There are a lot of different ways to travel and a lot of things that you need to know depending on how and why you want to travel. Do you like to take that guided tour, because you won't learn much about that from me. Do you like to take a cruise; also something you won't learn much about from me. Sorry, I'm an independent traveler who likes to get myself around and learn as much as I can about the people, places, history and culture as I can while I'm visiting a location. So, here's some advice for people like minded!
1. Let's talk about driving. Do you like to drive? Do you like to take road trips? This kind of immersion into a trip might be for you. There are a lot of different things to consider, so here we go!
What will the weather be like where you're going? This is very important. It can rain and shine and that's not a problem for most drivers. However, if you travel a bit off season like I do and it's liable to snow where you're going, you might want to consider several things. Do you really need to drive for your trip? You may have to, simply because it's the only way to get where you're headed and around the area you're visiting. In such cases, remember to carefully consider the type of car you're renting or if you really need to go during snow season.
How do you feel about traffic? This is important. A lot of cities are traffic nightmares and they also may have great public transportation, so where do you draw the line? We're headed to Pittsburgh soon, and it seems as though where we're going, it's simply more practical to drive. When we went to Porto, Portugal, they advise against driving for both locals and visitors. The streets there are crazy and the transportation is excellent, so we didn't need to bother. It's all about decisions based on information that you should be gathering before you go.
Do you love a challenging drive? My son does. He's a racing mechanic and loves to drive whenever he can. He'd take his car with him to Europe if it was easier for him. Driving the Dragon's Tail in Appalachia, or through the Alps in Switzerland can be a fun challenge, so why not? If you love to drive this may be for you.
Finally, take into account the little things. Will you have to pay to park the car in an area that would be just as easy to take public transport in? Do you want great scenery or do you just want to get where you're going? Time can be a factor. Do you want to drive on narrow roads, crowded highways and interstates. Do you really want to drive on the left? It's all something to consider when planning your trip and there's no wrong way to do it. You have to do what suits you best.
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/driving-europe-tips
https://www.skyscanner.com/car-rental/advice/cross-country-road-trip
2. Should you take public transportation? We all know how much time I spend in New York City, and I never drive there. I'm just saying. It's up to the individual, but when there's ample public transport where I'm traveling; I don't drive. Forget the simple idea that it cuts down on costs not to rent a car. It's a matter of convenience, no matter how odd that sounds.
There are cities in the world where I've traveled that have so many kinds of transportation; I didn't bother to book my own. A lot of cities make you pay to park as well, so why bother? With trams, trains, subways, metros, ferries, buses, aerial trams, cable cars and on and on, if you can; don't drive!
When driving in a foreign country, you may not get what you expected, says the woman who ended up with a Dacia Duster 4 wheel drive SUV manual transmission diesel rental in the winter in Iceland. We managed, but it was a learning curve. You may find that the traffic rules and laws are a bit much, like in most countries I've visited where you drive on the left. Don't forget that those cars are also structured in the reverse of right hand drive vehicles. It can be confusing. Then, the worst part is having to figure out how to get where you're going, where to park, how parking works and you may even have to figure out how a country's traffic lights work. Throw in some trams on the street and wow. It's all something to consider.
I always say that if you can take public transportation, do. It will just be easier to get a card or an app or a ticket and just go in a lot of areas.
https://samantha-brown.com/tips/navigating-public-transport/
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/city-transit/city-transit-tips
https://usahello.org/life-in-usa/daily-life/public-transportation/
3. How to navigate language barriers. I've been to about 25 countries and live in one that never declared a national language, so this has been on my mind most of my life. There are a boatload of options.
You can take a course to learn, you can use an app, you can buy a device, you can hire a translator, or you can wing it. It's up to you. My first tip is to suggest you find out what you're dealing with before you go. It's been a long time since I've been anywhere that I have trouble communicating in English. Why? Because I'm a tourist, and tourist areas are filled with locals who speak English. Travel is a big business and English is popular with travelers.
I was recently in Slovakia, and this provided the biggest challenge I'd had in years. I ran into two people while I was there for a week and a half who didn't speak English. My choice is to use an app. Yes, I use Google. It was quick and easy and they got their phones out first. It's pretty universal to use an app.
There are still situations where I'd hire a person for this job. There are countries where you're required to hire a guide anyway like Tajikistan; so just rely on your guide. I wouldn't always hire a guide and translator, but in a country where you have to anyway; it's the obvious choice.
Travel is fun, but always be prepared. To be honest, I've used my Google Translate more in the USA than I have abroad.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate&hl=en_US
https://www.travelandleisure.com/digital-translators-8785743
https://www.atanet.org/client-assistance/find-a-translator-or-interpreter-near-you/
4. How much culture is enough or too much culture? This is something that it's important for you to figure out before picking a location to travel to. There are those people like me, who will go to wherever it looks interesting to be. We're considered fearless, although I don't really think that's the case. We're just curious. A lot of people don't want to go bounding aimlessly out of their comfort zones.
Have you ever met the people who go on the exact same vacation every year? That works for some. I don't like to go the same place twice. That works for some of us too. There are a lot of things to consider about culture where you're going.
Do you like crowds and mayhem? If not, you may want to avoid things like Holi and Carnival celebrations. How comfortable are you with a language barrier? That might make a decision for you. How do you feel about local cuisine? Is there a huge drinking culture like in Russia or Porto Portugal? Is that place for you? Do you like the heat? Do you like the cold? Are you happier in the city or the countryside? Do you like animals? Are you a beach person or a mountain person? Do you prefer tradition or modernity? How much do you want to spend? Do you like history, architecture, theater, desert, adrenaline rush, quiet atmosphere, or whatever. Study the place you're going enough to know whether or not it's for you.
My husband prefers Europe for international travel and doesn't like to rough it. He prefers an apartment in a city with good transportation and good food. He doesn't like to go anywhere with unstable politics, and he wants to speak English. Everyone has preferences and things they don't want to deal with, so make sure you have an idea what you'll be dealing with before you go and make an informed plan based on all of that.
https://www.wanderingeducators.com/best/traveling/cultural-travel-guide-trips-that-teach
https://bea-adventurous.com/how-to-travel-respectfully/
https://www.afar.com/magazine/how-to-respectfully-engage-with-local-cultures-while-traveling
https://shippingacrosstheglobe.com/ways-to-immerse-yourself-in-culture-while-traveling/
https://travel.state.gov/en.html
5. Make sure you consult some kind of guide. This is imperative. I don't care if you're just getting in your car and going somewhere right here in the USA. Learn a bit before you go. Everything I've talked about will be covered in some kind of guide.
There are several extremely reputable guide book companies. I've used Insight, Rough, Fodor's, Lonely Planet, Rick Steves, and more. All of these guides are good, up to date and helpful. There will be one for you. Do you buy the book or use the digital copy? That's up to you. It depends on where I'm going for me. If I'm going to a foreign country I've never been to, I'm probably dishing out for the book. I also pick up a physical map. I hate to say it, but what if I can't get Wi-Fi or service? It happens. I also take screen shots of apartment information and so forth just in case. I've been stuck. I always have a backup plan.
That being said, there are tons of digital guides that come from locals of the area or travelers who have just been where you're going. These are great sources, so don't discount them. Anything you can find out ahead of time will make your trip easier, or if you're on the fence about it; will help you decide whether or not that place is for you.
There you have it. My advice on these issues comes from decades of traveling. I find that the only way to keep up with how travel works at the current time is to keep on traveling. I find that traveling today is so much easier with phones and Google Fi that it's ridiculous. Long gone are the times when you went in blind and had to buy a local sim card to do anything online. Being prepared isn't just for Girl Scouts. It's for everyone. Don't go on a trip that you don't know anything about. Learn before you go, because what if you don't want to? If you have a Hiatal Hernia; you probably shouldn't go to India and eat the food. If you hate crowds, don't go to Vienna. If you don't want to ride public transportation, don't go to New York City. Be in the know, know what you want, and do what you need to do to get the most our of your trip.
If you'd like to know what I'm doing right now, check out my YouTube Channel, "Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon," that's me!
https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2026
Know what you want and plan accordingly! Enjoy!
