You are not alone if you like to travel but get tired of the same vacations every year. There is a growing trend of traveling as a lifestyle. Have you seen any travel vlogs recently? They seem to have it all. Unique destinations and experiences for the right price. What’s their secret for a rich travel experience? We compiled some tips that can help.
1. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
While there is some comfort in visiting the same place every year, it is good to shake things up a bit every now and then. When planning your destination, avoid common touristy areas in favor of smaller towns or similar countries. You’ll be surprised by how much you can discover. For example, on my recent trip to Austria, we traded the tourist-full ski centers in Innsbruck for a good hike to the top of Bergisel hill. The views were amazing, and we had the place all to ourselves.
Another example. When visiting Italy, after your mandatory visit to Florence, take a day trip to Livorno. This small city near the sea is full of charm and amazing views from the fortress.
2. Be Smart When Booking Stays and Flights
Traveling without financial and time limitations is a dream not many of us can achieve. If your budget is important, take advantage of the low season for buying tickets and stays. Some websites allow you to choose “Anytime” as a filter when searching for flights. Then, you can see in a grid when it is cheaper to fly to your destination.
Following the example of our Austria trip, we got great rates by flying at the beginning of December instead of going in the high Christmas season after December 15th. The same with the stays. We booked through Booking.com and got several offers on hotels and apartments because of the “mid-season.” We got the same attractions, museums, and Christmas markets for half the cost.
3. Use Video Sharing Apps to Meet Locals
The best way to experience a different country is by meeting local people. Leading video-sharing apps have social features that allow you to discover local events and happenings. Some even have the option to meet local people.
You can get inspiration about activities and places from videos shared locally. Share your videos to inspire others to try the new places you discover.
4. Embrace Local Tours
Sometimes, if you want to make the most of your trip, join a tour with a local guide that can tell you the inner details and stories. A local guide may know off-the-beaten-path places. Try to avoid touristy tours of commonly known attractions. You will surely find many tours and experiences that cater to regular tourists, all very similar and costly. Try to avoid them and look instead for local guides —many of them even work tip-based—. They most probably will have the best stories and itineraries.
5. Try Local Cuisine
There’s something special about trying ethnic cuisine in their places of origin. You can make Italian food at home, but eating arancini (stuffed rice balls) in Venice tastes different. Or eating an authentic apple strudel in Austria.
Trying local dishes is one of the best ways to get to know a new culture. Even if you don’t know if you will like it, try to taste something new every day. Besides, you can support local businesses. You can attend a cooking class to learn how to make local recipes.
6. Start a Travel Journal
Writing down your thoughts while on the road is one of the best ways to preserve the memories of your adventures. You will likely take tons of pictures from your trip and post them with short captions on social media. But how much can you remember from your trip six months later? If you are not a fan of the old pen and paper, there are travel journal apps where you can add photos and notes and, if you want, print them later.
7. Try Shared Accommodation
While five-star hotels are really nice, sometimes you get a more interesting experience when you go to a hostel with fellow travelers. You can meet people from the rest of the world who are visiting like you. Most hostels will have a communal kitchen where you can cook for yourself while meeting other like-minded people.
8. Combine Work with Vacations
Workations are becoming increasingly popular among people who like to travel and don’t want to wait until they have enough vacation days. What is workation? The relatively new term refers to combining remote working and traveling. You may ask, why work during vacations? As someone who has done it many times, hear me out. If you work remotely, it may be the best of both worlds.
New places provide different stimuli and opportunities. The change in environment may be positive. Besides, being in a new place, for example, working from the beach, can be relaxing, resulting in better productivity.
The Takeaway
In the end, improving your travel experience is a matter of encouraging your curiosity, stepping out of the box, and embracing new opportunities to learn about the world. The tips mentioned above can help you get started.
