Photo courtesy of Chris Guillebeau 13 Ways to Simplify International Travel
Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Chris Guillebeau of The Art of Nonconformity, the author of the Unconventional Guide to Discount Airfare.
I’m writing from my hotel balcony in Giza City, Egypt – just outside Cairo, and the site of the historic Pyramids. The sun is coming up right now, and the view is great. There’s only one problem:
A lot of other visitors here are unhappy.
They’re on vacation, far away from home, but they’re not enjoying themselves. Between the heat and the hassles, something has gone wrong… and unfortunately, the problem is not unique to Egypt.
From departure lounges all over the world to nice hotels on every continent, I see the same thing no matter where I go: some people are having the time of their lives, and others, well, would rather be at home.
There are probably several reasons for this phenomenon of unhappy tourists, but one of them is that international travel can be overly stressful and unnecessarily complicated. If travel becomes too complicated, you can end up defeating yourself before any external pressures even arrive.
To counter the stress, here are 5 “big-picture” strategies and 8 specific, practical tips you can use to simplify your next big trip. Some of them will help you save time and money – both worthy goals – but all will help you cut out some of the stress.
5 Big-Picture Strategies
Create Your Own Travel Philosophy - Prioritize what’s important to you, and plan your trip according to that. A lot of people have expectations or ideas about travel that they have received from others. I think it’s better to decide for yourself what you value about travel as well as how you like to travel.
As for me, I like to do it all. I go between nice hotels like the one I’m at in Egypt and $10 hostels… or even sleeping on the floor of airports from Dallas to Singapore. Yes, I know it’s crazy, but that’s the point – I travel on my own terms. Why not discover what you enjoy and do that?
Become comfortable with some amounts of stress – I don’t think it’s possible to travel completely stress-free; I’m more interested in finding a low-stress solution. You might be able to avoid any stress at all by escaping reality on a deserted island, but that kind of trip is rarely gratifying in the end. Focus instead on reducing stress by making simple choices.
Goal-Setting and Vacations – It sounds strange to some, but I suspect many Zen Habits readers will “get it” – I recommend setting a few personal goals for every trip, even a vacation. My goals may be as simple as running a few miles every day or writing two pages in my journal every morning, or they may be more detailed like completing a writing project I’ve been working on. If you have daily habits of productivity and goal-setting, you don’t need to completely set them aside just because you’re away from home.
Forgive yourself for mistakes – I’ve been to 94 countries so far in my quest to visit every country in the world, and I’ve probably made every mistake you can think of. A couple of months ago in between visits to Iraq and Eastern Europe, I even double-booked myself on two completely non-refundable flights home to Seattle. Yes, I assure you – if a travel mistake is possible, I have most likely made it. Along the way, I’ve learned that whenever I do something stupid, I have to let it go at some point.
Travel Zen – Even if you didn’t make the mistake, lots of disruptions and challenges can easily set you back while you’re in a distant land. Here’s where I invoke the Travel Zen mantra: “Life is an adventure.” If I wanted routine, I could have stayed home.
8 Practical Tips
Most tickets are changeable, no matter what is written on them. If you run into trouble, don’t give up – the airlines can make exceptions under the right circumstances. It doesn’t always work, but good things often come to those who are persistent. In an emergency, you may have better luck showing up at the airport to plead your case instead of calling customer service on the phone.
Courier and consolidator deals are long-gone, but there are other alternatives. Sadly, most of the old “Fly Anywhere as an Airline Courier” opportunities are now travel legends, thanks to the perfect storm of high fuel prices, globalization, and the post-9/11 travel environment. What should you do instead? Think budget airlines (more on that below), flexible travel dates, and buses or trains for trips of shorter distances.
Avoid overcrowded hubs to lower stress and save on taxes. Traveling through Heathrow airport (LHR) in London and Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport in Paris is typically far more stressful than other airports. If you can skip them and choose a different routing, do. Also, these hubs (especially Heathrow) have the highest taxes in all of Europe. If you’re wondering why your flight to England costs so much, it’s because an average of $400 in taxes is added to the base ticket price. Good alternatives, in terms of less stress and lower taxes, include Frankfurt (FRA), Amsterdam (AMS), and my personal favorite – Vienna (VIE).
In Europe and Asia, budget airlines flourish more than in North America. The great site Attitude Travel includes a directory of every budget airline on both continents. Most of these airlines don’t show up when you look for flights on travel search engines, so it pays to check on all your options before booking a more expensive flight or train ride.
Creative lodging opportunities can completely alter how you travel. Hostels are not always the noisy, youth-only dorm rooms that many people think of – many of them have private rooms with bathrooms included, and they almost always cost less than hotels. Homestays are also getting more popular, allowing you a chance to save money and easily meet new people. Again, this kind of thinking goes back to the travel philosophy idea – figure out how you like to travel, and find a way to make that happen.
Create a strategy for your mileage earning. Never pass up an opportunity to earn Frequent Flyer miles, even if you don’t expect to fly that airline again. I’ve used miles for countless trips across the Atlantic, in addition to flights to Africa, Mongolia, and others. With a careful strategy for earning miles over time, you can do the same thing. If necessary, you can avoid expiration dates for your miles by buying a small amount of miles for less than $20 every year – or just make sure there is some kind of activity on the account.
If possible, consider regional arbitrage. I save a great deal of money by beginning most of my Round-the-World trips from Southeast Asia. Even simple round-trip tickets are usually less expensive when purchased outside of North American and Europe, so even when traveling to or from the U.S., I make sure to buy the ticket elsewhere.
(For me, this helps me simplify, but if you don’t travel that much, it might make your life more complicated… so as they say, your mileage may vary.)
Fly three places for the price of one – With a regional pass such as the Circle Pacific fare or the South America Visitor Pass, you can often get multiple flights for just slightly more (sometimes even less, ironically) than a single, round-trip ticket. One tip: because these products don’t usually pay commission, most travel agents won’t help with them. You’ll need to learn more about different kinds of passes and then contact the airline directly to book when you’re ready.
***
Your Perspective
If you’re willing to be creative, you can still get some great deals out there, simplifying your travel while lowering costs at the same time. I do so all the time, regardless of oil prices, bankrupt airlines, and a weakening economy.
Lastly, remember to be grateful. In my last post over here, I introduced the Zen Habits community to a gratefulness challenge. Many of you took up the mantle and wrote about what you were grateful for. Although it’s easy to forget, choosing to be grateful has helped me through a lot of difficult travel situations.
Now it’s your turn to simplify. How do you like to travel? What would you add to this post? Feel free to share your own ideas in the comments section.
World traveler Chris Guillebeau writes at The Art of Nonconformity. From 2002-2006 he worked as an aid worker in West Africa, and over the next five years he will be visiting every country in the world. His ebook, the Unconventional Guide to Discount Airfare, provides 29-pages of additional travel tips and strategies.
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- Posted on 3 October 2008 in Simplicity |
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Comments (41)
Simple Sapien Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 5:23 am
I think the problem with most people today is that they feel the need to explore the world before even exploring their own town or city! Have you been to every restaurant, store, park, mall, landmark, or major attraction in your city? Most people have not.
If you really want to keep your travelling simple, stay local. You will find things around the corner that are more worthwhile than thousands of miles away and save time and money in the process!
Great post for the international travellers though. Excellent advice for setting your own travelling goals and not basing them on others experiences or suggestions.
- Jack Rugile
Simple Sapien
Praveen Sattaru Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 6:08 am
Travelling places is so much fun. But a little bit of planning/Research, of what to do when you reach is good.
Victoria Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 6:20 am
I wish so many travellers would follow your philosophy. One thing I would definitely add to this is don’t sweat the small stuff. I have met too many travellers who worry that they’re getting charged 10c for a cup of tea when the locals are getting charged 5c. You don’t want to get ripped off, but don’t let it spoil your experience of the country or more importantly, think that everyone in that country is trying to rip you off.
monike Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 6:25 am
@Simple Sapien
I disagree. The most important things about my hometown and country I learned abroad. If you wanna explore something you have to change your perspective and point of view several times. That’s my opinion. And travelling is NOT about visiting every maybe-interesting spot. Not at all.
Shamelle - TheEnhanceLife Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 6:38 am
I have been to 5 countries so far and I really enjoy traveling and getting to know and experience difference cultures.
When it comes to air travel.. well it has been a mixed bag for me. All with some crappy moments there have been some good ones as well.
Anyways.. This post is useful. The “Fly three places for the price of one” sounds appealing. Will check it out.
Thank you for sharing these tips.
Krewetka Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 6:49 am
Great article :) You mentioned homestays like http://www.homelink.org/ but there are also other even better way to meet local people and find free place to stay when you travel…especially when you are just few days in one place and then move to another city on the way.
It’s more than just finding place to stay, it’s also about meeting people, sightseeing with them and going to the local places you can’t find in guidebooks :)
http://couchsurfing.com and http://hospitalityclub.org
I highly recommend everyone to try :)
Hayden Tompkins Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 7:41 am
I LOVE couchsurfing [dot] com. It’s like the Homestay thing he mentioned.
Daniel Kemp Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 8:54 am
@Jack Rugile
Dude I totally agree with you. Cities around the world are pretty much the same around the world. They have the same fast food restaurants but different architecture.
If I want to relax on a beach I can just go with my parents to the beach in the summer for free rather than spending $1000 to go to some country like Dominican Republic.
If I want to see some cool architecture then I can go down some street I’ve never been before and I can probably find something.
Places like Egypt though would be cool cause I ain’t got no pyramids in my city.
Daniel Kemp
The Daily Minder Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 9:07 am
I wrote a post similar to this one a few days ago. I really like the ideas you have thought up. They will be useful on my trips to India!
Here is mine:
http://thedailymind.com/how-to/18-of-my-best-travel-tips-to-make-your-holiday-truly-amazing/
Reel Compton Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 9:24 am
Good post. When I have traveled, particularly out of the States, I find you have to go with the flow and check expectations at the door. While there is always an added culture shock to add to the regular stress of traveling, it can often be a wonderful eye-opening experience. It is all in how you approach it!
Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 10:02 am
Yeah, travelling can really test one’s patience and ability to deal with stress. But I try to take everything in stride when I travel internaitonally. I bring plenty to read, listen to, and watch, to keep me distracted. It’s a great opportunity to cath up on reading!
Emma Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 10:39 am
The only stress I tend to feel during international travel is the stress of catching my transfers in time. Maybe the stress of international travel is something that follows international travel and meeting foreign cultures having been a big deal while growing up? I live closer to the capital cities of half a dozen other nations than I do my own.
That said, I was sometimes very stressed during a visit to the USA that ended last week. The stress came from being in such a communally unwelcoming place (though individually very welcoming), and constantly being made to feel unsafe at international hubs or when dealing with authority. I’ve felt more safe hailing a cab as a foreign woman alone in the Middle East. How does one get rid of that sort of stress?
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 10:59 am
I guess the key is to be really prepared if you want to reduce stress while travelling. Book accomodation, car or optional tours in advance. Read up travel guides and books of the place you’re visiting. I also prefer to allow for plenty of luggage space before leaving; just in case, I end up with a great find and need to pack the newly bought item or items in while travelling.
Stacey / Create a Balance Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 11:27 am
It has been too long since I traveled internationally (Chicago to Canada doesn’t count). I miss the adventure, finding ways to lower costs, traveling with strangers that quickly become friends. I hope I soon have a reason to utilize your suggestions.
Tabitha (From Single to Married) Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 11:35 am
Good info. I don’t really care for travelling out-of-the-country simply because of how difficult it can be. I’ll definitely have to look at if differently next time the opportunity presents itself.
Jonathan Mead Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 11:35 am
I’m glad to see some more unconventional tips in your points Chris. I’m currently reading “Vagaboding” by Rolf Potts and I noticed some similarity in your philosophies.
One of the best things I’ve learned is: don’t set limits.
Maria | Never the Same River Twice Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 11:47 am
If you are looking to lower your stress level while traveling, it’s great to prepare as much as possible for potential travel nightmares but also to stay flexible and be willing to change your plans.
The people that are the least happy while traveling tend to be the ones that need every minute scheduled and freak out when the schedule is off.
OldStaleNegative Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 12:08 pm
the best advice I ever got re: traveling long distances was to simply realize the journey is part of the trip…If you’re so focused on the “destination” you’ll be missing tons of great experiences along the way and the final destination can never live up to the expectation of “everything will be cool once we get to…”
Christopher Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 12:15 pm
I think one of the most important things you can do to make travel enjoyable is packing light. If you’re not sure you’ll need something, get it there when it comes up. It’s a rare trip when I take more than a couple changes of clothes in a messenger bag, even if I’m gone for a couple weeks. There’s less to carry, less to forget, less to worry about.
And to agree with some of the other points raised - don’t go in to your trip trying to know everything you’re going to to do each day. So much could come up that you never expected, or that activity you thought might consume a whole day might only take up 45 minutes.
Eric Hamm Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 12:18 pm
“Become comfortable with some amounts of stress”
This rings true for me. When I lived in London and my parents would visit I found that when their expectations weren’t adjusted for a little bit of stress they would have a lousy time. But once they realized the inevitability of it, they could go with the flow and start enjoying themselves.
Thanks for sharing this excellent traveling advice. Eric.
Marshall Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 12:32 pm
Excellent post, Chris. I’ve been reading your blog and always enjoy your perspective on things, but this post particularly is like a gold mine, only I didn’t really have to dig that much to get the gold.
My favorite is the “fly three places for the price of one” advice. Good stuff.
Leo, thanks for having Chris post here.
Maya Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 12:35 pm
This is great advice! I really like the one about creating our own travel philosophy …esp with kids. Having flown across the world or two major international trips (and several in the US) with my kids (my older one is just 2), it becomes extremely important to have a philosophy and not an agenda.
A couple of things that really work for us:
1. Spend time with locals - it is really refreshing and extremely humbling. And locals give such a rich experience exposing us to secrets that books rarely do. And we get to create some lasting relationships!
2. Ask for help. Anywhere. Everywhere.
Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 14:06 pm
Egypt is beautiful! I was there last year and had a blast. Even wake-up calls at 00:30 to catch early morning flights (including getting delayed on Christmas day because the French president needed the runway to himself) couldn’t get me down!
(www.varsityblah.com/cape-to-cairo/)
CJ Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 14:16 pm
A couple of sites I love are:
couchsurfer.com and backpacker.com
they are great for those ‘hostel’ type cities.
Hristo Deshev Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 15:13 pm
I want to add to the “do not fly via the Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport” recommendation. Truly the most horrible airport I’ve ever been to. Avoid at all cost.
morgin1013 Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 15:34 pm
I had a friend who was traveling to Croatia recently (in Europe if your not familiar with the country) and it was actually WAY cheaper for him to book 2 round trip flights starting in Croatia traveling to America then to book one round trip ticket out of Houston, TX to Croatia. He obviously wasn’t going to use 2 of the flights but he saved over $600 by booking the flights this way. Be creative when making your arraignments you’ll be surprised how much money you can save.
Traci Hiebert Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 16:07 pm
Traveling internationally means you are traveling outside of your comfort zone. One trave tip I would offer is to realize that you are not going to be in a place that is like the one you live in. Always remember you are a guest in another country and they do things differently…not wrong, just different. Avoid stress by never expecting the same treatment of issues or situations the way you are accustomed to at home.
Relax, enjoy and learn from the experience!
Soul Dancer Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 16:35 pm
I’ve discovered a FABO tip to finally end that, “What do I do with my extra $43.89″ in any currency you wish!
It all happened one afternoon when I checked out of a hotel in a bit of a hurry. I happened to dump all my extra (local) change onto the desk while I searched for something. The kind Clerk ask, “Would you like me to apply that spare change to your account?” (She knew I was off to the airport.)
I said - SURE - thanks! (I kept out a couple bills to tip taxi’s, etc.) The rest went onto the hotel bill. The ol’ credit card soaked-up the rest!
Yes, it’s true one can offer any extras to local folks in need. I often do this with leftover coins, etc. This tip works when you’ve a sizable amount that quickly reduces in size when exchange-fees come rolling along . . .
Enjoy ;)
Namaste
sd
TheAndySan Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 17:06 pm
I can’t wait to start traveling! But first, I need some money. I’m working on making passive income online so that I don’t have to work for a living and so I have the free time as well as the money to travel.
TheAndySan
http://www.theandysan.com
FrugalNYC Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 19:26 pm
I agree with Simple Sapien’s comment. Staying local does make it much simpler. There are so many places and things that I have not seen in NYC, I’ve put up several posts about places to visit in NYc and will continue to do so for anyone interested.
Great tips on international travel. Though I don’t know if I can take advantage of all the advice, I can take certain aspects of it to heart. Like others I hope to utilize the three trips for the price of one.
Darren Alff - Bicycle Touring Pro Says:
October 3rd, 2008, 23:45 pm
Running a site about bicycle travel, I hear from people who have all sorts of different travel needs, wants, and desires. Some people like to camp, while others would never consider such a thing. Some people like the community that is built around hostels, while others prefer to go it alone and camp in the bushes (what I call, “stealth camping”). I’m always a little peeved when I suggest one form of travel and I get an email or comment from someone who feels they have to write to me to tell me I am wrong in encouraging others to travel this way. Like you said in thie article, I think the way you travel is a personal choice. If you want to travel one way, that’s fine… but that way may not be right for me… or the next person. Thank you for your tips and ideas. I think I am going to share this post with my readers. Keep up the good work… and enjoy Egypt for me!
Amelia Burton Says:
October 4th, 2008, 7:56 am
Thanks, I am about to embark on a 10 week trip of the US as a fitness coach for one of my clients, and a lot of these tips will come in handy!
I definitely agree that travel is an adventure. If you want routine, stay at home!
Amelia
Alison Wiley Says:
October 4th, 2008, 14:05 pm
While this piece gives some great advice, and I do love to think and travel outside-the-box, I see an embedded assumption that’s from the old school. That assumption is that we’re entitled to travel long distances, and that we don’t need to consider the impact our travel has on the world that we so love to explore. Travel is a major source of the carbon dioxide that causes global warming. I suggest we should be measuring our carbon footprints and reducing them.
I know it isn’t fun to hear this! Please let me hear from you on this topic at http://www.diamondcutlife.org/rethinking-the-entitlement-of-travel/
Success Professor Says:
October 4th, 2008, 14:22 pm
Chris,
Great article. I almost always set travel goals - usually a certain number of books to read. In fact, on any overseas flight I attempt to read one entire book between the flights (it helps that I live in the middle of Canada and I have to fly 2-3 hours to get to the start of an overseas flight!).
My wife and I enjoy traveling together. Our travel philosophy is to mix relaxation with adventure and travel frugally while not being afraid to spend money for something we really want to do.
Rahul Says:
October 4th, 2008, 14:59 pm
Oh man… i like to travel, but due to the lack of finances it gets restricted to few hundred kilometers only. i’d love to travel to new places too.
Marelisa Says:
October 4th, 2008, 17:24 pm
Hi Chris: My father lived in Egypt for a couple of years and I visited him a few times. I absolutely loved it.
Heathrow and Gatwick have something called Yotel which is basically a hotel where the rooms are like small cabins, and they’re located right inside the airport terminals. You can rent them for a few hours and shower and take a nap before catching your connection flight. It doesn’t make traveling cheaper, but it certainly makes it more comfortable (sitting in an airport lounge for hours waiting for your next flight, after just having spent hours cooped up in a plane, is the worst; I know, I’ve done it many times).
Peter Lepacus Says:
October 5th, 2008, 17:14 pm
I am always surprised by all the business travelers who never stop and take 5 minutes to explore the city they are in. It’s such a shame. Whenever I go anywhere I always take the time to smell the roses, even if it’s just around the corner. The world has so much to offer.
bizlinks Says:
October 6th, 2008, 9:39 am
yr blog is a wonderful discovery
i stumbled upon it
what do you mean by zen?
are you a practitioner of zen?
what is the sound of a one hand clap?
what countries have you got left to discover?
so many questions so little time!
cmr Says:
October 6th, 2008, 10:00 am
Don’t travel - especially long haul. The CO2 emissions are destroying the planet.
Simon Jones Says:
October 9th, 2008, 9:16 am
Now this was a handy post. I’m going to be traveling to Australia over Christmas and thus far all I have organized is the flight! That’s it, I’m downing tools and planning right after I’ve got done cleaning my desk and having sex (as per the 10 Simple Ways to Live a Less Stressful Life post).
Dave Says:
October 9th, 2008, 21:50 pm
Great information. Travelling light is probably the single biggest thing in minimizing travel hassles. I travel carry on whenever possible with no checked baggage and use a small zip up day planner in transit with all customs forms, passport, pen, in it. The day planner goes into the carry on bag, the passport and wallet goes into a neck carrier before leaving the airport. There is only enough cash in pocket to buy lunch and a taxi.
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