5 Concepts for How to be a Good Traveler

I feel like when I'm off to a new place, whether in my own country or not, I want to be a good guest. People travel for many reasons but mine is the opportunity to immerse myself in a new place and with that comes trying to not be 'that traveler' [or see Rants from a Sassy Stew] but really experiencing the place I've chosen to go.

Read up before you go

Know what's what. Read up on travel sites or TripAdvisor comments or in a guidebook [I've found Rick Steves gives good, practical advice] what the local customs are, such as:

• Typical dinner time? (10pm in Spain)
• What to expect for breakfast (meats & cheese in many parts of Europe) 
• Is there a holiday while you are there that will close historic sites or banks? 
• When is the best time to visit certain sites (i.e.: Eiffel Tower first thing in the morning, provided it's not summer!) 
• Are the beaches sandy, pebbles or rocky? Do you need to bring your own towels? 

Dress the part

Is it a place that has religious customs that expect a certain type of dress such as a head scarf or no bare arms. Or are you going somewhere that has topless or clothing optional beaches? The Cote d'Azure was a real eye opener on my first trip there. Shorts are also questionable in some places and so are sneakers. Even the color of your clothes can be 'problematic' [white in Japan is for funerals.]

Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Cote d'Azure rocky and topless beaches

Try the local cuisine

Don't be a wimp! Eat what and more importantly WHERE the locals eat. Ask the front desk people if you're at a hotel, ask locals or a police officer - they always know where to eat, even outside the US! Be polite when ordering if you're not sure what something is on the menu. Ask the server what they recommend or is there a house speciality.

Caribbean lobster

Beyoglu Fish Market, Istanbul

France

Always learn a few key words in the local language 

This is where I get to tell you that PLEASE and THANK YOU get you SO far anywhere you go. If you can manage other key words or phrases, that will make your trip an even bigger success. Just making the effort will mean a lot to a local!

Be polite

This really doesn't need an explanation. Just be nice.

To quote Rick Steves:

"Go as a guest; act like one and you'll be treated like one. In travel, too, you reap what you sow."

Travel Must Takes

You know, those things you have to take when you travel. I'm talking about beyond the basics of toothpaste, band aids and dental floss. Every traveler has stuff that gets packed regardless of where or for how long they are going. Here's my list of eight don't forgets:

Plastic bags

Not even zip locks. I'm talking about the kind you get at the grocery store when you checkout. Countless times these have come in handy for wet clothes, opened shampoo bottles or the shells we found on the beach.  Usually I wrap shoes in them on the outbound trip so they keep the rest of the clothes clean and don't take up extra space.

 Coffee, sugar and my mini French press. 

I admit it, I'm a bit if a coffee snob. I'm not one of those people that has to get my double espresso, macchiato with skim milk and a shot of hazelnut coffee shop snob, but I also never had a cup of coffee from one of those in-room machines that tasted any better than tar. I use the in-room machine to heat the water and then enjoy a nice cup of coffee. Since I don't drink crap coffee at home why drink it on vacation?

String bag

Another little thing that comes more in handy than you
might think. Who wants to lug around a big backpack or even purse when you are out sightseeing or on a hike? Conference totes work ok too. Zipper pockets hold the phone or camera. It's easy to pack flat and makes bringing back stuff simple. Or you can toss it if it was a freebie.

Big scarf or pashmina

They say that the blankets on a plane get dry cleaned after use but I'd rather use a big scarf or pashmina as my blanket, thank you.  And you never know when you'll be stuck next to one of those travelers. They also come in handy if you're visiting a country where you may need a head scarf.

 

Sanitary wipes

Who knows who was in that seat before you? I've seen people change diapers on the tray table! Or when a bathroom is out of paper towels? Or worse yet, TP! Or when the kid gets a little messy. There are a thousand uses for these wonderful little things.

Snacks

Granola bars, peanut butter crackers, chocolate bar. Staving off the growling stomach while in the air or after the crew comes back from a dive and they are ravenous, I've always found its worth it to schlepp some snacks along on every trip.

Cough drops

Good for the plane, good when someone gets a sore throat, good for the annoying coughing passenger next to you.

Triple antibiotic

Solves so many problems it's hard to list them all. Just take it.


What's on your list of must takes?