For thousands of years, people have been quenching their thirst for conquering new lands and exploring uncharted territories. We have quite an astonishing list of extraordinary explorers and travellers who pioneered the art of exploration – on earth and in space.
Ferdinand Magellan, Christopher Columbus, Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Yuri Gagarin, Captain James Cook, Sir Richard Burton, Charles Darwin, and many others have made exploration a household term. And then there are those who may not exactly share the exploits as these notable men, but have similar passion for going to places most of us have never been to.
That is why there are popular boutique hotels and other accommodations in Singapore and all over the world that cater to people like us. These accommodations cater to travellers who wish to experience what it feels like to stay in a foreign land.
But just like our famous explorers, we should also possess certain qualities to be considered smart travellers. Here are five practical tips on how we can travel smartly every time:
Book your flights as early as possible
You don’t want to be disappointed because you failed to secure travel tickets to a much-awaited vacation. That is why you should book your flights way ahead of your planned trip, whether domestic or international.
If you can, watch out for seat sales offered by airlines so you can slash a great deal from plane tickets. You could use the money you saved as additional travel money. Be sure to book for round-trip tickets if your budget permits, so you’re assured of a slot to and from your destinations.
Secure your travel essentials
Make sure you have prepared your travel essentials and placed them inside a secure bag or compartment that you can easily access.
These travel essentials may include, but are not limited to:
- Passport and visa
- Small first aid kit pack or bag
- Other means of identification (IDs, birth certificate, and the like)
- Your medications, if any
- Toiletries
- Pocket money
- Credit/debit cards
- Travel insurance
- Local money/currency
Pack lightly
You should never pack clothes that you won’t end up wearing in your travels. Just pick the right number of underwear, some casual clothes, and at least one formal clothing for that unforeseen circumstance when you’re suddenly invited to a fine dining restaurant or formal occasion.
Packing lightly has other great advantages. You won’t end up paying extra for excess kilograms and you won’t bother carrying unnecessary weight.
Book hotels in advance
Hand-in-hand with early flight booking is securing your hotel accommodations in advance. If you’re travelling during peak season or in vacation spots that are particularly swarmed by tourists and fellow travellers, you might find yourself having difficulty securing a proper place to spend the night. So, be sure to call your preferred hotel and book your room as early as possilbe.
Draft a travel itinerary and befriend locals
You should make every second count when travelling to a foreign country, which you can’t do if you would spend most of your time asking for directions or getting lost. You can easily avoid this by planning your stops accordingly. You may use Google Maps for this and make a list of the places you want to visit, complete with guides on how to reach them.
In addition, don’t forget to befriend the locals so you can better experience the culture, tradition, and interesting things about the places that you’ll visit. Your trip would also become more convenient and safer if you have a trustworthy local tagging along. With these five simple and smart travelling hacks, you can enjoy a hassle-free vacation.