15 Worldly Pieces of Advice from Worldly People

You’ll discover that almost every traveler has a suggestion on which city to visit or which sight to see in any given country.

These opinions are always debatable, and super personal. You will also discover that amongst travelers, there are universal pieces of advice– sentiments that we all experience or can relate to at one point or another during our journey.

Sometimes a piece of advice instantly resonates with you. You connect to it. Or maybe that advice means nothing to you at all.

But our brains are clever little machines.

Several months down the road, a single piece of advice you had previously overlooked can suddenly pop into you head and change your experience completely (and I bet you it will).

So, I asked 15 expats and experienced travelers a simple question; “What advice do you have for new travelers?” and their answers are gold.

These are the lessons they’ve learned the hard way, so you don’t have to….

My advice is to learn how to freaking pack. Learning how to travel lightly is difficult but necessary. I tend to over-pack because I want to be prepared for everything, but it’s annoying, weighs you down and I typically end up only using half of what I bring. Learn what the essentials are and go from there. You want to be able to easily pack up all your stuff when a new adventure comes along.

Don’t feel like you have to see as many places and sights in the shortest amount of time. It’s way better to relax and enjoy places in the moment. Learn that you’re not missing out on anything if you get there two days later than planned. Or maybe not at all because you met the coolest people and just cancel all of your travel plans to go with them. The adventures will come on the way, so you should take your time to let them get to you.

Embrace the culture and the country you’re in. Learn some of the local language; even the smallest amount will be hugely appreciated by locals.

Go with the flow. Don’t get too upset if people seem rude or offend because it’s probably not intentional- it’s just different from what you’re used to. Pick your battles; if your getting overcharged by like a dollar for fried bread on the street, let it go. If the taxi driver is scamming you left and right, then stand up for yourself.

Realize that you do not have to always have return tickets- you might not even use them.

Travel solo to meet people. Don’t travel with people who don’t match your style or time frame. You will always meet other people along the way.

When I am travelling, I always tend to spend more time getting to know the natives and their culture rather than sightseeing. For example, when I first came to Berlin, the first thing I did was go to some local bars. Concentrate more on experiencing the place you are visiting and not so much on tourist attractions.

Flights on weekdays are way cheaper than flights on weekends. You can use travel websites to find the cheapest flights, but always book directly through the airlines themselves to get a better deal and more benefits.

Travel with more money, and less things.

You don’t need to be scared of the world but you do need to be switched on. Take note of what you see! Ask questions, be inquisitive, and ponder a little. Try walking in someone else’s shoes because your external observations are not always right! You’re going to see that quite often the poorest people are the happiest and the freest (different to what western society taught you, hey?)! Oh and one more little thing: never turn down a dance or a glass of wine.

Put yourself out there and talk to anyone. Chat with locals (waiters, vendors, taxi drivers)- their advice is always better than “Lonely Planet”!

If you do nothing for a day, it’s ok.

Make yourself uncomfortable. Travel light. Remember that all of your possessions are replaceable. Trust your gut. Remember that money can’t buy sense, but the best way to get some sense is to get rid of all your money. Never judge a book by its cover, but always by its shoes. Adversity is just another form of growing pains. You are what you eat but you consume more than just food. Seek bigger ponds.

Mountains ALWAYS attract a different bread of people. If you are finding a seaside town or city overwhelming, troublesome or scary…go to the nearest mountainous town and it will be a healthier, quieter, safer place!

Surrender to the flow and recognize opportunities as they present themselves. Say yes!

A little story to put this all into perspective….

When I was about to leave for the Peace Corps, I got a call from a friend who advised me not to go. “The world is too dangerous right now,” she said.

For a day or two, I actually considered her advice of not going, because what did I know about the world?

I had no real travel experience of my own. All I had was the information in front of me, and my gut. And that piece of advice didn’t feel right.

It was my job to filter the advice given to me in order to decide what fit the path I aspired to create for myself.

So, what’s my advice? Use your head, and be open to suggestions as they come. Don’t be afraid to break plans if new opportunities present themselves. Be spontaneous with your plans. But at the end of the day, follow your instincts. They will lead you to exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Alexa Weeks

I left my Seattle suburb in 2010 to explore the world. Currently based in Taipei, I write about things I eat, people I meet and experiences worth sharing.

15 Worldly Pieces of Advice from Worldly People