Important Travel Rules and Tips
By NomadicMatt | Published: August 31, 2009
After you’ve been traveling for awhile, you pick up some handy tips that you wouldn’t have known otherwise. These little written and unwritten rules help you navigate the road, blend in, save money, and not offend the locals. Here are some rules for travel that I wish I had known when I started:
Learn Some Local Phrases- You don’t need to master the language but learning a few phrases will show some interest, bring a smile to a locals face, and get you a much friendlier response.
Squat Toilets are OK- Squat toilets are used around the world. Don’t be scared by them. Just remember to hover well.
Avoid Using Your Left Hand- In many parts of the world, the left hand is used to wipe after using the above toilet. Using the left to shake hands, eat, or do whatever can be seen as dirty. Avoid using it in some parts of the world.
Tip According to Local Practices- Not everywhere in the world tips. Tips according to the way the locals do. Sometimes it can be insulting if you leave money.
It’s O.K. to Make Return Visits- Just don’t make it the only place you visit. I’ve been to Holland five times in the last three years. But I’ve been elsewhere too. To go to a place 100 times and exclude everywhere else is foolish. There are a lot of good places in the world. I know you have your likes but give the other places a chance too.
Don’t Claim to be an Expert- No matter how many times you’ve been to Paris, unless you’ve lived there for a long time, you are not an expert. You just know more than others.
Travel Alone- Traveling alone is something everyone should do once. You’ll learn more about yourself in than any other time in your life.
Take Cash- Credit cards are not accepted everywhere and, in many parts of the world, there is a 3% service charge on top of what your company may charge. Don’t get too tied to plastic.
Avoid Money Changers- ATMs give much better rates than the exchange bureaus you see in airports or around cities.
Always Visit Tourist Information Centers- These offices know all the information in the city, know what is going on, and usually have some discounts available. Don’t skip them.
Don’t Live by Your Guidebook- Take the information in guidebooks with a grain of salt. It’s a bit dated by the time the book hits the shelves, the prices can be a bit off, and many restaurants and hostels aren’t even in them. Use them just as basic guide, not as a bible.
Locals are Happy to Help- Don’t be afraid to ask strangers for help. If you don’t speak the language, there are plenty of ways to get across what you need. People are generally good and will always help you if you are in trouble. You can always count on the kindness of strangers right?
Take All the Random Invites and Excursions- The random trips you take with the random people you meet will be remembered more than anything you planned for months.
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I’m a well-travelled traveller, and I made the mistake of travelling with a cousin who hated the local custom, way of life, mannerisms, and layouts of many cities, refused to ask directions or interact with locals in any form, claimed to be the expert, forcibly tipped where tipping wasn’t appropriate ( well, made ME tip with my money, claiming to be the expert on tipping customs she was) and generally, I don’t think she had half the fun I did. Her miserable attitude put people off, but I, despite her, had a blast.
Fantastic tips, even for seasoned travelers! The only one I semi-disagree with is making return trips to places you love. If you find a special place that really enchants you…then you should return as often as you can. For me, that’s Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The trick to success with squat toilets is center of gravity – keep it low. Really low. The back of your thighs should be resting against the back of your calves. Such a great lower body workout!
When I got that tip on the road in Asia last year, somewhere around China or Nepal, it made an immediate difference in my confidence using the holes in the ground. Suddenly camp toilets dug from sand or soil were no big deal.
In the cultures where squat toilets are popular…it is considered a more sanitary option than laying your butt down on a public toilet seat. And I also realized they make a great point with that argument.
Good Tips! What was it Kurt Vonnegut said?
“Unexpected travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.”
It’s so true the most random excursions often make the best memories.
I agree.
Some of my best experiences are random, spur-of-the-moment trips into the semi-unknown.
But planning is vital so I don’t get too lost and spend extra money trying to get myself out of a fix.
I agree. Taking cash is one of the most important preparation any traveler would not forget. This is also very important if you’re traveling on a remote area.
The left hand thing sucks when you’re left-handed!
I am NOT looking forward to squat toilets. Great tips!
Great advice…Wish I would have had this info when my wife and I visited Cairo in April!
These are some great tips. Fully agree with not going by the book. Just yesterday, we are in Kataisi, Georgia, we went to these caves only 15 km outside the city and they were amazing – and amazingly – not in the guidebook. It is best to ask at the hostel or where you are staying what you should see in the city and surrounding area.
These are really great tips. But as one commenter already pointed
out the left-handed thing sucks especially since I’m left-handed. I can
just see myself in a restaurant eating dinner and someone throws a shoe
at me…lol
Am I the only one here who thinks squatting feels even more natural than sitting?
Excellent advise! Having used the Squat Toliet in Africa, India, China and in some European cities I would like to suggest if wearing jeans, slacks, long pants, ROLL up the leg material before entering the facilities.
I lived in Paris for a year, does that make me an expert?
It is one of the best places in Europe!!