20 Countries, 20 Lessons
20 things I’ve learned after going to 20 countries (at 20 years old).
Company is everything. The people you travel with can make or break a trip for you, and sometimes your best friends aren’t going to be your top travel companions, and that’s okay! We have different friends for different aspects of our lives, and travel is included in that. I’ve traveled with my parents, grandparents, sister, cousin, aunt & uncle, high school friends, college friends, and on my own — all of these have generated different travel experiences. I 10000% don’t regret any of them, but there are certainly different aspects of each one which stick out to me based on the company I had. I’ve also gone to the same place with two different people, and I can say the experiences were different (both of which I cherish). Just keep this in mind if you’re starting to travel or unsure of who you’d like to plan your next trip with.
Take pictures of it all. I know a lot of people will refute this and say you shouldn’t have your phone out and you should embrace the moment, but I personally believe in a happy medium. I adore looking through photos from trips in the past and refreshing my memory of that experience. You’re always going to see that trip from the lens of your 15 or 19 or 23 or 30 year old self, and I think you’ll appreciate that perspective as you grow older. Plus, my family always makes an effort to show eachother the pictures from trips we go on, and I’ve started to take pictures of things I think they would want to see. In the age of technology, I think you should take pictures and vlog, and if not for anyone else, do it for yourself in five years.
Write it down. My mom always tells me that she wishes she wrote more down when she was younger, and I’ll be honest I don’t do it as much as I should. My mom is so right, because journaling or even just writing a postcard to yourself can preserve a moment you can’t even remember with a picture. I have a video of the view of the Andes Mountains from the bus going up to Machu Picchu, but nothing can capture the realization that hundreds of years ago someone your age was looking out at the exact same mountains, probably just as in awe as you are. When you feel that, write it down.
Expect hiccups. I’m going to be so honest with you, when I first started traveling (as an adult), nothing could’ve prepared me for the amount of problems I would face. I’ll give an example: I was traveling this past summer with my best friend, and we went from Prague (which was about 85°F/29°C) to the United Kingdom (which, by the time we got to Ireland, was no more than 60°F/15°C) and then to Italy (which was experiencing a heat wave of about 107°F/42°C). We were traveling with one backpack each for 2 weeks, and because it was chilly in Ireland, we each had to buy a sweatshirt (and we got poured on so we felt even colder). By the time we left for Italy, we had to wear our sweatshirts on the plane, and then basically strip in the Rome Ciampino Airport (I’m not kidding when I say I was wearing shorts and a sports bra and still almost passed out). Now, obviously you’re going to say we should have checked the weather, but even though we did, nothing could have prepared us for this (especially because we were so limited on luggage space and we were two broke college students just having fun). Our hopper flight from Dublin to London was also so delayed that by the time we got to our hotel for our layover, we had about 4 hours to sleep before going back to the airport to continue on to Rome. We went anyway because we couldn’t get our money back, and it was nice being able to shower in our own bathroom and not a hostel bathroom for the first time on that trip. We were both grumpy and tired and snippy, but you know what? I had the most fun time on that trip, and all of those hiccups were what made the trip memorable, because we’re always going to remember the stupid and funny and incredible things we got to see on that trip.
Don’t just go to the famous places. Of course I understand why they’re famous and why everyone wants to see them, but one of the most memorable places I’ve ever gone on a trip is the middle-of-nowhere Denmark (a few hours outside of Billund). We met the sweetest lady who hosted our stay and we got to see a part of the country that most tourists would never see. I’ve been to several smaller towns in the Czech Republic, and it’s so incredible to be able to see people in other places living their lives the same way you are but in a completely different place. Go to Krakow, but also go to Zacopane. Go to Copenhagen, but also go to Billund. Go to London, but also go to York. Go to Prague, but also go to Cesky Krumlov. (Yes, I admit a lot of these places are still well-known, but you’re not going to run into the same tourist crowd, and I encourage you to stop at even more obscure places on the way. You never know what memories you’ll make.)
Try the food. Oh my goodness, if there’s one thing I can encourage you to do, it’s to try the food! Not only is the local food probably incredible, but there will most-likely be a lot of food from the immigrant population in each place you go. When I moved to Prague, I had no idea I would find so much Vietnamese food, and it’s so freaking good. Food is a gateway to a plethora of history, and travel allows you to try so many different cultural dishes. It might be my favorite part of traveling.
Look into public transportation before you go. I’ll admit, most of my travel experience is in Europe, but having come from the United States where I drove most of the time, seeing the accessibility of public transport here is eye-opening. When I go to a new place, I always check on the best ways to get around, and I compare sites. Some people may recommend the metro because the busses aren’t as reliable, or some people may tell you to walk because it’s a walkable city. It will also familiarize you with certain areas of the city you’re going to be in before you go. You may also find that there’s a ticket you need for different forms of transportation, or one you can get that covers it all, but you definitely don’t want to get caught with the wrong type of ticket. I always prepare my transportation information ahead of time because I know I don’t want to get fined €50 for not having a ticket or having the wrong one (yes, I’ve seen it happen).
If you’re a student, always carry your Student I.D. or your ISIC (International Student Identity Card) with you. Especially in Europe, students get soooo many things discounted (generally anyone under 26 does). Transport, food, site tickets, events, sometimes even clothes. Before you go somewhere, look into what your Student I.D. will get you.
Pick something to collect. Okay, obviously this is relative to your luggage space and you shouldn’t be wasteful, but I’ve always gotten a post card and I’ve recently started collecting fridge magnets wherever I travel. I know people also get those spoons with locations on them, or thimbles, or maybe a piece of jewelry, or a sticker for your suitcase. I get so excited to add my magnet to the collection on the fridge after every trip, and I’m also looking forward to showing my kids how cool their mom was one day. If you have the capability, I would suggest getting something to remember every trip by.
Clean your suitcases. I don’t care if you use a backpack, a weekender bag, a suitcase, or a duffel. PLEASE wipe them down after you’re in a bunch of airports, planes, busses, trams, cars, etc. and wash all of the clothes you brought with you, because there’s so much environmental buildup on you after traveling.
Drink water. If there’s one tip I personally need to remember, it’s to always drink water when you’re traveling. Your body is adjusting to a new altitude and/or climate, and you’ve probably been on a train or plane for a while. You need to make sure you’re staying hydrated, because let’s be honest, traveling is exhausting.
Text your parents. I don’t care how old you are, text whoever you love, whoever is missing you, and tell them what you’re doing. Even if it’s just a “hey! look at this cool building,” they want to know that you’re okay and sending them a quick message will alleviate some of that worry. I text my parents before every trip, during every trip, and after every trip. And when they’re traveling, I want them to check in with me, too.
Don’t compare your travel experiences with other people’s. Let me be the first to tell you, the things people post on their socials are NOT the primary example of their trip. I’ve had people say to me that all of my trips look so pretty and aesthetic and amazing, and I think it’s so important to acknowledge that this is a highlight reel. If you learned anything from point #4, you’re going to have hiccups every time you travel, and people don’t exactly want to post that to their perfect travel recap. I’ve been working on being more authentic with the way I post, because I know how damaging it can be to expect one thing because of what you saw online and then receive a completely different experience. That’s part of why I’m writing this blog post.
Go somewhere unexpected. Last November, I was upset at something really dumb, and I decided I needed to get out of the city (maybe not the healthiest way to deal with it), so I went online and I found the cheapest flight and I booked it. And then I decided to ask if any of my friends wanted to come. Wrong order, right idea. We ended up going to Marseille, France (a place I really didn’t have any background knowledge on), and we had the most beautiful time. I even ran into an old high school friend who lives there now, which was such a cool experience in itself. Marseille wasn’t a place I had ever thought to go to, so I really had no idea of what to expect going into this trip. I think it’s one of my the best places I’ve gone.
Make friends everywhere you go. One of the coolest parts of living abroad and being able to travel has been making friends. It’s so freaking exciting being able to make friends around the world and having people to reach out to when I either want to catch up, make plans, or ask for advice. When I was in Poland, I met a few people from Portugal who spent an hour talking with me and my friend about their home country and their recommendations for places to visit. Conversations like that are invaluable, especially since I’m now going to Portugal in a few months. Being able to connect with people around the world makes travel so. much. fun. Now that I’m moving next year, I’m even more excited to see where all of my friends end up, because I’ll have people I love all over the place, which is all the more reason to visit them.
Always be safe. I’ve read/watched a lot about travel horror stories, especially from people who have a social media presence. One of the biggest tips I’ve implemented is not posting something until you’re no longer there. Some people do this entirely after a trip, but I mostly just wait to post until I’ve left the place I’m posting, especially if it’s a major landmark. I like to think anyone viewing my personal or public profile has good intentions, but I also never want to put my own or my friends’ safety at risk based on what I post. Additionally, do research on unsafe areas, and be aware of pickpockets in touristy places. I always wear a fanny pack close to my chest, and when I walk I hold my hand on it (partly because it’s usually so crowded I have nowhere else to put my hands). Never leave your phone in your back pocket in crowded areas, and if you’re wearing a backpack, pull it to your front or set it on your lap when you’re on transport. Have apps for your credit cards so you can turn them off if they get stolen, and don’t carry a ton of cash with you. Be aware of your surroundings, especially if you’re going out at night. And try to always follow the buddy system.
Get a travel credit card. When I first moved to Prague, I upgraded my first credit card to a World card, which meant I didn’t have any foreign transaction fees. Last year I got the Discover it Miles credit card, which has no annual fees, gave me 2x the miles for my first year (they matched whatever miles I earned), and gives me 1.5x miles on every dollar. This is a great beginner travel card in my opinion, and I’m hoping to get a Capital One Venture Rewards credit card in the future. The great thing is you can use these when you’re not traveling and still earn miles for use when you do plan a trip. Also, I’ve learned that the most commonly accepted cards are Visa or Mastercard, and although I like my Discover card and I know it will always work in the United States, it’s not always accepted in less common destinations. Keep this in mind when you decide on your travel card.
Compare exchange rates. Exchange places are always going to try to rip you off, and it’s important to know what the actual exchange rate is between your home currency and the currency of wherever you’re going is. Also, when you use a card machine to pay, you might be prompted to select a currency. I’ve been told to always select the currency of wherever you are, because then you’ll get charged with the real exchange rate, not the one that the machine is set to (which might be worse). This applies to ATM conversion rates, too. I’m still a young traveler, and I don’t know everything about money or exchange rates when I travel, but this is something I’ve heard a lot of people suggest. Additionally, if you’re living somewhere for a while, get a bank account in that country. You can typically get a basic checking account and a debit card at most places if you have a visa (I think sometimes even without), and the you won’t have to worry about doing an exchange all the time, just when you’re sending money to that account. Since I pay rent and bills in Prague, my Czech account has made my life so much easier, and with paying bills you can ensure that they make it on time. I typically use both my Czech card and my U.S. card interchangeably, but I try to consider which is best on a case-by-case basis. If I’m using my U.S. card, I also put a travel notice when I leave the States. That way your card will not unexpectedly be blocked while you’re traveling because your bank thinks it’s fraud (I learned this the hard way).
Beware of scammers. If you’re booking a flight or hotel on a travel website, I would suggest looking on the website for the cheap prices and then going onto the actual company site of the booking (if the price is different, ask them to match it). I had an issue with booking my first flight to Prague, and luckily we were able to solve it, but I know that a lot of people are scammed on fake travel sites. Also, if you’re looking for an apartment, don’t pay a deposit until you or a friend has gone to see the place to ensure it’s real. One of my friends got scammed into paying for a fake apartment once (the listing looked real, the agent seemed real, but she didn’t go to see the apartment before she sent the deposit). It’s a completely honest mistake and it can happen to anyone. Make sure you keep receipts when you travel, and check your bank statements when you get home to ensure that everything is accurate. If it wasn’t you, you have receipt evidence to show your bank so that they can refund you (and so they can block your card and send you a new one). Traveling unfortunately has a lot of unknowns, especially with language barriers, and because so much of it depends on money, it’s important to do research on precautions you can take with your valuables.
Use Skyscanner & Omio. Skyscanner is an app that scans all of the available flights on a given date (or even a general month) and tells you what day, airline, and location is the cheapest. A few of my impromptu trips have been because I went on Skyscanner and picked the cheapest option (university student life). Google flights is also helpful for this. Omio is similar, but scans for trains, busses, and flights. I mostly use it for the two former, but it’s been really helpful to compare if it’s cheaper to take a bus or train somewhere. Once I look into this, I follow point #19 and go onto the actual site to book the bus (FlixBus, usually) or train (RegioJet is great for students), and I always make sure to include my Student I.D. while booking which usually saves me money. Ryanair and WizzAir are two super affordable airlines (but you’re very limited on your luggage). I also encourage you to look for a bus or train option before a flight, because not only is it usually cheaper, but it’s also better for the environment. If you’re booking accomodation, I’d suggest Hostelworld, which compares the prices of hostels in the city you’re going to (it shows private rooms and shared dorms). I’ve never had an issue with this site/app, and it’s much more affordable for students. I’ve also used Airbnb, but they’re continuously being criticized for some sketchy stuff, so I’ve been less willing to book with them unless I can ensure a host has reliable reviews and the price is reasonable.
Overall, I know I still have so much to learn about travel. If you’d have told me a few years ago that I’d reach 20 countries at 20 years old, I wouldn’t have believed you. I’m so incredibly grateful that I have the ability to travel right now, and will never take that for granted. I hope that my lessons and mistakes may help someone else who’s getting into traveling, too. Thank you for reading :)
