Getting lost while traveling can ruin your trip. It can lead to missing key sites and sometimes it can be dangerous!
My close friends know that I have the worst sense of direction EVER, yet I travel frequently.
How bad is my sense of direction?…Really bad!
At home, I only know how to get to the gym, the salsa club, and Wegmans (my happy place).
Reasons why my sense of direction sucks:
- I don’t wear my glasses.
- I’m constantly daydreaming.
- I fall asleep in moving vehicles and miss what’s happening around me.
- I don’t care if I get lost.
Traveling in a foreign land is tough, especially when the street signs are in a different language. But somehow, I manage to travel when I don’t even know
the street names of my own neighborhood.
So how do I do it? Here are some TIPS!
Use Google
Maps: I make the most of Google Maps by using the pin functionality so everything on my map is marked. By using the directions, I know exactly where I am at all times. If you haven’t checked it out, here’s the link.
Download maps to your phone: Google Maps has a feature where you can download the map to your phone even if you don’t have internet access. And most phones
still have GPS access, so you can get around without issue. I don’t have any problems getting around even in foreign countries.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Some people are bothered by asking for help, but everyone needs help at some point. I have no issue asking for help from a stranger and sometimes you might be surprised by who you meet!
Share your location with others: This is great when traveling
with groups. Always share your location with your travel mate/partner, so if you guys split up, you know where the other person is. Don’t waste time looking for them blindly. Also, when traveling alone, sharing your location with a trusted person at home is always
wise.
Don’t PANIC: I’ve noticed that when people get lost, they get stressed out, which then clouds their thinking. With me, I don’t get stressed out because (with technology) I always know where I am. When I need to get somewhere, not panicking allows me to figure things out in a rational and calm way.
Change your mindset: I don’t get upset when something doesn’t go my way on a trip. I just reframe it as, “it’ll make a good story.” Some of my best stories have come out of a would-be tragedy.
Try these suggestions out and let me know what you think!
