72 Travel Tips for Efficient and Worry-free Adventures

When I started planning for my trip in 2012, I knew very little about worldwide travel. Sure, I spent 2 months backpacking through Europe in 2007, but I pretty much followed Rick Steves' itinerary suggestions to a tee. In 2012, I constructed a more personalized journey. I spent countless hours reading books and searching for websites on: country info, itineraries, transportation, lodging, weather, gear, food, health, and safety. I was single at the time, without kids, and it still consumed my life for months. It was quite daunting, and in all honesty, a bit scary venturing out into so many unknowns. Fast forward 3 years to present day, and now it all seems commonplace.

This post is designed to be a reference to which you can refer the next time you, or someone you know, is planning a holiday as I've constructed it to include just about everything I've ever learned during my travels to 7 continents and 72 countries. My hope is that this advice will help ease your planning, save you money, increase your travel safety, and most importantly, make you a smarter traveler. So whether it's solo or family travel, a long or short holiday, local or international travel, these tips will help you avoid many of the headaches I've encountered during my travels to date.

Note: Since this post was written in Australia, some of the embedded links may default to .com.au. If so, it might take a bit more effort to locate those links using your country's browser.

So without further ado....

ITINERARY PLANNING

1. Let your imagination run wild.
     The world is at your fingertips. Now, more than ever, it's easier to get to some of the most remote destinations in the world. If you've ever seen some place on TV, in the movies, online, etc., make it your goal to get there. Life's too short to regret not going to your dream destination.

Fancy a trip to the Serengeti?

2. Don't let your finances dictate where you go.
     Let me clarify. There are many amazing, unique, and exotic destinations around the world which can be thoroughly enjoyed on a limited budget. But they might not be destinations which interest you or maybe they do interest you, but you want to go there with a heftier budget. So to you I say, "Don't just vacation for vacation's sake." Just because it's the summer doesn't mean you need to take a vacation with your expendable income. If you truly want to go on a dream holiday, modify the way you live/vacation for a few years so that you can save up enough money for that dream holiday. Those short term sacrifices will be well worth it when you finally get to that dream destination.

3. Get a clue.
     If you don't have any idea where you want to go and/or you feel overwhelmed by the whole trip planning process, let Travel Independent make things a bit easier for you. This site breaks down everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, you need to know before traveling to over 100+ countries.

4. It's OK to follow in the footsteps of those who went before you.

Those footsteps will do.

     I will frequently look at the detailed itineraries of travel companies and guide books when trying to figure out how I want to structure a vacation to the same area. You can always modify those itineraries to suit your travel strengths, but at least you have a baseline from which to get those travel juices flowing. I generally use Rick Steves when planning a European trip, and Frommers, Lonely Planet, and Fodors when visiting other regions. Trip Advisor can also be a good reference. Just know that the opinions on that site aren't always coming from the most well traveled people.

5. Just make sure not to always follow in those footsteps.
     Getting off the beaten path can help you avoid crowds and often increase your interactions with authentic locals. Often, you only need to stray a block or two away from the main tourist routes to make these interactions a reality.

15 of my favorite Easter Island locals.

6. Be realistic.
     After reading the itineraries on those above sites, it can be tempting to cram as much as humanly possible into whatever vacation time you have. I understand this mindset, and don't totally disagree with this philosophy, especially as Americans have about 20% of the vacation time compared to virtually everyone else around the globe. However, you can't see everything. Do the unique and interesting and leave the rest for another time.

7. Do your homework.
     You can only learn of the unique and interesting if you do. Perhaps you want to plan a holiday when a small town is having a yearly festival in order to experience the local culture, but maybe crowds aren't your thing. Similarly, travel during peak season, monsoon season, and certain religious holidays like Ramadan can be real vacation downers. Also consider that many attractions around the world have limited hours on weekends and are often closed at least 1 day per week. Knowing these particular times will help you save money, avoid crowds, limit your headaches, and increase your odds of having an enjoyable vacation.

Nowhere in the world will you find a festival more interesting than the Pushkar Camel Festival.

8. Travel to your strengths.
     I've written this before, but it bears repeating. Just because Paris is a world class city and the Louvre is a world class museum doesn't mean you need to visit either during a trip to France. If you hate cities and museums, why bother planning a vacation to include them? Do what you like and go where you want.

9. Remember your visa.
     The first thing you should check after deciding upon your holiday destination is whether you need a visa to enter that particular country. Project Visa will give you all the info you need. Some countries allow you to get a visa on arrival. Others allow you to get an E-visa online. A select few require getting the visa issued in your home country before arrival. This means you'll need to send your passport away to that particular country's embassy weeks before your trip in order to allow them enough time to process your visa. You'd hate to go through all of that trip planning only to not have your passport returned in time for your departure.

10. Getting shot isn't a bad thing.
       Traveling to Africa, South America, and much of Asia will afford you the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful places in the entire world. Unfortunately, those same places can potentially expose you to a host of diseases that could really ruin your day. The CDC website is an amazing resource which tells you which vaccines are recommended for travel to every country in the world. Many vaccines are optional, others are recommended, and a select few are mandatory. Always carry your vaccination record with you when traveling to countries where vaccinations are mandatory.

11. It's OK to sleep on a train.

An overnight train ride through India might not be glamorous, but it's still quite the adventure.

       This certainly isn't for everyone, but taking an overnight train or bus can be a great way to maximize sightseeing time, and you don't have to pay extra for lodging on that particular night. Knowing train schedules before you embark on your holiday can save you valuable time and money. I use The Man in Seat 61 for information on specific train schedules and station info all over the world and DB Bahn for more specific European train schedules. The Lonely Planet site I mentioned above is also an excellent reference for finding country specific train, bus, and airline websites to help facilitate your itinerary planning needs.

12. Take a vacation from your vacation.
       Having a rest day, free of travel and sightseeing, is almost always necessary. I met a couple once who said they would always end any vacation with a day or two at the beach to decompress from the hectic nature of the rest of their holiday. This way, when they returned to work, they felt more refreshed. Who am I to argue?

Malaysia anyone?

13. Travel in packs.
        If your head is now spinning after considering everything that goes into planning an amazing holiday or if solo travel isn't your idea of a good time, perhaps a group adventure could be for you. While I don't necessarily advocate cruises because I personally would like to explore more of a region than a cruise allows, they are a good way to get a taste of new countries on a relaxed holiday. The only cruise which I've ever taken was for my trip to Antarctica. I used Quark Expeditions and they were amazing. I've also taken group trips with Oasis Overland, Intrepid, G Adventures,
Caravan, and Overseas Adventure Travel. Some of these are budget options where you essentially just pay to be there and then can pick and choose your optional excursions. Others are a bit pricier with less itinerary flexibility. In every case though, all the details are ironed out for you, you meet interesting people, and they're a great way to explore the world.

A trip with Quark could land you in Antarctica.

MONEY SAVERS

14. Modify your lifestyle.
       Think of the money you could save if you packed your lunch everyday, smoked 1 less pack of cigarettes per week, didn't blow a paycheck per month at the bar, and minimized spending on material objects. You could probably pay for a pretty sweet holiday in no time flat.

15. Get a credit card geared towards travel rewards.
       I personally use the Capital One Venture card as I get double points for every purchase and can redeem those points for all travel related purchases. A $100-250 signup bonus is a nice perk as well. I've also read stories of travel bloggers who will sign up for heaps of travel cards to reap the airline miles sign on benefit, use those free miles to fly around the world, and then cancel those cards at the end of their trip without it hurting their credit scores.

16. Shop Around

You could save alot of Nepalese Rupees with all of these helpful travel tips.

       There are a variety of websites/apps out there which can be used to find discount lodging and airfare. My favorites are Skyscanner, Hostelworld, and Airbnb. Skyscanner will always give you what appears to be the cheapest airfare. Usually they are, but make sure to click on the fare price and go through all of the steps leading up to the purchase of the ticket to make sure there aren't ridiculous hidden fees and taxes which make the price of the ticket more expensive than if you bought it directly from the airline. Also of note is that certain airlines, when booking directly with the airline, will give you a free layover in Fiji when flying from the USA to Australia/Asia. Icelandair will do the same with a free 1 week layover in Iceland when connecting two legs of your journey.
       Staying in a hostel will almost always be the cheapest option for solo travel lodging, but once you start traveling with 2 or more people, hotels and B&B's are often cheaper. Other great travel websites and apps can be found in this article Websites and Apps I Use, written by Matt Kepnes, who runs the award winning travel website Nomadic Matt, and is author of the book How to Travel the World on $50 a Day. I haven't read his book, but his website is really informative and packed with great travel tips.

17. Be flexible with travel times.
       Fridays and Sundays are generally going to be the most expensive days to fly. Tuesdays are generally going to be the cheapest. It's not that difficult to understand given the typical work week, but if there's anyway to fly on those off peak days, you could save yourself a significant chunk of money. These 2 articles, though they differ slightly, give a very good breakdown of what days to fly and when to book your ticket: Fare Compare and Hopper.

18. Go incognito.

Who is that man wearing the turban?

      It's a practice that could save you a few bucks when searching for flights. Airline companies will often use your cookies against you. If they see that you've searched for a particular flight and are shopping around to multiple sites trying to find the cheapest fare, those companies might actually filter out their lowest prices so that you end up paying a higher fare. I can't say it's something I've noticed all that often, but it can't hurt doing all of your searches using an incognito window.

19. Lie about your country.
       This does work. When searching for airline tickets on any site, always search for prices under the pretense you're a citizen of your destination country. Also, use that country's currency as your default currency when prices are displayed. So, if you live in the USA and are planning a trip to Australia, search for airline prices is AUD (Australian Dollar) and note that you're a resident of of Australia. I first noticed this in 2012 when searching for flights on Expedia. Flights to Australia from the USA were cheaper using the Australian Expedia site than they were using the USA Expedia site. If you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the Expedia homepage, you'll notice a bunch of different country flags. If one of these flags happens to be your intended destination, or is much closer to your intended destination than where you currently live, search for your tickets using that global Expedia site and it could save you a few bucks. This trick can be used on Skyscanner and any other travel booking site as well.

20. Become a frequent flyer member.
        I regret not doing this right from the start. The amount of reward miles/points I could have racked up by now with all of the flying I've done in the past 3 years would be obscene. I just didn't think I would ever do much more flying after my trip in 2012, so I never bothered getting frequent flyer numbers from all the airlines I used. My wife Sara is the exact opposite. She has frequent flyer numbers from every airline. You're more likely to get bumped up to 1st class if space is available, get free airline food, have access to lounges in the terminals, and eventually accrue enough miles to get free flights. It can be a short term nuisance to sign up for all of these different airline programs, but could definitely pay off in the long run.

21. Double check.
        I recently read that some airlines, like Delta, actually charge frequent flyer members higher fares than the average Joe. Essentially, if the airline recognizes that you have brand loyalty, they'll charge you a higher price knowing you'll still be likely to fly with them even if you find a cheaper price with another airline. Just the other day, Sara noticed slightly higher airfare on United after logging in with her frequent flyer number compared to her search before logging in. It's probably not a practice which will catch on, but search for flights before logging in with your frequent flyer number and it shouldn't be a problem.

22. Just ask.
       Always ask if there are free upgrades. This can apply to car rentals, hotel accommodation, airline seats, and maybe even a free course at a restaurant for a special occasion. The worst they can say is, "No," but a, "Yes" can totally make your day.

23. Volunteer your time.
       Sara and I recently spent 2 weeks volunteering on a farm in Australia owned by a friend of mine. Her family runs an organic farm which is part of the WWOOFing community. Farmers all over the world will pay for your food and housing in exchange for work on their farms. It's a great way to see the world, save money, and do something good for that community. House-sitting is another cheap way to explore the world and this article, published by Lonely Planet, breaks down everything you need to know. It also references couch surfing and house swapping, which are 2 more options to consider for travel on the cheap.

Working the farmers market in Melbourne, Australia.

24. You can use coupons around the world.
       Sara loves using Groupon. So much so, she even bought Groupon vouchers for pizza while we were in Ireland.  Quite the cheap meal we enjoyed that night. During our recent travels through Tasmania, Australia we were able to use coupons from Australia's version of the Entertainment  coupon book/app to save on day cruises and tours. We've also reaped big travel savings using the coupon codes found on RetailMeNot. You might also consider checking with your place of employment to see if they have any company codes for discounts on car rental agencies and other travel needs.

25. Walk.
       Bus/train/subway ticket prices can add up pretty quickly, especially in Europe. Walking is both a great way to explore a new city and save a few bucks in the process. Many cities even offer free walking tours. The guides on these tours are working for tips, so generally they do a great job of keeping you entertained while educating.

26. If you don't want to walk, explore all of your options.
       Frequently, cities will have 24, 48, or even 72 hour transportation passes which cover all modes of city transportation. If you plan on covering great distances in order to see all the sites, you can save money buying these daily passes instead of paying for each individual journey. For larger scale travel throughout Europe, consider budget airlines or a Eurail train pass as the most cost effective options for your holiday transportation needs.

27. Eat a huge, hearty breakfast.
       If you stay in a hostel/hotel/B&B which includes breakfast, eat enough for 2 meals and you can generally get by with skipping lunch, or at worst, only needing a snack.

Skipping lunch is a definite possibility following a delicious Irish breakfast. 

28. If you can't eat enough for 2 meals let your hostel/hotel/B&B provide your lunch.
       And by 'provide' I mean, "Bring a large Ziploc bag and a backpack to breakfast and take as much as you can to sustain yourself for the rest of the day." I've sometimes managed to take enough for both lunch and dinner.

29. Do your own shopping.
       Tasting the local cuisine is one of my favorite activities when visiting a new country, but eating out for every meal can get expensive. I always find it pretty entertaining exploring local supermarkets and farmer's markets. It's a great way to experience new foods, and the money you save cooking for yourself can be spent elsewhere.

How could you not enjoy a trip to the local market when you stumble across such brand names?

PACKING

30. Pack half of as much as you think you need.
       You never need as much as you think you do. And now with luggage restrictions as they often are, no need to pay extra fees to an airline because you absolutely had to pack that extra pair of shoes. Just pack things that can be worn in multiple combinations so that you can mix and match your outfits. You can reference this post I wrote to get a further breakdown of how I pack for my adventures.

If this is what I pack for an entire year, how much do you really need to pack for a week?

31. If you can get it all into carry-on luggage, you may as well do so.
       The airlines can't lose your luggage if they never have it.

32. A jacket with lots of pockets can double as an extra carry-on bag.
        I've put travel adapters, batteries, and countless other objects in my jacket. Add that to what can be stored in your carry-on-bag allowance and you can bring a ton of stuff with you on just about any flight.

33. Pack layers.
       You can avoid packing lots of bulky clothes if you pack layers that can be worn in a variety of weather conditions.

34. Eliminate the noise.
       Whether my travels are weekend getaways or prolonged stays in hostel dorms, I bring an eye mask and ear plugs. There is no substitution for a good night's sleep.

NO SUBSTITUTION!

35. Don't leave home without your cable lock.
        I can't stress enough the value of a good cable lock. I always lock my bag to something immovable when staying in hostel dorms, when my bag is in a luggage room, or when I can't be in direct eyesight of my bag during train travel. Really, there isn't anytime I don't lock my bag to something. There are also travel safes which can be purchased to help protect your valuables. The peace of mind that comes with knowing it would take a dishonest person of superhuman strength to steal my belongings is quite comforting.

36. Get a pack cover.
        I'm not talking about the rain covers designed for the typical backpack. I'm talking about a pack cover that could still be used as a rain cover, but also turn that same backpack into a duffle bag. The problem with these hiking backpacks is that it is way too easy for thieves to get into the bag. The pack converter-pack cover/duffle bag from Sea to Summit allows you to completely encase your bag, use 1 luggage lock to lock the zippers, and then use your cable lock to secure it to that immovable object for maximum security.

37. Get technical and you shan't be disappointed.
        I wear lots of quick dry, moisture wicking, and odor eliminating clothing. The zip off shants (a term coined by Phil Dunphy on Modern Family to describe the shorts/pants combo) are a staple, and there are now a variety of styles available to help you look less like a hobo. All of that type of clothing is more expensive up front, but it's much more durable and practical than your average clothing.

38. Bring sunscreen and a cheap pair of polarized sunglasses.
       A nasty sunburn can ruin any vacation and your sunglasses are probably going to encounter an untimely demise if you travel for any length of time. Make sure your sunglasses are polarized though. The world is much prettier seen through the eyes behind polarized lenses.
 
39. Bring a head lamp (torch).
       Whether you're navigating a maze of backpacks in a dark hostel dorm, camping, or reading in bed, having that extra light source which won't disturb those around you, is a polite and practical necessity.

Typical hostel dorm obstacle course.

40. Bring general medications.
       You're bound to get diarrhea, motion sickness, allergy attack, etc. You may as well be prepared.

41. Pack about $200 in USD, Euro, GBP as emergency money.
        If you happen to lose your ATM/credit card, or you need to pay for a visa you weren't expecting, having this emergency cash can be a godsend. Make sure to stash it in different places in your main bag and carry-on so that if 1 of your bags gets lost, you don't lose all of your money. Note that larger denomination bills yield better exchange rates. Also make sure they're clean, crisp, and of current release (post 2006), or they quite often will be rejected for exchange.

42. Bring something that can serve as a travel alarm clock.
       Missing a train/flight can really ruin your day.

43. Bring a driver's license.
       Driving is a great way to explore the USA, Europe, and Australia. Some countries might require a special travel license, though I haven't encountered one of those countries as of yet.

44. Bring extra passport photos.

That would make for a fun passport photo.

       If you happen to lose your passport or arrive at a border where extra passport photos are required for entry, you want to be prepared.

45. Ditch the money belt but buy an rfid passport wallet.
       The only thing I keep in my money belt is an rfid passport wallet and the only time I have a money belt on my person is when I'm going through airport security. Even then, I only keep it in my pocket. So as long as you have pockets with zippers or pockets on the front of your pants, you're not going to be pickpocketed, so there really isn't any need for a money belt. The rfid passport wallet can protect you from scammers looking to steal valuable personal information.

46. Dry bags are very useful.
        In the name of saving space in my backpack, I keep all of my clothes in dry bag compression sacks. One that can also serve as dry bag is that much better. Again, I go with Sea to Summit. I also have 3 other Sea to Summit dry bags which serve as part of my carry-on, store an extra camera lens, and bring to the beach/carry with me underwater.

47. Pack a positive and adventurous attitude.
        I'm talking to my teenager self and all of the glass half empty people out there. Nobody wants a negative Nancy on their holiday. A positive attitude generally promotes a pretty amazing holiday.



FROM MY WIFE TO THE LADIES

48. Bring at least a 1 month supply of tampons.
       This is a subject near and dear to her heart. Strange as it may seem to those of us in 1st world countries, tampons might not be that easy to find in other countries around the world. In order to avoid a messy situation during that joyous time of the month, just travel with your favorite brand.

49. Cover up.
       Bring a light colored scarf, especially if you plan on traveling to any Muslim country. It could be expected of you to cover up at all times and a light color will also reflect the bright sun generally associated with travel in those countries.

Covering up in the Sahara during a camel trek.

50. A little coconut oil can go a long way.
        If you're trying to cut down on the amount of product you bring on a trip, limit yourself to a supply of shampoo and coconut oil. This oil can be used as hair conditioner, make-up remover, lip balm, face/body lotion, can heal mild sunburn, and has the equivalent of SPF 4. Just note that it will turn to liquid above 76 degrees F (25 degrees C). Store it accordingly so that it doesn't leak all over your bag at higher temperatures.


PHOTOGRAPHY

51. Know your camera.
       So long as you're not using an iPad for a camera, I don't care what kind of camera you use. Just know how to use it. Experiment with the different features before you leave on your holiday so that you can take the best pictures possible with whatever camera you use.

Please don't be one of these people.

52. Bring extra batteries and memory cards.
       Goes without saying, really. You don't want to run out of memory and power. Also to consider is that cold temperatures and high altitude can cause camera batteries to drain quicker than usual. A compact external hard drive and memory stick are also useful additional storage devices. Pack accordingly.

53. Make your camera usable underwater.
        If you only want 1 camera which takes good pictures in all environments, there are a variety of cameras on the market such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5 and the Olympus Tough tg 3 which are shockproof, waterproof to varying depths, cold resistant, dustproof, etc. We have been using the Lumix on this trip and have been more than satisfied. If you don't want to buy a new camera, many different waterproof casings exist which could turn your current camera into a waterproof/underwater camera.

54. A tiny little rice bag can provide extreme peace of mind.
       Perhaps you don't heed my above advice and your camera takes an unwanted plunge into the water. Or maybe you have the issue of moisture getting trapped inside your camera due to frequent trips between air conditioned and humid environments. A tiny cloth bag stuffed with rice can help this moisture issue and possibly keep your camera from being rendered useless.

55. What's your sign?
       Ever look back at your photos and forget what it is you photographed? To avoid future confusion, take pictures of all the signs that identify what you're photographing.

56. Ask permission.
       You should always try to take people pictures on your adventures. Those images always help to make a photo album more interesting than just staring at pictures you could find online. If people see that you're wanting to photograph them, just ask for their permission before capturing those images. Most of the time they won't mind, but you don't want to create an incident by photographing someone without their permission.

The family of this particular Tanzanian girl gave us permission to take as many photographs as we wished while we were guests in their home.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

57. Register your itinerary the with Dept. of State.
        If you register your itinerary in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), you'll get warnings about any dangerous situations which could pose a threat to your safety when traveling.

58. Buy travel insurance.
        If you plan on traveling for an extended period of time, basic travel insurance is essential. I use Travel Guard, but there are plenty of options available to you.

59. Don't be stupid.
       Walking around at night in sketchy areas isn't something you'd do at home, so don't do it when traveling either.

60. Keep your head on a swivel.
       Rules of the road seem not to exist in many countries. Pedestrians don't always have the right of way, motorbikes are ridden on the sidewalks, and some countries even drive on the wrong side of the road. To ensure your safety, make sure to look in every direction possible when doing just about anything.

It can be a bit dicey getting stuck in the middle of a busy Chinese intersection.

61. Carry toilet paper and hand sanitizer with you at all times.
       Very often you will find yourself out and about and really have to go. Don't leave it to chance toilet paper will be provided for you. Same goes for hand soap.

This outdoor Tibetan 'toilet' is reason enough to never leave home without carrying some extra toilet paper.

62. Turn that bottled water upside down.
       Certain countries with sub standard water supply have been known to reuse empty bottles, fill them with contaminated water, and pass it off as a new bottle of water. Turn your bottle upside down before drinking. If it drips, you know you just purchased a reused bottle. You should also ask restaurants in those regions whether they use filtered water when preparing the foods they serve. Eat elsewhere if they don't.

63. Eat all the street food you want.

Delicious skewers enjoyed during a food walking tour in Xian, China. 

       Street food is amazing. It's generally a cheap way to experience unique local cuisine. Indulge as much as you wish, but be smart about it. If someone is serving fish or poultry and it seems like its been sitting out all day, you might might want to steer clear.


MISCELLANEOUS

64. Leave copies of all documents (passport, credit/ATM card) with someone at home.
       Lots of things can happen on the road. Passports and bags get lost, you get robbed, arrested, etc. If for any reason authorities, consulates, credit card companies etc. need verification of documents of which you're no longer in possession, make sure you, and someone at home, have photocopies for when you're in a pinch. Storing them on Google Drive is another option. Bear in mind though, some countries (China) have banned access to Google and Gmail by association. Consider having an alternate email address if your travels take you there. You should also consider legally delegating someone as power of attorney to act on your behalf should an unfortunate health crisis occur.

65. Let your bank/credit card companies know your plans.
       You don't want them to block transactions and purchases because they see activity in foreign countries. A simple call to those companies before you leave can eliminate many potential headaches. You should also request a PIN number to use for credit card purchases. Most foreign countries now use chip cards which don't require signatures. For whatever reason, the USA has yet to adopt this technology and I've had quite a few instances where my purchases would've been denied if not for obtaining a PIN number before the trip.

66. Money talks
       Always look to see that your ATM card is compatible with every machine you decide to use. There are some machines, and I can speak to this first hand, which will eat your card if it's not compatible. That is a very lonely feeling to avoid at all costs. When you do get money out of the machine, get an amount out which will force the machine to give you some smaller bills ($490 instead of $500). Many vendors, eateries, buses, and taxi drivers simply don't carry change and small bills, so make sure that you do.

67. Learn a little of the language.
       The English language is spoken all around the world these days, but learning a little of the local language can still go a long way. The locals will absolutely love that you're trying to speak their native tongue. Those personal interactions, and the smiles which result, always enhance the travel experience. Whether trying to speak their language or hoping they speak English, keep it simple though, and only use 1-word phrases when speaking to non-native English speakers. If you ask, "Where is the nearest toilet," you'll get nothing but quizzical stares. If you simply say, "Toilet," you might actually get directed to the nearest toilet. Demonstrating universal signs and picture pointing are also effective communication techniques.

So easy to speak and read the Welsh language.

68. Be patient/conform and adapt.
       Stuff is gonna happen. Don't let it ruin your vacation. Also remember that when you're in a foreign land it's important to conform to all of their traditions and customs. Whether you like it or not, you're an ambassador for your home country when you travel. Make sure you leave a good impression.

69. Taxi drivers are clueless.
       They often don't know where they're going, so make sure you do. Get someone who speaks your language and the local language to write down or translate all the necessary info (address, phone number) which will assist the driver. Since we aren't traveling with our smartphones, we take pictures of all the important info in the local language so that the taxi drivers can read it before driving us. Also make sure to agree upon a price before entering the vehicle as their meters never work.

70. Bargaining is encouraged but it's also OK to say, "No."
       As annoying as it to haggle for every dollar when purchasing souvenirs, food, haircuts, and the fare for a taxi ride, the practice of haggling is encouraged in many cultures. Even if you're bargaining to lower the price from $3 to $2, that's OK, because you shouldn't be getting ripped off no matter how small the difference. Just know that you're always getting ripped off with whatever price they initially quote you. Haggle for a price you feel is reasonable and be prepared to pay for the agreed upon price once you reach a consensus. If you never get to that price, it's OK to say, "No," and walk away.

71. Travel young.
        I promise I'm not an ageist, but you can just do more stuff when you're younger and healthier. You're more likely to take on a challenging hike, learn something about yourself, and learn valuable life lessons which can shape the way you live the rest of your life.

72. Be spontaneous and willing to go where the wind blows.

The wind blew pretty strong that night.

       Don't always stick to your predetermined itinerary. It's great to want to see and do everything you planned before leaving on holiday, but sometimes the most memorable adventures are the unplanned ones. I hope all of you have memorable 2015 holidays. Cheers.