Expect excitement. Quit whining.

Something worth sharing with those of you who likes to travel. As taken from Travel NST.

1. Enjoy the journey as much as the destination

Oh yes, making the journey can be tiresome, what with the long flight, long drive or ride. Delays and crowds can get on your nerves too. All these are to be expected. So plan ahead to make your journey as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Avoid getting all knotted up or you’ll spoil your holiday even before it starts. Bring a good book to read, your laptop, game sets or whatever gadget that will keep you happy and occupied. Or use the time to catch up on your sleep. Bring eye shades and a U-shaped neck support to help you sleep well. Nothing beats arriving at a destination feeling refreshed and energetic.

2. Leave your comfort zone behind

Don’t just stay in the hotel room to watch TV or lie in bed and listen to music. You take vacations once in a while, so it doesn’t make sense to travel far only to sit in a hotel room or sip coffee in the coffeehouse. You can do these back home. Think of being a real traveller, not a mere tourist. See as much as you can of the new country and learn about its people and their way of life. Adapt yourself to the new environment. A successful traveller will return home enriched with new experiences and friendships forged in lands afar.

3. Plan ahead but be spontaneous too

Yes, you need to plan ahead and have an itinerary so that you can fully appreciate what it is that you’ve come to see in a foreign place. An important part of the planning is to read lots of information about your destination. But don’t be too rigid. If you like a place a lot, spend more time to just wander around. Often the best discoveries happen when you follow your heart (and mind) rather than your itinerary.

4. Avoid doing too much

Tourists often make the mistake of trying to see and do too much with the result that they end up seeing and enjoying very little. It is better to see fewer places but to know them really well. Zero in on a few experiences and get the most out of them. Adventure overload will leave you dazed. Try to spend at least two nights in a place and visit several places from one central location. If you are on the move everyday and changing hotel rooms every night just to be able to visit more places, you’ll get all stressed up from just the packing and unpacking.

5. Go where the locals go and learn some local words

Don’t stick to tourist trails. Get to know some locals who can give you tips on the best places to eat and hang out or on where to go for great fun and adventure. Visit villages, markets and local eateries. Experience local flavour that will leave you with a more lasting memory. Learning a few words of the local language is useful too. The locals will love your making the effort and they’ll go out of their way to help you. Ask them lots of questions to get the most out of your holiday experience.

6. Expect excitement. Quit whining

Go with anticipation, not apprehension. Don’t find fault in everything and everyone. When you set out with a positive mind to seek excitement from new places and experiences, you’ll be surprised at how often your expectations will come true. Just let your mind be free, open, willing and receptive to new ideas or the way of life of others. When you complain frequently and expect to have a bad time, you’ll miss out on opportunities for better things to come along. Remember, you are the one who will make or break your holiday, so plan to be positive.

7. Be aware of security at all times

Nothing can spoil a holiday more than being attacked by muggers, and losing your money, passport or other possessions. Buy travel insurance so you can make a claim on losses, injury or inconveniences suffered. Use a money belt, locker, hotel safe, etc. Don’t keep all your money or cards in one place. Make photocopy of your passport and carry it along. It’ll come in handy if you do lose your original passport. As you keep your eyes open to everything that’s new or exciting around you, also keep your alarm antenna up to detect fraudsters and danger.

So are you an aunty-tourist or a chic traveller? :D