Taking It All In

The sooner you adapt and welcome your new environment, the sooner you'll enjoy it. Lonely Planet said it rather well in one of their On a Shoestring guides:

"International travel is about experiencing different things. Go out of your way to meet people and get to know them. It's the only way you'll really get to know the countries you visit.

"The same consideration applies to your fellow travelers. A cross-section of travelers can be a lot more interesting than a similar slice of the general [at home] population. And apart from making friends, you'll run into time and again over the years, travel also provides a lot of immediate benefits through the friends you make. You rarely travel alone for long. It always seems that somebody else is going in the same direction as you and you soon end up as part of a group heading to who knows where. Remember that your fellow travelers are the best source of information on what lies ahead.

"The traveler wants to see the country at ground level, to breathe it, experience it, to live it. This usually requires two things the tourist can't provide—more time and less money. If you're going to really travel, it's going to take longer and on a day-to-day basis cost less. So blend in, enjoy yourself, but most important of all, make it easy for the travelers who are going to follow in your footsteps."

Try out different things, especially if they are unique to that particular place or culture. Look for fun and unique places to stay. A room with a balcony, a bungalow on the beach or along a river, a tree house, or a room in an ancient castle can greatly add to your adventure. And, of course, indulge in the local food whenever possible.

Also, try alternative modes of domestic transportation, such as ferries, rickshaws, tuk-tuks, an old bicycle, a hollowed out canoe, a scooter, or an elephant. Hitchhiking is another option, but only in trusted places. (Ask other travelers for advice on this.) If you are using a rental car, motorcycle, or scooter, remember to use the horn. While at home we may only use it in extreme situations. But in most other countries, it’s a way of telling other drivers that you are next to them, or for them to get out of the way. And, do I need to remind you to wear your helmet when riding a motorcycle?

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Get Out of Town

The places outside the tourist hubs are where you'll find all the real cool things. Prices are lower, people friendlier and more genuine, and you'll get a better understanding of what the country is really like. Try taking a long trek into the rural parts of a country. Try camping if the opportunity presents itself. This is where networking with other travelers whom you trust can be most useful. Someone who has spent a good deal of time in a country can suggest places that are not in the travel books, yet are incredible finds. Also, check websites such as www.LaptopHobo.com and Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree forum for up-to-date travel information and great ideas.

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Stay Put

Although constantly moving from one place to another certainly provides you with variety, you end up absorbing very little of each place—while increasing your stress level. It is much cheaper when you stay put, because you will begin to understand prices and take advantage of long-term-stay room rates. Also, the locals may start to take an interest in you, so you may begin to feel a sense of belonging to that place. And after weeks or months of constant travel, laying low for a while will be like a vacation from your travels (which, incidentally, is now your full-time occupation).

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Living among the Locals

Once you're in a place for a while, you will probably meet many local people who will want to learn more about you and where you're from. No doubt, you’ll hear `Hello! What’s your name? Where you from?’ more than a few times during your journey. The waiter at the roof-top restaurant that you've been frequenting could invite you home to meet his family and see his village. These are priceless opportunities. I just love them!

When considering an invitation, apply some caution. But at the same time, try to give people the benefit of the doubt.

[More on this topic in the Full Version of Quit Dreaming & Go!]

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Meeting of the Minds

[More on this topic in the Full Version of Quit Dreaming & Go!]

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Spend Wisely and Appropriately

Even if you are nowhere near short of cash, you should consider spending within the parameters of where you are. If you are in Paris, sure, it's appropriate to have a meal at some expensive restaurant or take a $400-a-night room with a view of the Eiffel Tower (that is if you have the “monnaie”). But if you are in a small town, let's say on an island in Indonesia, try staying in a bamboo house boat. [More on this topic in the Full Version of Quit Dreaming & Go!]