{"id":485,"date":"2019-09-02T11:55:05","date_gmt":"2019-09-02T11:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=20890"},"modified":"2020-02-02T22:05:04","modified_gmt":"2020-02-02T22:05:04","slug":"27-golden-rules-for-becoming-a-master-traveler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourfunjourney.com\/index.php\/2019\/09\/02\/27-golden-rules-for-becoming-a-master-traveler\/","title":{"rendered":"27 Golden Rules For Becoming a Master Traveler"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"nomadic
\nUpdated: <\/strong> 9\/2\/2019 | September 2nd, 2019<\/p>\n

Every industry has its own \u201cbest practices\u201d \u2014\u00a0proven rules and standards that guide the industry and the people in it. Travel is no different. There are many \u201crules to live by\u201d that can help us navigate the unknown world with fewer mistakes.<\/p>\n

I have my own golden travel rules.<\/p>\n

Over the past ten years<\/a>, I\u2019ve learned a lot of tips and tricks that have helped me thrive when I travel. When I first set out in 2006, I made a lot of mistakes<\/a>. (Ok, I still make some mistakes.)<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s not a bad thing. If you don\u2019t make mistakes, you aren\u2019t trying new things and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.<\/p>\n

Mistakes are going to happen.<\/p>\n

But, over the years, I\u2019ve developed a list of 27 golden rules for travel. These guidelines help me save money, make friends, stay safe, and fit into the local culture.<\/p>\n

If you follow them, you\u2019ll become a master traveler<\/a>, able to travel the world with swashbuckling zeal and expert ninja-like knowledge\u2026 all without breaking the bank so you can keep cutting a path forward through the world for longer:<\/p>\n

1. Be adventurous<\/strong> \u2013 You only live once. You\u2019re going to get chances to do wild things you\u2019ve never dreamed of doing when you travel. Don\u2019t hold back. Count to three, say \u201cscrew it,\u201d and take the leap. You didn\u2019t come this far for nothing. Say yes when someone asks you to go rock climbing, salsa dancing, spelunking, or try the world\u2019s hottest pepper<\/a> despite not liking spicy food.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no one around to judge you. No one cares what you do. No rumors will be spread. Push yourself to do something new and daring at least one.<\/p>\n

2. Get a no-fee ATM card<\/strong> \u2013 Why give your money to the banks? Get an ATM card that doesn\u2019t charge any fees and use that extra money for more traveling. Over the long term those $2-5 charges really add up. I use Charles Schwab as my bank, but you can also find many others that offer no-fee accounts \u2014\u00a0or use a one that is part of the Global ATM Alliance, and pay no fees within that network.<\/p>\n

This article can show you how to avoid bank fees when you travel<\/a> (and will give you a list of suggested cards too).<\/p>\n

3. Get a rewards credit card<\/strong> \u2013 Why pay for travel when you can get it for free? Use a travel rewards credit card to earn points and miles that can be redeemed for free travel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re already spending the money anyway so why not get rewarded for it?<\/p>\n

Travel credit cards come with tons of perks and huge bonuses that can be redeemed for free flights right away. Plus, they get you the best exchange rate on your purchases.<\/p>\n

Having one is an absolute must.<\/p>\n

Want to know how I get hundreds of thousands of points per year and fly for free? Sign up for my free primer on the art of travel hacking and I\u2019ll show you<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. Always carry backups<\/strong> \u2013 Always carry a backup bank and credit card in case one is lost, stolen, or hacked. That way while you are fixing the issue, you still have access to your money. Instead of the problem crippling your trip, it merely is an annoyance. This has happened to me before and, I can ensure you, you\u2019ll be thankful you followed this advice!<\/p>\n

5. Only carry what you need<\/strong> \u2013 When you leave to go out for the day, only care the cash you need and one credit card. You don\u2019t want to get robbed and lose everything. Leave the backups and extra locked back at your hostel!<\/p>\n

6. Join a frequent flier program<\/strong> \u2013 Get rewarded for all of those flights you\u2019ll be taking by joining a frequent flier program. That way you\u2019ll earn miles, perks for flying, and free flights. Miles are like money \u2014\u00a0and you wouldn\u2019t waste money, would you? No! So, sign up for a loyalty program, and collect points. Even if it takes you years to get a free flight, at least you are not being wasteful!<\/p>\n

7. Travel alone at least once<\/strong> \u2013 Few things are as liberating as solo travel. As a solo traveler, you\u2019re free to do whatever you want. When you travel solo, the world is your oyster. You\u2019re free to do whatever you want, whenever you want. To me, it\u2019s the purest sense of freedom there is<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But beyond that sense of freedom, solo travel actually teaches you a lot about yourself. Travel is an amazing personal development tool<\/a> after all, and solo travel is one of the best ways to learn and grow and challenge yourself.<\/p>\n

Without anyone around you, you have to solve the problems you face on the road. You have to figure out how to get from point A to B, deal with people who speak a different language, get comfortable eating alone, find things to do, and work out problems that arise. It\u2019s you and your wits. That forces you to grow in ways you won\u2019t in the comfort of your home or with a group.<\/p>\n

While it won\u2019t be for everyone, I still encourage everyone to try solo travel at least once. Even if you don\u2019t love it, you\u2019ll learn a ton about yourself in the process.<\/p>\n

8. Learn basic phrases<\/strong> \u2013 Locals don\u2019t expect you to be an expert in the local language, but learning a few basic phrases<\/a> will go a long way to endearing you and making them go the extra mile for you. It will bring a smile to their face that you tried! \u201cHello,\u201d \u201chow are you?\u201d and \u201cthank you\u201d go a long, long way no matter where you go.<\/p>\n

9. Stay in hostels<\/strong> \u2013 Get to know other travelers and experience the communal spirit of traveling by staying in hostels a few times. They aren\u2019t all the dirty party places you see in movies. Most hostels are very clean, offer breakfast, have comfy beds and Wi-Fi, organize events, and know the local area very well. They also aren\u2019t just for young backpackers; you\u2019ll find people of all ages (and even some families) staying there. Try them out. You may like it.<\/a><\/p>\n

Here is a list of the best hostels in the world to get you started<\/a>!<\/p>\n

10. Use tourist boards<\/strong> \u2013 Local tourist offices are a wealth of knowledge. When you get to a new destination, visit the tourist office and ask the staff an insane number of questions about the place. They exist solely to help you get the most of your visit and it\u2019s their job to know everything and everything about a place. Plus, they often have tons of discounts not found anywhere else.<\/p>\n

Visiting one is often one of the first things I do in a new city.<\/p>\n

11. Try new foods<\/strong> \u2013 Culture is often best experienced through food. Don\u2019t be afraid to try new things. Get out of your comfort zone and experiment. You might actually like it (those fried caterpillars in Zambia were delicious!).<\/p>\n

12. Be flexible with your plans<\/strong> \u2013 Travel is a series of happy accidents with way leading to way. Don\u2019t skip going to that random city with the friends you just met because your itinerary says something different. You\u2019ll regret it.<\/p>\n

Go with the flow and be open to new things<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This will make your travels a lot more stress-free.<\/p>\n

12. Pack light<\/strong> \u2013 Take it from a former over-packer: you never need half the stuff you take. Put everything you think you need in a pile and then remove half of it. The lighter you travel, the easier you travel.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our suggested packing lists:<\/p>\n