompanied me everywhere. Whether it’s walking the bustling streets of Budapest to Hungarian gypsy funk or the cobblestone streets of Prague to the sounds of Dvorak, music enhances the experience more than I can explain. I struggle with crowds sometimes, and having my music shut out everything else has also helped me a lot with social anxiety.

Speaking of social anxiety, I have to say don’t be afraid to make new connections. I have had so many pleasant conversations with so many people from different places just because I had the courage to break the ice. If you’re traveling alone, don’t be afraid to ask someone to take a photo of you in front of a landmark or comment on how impressive something is to your fellow tourists. I also had the wonderful experience of staying with a host in his home and thought it was a wonderful feeling to be welcomed by a host to a city I had never been to. In fact, from then on I started writing letters to and from my former master as pen pals. Don’t be afraid to seek out personal connections while on vacation.

If you have dietary restrictions like I do, be sure to do a little research beforehand. Get an idea of ​​what local foods fit your diet and learn to communicate your restrictions in the local language. If you’re struggling to find restaurants that can accommodate your dietary needs, consider going to your local grocery store or grocery store to stock up on what you can eat. Tipping customs also vary depending on where you are, and many local waiters will take advantage of American tipping culture if you don’t know how much locals tip on average. In all three of my destinations, tipping was not expected, but a 10 percent tip was considered polite if you enjoyed the service.

Be prepared for the unexpected. On flights, take any medications you may need with you, including over-the-counter medications. I packed a bag with allergy medications, Pepto-Bismol, ibuprofen, and my prescription medications. In the same bag, I carried wet wipes, a toothbrush, fresh underwear, and a few other essentials. I thought that if I lost my checked bag for any reason, I would have everything I needed to stay comfortable until the problem was resolved somehow. If your flights have a layover, make sure it’s long enough to accommodate any potential delays or queues you might have to wait for at passport control. Try to think about everything that could go wrong and have an idea of ​​how to reduce that risk or what you will do if something goes wrong.

Last but not least: the magazine. Write it all down at the end of the day. You don’t have to write well, just put what you did every day in your diary, you’ll thank yourself later. Journaling also helps you process it all. Traveling to a new country comes with a lot of information overload, and taking some time at the end of each day to write down what you remember most will help you process the experience. My journal at the end of the trip was about 20,000 words and I’m very pleased with myself for writing down so much of the experience. Take lots of photos, but most of all, be present. Pay attention to what is happening and how you feel about it.

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It’s a wild ride. You will waste time. You will waste your money. Not everything will be fun, but that’s only part of it. It’s all part of the experience, and the experience is worth having.