Few joys compare to the pleasure of travelling, what with the premise of adventure, meeting exotic people, and realizing that there’s the Pacific Ocean separating you from your work. It’s easy to get intoxicated with the wonders of a new country, and that picturesque sunset and martini in hand does nothing but assure you that nothing will go wrong.
However, if you’re a fan of literary foreboding, you know that something’s bound to go wrong, like it always does. Rare is the stress-free vacation after all, and there’s always something that can get on your nerves, like forgetting to bring a jacket in a snowing country, or (God forbid) not having enough money for the trip back. There is no discrimination here either, as it happens to both novice travelers and seasoned ones alike. You could’ve explored the whole of Europe dozens of time like Napoleon on a conquering spree, and realize when you’re there that you forgot to pack enough undies.
Oftentimes, these minor stresses will have you wishing for your vacation to end as quickly as it began, so you can go back to a comfortable home, complete with a familiar time-zone, familiar weather and familiar cable channels. However, not all vacations have to follow this trend—with adequate preparation, proper foresight and the vigilance of a boy scout (“Always be prepared!”), you can eliminate the possibility of slip-ups from happening.
Listed below are the most common vacation-related problems encountered by seasoned travelers, which only shows that these things happen to even the best of us. Just think of it this way, even Columbus got lost.
Communication ain’t easy
The number one problem vacationers have is bridging the language barrier, so it’s vital to learn the native tongue of the country you are visiting. Not only is it useful but it also shows deep respect for their culture. “I consider myself lucky if I chance on English-speaking people while asking directions or looking for something,” said Jet Dela Rosa, an architecture student and travel-enthusiast from University of Santo Tomas. Jet used to be a foreign exchange student during high school, travelling to countries such as Paris, Spain, Germany, Vatican City and other parts of Europe.
And while learning phrases like “Hello,” “Thank you,” and “Where is the bathroom?” might be useful, there are other important words often overlooked by travelers. Things like “Take me to the embassy” or “Help!” might be what you need to get out of a sticky situation. If you have trouble remembering the different words, try using a card instead with universal symbols you can show to others, as symbols usually mean the same thing even in different languages.
Everyone has baggage
“Packing light” is synonymous with packing wise. Most of the time, a small luggage with the essentials is really all you need. Not only will this make travelling easier and opens the opportunity for backpacking, but it also eliminates the possibility of having to pay for the extra baggage.
“One time, I found out that my luggage was overweight. I couldn’t pay the fee because it was only then when I discovered that my credit card was maxed out,” said Rina J imenez-David, a columnist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “Now, whenever I go out of the country, I don’t shop as much.”
Too much souvenirs usually leads to overweight luggage, thus you should buy souvenirs that are small and easy to carry. Refrain from buying antique weapons (like swords, spears or guns) as souvenir, no matter how cool they may look on your wall at home. Despite being decorative, these items are still considered dangerous by most airports, requiring you to check them in. And your gung-ho wrapping skills won’t cut it here either – airport personnel will repack your swords and put it in a box for a hefty fee that will have you thinking whether it was worth buying it in the first place.
Google before you go
The internet is not only for looking at funny videos on YouTube. Thanks to this useful technology, tourists can now plan their vacations without having to leave the comfort of their seats.
Never assume the weather of a country bases on popular belief; fact-check it instead via the internet so you’ll know what type of clothes to pack. Oftentimes, tourists simply google the tourist attractions of the country they are visiting, failing to research on the weather and finding out their mistake only too late.
“I remember during a trip to Morocco, I didn pack any sweater because I thought it would be a hot country,” said David. “When I got there, was absolutely freezing. I really should’ve googled the weather first,” she added.
Researching beforehand will also allow you t make your own itinerary, instead of just figurin it out when the plane lands. Having an itinerary will prevent you from spending a boatload on personal tours from “friendly” natives who just want to show you around – for a huge price, of course.
“Before going to a place, I would usually research about it, take note of the must-sees, and familiarize myself with its map so that I wil know my way around,” said Dela Rosa. “I’m not exactly a fan of package tours with guides for they have the tendency to bore, not to mention induce stress by imposing time limits when visiting places. ”
Apart from the bare necessities, you should also remember to bring extra batteries for the camera, a universal adaptor, a roaming sim card, US dollars and the photocopy of the passport. The copy will suffice when the local authority asks to see it. Just leave the original at a safe pla in the hotel, preferably in the safety deposit box.
And as a final note, seasoned travelers often forget to have fun and go with the flow of the vacation. Just like any adventure, travelling to a foreign country may come with its own set of bumps and bruises but that shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying the experience. Don’t focus o the negative and choose only to see the beautiful things travelling offers. “As Discovery Travel and Living Channel put it, ‘Be a traveler, not a tourist’,” said Dela Rosa.
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Tags: bridging the language barrier, native tongue, pacific ocean