As a tourist, sometimes it is difficult to plan your day and navigate the city you are visiting. You might think that this will be easy because you can just follow the crowds of people walking in one direction and find what they are looking at. But if they all go left when you need to go right, then things can get tricky. Below are some helpful tips for navigating around a city as a tourist.
Know where you’re going and how to get there
One of the first things that you need to do before you travel is to figure out where you are going and learn how to get there. If you have to travel by plane, make sure that you know how to get from the airport to your hotel. In this case, you can try searching the internet using the keywords “taxi Vienna airport Bratislava” to find a ride from the Bratislava airport if Vienna is your destination. You can also do the same to search for a means of transport from any other airport to your accommodation and vice versa.
In addition to this, you also need to know how close certain places are to each other. If you want to visit a museum, for example, it is best if you can walk there instead of taking a cab or train because the streets might be hard to navigate and going by public transportation will take too long anyway. You should already have an idea about where your hotel is in your destination, but if you are not sure then you should take a taxi.
Get an offline map
While you can always figure out a place with the help of the internet, what happens when you lose connection? This is often the case when you travel abroad which is why you need to download an offline map of the city you are visiting. This is very important because it will help you get around even if your phone cannot connect online or when something corrupts your data and wipes out everything that is on there, including Google Maps. Make sure to download a map before arriving at where you’re going so that it can be saved on your smartphone.
Know the language and culture
While you might be able to get around by just following everyone else, it is still best that you understand what locals say. Most of them will not speak English so knowing a few words in their native tongue can go a long way. If you want to learn how to greet people or if they have any phrases that tourists should know, then you should research this before your trip. This will also help you avoid any embarrassing situations when asking for directions or food because you can read the menu and order what’s inside instead of pointing at random items like a tourist would do.
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Figure out what time zone the place you’re going is in
If you have to travel abroad, you have to make sure that you are aware of the time zone difference. This is because if you are in an Eastern European country like Slovakia, it means that the sun will rise and set three hours ahead of your current location. Meaning, when it’s 11 am where you come from, then it’s 2 pm in Bratislava which might make exploring difficult since most touristy destinations close earlier than that.
Carry enough money with you
Finally, you should also carry enough money with you when traveling. The last thing that you want is to be stranded in a foreign country because your credit card does not work or there are no ATMs nearby. Also, you should carry the currency of the place where you’re going since sometimes people might see what currency you have and try to scam you. In addition to this, try not to wear expensive clothes or jewelry so as not to attract attention from thieves.
The key to an ultimate travel experience is preparation. This includes knowing where you are going and how to get there, as well as making sure you have a map or GPS with you just in case. It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the language, culture, and time zone of your destination and make sure you are carrying enough cash with you. You should also be aware of your surroundings so that if something happens it doesn’t happen unexpectedly. These simple hacks should help make travel – whether for work or pleasure – less stressful!
