20. You should learn some of the language of the country that you’re traveling to.
That way, you can say that you want your water “natural” and mean it.
19. Don’t stick yourself in a guidebook for the entire trip.
There are many famous sights and signs to see, but if you go with your nose buried in Lonely Planet, you’ll miss the little things.
18. Take time to enjoy the things YOU want to do.
Go with your tour group to see the David, but sit in that café and enjoy a cappuccino and a good book.
17. Check out places that the locals recommend.
It’s much cooler to go to that German beer garden that the guy on the train told you to go to than it would be to go to the packed place with the line down the block.
16. Take chances that you normally wouldn’t take.
Maybe, you can spend a day in Switzerland hiking instead of just touring the cities.
15. Keep a journal on your trip.
Write about everything. What you’re eating, how the day looks, what rush hour seems like…
14. Get a good night’s rest, but don’t sleep away your entire trip.
It’s important to be well rested for your activities, but if your sleep is keeping you from seeing early morning or nighttime sights, it’s ok to linger longer or wake up earlier.
13. Take time to travel outside of the main cities.
Europe is very condensed. Go outside of the bigger cities and enjoy the smaller towns and their cultures.
12. Talk to those around you.
The locals know what’s happening in the city, what to avoid and the best times for adventure. Ask for advice or information, and most people are happy to share it with you!
11. Dress for the day, but not as a tourist.
Ditch the tacky white socks and sneakers and dress like yourself. (It’s more fun if you look like you know what you’re doing there.)
10. Shop at family or locally owned businesses.
Visit the fresh fruit markets and outdoor street sales to get a deeper taste for the culture.
9. Walk EVERYWHERE.
When you walk, you can see the tiny churches or cafés tucked away along the streets.
8. Avoid the beaten path when possible.
Explore the parts of Austria that people don’t normally walk through and adventure around Prague. It’s worth it to explore where others haven’t.
7. Eat and drink local.
You’ll enjoy it a lot more if you don’t eat at commercialized restaurants that are the same as or similar to those at home.
6. Take the train.
Take a train trip from Padua to Sienna, just to see the Tuscan countryide.
5. Splurge on one thing.
If you find that one item that you feel represents your trip as a whole, splurge and get it. (mine was a dirndl in Germany)
4. Go somewhere by yourself.
Climb the Duomo in Florence. Go to the Piazza Navona to shop. Walk down the street to get gelato. Go by yourself, and enjoy it.
3. Don’t get caught up in time.
Spend your time doing what you want to do. Don’t feel rushed and skip over something that you’d like so that you can get more done. Relax and take it slow.
2. Accept a change of plans.
Nothing goes exactly as planned, that’s just a part of life. An important quality of adventurers is flexibility in all things. To travel is to embrace unpredictability.
1.Be prepared for the experience of a lifetime.
Traveling is unlike anything else. It’s new places, different people and facing fears. It’s scary and exciting, and it’s all you.
