Tips acquired in international travel

 

A pen is the international travel equivalent of the Hitchhiker's Guide saying to always have a towel. I mean, having a towel is great, but a pen is even more important. You never know when you'll need to write something down, and opening random pockets in your bags, struggling to locate a pen is just... not ideal.

But beyond that, here are a few tips I've acquired in my years of traveling internationally, especially in Africa.

1) Always verify verbally, with a person, what you see with your eyes. If it says "Paris" above the gate, walk up to the person at the gate and ask, "Where's this gate going?" 

2) Avoid yes or no questions, because you might get an accidental yes. Don't ask, "Is this going to Paris?" because they might just say yes. Did they hear you properly? Did they understand you? Who knows. Ask a question that requires an answer that demonstrates understanding and accuracy.

3) When in doubt, find other people traveling on your flight and form a pack. One person is more likely to miss a flight/get wrong information than a group of 10.

4) Politeness: don't forget to always be polite with everyone who's serving in the travel industry. Not only is it just human decency, you're also more likely to be helped if you're kind to workers.

5) Firmness: being polite is import, but don't be a pushover. If you have flexibility, demonstrate it. If you don't, communicate it. Know what is normal and expected, and push to get it even if it feels like you're being demanding.

6) Food, sleep, information, water -- the basics are still the basics. Arriving at your destination dehydrated and with low blood sugar isn't likely to make the arrival paperwork, interviews, bags, and transportation go smoothly. So make sure you're still drinking water, even if it means paying for a bottle or two. Stretch your legs when you need to. Have some non-sugary snacks on hand. And if it's night time in a safe location (decent airport or quiet airplane), close your eyes. Even if you don't sleep, a little recovery time is good for you.

Well, that's my top tips for now! I might need to do a later version with top tips for traveling when a plague is circling the globe... but hopefully the need for that information will soon disappear.