SMU Travel Bug : Reflections: What we Wish we Knew!

SMU Travelbug Questionnaire

1. What are a few obstacles that people should be prepared for when traveling?

SS & SA

Don’t expect to be comfortable or clean or to get a good night’s rest. Prepare to always be on your guard and to be taken advantage of in everything (backpacks are a dead give-away that you’re not from there). Watch this video: We are Backpackers

Set backs. Get it in your mind that stuff will happen. It’s part of traveling and a good way to learn!

2. Ideally, what is the key frame of mind to be in while traveling?

SS & SA

POSITIVE POSITIVE POSITIVE. Attitude is the key to a great experience. Even the rough patches are important to your journey so always expect the unexpected and that things will go wrong…but roll with it!!

3. Is there anything you wish you would or would not have packed?

* sleep sack: from REI instead of a homemade one (you can buy ones that attach to the outside of your backpack).
* facewipes: I should have packed a sufficient amount of facewipes (for those inevitable Face Wipe Showers) and my specific face products (that you can’t just buy traveling) to last for the trip. Take advantage of things you can’t buy overseas.
* student card: I would have left the student card and brought fewer shirts…there were street markets in almost every city with darling, cheap finds. I just wanted to purchase and pack it all!

Less Clothes: fo’ Sho’. I took like ten shirts. I could have done with four. 90% of traveling is fitting in with the locals. Wearing just 4 dirty shirts starts to smell and people won’t take you for a tourist. To really know how to dress while traveling read HERE.
No laptop: if you can help it. Its a super heavy hassle.
A working phone

stationary: I kinda wish I had brought some thank-you notes to leave at most of the places we stayed.
kindle: Traveling with a Kindle is the way to go…especially for this kind of adventure because if your going to a lot of countries it’s difficult to pack a lot of books and/or find just one that has everything you need.
international student card: If I didn’t get it for free, I wouldn’t have purchased it. Hardly any discounts.
less clothes

4. What was the single most important item that you packed?

Besides a passport…??? Daypack, Sleepsack…

Sleep Sack.
mmmmm Ooh or Kindle. The kindle weighs less than an egg and is the size of a church pamphlet. You can get all your books on it from school books to erotica.

Networking cards: were very helpful as we met people every where we went.
Day pack: is essential. Just make sure no one takes it.
Sleep sack: I used it everywhere.

5. Once you arrive in a city, what was the first thing you would always do?

SS & SA

TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE (just look for the ‘i’ sign).

Get lost.

6. How did you make hostel arrangements?

SS & SA

The day we arrived or the night before – that’s plenty of time! (by phone or email). Be mindful of foreign holidays. that’s when it can get hard.

7. How did you get hostel’s numbers to call and book a room?

SS & SA

Through other travelers we met

“Let’s Go Europe!”

Rick Steves’ “Best of Europe,“

Hostel World

8. Did you ever not have a place to stay due to all hostels being booked?

SS & SA

Yes but there are so many you can always find availabilities somewhere.

Yes. So we slept outside of a castle. Get a glimpse of this experience here: Cribs: Dubrovnik ROCKS!

9. Were hostels very comfortable to sleep in?

SS & SA

Uhhh…fact about us: we can sleep ANYWHERE, a rock, plane, a train station, a bench…so SURE, they’re golden! They’re basically just like a bunk bed/cot… if you can do dorm beds you’re money. PLUS you can get smaller private rooms (of 2-4) for a couple bucks more.

Dude, hostels were great. I prefer them over hotels. Check out The Best Hostel in Europe.

10. Were locals very helpful in giving directions?

SS & SA

Usually if you try and speak their language…STUDY PHRASE SECTIONS IN THE BACK OF A TRAVEL BOOK and U-S-E THEM!!

11. What are a few of the biggest mistakes you made on your trip?

SS & SA

Not reading the fine-print of the Eurail pass…make sure you are ABSOLUTELY positive how to fill the thing out before attempting train rides anywhere. Also not fully understanding the tram system in Prague and other places. Make sure you know which tickets to purchase or suffer massive FINES from the police patrolling the trams.

ALWAYS have your belongings ATTACHED to you at ALL times. Moral of the story read Rolling with the Punches

12. What is your advice for people traveling in groups?

SS & SA

BE EASY-GOING. Flexible and adaptable to constant change.The more people you add the more opinions, obviously, and everybody can’t agree all the time so try to be flexible.

13. How did you find things to do in every city you visited?

SS & SA

People: people working or staying in hostels who’ve been there for awhile who know the ropes are a wealth of information. Also our travel books.

14. If you could go back and spend less money on one category, which would it be?

Food…you’ll understand if you see this: JUST EAT IT!

Gelato: I mean…this was pretty essential to the travel experience so minus that maybe spending less money eating out and more grocery store stops.

DON’T spend money on BUS TOURS…it’s usually just a lot of frumpy tourists only in it for the ease of not having to think.

15. Did you meet a lot of people that you will stay in contact with?

I imagine I’ll stay in contact with about four…others were wonderful friends for the time being but keep in mind most of the people we met are still traveling and will be doing so for maybe three months, four months, eight months, so it’s hard to keep up.

Absolutely…thanks to Facebook. It would be hard to keep up with as many people as we met but I hope to stay in close touch with a few.

16. What is the best way to get around cities?

Running! Just ask Cody….or watch it in action here: Bummin Around Budapest. Truly, though, it’s amazing how walkable most places in Europe are. Buses and trams are always great for really far places, but often the fastest, and of course most fun and cheapest is walking.

Bikes are always fun. For a glimpse of some of our bike touring, Czech This out!

In Greece we rented ATV’s for cheap and toured around all of Santorini.

17. Is the Eurail Pass the best way to go for train transportation?

Only if you are traveling to a lot of different places/countries and for an extended period of time. We could have been fine with just a 10 non consecutive day pass instead of a 15 non-consecutive day pass. You usually think your going to use it more than you do anyways. Ferries are kinda a scam when it comes to getting student discounts or being able to use your Eurail pass like they make you believe. We even had to go under cover a few times: First Class & Under Cover.

I learned some things in just the first 5 days of ‘Rail’ traveling: Read HERE

18. What is the best and easiest way to learn a little bit about a country before you visit?

A travel book

People: Hit up as many people as you can through any means of social media to find out whose been there before and has any suggestions. I would do this in advance of your trip and send it in a mass message. There are bound to be people who have been to at least some of the places you’re going or surely they’ll know a friend of a friend, etc.

Bookstores

Maps

PEOPLE: I spent a lot of time just talking to people, drawing on inspiration from them. Networking is important!

19. How often was the language barrier a problem?

It was definitely a problem at times. But locals really appreciate your effort to at least try and speak their language.

Not once in a country. On the whole people were friendly and eager to help.

Ha, well when your driving in some of these foreign lands and all the street names start with a ‘weiserfleygenoist’ and end with a ‘zapstellinkeiner’ … Sign language only got me so far. And trying to work a European laundry machine with out destroying my clothes? Watch this video: What the Unterlegscheibenmaschine is this?

20. Do I need a cell phone and if so what kind do you recommend to bring?

Yes. useful…to make hostel reservations or conversing with other travelers we met. Also to keep in touch with our contacts in Interlaken…Blackberry World. Other little dinky phones will ALWAYS let you down. TRUST ME.

I would not recommend buying the specific ‘international’ only phone….unless purely for emergency situations. Even then, it was a hassle to use. I’m not sure what we would have done if Shelley didn’t have her blackberry. Its more expensive but for convenience well worth it. Or, talk to your phone company and see if yours is compatible with a sim card.

21. How accessible was the Internet?

SS & SA

Fairly accessible… usually free wifi at hostels but sometimes cost a few sheckles.

22. When hard times come round’ (which they will), what can you do to pick yourself back up?

Look around. Realize where you are and how lucky you are to get to be traveling. I tried to remember to always have a joyful heart and know that whatever bad thing is happening, you’re alive, you’re not going to die, it’s not the end of the world.

Call Shelley Smith. The Girls would probably say gelato.

PRAY. Realize where you are, what your doing, and who you’ve seen. See this short video: Smiles from Romania. When I think I have it bad, I don’t.

23. Is traveling really 110 percent mental?

I would say its 80 percent mental 20 percent physical. We all are athletic people so we didn’t really have trouble walking miles in the heat with our packs and lugging everything everywhere, sprinting from train to train, running after runaway buses, but definitely those who are unfit have a lot more trouble coming.

Of course not. Nothing can be 110%. Oh wait, did I say that?

Yes. There were so many times when we could have just ‘jumped ship’. I found this to be very true after I got robbed. Nevertheless attitude is everything.

24. Did you use mostly your debit card or cash?

Cash. It’s about a 5 dollar charge every time you take out of an ATM!

Cash. Prepare to start collecting coins. Read about Putting On The £’s

Late in the trip I tried only to use the ATM once per currency change, and then took out enough cash so I didn’t have to keep racking up those annoying teller fee’s. Remember if you do it this way, be wary of where you keep your money. Keep it spread out so you don’t have a huge amount in one place OR have your $$$ where no one can get to it.

25. What are a few things that you would always carry in your day pack?

Daypack- computer, any necessary tickets, sunscreen, ipod, hand sanitizer, hat, map or book of the city we were in, scarf if not wearing already, facewipes (for those face wipe showers), waterbottle

Over the shoulder purse: passport, cash and credit cards, camera, chapstick, phone, networking cards.

Camera. Money. FOOOOOOOOOOOD

Camera, Computer, tickets/eurail pass, purell, chapstick, travel book and map, iPod, water bottle and networking cards. I kept a very small travel purse SEPARATE from my day pack which held my passport and money. I nearly NEVER took this off of me.

26. When picking someone to travel with, what characteristics would you look for?

EASY-GOING, organized, even-keeled, go-getter, low-maintenance, adventurous, positive, physically fit.

Not an area to take lightly! TEAM PLAYER. Someone open-minded, able to laugh at themselves, and POSITIVE! Don’t necessarily find someone exactly like you. Its good to have diversity of different strengths to complement one another. Keep in mind, too, going solo can be just as rewarding.

27. What did you spend the most money on?

SS & SA

TRANSPORTATION. Had we not been sponsored by Outdoor Interlaken in Switzerland, we would have spent a lot more money in the ‘activities & misc’ department too.

28. What did you enjoy most about the entire trip?

A-D-V-E-N-T-U-R-E…Watch Adrenaline Junkies. Finding out what I’m made of, being pulled to the absolute limits and therefore realizing I can conquer and do anything.

The company. Europe was difficult. We were able to laugh during the hard times and because of that, we can do anything! Read this for an idea of one our many puzzled and yet hilarious episodes: Hookah Bar Fiasco

Interlaken…see The Ultimate Playground for a glimpse. Being tested and stretched each day and one day more than ever. Romanian Orphanage: taking the focus off myself and pouring into these children. Having to make decisions quickly and spur of the moment ready to change directions if necessary. Road Trip up The Dalmatian Coast. Learning to listen to my gut instinct in sticky situations. Understanding how to react in crisis situations. In truth, I’ve learned more from traveling than I did in college. I hope that’s okay to say.

29. Any regrets?

SS & SA

couch surfing: (couchsurfing.com) If you want to do this in the high season like July and August definitely try to give at least a weeks notice to people in advance.

Regret nothing!

30. What are some lessons you learned?

That happiness REALLY is a state of mind. There were many MANY moments in our travels that could have gotten us down…Sierra having her bag stolen, long, uncomfortable train rides, scorching heat, no food/ Cody Starving, long long walks with backpacks on, but you just CAN’T allow yourself to be down or negative. You just can’t or you won’t survive. Read about lessons learned from our Pretty Woman episode in Greece.

I learned something about people: People vs. Nature

Perseverance: What it really means to have a positive attitude. It took a while to get over the shock of my bag being stolen but I realized if I was going to get through, I had to change my attitude and move on. Learning what it means to put others needs before your own, AND having a good attitude about it, never an easy thing.

PATIENCE: when getting lost! There is nothing more TESTING then the hopeless feeling of being lost for hours on end, in a foreign place in the dark, ill, and not being able to find your way back. Then coming to the realization that no matter what happens, we’re in this together and with everything there is a purpose, so laugh about it if that helps.

31. Would you say that traveling is for everyone?

Depends what kind. I would love for everyone to experience backpacking. Watch We are Backpackers. Everyone could do it, I mean if you’re thrown in a situation, you’ll somehow find a way to get through it but sadly not everyone would enjoy the rough and toughing it. I especially think, though, traveling is NEEDED FOR the people who wouldn’t be so okay with it. They are the ones who need it the most.

I think it really depends on the perspective a person has towards it. If it’s solely about the destination spot and not the journey itself, it could be a bad experience because realistically speaking, anytime you leave the comforts of home your vulnerable to all kinds of ‘hick-ups’ and changes along the way. I believe there is a category of travel for everyone. There is the vacationer, the backpacker, and everything in between. I wish all could experience it the way we did.

32. What makes you want to inspire others to travel?

Because It’s Chaos: Because of the INNUMERABLE and PRICELESS lessons traveling has taught me. Traveling has shaped the way I view the world, how I relate to people, how to live a stress-free life, the mindset I use to approach a problematic situation or a struggle. It’s put me through the ringer and made me stronger and more confident than I ever imagined. It’s made me realize how big the world is and how it’s so pointless to fret about the little things. Its opened my eyes up to bigger and more important issues in the world and how narrow my focus can become. Its taught me how to successfully communicate and work with ALL and I mean ALL kinds of people.

Traveling is when your true self shines brightest. You learn to deal through the good, bad, and ugly. You discover what your really made of. You become more aware of who you are, and that is important for every kind of relationship in life. You will learn to appreciate America better, yet love other countries more. You make decisions, because you have to. You communicate better, because you’re forced to try if your ever going to get anywhere. You learn how to relate to people different than yourself. You budget and organize your time. And for all of that you become a much deeper person. Its made me more aware of my own tendencies, broadened my understanding of the world and given me a maturing confidence I didn’t have before. You see how life is so much bigger than the petty things that clutter our everyday lives. Go with an open mind and a positive attitude and you will learn more than a book or classroom could ever teach you.