Travelling to new destinations is always fun. Amidst the excitement and adventure, there’s a whole bunch of essential stuff that you must make note of. So just in case it slipped your mind, here’s a list of 10 Travel Tips that’ll help you out on the road, exploring the world (P.S. Here’s a list of our upcoming trips for the year!)
1. Preeti Verma Lala: freelance travel journalist and photographer.
“Never go by the rulebook as it only tells you clichéd stuff. Just ask the locals – though be careful who you ask, but definitely experience the city from a local’s point of view. In a hotel, don’t stay at the end of the corridor – try and find out if they have women specific floors or at least try to get a room near the elevator. Always leave your itinerary with someone and keep scanned copies of your documents on your email. Food is an important aspect, so if you have allergies or dietary restrictions, it’s always good to ask what a dish contains. You may sound stupid but don’t let that stop you from asking questions!”
“Always leave your itinerary with someone and keep scanned copies of your documents on your email.” – PReeti Verma LAl
2. Mridula Dwivedi: Blogger, Travel Tales from India
“If travelling alone, pick a place that is considered safe. Even for treks, pick only trusted guides or destinations like Nepal which are considered safer. The Weather App is very handy and it’ll help you decide what to pack! Travel forums like Indiamike and TripAdvisor are handy for reading reviews and planning itineraries.”
3. Smita Mazumdar: Founder, Women Beyond Boundaries
“If you really want to enjoy the journey, travel by train or road as it gives you the opportunity to see and absorb the place. Self-drives are a great option too, but do have a companion so you have someone else to drive when sleep overtakes you! Carry digestion medicines and a hand sanitizer for sure. Since you’re likely to take lots of photos and videos, do carry extra storage space or else put it up on cloud sharing, so you have a backup in case something happens to your phone or camera!”
4. Ruchika Vyas – Blogger, Traveller Stories
“Avoid late night sights and always carry pepper spray and a Swiss knife. If travelling alone, don’t go overboard on your drinks at a bar. Be alert. Homestays and hostels work the best as you can stay in a dorm room and get to meet new people and make new friends. Hostels also offer a ton of local information and special discounts for budget travellers. Always carry a multi pin plug. Most hostels give you a locker but no locks so carry your own locks and keys.“
“If travelling alone, don’t go overboard on your drinks at a bar. Be alert.” -Ruchika Vyas
5. Priya Ganpathy – Blogger, Red Scarab Travel & Media
“Always travel light. Roll up clothes to save space. Be practical and take easy drying, crease resistant non-bulky items. You can always layer up in cold places. Don’t underestimate the humble scarf or stole. It doubles up as a turban, a dust and sun block, a shawl, a muffler, a sarong, a sitting mat, a cool swab and a pillow! Always have secret places to stash your cash in your bag or on person. “
6. Amrita Das: Blogger, Travelling Ides of March
“I’m a tech junkie and love using Apps. For travels within India, Apps like RedBus and Indianrails are great for bus and train bookings. When travelling abroad, XE Currency is really useful as it helps you do currency conversions in a flash. Audiocompass is also a great tool to get an audio guide of your destination. Free Wifi finder is also super handy to help find the nearest wifi spot and Passbook to keep all your tickets and boarding passes in one place. The best thing to wear on your travels is a smile! People will want to talk to you and it can open new doors to great opportunities and experiences.”
“The best thing to wear on your travels is a smile! People will want to talk to you and it can open new doors to great opportunities and experiences.” – Amrita Das
7. Revati Victor: Blogger, Different Doors
“The key to looking well rested and ready for adventures when you land at your destination is getting loads of shut eye (I try to fly overnight). Drink water and herbal tea instead of the rather dehydrating alcohol or caffeine. If you must wear make-up, cleanse it off in-flight and combat the dry cabin air with a mask or moisturiser (I love carrying travel sized bottles of my favourite products). Start freshening up a little before you land so you don’t sleep-walk through immigration, baggage claim and hotel check-in because that’s where you need to have your wits about you.”
8. Elita Almeida: Blogger, Nomadic Thunker
“While using Google maps, save maps in the offline mode so you have access to them even in low connectivity areas. Explore places during the off season, you not only get good deals but it is also less crowded and gives you a chance to soak in the destination. “
9. Pooja Kochar: Blogger, 30-ish Blogging
“To enjoy any place, you have to sync with the locals. Eat their food, go to the places they enjoy the most, celebrate their festivities. This will make you experience the true nature of your destination. Always check the local do’s and don’ts – it’ll help keep you out of trouble. If you respect their culture they will always return the favour with a warm smile and great hospitality.”
“Always check the local do’s and don’ts – it’ll help keep you out of trouble.” – Pooja Kochar
10. Sheena Dabholkar- Blogger, This is Sheena
“Book on a Tuesday and book for a Tuesday. Online fares are always cheapest Tuesday morning, and flying on Tuesday is also nearly always cheaper than other days. If traveling alone, do your research – there are always some places and neighborhoods that are considered more “female friendly”. Splurge if you have to as sometimes it costs more to be guaranteed safety. Think of reliable transport and a good place to stay as an investment to your wellbeing. “
And that, readers, is how clever ladies from India make their way around the world – fearlessly, efficiently and with a smile.
-Smriti Advani
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