Travel Tips vol.1: Before the Trip

If you’re anything like me, it rubs you the wrong way to be called a tourist when you identify more as a traveller. Here are tested Travel Tips, before the trip starts!

As a traveller, I cringe at the thought of being a tourist -

glued to a cellphone screen to suggest where to eat, being herded like a sheep on large tours, paying way too much for bad quality food and drinking cheap macro beer.

Most importantly, I refuse to be part of the mass-tourism wave, which holds no interest in protecting the beauty and support a viable long-term economy for the local population. Non merci!

“To travel is to live” – Hans Christian Anderson

Travellers seek the true experience of a place. We LIVE for incredible fleeting moments which can completely take our breath away. The magic of travelling is in the details, the frame of mind in which we make decisions & key factors that ensure that you are ready for terrific moments to happen to you.

Call us old-school or even hipsters; it doesn't matter. We want the real deal!

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AUTHENTIC TRAVEL TIPS

vol. 1 BEFORE THE TRIP

1. Get a disposable film camera (or two!)

• Pictures are indisputably one of the most effective ways to keep memories alive.

• Photo albums, framed pictures and stacks of pictures are some of the most cherished possessions one keeps throughout their life.

• It blew my mind, once I started using disposable film cameras, how much more relaxed I became about capturing the moment.

• With disposable film cameras, we shift the focus away from being perfectionists & adopt a more soulful approach to keeping a memory of a time and place.

• Another great thing? The actual film of the camera gives an aesthetic that can not be replicated digitally. It’s analog, a real physical element. It's timeless.

2. Bring a travel notebook

• Like many travellers, I like writing down a few notes along the way. I use mine to write down places I visited, people I met, contact info, bars, restaurants, the excellent beers I drank, etc. Practical things.

• I also record ideas of the mind and soul: inspirations, random thoughts, sketches, things of little or big importance.

• Your notebook may become a logbook.

• This may also help recount your travel tales factually.

3. Leave the laptop at home

• Pretty self-explanatory.

• Benefits:

  • Stress-free about your prized belongings being damaged or stolen.

  • Lighter weight for bags & luggage.

  • Keeps you out of non-work mode & out of your daily routine.

    
    
    
    

4. Collect mailing addresses

• Now, no need to get everyone's address. A handful of close friends & family will do.

• Get the full mailing address (postal code and all).

• Compile them in a safe place such as your travel notebook or your phone notes.

• See why this is crucial to do before you leave in Part Two: During Your Trip

5. Pick ONE PLAYLIST & play it on repeat

“Now, the making of a good compilation tape is a very subtle art. Many do's and don'ts. First of all you're using someone else's poetry to express how you feel. This is a delicate thing.“

• During my 3 week trip to Maui Hawaii, someone had lovingly made a playlist playfully called « Hawaii Five O » for me. It was a groovy 20-30 songs mix which I downloaded to my phone (no need for wi-fi or data) which I listened when getting from point A to B; on the bus, in the car, in my room or at the beach. Without realizing it, these songs became the soundtrack to my trip. It strengthened my sense of place & time through sound and music. Now, every time I hear Kinky Reggae by Bob Marley and the Wailers, or Havana Moon by Chuck Berry, I am instantly transported back to cruising a starry sky

  with palm trees and the sea.

• Take the time needed to create a unique travel soundtrack for yourself or pick a ready-made playlist of choice.

• Make sure it has different energy levels & that it fits the vibe of where you’re heading to (literally and symbolically).

  
  

6. S l o w . D o w n .

• FOMO (fear of missing out) is a real thing my friends. It can cause you to run around without having the time to breathe in what you set out to visit in the first place.

• Adopt the wise motto: LESS IS MORE.

• Book longer stays in one place & make the most of it.

• Plant your roots somewhere accessible & explore with full day or half-day trips.

• Resist the urge to try and see all the « top rated » places in a single visit.

• Let your schedule be light & breezy; allow time gaps between activities & transport.

• Trust the journey and may things unfold as they will.

7. Invest in small group Food-Drink tours

• Skip the over-crowded day-trips, filled with tourists operated by nameless companies solely focused on hitting their sales goals.

• Find small-group tours run by companies & people who care.

• Support eco-friendly alternatives.

• Regardless of social media, focus on the few important activities that matter to YOU. The rest will fall into place.

• Must, must, must book gastronomy activities: eat & drink like a local!

• Discover non-touristy, awesome experiences like Craft Beer or Food Tours . Not only will you meet other international travellers also keen on having a great time but you’ll also get oriented for the rest of your stay.

• On these tours, you're most likely to find guides who are dynamic, passionate, have gusto and the TOP recommendations for your stay. Shower them with raving reviews & tips ( if they did a great job )!

• The delectable moments you will share are worth more than their price. Mm! Mm!

These travel tips, before the trip, have transformed the way I travel. I hope they enrich your travels too!

Follow the sister article: Travel Tips, Vol. 2: During the Trip.

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Until we meet soon,

Cheers!

- Bonnie