How to be a better tourist!
Whenever traveling to a new location, you should always take time to research the location, restrictions, and culture prior to your departure. It is imperative to be mindful of cultural differences to assure that you are not only being respectful, but also not drawing further attention to yourself.
Here is my list of recommendations for being a better tourist!
DO YOUR RESEARCH
Take time to read up on travel restrictions. If you elect to travel during the pandemic, please refer to government sites to verify steps and forms that must be completed prior to travel. Some countries are requiring insurance letters to cover COVID expenses in addition to health pass forms. If you do not want your travel plans interrupted, this is an extremely important step! I cannot tell you the amount of times I have been in the airport and someone is yelling at customer service because they didn’t fill out the appropriate travel paperwork. Please do your due diligence beforehand.
LEAVE NO TRACE
If you are exploring outdoors, never leave your trash! While you should always clean up after yourself in general, it is important to be even more mindful when in public areas like beaches and national parks. It’s our duty to keep protecting our planet, so please do your part!
BE OPEN-MINDED
Whenever traveling to a new country, you are bound to see new things that fall outside your norm. Instead of judging or laughing, take the time to understand and learn. Being a tourist and traveling to a new country, you will have endless opportunities to learn new things, so embrace these opportunities!
RESPECT THE CULTURE
When traveling to countries in the eastern hemisphere, you may find that the attire is more conservative from the western hemisphere. Taking the time to research attire standards is helpful to not only respecting the culture, but more importantly not drawing attention to yourself, especially when solo traveling as a female.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
I am a huge advocate for supporting local businesses, especially when discussing food. One of my number one tips on finding favorite local spots is to go to local coffee shops or bakeries! If you go at the right time, try striking up a conversation with someone in the shop. Take the time to learn more about them and ask questions about the area!
There are countless things that you can do to improve your overall travel experience, but these are just a select few. If you have some top tips, share them below!👇🏽👇🏽