If you’re looking for practical tips for travel days, whether you’re traveling from city to city or around the globe, this article offers simple advice to help you manage your travel days more efficiently.
Embracing the Nomadic Lifestyle: Lessons from My Travels
During my first five-and-a-half-month journey as a world nomad, I experienced travel by plane, train, bus, boat, and mini-van. Each mode of transportation presented unique challenges. However, since most of my travel was by bus, this article focuses on bus travel tips.
Go with the Flow on Travel Days
When traveling for extended periods, travel days require a flexible mindset. You can’t rush them or predict everything. Simply know where you need to be, get on the bus, and go with the flow.
Expect the Unexpected: My Bus Travel Experiences
Over five months, I encountered clean, crowded, old, and overfilled buses—like mini-vans packed with leaking fish containers and a 12-seat van carrying 16 people. I even experienced a bus breakdown on the side of the road in rural Cambodia, an hour and a half from the Thailand border.
Key Questions to Consider
- Will the bus be quiet?
- Will the ride be smooth?
- Will the driver get you there on time?
- When will the bus stop for food or bathroom breaks?
These questions often get answered during the trip. The world is inconsistent, and so are travel days. Adjusting to these uncertainties is crucial for a successful journey.
Essential Tips for Bus Travel Days
- Stay Hydrated: Bring water or a drink.
- Freshen Up: Carry breath mints.
- Prepare for Long Rides: Be ready for extended periods without stops.
- Pack Snacks: You never know when and where the bus will stop.
- Carry Cash: Have cash for rest areas and change for bathrooms.
- Charge Your Devices: Ensure your phone and book reader are fully charged.
- Plan Your Arrival: Know how you’ll get to your hotel once you arrive.
Simplify Your Travel Goals
Make it your goal to reach your next destination and settle into your hotel. Avoid making grand plans about sightseeing immediately after arrival. This way, you avoid potential disappointment and enjoy any extra activities as bonuses when things go smoothly.
Enjoy the Journey
Remember, travel days are part of the adventure. Embrace the journey, and everything else you get to do and see will be a bonus.
Until next time, enjoy life’s journey.
Joseph O’Brien
Proud of your tenacity cuz. I love travel too. Not as brave as you though!
Thanks for the nice comment. Remember, it’s only scary before you try. Hope all is well. Thanks again.