So, you’re planning to travel for the very first time… I know
how you feel – you’re excited and nervous at the same time. The things that you
watched in the movies are starting to flood your brain (and Liam Neeson is so
not your dad when things go rough). But then again, life is not as fun if you
don’t travel and see the world, yes? As scary as it may be, you just have to do
it. I am not a very experienced traveler, but after my first travel, then the
second, third, (and hopefully the fourth one before my birthday) I have totally
got out of my comfort zone (hi, room!). And here I am, sharing the five things
you should do before you start traveling.
They are very basic, yet important.
Know your
budget
Money has been my number one alibi not to travel. To quote Jim
Rohn: “If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll
find an excuse”. Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive. You should know your
expenses limitation; only you know how much money you have in your pocket. My
very budget-friendly trip was in Batangas, with so many resorts and hotels
there, we didn’t have any problem looking for the place to stay in, and we only
spent less than a thousand pesos! So, research on the places that are within
your budget. Or you can you join group tours, not only they’re affordable you
also get to meet new and potential friends while you’re at it. There are also online hotel and flight booking sites, like Traveloka, where you can find discounted hotel and flights deal.
Don’t over-pack Believe me, I’ve been there. I was a chronic over-packer who packs everything and ends up not using half of it. While it may be better to be prepared for all weather and activities, you’ll only tire yourself up. Decide on the things that you really need before you pack, check the luggage allowances (if you are to travel by air), and always prepare a big zip lock bag for dirty clothes so they won’t affect the clean clothes. But always, always pack extra underwear or two. Pack less, but pack smarter.
Do the research Experiencing different things and cultures are the reason why you travel. You have chosen your destination for a reason. But before you leave, you must do the research first. Find out every important detail of the place you’re going to visit so you can prepare the things you’ll have to brought with you. Following travel blogs is a big help as they tend to have useful tips and itinerary. Researching is the best way to get information’s. I remember when I visited Cagbalete Island in Mauban Quezon, if we didn’t do the research, we will never know that Villa Pilarosa doesn’t have an electricity during the day and that the market is a one - hour away by boat. So yeah, research is definitely important.
Document your trip The best thing to remember your first trip is to document it. There will be lots of fun and exciting things that could happen along the way, so take lots of photos, and post in on your social media accounts or blogs to keep track of your trip. Bring the appropriate camera with you so taking photos will be much easier. Of course, power bank is a must. You don’t want an empty battery when you’re in the perfect moment with your friends or family. I want to share a travel hack that I read from way back: “Every time you enter a new destination, take a photo of the country or city sign; this way you know where your new set of photos starts and the previous set ends”. Clever, right?
Enjoy the moment The most important thing is to enjoy yourself. Life is too short to stay in one place. Make it worthwhile – travel often. It is best to have your first trip with your best of friends, like what I did. Savor the moment; soak everything up, because you will never know when your next travel will be. Try every activity, the foods, and the culture because that’s the whole point of traveling, to try different things. See the world, because you’ll never know what’s waiting for you out there.
Do you have more tips for first-time travelers? Comment it down below.
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