Is there anything specific you do every time you travel? Get a souvenir? Write postcards? Talk to a local? Many people have their own list of things they try to do every time they travel. Whenever I travel I try to check off some if not all things on the list below to make sure I get the most out of my trip. For me, they are the best way to be a traveler without losing sight of the fantastic time I have while traveling.
Get a souvenir
Yeah, this one is a classic. I always try to get a souvenir from everywhere I travel. I do have to admit though, that I haven’t found the perfect souvenir yet. While I think you should definitely get something that is not sold in a gift shop and that is typical for the country you are in (maybe a traditional piece of clothing, a painting/print, rug, etc), I can also appreciate when people start an actual collection of similar items. Shot glasses or magnets are a popular choice when it comes to souvenirs. I tried myself in miniature sights (I thought they would look lovely all together on a shelf, like a city of many sights) and mugs, but I feel like I haven’t found the perfect item yet (any ideas?).
Keep a travel diary
Although I do take lots of pictures, which can serve as some sort of travel diary, I also started to write an actual journal during my travels. I only started this recently and the first vacation I fully stuck to it was Alaska. However, I do note that I like going back to the entries from time to time because there are a lot of things you might not necessarily capture with pictures. Journals are a great way of capturing how a trip made you feel. In the past, I have used the Day One app for my journals, but have recently discovered Notion, which I want to ty next for keeping a travel diary. Keeping a digital journal means I don’t need to pack anything extra and I can use the pictures I take on the same day for my entries.
Learn some words in the local language
I will probably never be fluent in Swedish, but I always enjoy learning a couple of words in the local language. Even a few words can get you a long way when you are in a bar or a supermarket where people don’t speak English. People are often delighted when they realize you tried to learn a couple of words or sentences and it is a nice way to get a little closer to a country’s culture.
Go to a local supermarket
I am always very excited about going to a local supermarket because I feel like this is how I get an impression of what it’s like to live somewhere (after all, you do need to get groceries every so often). I particularly love exploring the local food and drink selection and maybe even try a thing or two. Although I have to admit that I have the odd fail purchase on my record, it is always quite fun and entertaining to walk down the aisles, explore foreign products, and indulge in a new taste experience/
Check out a bar
Or a cafe, or a club, or a pub…as long as it is not part of a hotel. I love to just sit in a bar or cafe and watch people around me, listening to foreign words and watching life go by. I try to pick my spots so I can try a typical specialty - an affogato in Italy, a pastel de nata in Portugal, or a local beer from the tap.
Try something new
Whether it is a local food specialty, a fancy drink I’ve never tried before, or an activity such as seeing a play, go shark diving, etc. It’s nice coming back from a holiday not only having been at a new place but also having had the chance to experience something new. I usually research if there are any cool activities you can do in the area that I might not be able to do at home and that is somewhat special, like ride the Ferris wheel in Vienna, go to an ice bar or tour a brewery.
This is my personal list of things to do every time I travel - but of course, there might be many more you might want to consider. I recommend also checking out the 5 Things You Must Do Every Time You Travel by Helene In Between or the 10 Things You Should Do Every Time You Travel buy La Joly Vie.
Is there anything specific you do every time you travel? If you get souvenirs, I would love to hear what you get (always something different or similar?)!
Kate recommends: An anonymous woman gets killed in a hotel. A man gets publicly beheaded in a Saudi Arabian public square. Human remains are found in a remote mountainside in Syria. And what about the Syrian biotech expert that was found dead in Damascus? One plot links all those together and one man can connect the dots. If Terry Hayes’ Pilgrim doesn’t get your adventure nerves going, I don’t know what it.