Top travelling tips

Hey all!

Me again. Quarantine has got me blogging again. I thought I will do a quick post to share some tips with you all for once this is over and we can finally jet off into Paradise again. I will do tips for both travelling together with friends and family and also if travelling alone.

Travel With Friends

Now travelling with friends is definitely fun however sometimes being with people a bit toooo much can sometimes cause conflict. It is just a natural thing even if you are the bestest of friends. So my tips for when travelling with your friends would be the following:

Malaga, Espana

TIP 1

Try to give one another space.. Yes you are travelling with each other and are there together but sometimes it is important to have your alone time or to catch up with others back home etc. It is okay to not speak 247 or to constantly be with one another all day long. Honestly the more space you give the better as then you can really enjoy the time you are exploring and just having fun.

Johnston Canyon, Alberta, Canada

TIP 2

Try and meet a middle ground when it comes to what and where you want to go. Sometimes this can be a bit easier to achieve. For instance, if you have planned a trip to Paris then I am pretty sure you both will have had in mind to visit the top touristy places such as the Eiffel Tower, Disney Land etc. However, not every holiday is that simple. Some cities/towns don’t have exact pinpoint locations that you can go to and tick off the bucket list and therefore it is important to decide where you would like to go and see the most. I would suggest maybe discuss some of the places you have in mind before going on holiday. Remember it’s completely fine to not have every single day planned by the minute. Sometimes the more spontaneous you are the better. 

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

TIP 3

Try and decide on food places before you leave your accommodation!! Honestly, it can be so difficult to sometimes find the right place to eat and often you may be walking around for a bit until you actually stop and sit somewhere to eat by which time you may be starving. Perhaps just decide the type of cuisine you are feeling and see if you can choose a restaurant based on that. This would save a lot of time and avoid you from unnecessary conflicts when you are craving for food already. 

Malign Lake, Alberta, Canada

TIP 4

Perhaps try and limit social media usage when you are trying to enjoy your holiday with friends. Now I am definitely guilty of using social media a lot whilst on holiday but from what I have noticed is that sometimes we become a bit too focussed on what our followers are thinking of us that we don’t enjoy the moment when we are there. Maybe just switch your data off when you are exploring and switch it back on when you get back to your hotel at night. 

Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

TIP 5

Take plenty of photographs, however!! It is always nice when you can take a lot of photographs to remember the memories. Even if your friend is not the keenest on taking photographs just offer to take one of them or as I like to do it just take random ones of random moments as they form the best of memories. 

Travels With Family

Travel with family can be fun but sometimes can also be a bit stressful because your family never sugarcoat things like your friends might. Hopefully the next few tips helps you with having a successful family trip.

Antalya, Turkey

TIP 1

Do your research before you go on the holiday!! Especially if you are travelling with a family which involves children and parents it’s important to know what sort of activities you all can take part in and what you all will enjoy. Perhaps look into excursions that will be suited for all members of the group. Maybe look at what the Hotel offers what sort of entertainment they have? If you are travelling in the summer do they have a swimming pool for the children? Do they have indoor activities etc. Just try and make sure you have some form of a plan for when you get there that will suit most of your family members. 

Terra City, Antalya, Turkey

TIP 2

Building on from the next point, you need to accept that you will not be able to do everything you want to do.  For instance, I love to hike and I love to explore nature. However, not everyone in my family has the same interests and hiking for my mum or my younger siblings isn’t ideal. So it’s important to compromise here and see what other activities you will enjoy with the rest of your family too. 

Vienna, Austria

TIP 3

Try and not to get into arguments. Sometimes we have conflicts with family members here and there at home but if you are on a holiday together that is your time to just enjoy and forget those silly arguments that are not worth spoiling your very expensive holiday and limited time over. Just suck it in and hold it in until you are back home and then can fight again. Lol (just kidding).

Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

TIP 4

Give your family time!  You are away on holiday with them so better to focus on them and enjoy your company together. Again don’t be too fixated on social media. 

El Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain

TIP 5

Finally, you may not be able to be as adventurous with trying new cuisine when you are travelling with family. This is one thing I have definitely gathered when I have travelled with my family members. This can be because no one wants to spend money on food they are unsure they will like and therefore would prefer just eating something that they are comfortable with. E.G Pizza, McDonald’s etc. That’s totally fine. Respect that but also if you want to try new foods don’t shy away and you do that too! 

Solo Travels

Last but not least traveling alone!! My fav one to give tips on because honestly, this one is perhaps the one where the more tips you have the better.

Coogee to Bondi Beach Coastal Walk, Sydney, Australia

TIP 1

First of all, don’t be afraid to travel alone! A lot of people don’t do it because they find it hard to get out of their comfort zone or would much rather be with friends/family. That’s totally understandable but honestly, the experience you get from venturing off on your own voyage is one like no other. 

Coober Pedy, South Australia, Australia

TIP 2

Do your research!! If you are alone this is crucial. You need to ensure you have a good understanding of where you are staying in the surrounding area/neighborhood and the places you are to explore. I would suggest to always download offline maps just in case of an emergency. 

Queen Elizabeth Park, BC, Canada

TIP 3

Staying in an air bnb instead of a hotel. Honestly saying in an Airbnb can sometimes be a lot more comfortable especially when you know you are not confined to one room on your own. Airbnb is a great way to also meet locals and get some great tips from them. Honestly, no amount of research can compare to first-hand knowledge from someone who lives in the area!! 

Rainbow Beach, Queensland, Australia

TIP 4

Be spontaneous! Honestly, the best thing about travelling alone is knowing that it is just you and you can literally do anything and everything how you like and when you like. I love knowing that I can go and eat whenever I feel like it, I can wake up and explore whenever I want to and I can be done with the day whenever I see fit. There is literally no pressure and you can just follow your instinct when it comes to exploring. 

Capliano Supension Bridge Park, BC, Canada

TIP 5

Meet people and make new friends!! The best thing that I have learnt from travelling alone is that you are so much more open to speaking to others compared to when you travel with friends. I have made so many good friends around the world from my solo trips where I have met up with a group of people that I never knew before. It is crazy how much you can get to know someone whilst travelling and those memories you never seem to forget. Do not be afraid to talk! Even if you see that others in a group there is no harm in getting to know people and making new friends. 

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

TIP 6

Stay safe! Whilst it is important to get to know people do try and stay safe too. Do not give unnecessary information to someone you randomly meet as you do not know this person and you do not want to put yourself at any risk. 

Some Generic Tips

Now time for some generic tips which apply to all travels.

1. Take a camera! You want to capture memories so important to have a good phone camera or even a separate camera to store your lifetime memories. I cannot go anywhere without my DSLR!
2. Portable charger. These are really convenient especially during long hikes or full-day outs. Just the comfort of having one is reassuring and can often get you out of pickles. 
3. Go Old School and get a paper Map! At least you know you can always access it and it will not fail like technology sometimes can.
4. Pack Sensibly! Try not to take unnecessary items and extra clothing you will never wear with you. However, try and be sensible. Sometimes you may need extra items just in case of an emergency and therefore be prepared for that.  
5. Get to the airport in plenty of time. I would suggest anywhere between 1-2 is normally good if the airport is not too busy. If you have only hand luggage be prepared with liquids and electronics at security. 
6. Sort your inflight entertainment out. For short flights, I would just download a few episodes and perhaps a movie on Netflix. For Long Haul flights you would not need to worry about that as the flight should have some form of inflight entertainment. 
7. Be comfortable! If you are going to be travelling on a plane for 10-20 hours ensure that you are dressed comfortably. This includes good footwear! Also perhaps get a neck pillow and limit the amount of makeup you are wearing (if this applies).  I find makeup so uncomfortable during long journeys. 
8. Enjoy the holiday/getaway as much as possible. Get to relax too and not just be busy in exploring as much as you can in one day otherwise you will totally drain yourself. If the weather is nice then enjoy the sun, the beach,  the company, and just life. This is your holiday and you need to make sure it is perfect! 
9. Finally, shopping!! Again do not go overboard but do take back souvenirs for your folks back home as that is always nice to share. Also do not forget about yourself and take something nice and memorable back that you can cherish forever. 

Malaga, Espana

Anyways, that is all I have for the time being. 

I hope that was a useful insight. 

Any questions drop me an email. 

Thanks 

Aisha x

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