Invalid ID? Forgot to renew your passport? Travelling is great, new cultures, new friends, seeing amazing sights, getting unique experiences, enjoying exciting food – but sometimes something happens that makes the journey far from perfect – see here what we at Daily Waffle think makes traveling tiresome – and how to avoid those things!
1. Packing your suitcase
To pack a suitcase is actually an art form. For short weekend trips, this is usually not a problem, but when we travel to a place where the climate varies greatly, it can get complicated. Sometimes we are optimistic and pack too little, sometimes we sit on our suitcase to close it! Want to get some extra space in your bag? Make sure to watch this suitcase packing video.
2. Delays
You had everything planned: You should arrive in perfect time to your destination, go to the hotel, take a stroll through the city, go out to eat .. But no, in fact, sitting still at the airport, and listening to the “heavenly little voice “announcing that your flight is delayed. So far. The plane you were to switch to? Forget about that! Make sure to bring some entertainment for unexpected delays and remember that many airlines give free vouchers for food and hotels – even monetary compensation – if you are delayed.
3. Jetlag
Some handle jetlag better than others, but for many jetlag is what they hate most about traveling. It is said that it is worse to flying east, since it takes many hours to adjust to the new time zone. Patience and relaxation in the first days at the new destination are usually one of the only ways to cope with jetlag, but if you are smart, you book flight tickets and sleep when it is night in the place you are visiting. If you want to improve your chances of sleeping in those economy seats, here are a few tips to survive a long flight.
4. No one understands you
“Lost in translation”. That is probably how many travellers feel at one time or another. In countries like China, where you cannot make yourself understood, often not even through gestures and pointing – well, there you may feel that you have landed on a completely different planet. It is extra hard in situations where for example you need a toilet, something to drink or eat and cannot find it yourself, or communicate your needs with explicit gestures and sounds. The best advice is to include a small travel phrase book, preferably one with fixed expressions in it, so you can point. You can also download the free app Anki for your smartphone – it displays the map in the original language, which can also be useful when pointing!
5. Vendors who flock to you like zombies
Sometimes it feels like you have a horde of zombies after you. In some countries, you barely step out of the airport bus until they are there and want to sell anything. Hotels, tours, postcards .. A good trick is that you do not look them in the eye, and you go as fast as possible, but it can be difficult when even that does not work.
6. Public Toilets
Public toilets in some parts of the world can really be a high-risk mission. Questionable cleaning, a simple hole in the ground, no lock on the door and no place to hang the backpack, are some examples of things you may encounter. Oh, and of course: no toilet paper. Expert advice: Always carry a roll of toilet paper with you in case of an emergency. It really is a true friend in need. You may want to remove the cardboard in the middle of the roll, and press it flat in your bag – the paper works just as well.
7. The camera’s battery runs out at just the wrong time
You are standing at Machu Picchu, and getting ready to take the long-awaited epic picture when the camera battery dies. The solution is to take a spare battery with you, or charge by phone (which hopefully is charged) – or simply take a picture with your phone.
8. Off and on, and off, and on … the annoying backpacks
Yes, backpacks can be handy, but the whole manoeuvre up having to take it off and on each time you need something or put something in place, can be incredibly annoying. For some reason, you always need just the things you have not put in the pockets. Carry a waist bag for the most necessary – preferably hidden under clothing – there is no need to show that you have your essential belongings close by. A good tip is also to get yourself some packing cubes to get your backpack even more organised.
9. Changing planes
Sometimes booking a flight with a few connecting flights can help you save on your travel budget. However, it also means that you get to spend a lot of time in different airports, which are not all super cozy. Be sure to bring a good book, electronic gadgets and enormous patience, so you can pass the time! Also, if the price difference for the ticket is small, go for the more direct flights, so you do not end up spending the saved money in airports.
10. Saying goodbye
Something it can be really difficult to travel and say goodbye to people you have met on the trip. Sometimes you meet someone you really like, and that you want to take home. Leaving can be hard, especially if the person lives far away, and it is not even certain that you will meet ever again. Fortunately, the Internet comes to your rescue, and you can usually continue the friendship through social media.
