Excellent advice.
I grew up in Texas and made zillions of forays into Mexico. If I’d never done any drinking and elbow rubbing in some lively-but-sleazy little cantinas, I’d have been just another dumbass gringo. As it was, I was often treated like a pale-skinned distant cousin (with a child’s grasp of Spanish) rather than a foreigner.
I’ve learned that I don’t need all the shit I carry. Pack light, lighter than you think is possible, then take some stuff out and leave it. My son spent 4 days in Rome with only the clothes on his back (airline lost his luggage), had a good time and survived.
Two reasons for traveling light: 1) A trip is so much more enjoyable when you can move from place to place without giving your luggage all of your attention. 2) The whole point is to get away from where you are.
the travel light thing is very true -
make your luggage a back pack. Wheelie thingies dont work well unless there is pavement, you will inevitablly have to haul your own luggage at some point, and a backpack is easier to manage than luggage in a crowd. I have one that has a double zippy that allows the use of a lock so it cant be casually rummaged through.
Microfiber is god. It is light, crushable, doesnt need ironing and dries reasonably fast - pair it with a small tube of biodegradeable laundry detergent [cant remember the brand, but it is in a toothpaste like tube] and a spool of cording to make an impromptu laundry line, you dont have to take as much clothing. In a pinch a good rule of thumb is one outfit on, one off, and one hanging up drying over night. I like to double the amount of socks and underwear though. ALWAYS pack at least one full outfit in gallon ziplock bags to keep them dry. I like to keep a full set of socks and underwear zippy bagged to keep them dry.
Lush makes a killer solid bar soap, and a decent solid bar antiperspirant/deodorant. No liquid, no leaks.
Always pack foot powder, and those spiffy moleskin bandaids to protect foot blisters. Take care of your feet, and it makes the trip a lot more pleasant.
If you have a doctor that is compliant, have him script you travel meds - anti emetic, anti diarheal some lowlevel pain killers, perhaps an antibiotic. Have him provide an extra paper prescription for any med you take on a routine basis. In a pinch I think most US citizens can throw themselves on the mercy of our military and get them filled on a military base in an emergency. Not sure how an american scrip would be recieved by a german apothecarist…and if you have a crhonic condition, perhaps a precis of your medical history. I always have medicalert tags =)
If you are a woman that bleeds monthly, get 3 diva cups and several of the packs of baby wipes, and some zippy bags to carry the diva cups in. OR you might consider going to your doc and getting something like norethindrone to supress the menses while on the trip. Getting and disposing of sanitary crap is a royal pain in the ass if you do not speak the language and many toilet systems do not support flushing anything …
There are the Immutable Laws of the Universe, and then there is My Own Cultural Baggage, and the second group is a lot bigger than the first.
This. I might very well be biased, though, as I get horrible motion sickness. Then, I will have horrid diarrhea because of the change in the local water’s bacteria. All in all, I don’t have a good time.
I lived in Spain for a year and a half. Mostly, I didn’t enjoy it. Partly this was because of the circumstances, and partly it was because my husband and I were dirt poor at the time. While I couldn’t speak Spanish fluently, I was able to carry on a conversation, thanks to several years of the language in school.
I have to travel occasionally, and I hate it, every part of it, except for the bit of actually seeing my family and friends, and possibly going to an event. But I hate flying, I hate driving, I hate eating at fast food or chain restaurants, I hate waiting in line at the airport, and I hate not being able to sleep in the daytime, as the Flying Spaghetti Monster intended me to. I would probably hate travel a great deal less if I didn’t have digestive issues, but for better or worse, I do have IBD, so I have to deal with it.
I know that many people love travel, so don’t let me put you too far off of it. I think it’s highly overrated, though, as I can find more than enough to do and see in my own city, including being able to interact with different cultures.
I assumed you were making a joke. I was making one in return. Lighten up, Francis.
I’ve been around Europe and eastern Asia - not a ton of traveling, but a fair amount. I’m anxious to do more when I can. I’ve learned that people and places are pretty much the same wherever you go, especially in big cities. I’ve also learned that I hate big cities.
But the main thing I’ve learned so far is that my heart is British. I’d always been an Anglophile - that’s why I visited - heck, check my name for evidence - but I’ve never in my life felt so instantly at home in a place. I went back with my wife and she felt the same way. Coming back to the US, I felt like I was leaving home, not returning. If I die without having spent some of my life living there, I’ll be sorely disappointed.
ETA: This is something I have felt only in Britain. Even in places as close as Germany and France, I left with a feeling of, “Eh, it was nice to visit, but I’m glad to be going home”. And it had nothing to do with the language, as communication was a nonissue.
Related: When they tell you not to drink the water, don’t drink the water. Also be aware that ice is still water (People did look at me funny when I asked for ice in my drink).
When I was out to dinner with my counterpart at the Cairo embassy, I noticed he was having a salad. I thought “brave boy.” Next day, he comes in sick as can be. Up vomiting all night.
Me: Well, I wondered why you were having salad.
Him: ::blank look:: What do you mean?
Me: Surely you know you shouldn’t eat raw vegetables here…?
Him: It wasn’t vegetables, it was salad.
He wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box.
That travelling is the greatest luxury I know.
That people are people, wherever you go.
That good manners, respect, a smile and a sense of humour go a long way.
That just about everywhere is worth visiting, at least once.
That travelling light is an art, and one well worth learning.
That travel guides and books are generally as much use as last week’s garbage.
That it is almost impossible to do too much planning and thinking ahead.
That nothing, absolutely nothing, comes even close to the reality of experiencing a place for yourself. Read books, watch documentaries, view photos… you still have no idea what it’s like to actually be there.
That the ability to entertain anyone, anywhere with a deck of cards is a tremendous asset to have; it opens many doors, wins many friends and favours, and is a great way to get offered free food and drink.
That English people (like me) should be ashamed of our innate disinclination to learn any other language.
That nature can create more beauty than anything even the greatest artists of the world can create, no disrespect to them.
That you will never regret making sure you have access to plenty of emergency money should you happen to need it.
That despite the combined efforts of the world’s media to convince us otherwise, most people, most of the time, are friendly, likeable, well-meaning and kind.
That it would be a very good idea if we stopped labelling one another with primitive tribal tags that amount to ‘us’ and ‘them’, and realised we are one species on one planet, and that national boundaries are imaginary.
That religion is responsible for more problems than it is worth, and the sooner we grow out of these baseless medieval superstitions, the better.
That time spent watching sunrise or sunset is never wasted.
That taking a good book to read is a very good idea.
That the airline and hotel industries are vile, nonsensical, corrupt evils, to be endured as serenely as possible, and viewed strictly as a means to an end.
That it is amazing to ride on a camel.
That 99% of the time, a so-called ‘dangerous’ place is safe enough, if you keep alert, use common sense, and don’t behave in an idiotic or irresponsible way.
That the world is bigger than we can ever imagine or comprehend, and it’s a shame we don’t take better care of it.
That there is no such thing as a language barrier, only thinking barriers.
That the experience won’t match the brochure, but is probably still worth having.
That the differences between societies and cultures are things to be celebrated and enjoyed, by and large, rather than seen as a problem.
That well-known, famous things tend to be well-known and famous for a good reason.
That things never go wrong, they just sometimes go a bit differently; have a five minute moan to vent about it if you must, then move on, adjust to the new reality and enjoy the rest of the trip.
That everyone has their story, and it’s worth listening to.
That ‘normal’ and ‘strange’ are relative terms.
That even if it’s an expensive trip, 12 months after you come back you’ll have forgotten all about paying for it, but the joy, memories and emotional illumination will stay with you forever.
Ianzin I would travel with you any day 
In my experience traveling (Ireland, England, Luxembourg, Spain and Italy) I have found that:
My fellow Americans can do a better job of acclimating themselves to their host country, rather than expecting the opposite.
Italian food in New York City is as good or better than much of what I ate in Italy. Of course this is just the experience I had, but with the notable exception of Ristorante la Giostra in Florence, the food was a bit of a disappointment. We don’t typically follow guidebooks, we like to wander on our own, so it’s the luck of the draw. I would definitely seek out recommendations before my next trip.
Renting a car and driving is the best way to travel, in my opinion. Sure you get lost, spend too much time looking for parking, and occasionally come seriously close to plunging off an incredibly high, steep cliff side into the sea while a local is two inches from your bumper, beeping his little tinny horn. It’s still worth it.
The Spanish government runs a national series of resorts called Paradors. They are often historical buildings converted into hotels. The one we stayed in at Carmona (near Seville) is a 14th-century fortress, updated with modern conveniences, but retaining the architecture. If you go to Spain, definitely look at staying in a Parador. They are all over.
Mostly been said, but:
Deep down, people are the same everywhere.
Learning to say Excuse Me, Please, & Thank You in the local language is sometimes all the language you’ll need (also learning “Do You Speak English” in the local language makes people more willing to communicate with you in English).
That countries other than the US do exist, and they sometimes do things differently, and it’s not wrong.
That while many people might hate the US, if your sitting next to them at the pub, they usually don’t hate you.
Finding where ex-pats hang out and making a few acquaintances can get you invaluable advice.
That some of the worst/weird/crazy/screwed up experiences are going to make the best stories later in life.
Always carry hand sanitizer. :eek:
The first time you go someplace it’s just ‘different’ in very unexpected ways. Doorknobs, toilets, expectations on how and where people walk on sidewalks, which fingers you hold up to count with, any of a thousand local or national things that are different than where you came from. The first few days you may find yourself mentally unsorted by it all, but eventually you’ll adjust (if you are the adjusting kind. If you are not the adjusting kind - don’t travel. Really, it’s not for you.) Keep your eyes and ears open.
Don’t make a big deal about the differences, especially to locals, you’ll only make yourself look like a knucklehead tourist (or a racist/nationalist).
Try to quickly learn a few essential phrases in the local language (Please, Thank You, Excuse Me or the equivalent). It really does provide the lubricant in little day-to-day interactions.
I have learned that the US is very very young as a culture. For us history is a few hundred years old. Outside of the US, history can be very deep and people live in it, carry it around in their pockets. Consequently, our attitudes about modernization/technology/pace-of-change can seem quaint to others. By traveling I have learned to respect that more. We seem so willing to just “move on” and forget about the past (even what happened last year), for them - not so much. I keep that in mind and marvel at the oafishness of our political policies.
Always wear comfortable shoes.
I can sympathize. Most of my traveling was done at a younger age, when I was much more resilient and had more energy. Flying at this age is nothing but tedious, and I refuse to fly coach anymore, although first class is no luxury these days on domestic flights with American carriers.
Budweiser is crap beer.
I’ve been to seventeen countries in Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America. That includes living abroad for a little over three years in two countries. Without getting too detailed:
A few words of the language - especially in a country where few foreigners learn it - will win you a lot of smiles. (Albanians were delighted by my single Albanian phrase, “thank you very much.”)
Stay calm and patient when things don’t go according to plan; freaking out will not help, and it will usually make things worse.
The world is a beautiful place, and worth seeing.
It was educational beyond belief. I have lived in Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
I regret mightily not going to Europe. And I doubt I will ever be able to now.