I write this from 36,777 feet above ground while travelling 480 MPH. I’ve shifted in my seat enough times to realize that it is physically impossible to fall asleep despite my cocktail that is one part neck pillow, one part determination, and two parts exhaustion.
I’m on my twelfth flight this year. And I’m an in-towner.
You see, I have a pretty bad case of senioritis that consists mostly of hunting for post-graduation plans. When vacation days come along, my first thought is that when I am working full-time, my paid vacation days will be dedicated to taking off for the chaggim. Ultimately, this has led me to book multiple flights that I cannot afford. My thought process from here is that in ten years, I will be grateful that I took advantage of my time to travel during university breaks. Also by then I will (hopefully) have a real-person, adult income and will therefore not miss the $700 I spent to obtain those travel memories. And so until I need to face the adult world, I pursue my longtime wanderlust.
Wanderlust, for those unfamiliar with the term, is a German word that has been adopted by the greater pseudo-hipster community that roughly translates to a deep longing to travel and see the world. I had never travelled much until the last two years, and in a way I’ve been playing catch up. I work hard during the year and therefore, as a reward, I allow myself to take trips.
While I could go on about the many amazing things I’ve been lucky enough to do and see, as well as the stupid (and in hindsight, hilarious) mistakes I have made along the way, I’d like to save you the pain of hearing someone talk about overpaying for a taxi. Instead, I’ve compiled a list of some tips that I’ve learned as someone who recently became a frequent flyer.
This list is not for those who prefer vacations that consist of sitting on a beach for a week (though there is nothing wrong with that!) This list is for the impatient eager traveller. It is a list for those who desire to see the world from as many perspectives as possible…and would like to avoid a bump or two in the road along the way
So, a few words of advice:
- Embrace the fanny pack. I know this sounds cringe-worthy, but you’re a tourist. Face the fact and let it happen. At the end of the day, you want quick access to your phone and wallet, and the last thing you want is to lose track of your accoutrements. I challenge you to use a fanny pack for one day and then tell me that you haven’t seen the light.
- Travellers insurance: do it. Here’s a piece of advice that I haven’t quite followed yet myself. I think that you need to travel a bit more for this to be relevant, but I’m just putting it out there that insurance isn’t just one of those random add-ons that you click past when you buy your ticket. Consider it. Take it from someone who had to pay $400+ for an emergency room visit in a foreign country.
- You already spent the money getting there, so enjoy yourself. This is an issue that comes up quite a bit when travelling with friends. We’re all students, we all cry inside when we hand our over-swiped debit cards to the cashier. But don’t let your whimpering stop you from enjoying your trip altogether. You spent money on a plane ticket, a hotel, a car—don’t sit inside all day because you don’t want to shell out $40 for an activity. If you don’t let yourself actually DO anything new and exciting, you might as well have not left home.
- Airbnb is an amazing thing—just read the reviews. Maybe I’m just extremely lucky, but I’ve had the most incredible experiences with Airbnb. The trick is to just READ THE REVIEWS. Contact the host and have a conversation. There are some insanely beautiful apartments at just the right price. Pay attention to location, and pick an apartment that is near other hotels.
- Sometimes free WiFi in a hotel means that there is only WiFi in the lobby. This one is self-explanatory, but if you don’t have a data plan for your phone in whatever country you are trekking, this becomes vital.
- Touristy places are fun, but find a nearby town and just walk around to visit the local shops. I love a good tourist trap, but there’s something special about just wandering around a nearby suburb to get a feel for the local community. I think I like doing this so much because local culture is usually tied to local food, however, keeping kosher means I generally don’t get to experience local life from that intimate perspective. I’ve found this unconventional touring to be a solid alternative.
- Bring an empty water bottle to the airport. Needing to buy a water bottle after you pass security is the gateway drug to accidentally dropping $25 at the Hudson News shop. You spend so much time trying to figure out how to save money, don’t even enter the shop for water, just bring an empty water bottle and fill it up at a water fountain near your gate.
- Chabad usually has discounts for local hot spots. Even if you aren’t planning to check out the local Chabad, they generally have a deal with a local hotel, car rental, or tour on their website.
- Check your transportation options. Sometimes renting a car is cheaper than relying on taxis and public transport. It’s also super liberating to not have to deal with waiting on another country’s public transportation system all the time.
- Invest in a luggage scale. Stepping on and off your home scale holding your suitcase while trying to guess if it is underweight is both depressing and inaccurate. Just buy a luggage scale. You’ll own it for every time you travel and it’s perfect for trips with multiple plane rides.
BONUS TIP: Bring a first aid kit. Go ahead and be that person. Being the responsible “party mom” may not be your true calling, but you’ll definitely thank yourself later.
The list of cities that I want to visit is a mile long, but just knowing how much is out there is a comfort to my insatiable wanderlust. As long as I can find the time, I will travel and hopefully pick up a few more tips along the way.