What has travel taught you?

[Denali]

Put rest days into your schedule, to avoid getting exhausted or sick

If going with someone or a group its OK and you should have days where you go do your thing and dont follow each other around like lemmings. Even my husband and I have "love you but dont want to talk to you" time out periods. If travelling with friends or family, having a day without seeing each other can save your friendship long term

Do not travel without travel insurance and read the fine print to educate yourself so your family doesnt need to create a gofundme

 

[VPS]

Put rest days into your schedule, to avoid getting exhausted or sick

Absolutely

 

[Happy Dude]

It's taught me that the world is an incredible amazing place and Australia is the most beautiful and least discriminatory/racist country in it.

 

[Muppet501st]

Always have 1 or 2 backup credit cards.

 

[Mattg]

Loving all the lessons shared so far in this thread.

Just a friendly reminder that the topic of this thread is "what has travelling overseas taught you?", rather than "what advice would you give someone planning a trip?" (Note the subtle difference)

 

[SYD]

Always have 1 or 2 backup credit cards.

and DCs!

No excuse not to have at least one. There are many with zero Int TX fees!

As well preloaded cards like Wise etc - if that’s your thing.

 

[kpc]

1. Avoid one night stays...2 nights should be the mininum. For longer trips, travel rest days are very important.
2. Bring all the meds you need from home incl antidiarrhoeals, antbiotics, cold stuff etc.. when you are sick in a non English speaking country, it will be a God send!
3. Buy prepaid SIm cards / eSims so you are connected as soon as the plane lands.
4.I was critical of Smart Traveller above but I do use it for checkihg the Visa situation and the correct link to apply for one if needed. Last year it had nothing on Reunion, so I checked the Canadian equivalent.
5. Download and use ride share apps eg Uber, Didi, Bolt, Grab or other local ones...sorts out the language barrier, foreign cutrency issues and being ripped off by airport taxis. Having said that, last month at La Paz airport was unable to get an Uber so caught a taxi into town which was cheaper than Uber...did have to redraw cash from airport ATM and pay the extortionate ATM fee though

 

[Forg]

No country is ruled by ducks.
If the country you are in appears to be ruled by ducks, you are likely being conned.
Do not put that $100 on that bet for Prince Canard to win the battle, he is likely not a real prince and the odds are not as they appear …

 

[blackcat20]

It's not wrong, it's just different.

 

[clifford]

Travel has taught me that when planning for travel, always plan that the worst might occur. It sometimes has, and you have to be pretty quick thinking on your feet (or just lucky) to get around it without too much damage,

I always travel with 2 passports (AU and UK) and ensure I have ample USD and EUR cash. Flight bookings are to places with alternative options should the need be there and there also needs to be several otions with hotels and ground transport.

Of course, all of this planning can go pear shaped when the likes of POTUS decides they want to bomb the cough out of somewhere (a non-political observation, I'd like to mention).