Just do your best. Plan to make your trip go as smoothly as possible, and if it doesn’t, you'll get some great stories.
It’s Good When Bad Things Happen on a Trip
I posted a BTS (behind-the-scenes footage) over the weekend of me tripping over some stairs while filming a video.
Some people said that it was faked or staged.
I’m the
Busy Traveler, not the Busy Stuntman.
Anyways, let’s get to this week’s topic.
I have a fix to make trips less stressful.
On a trip, have you ever been nervous because you’re afraid that your plans might fall apart?
This happened to me in Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany because if one part of the plan failed (e.g. rental car, traffic, etc.) I would have missed visiting the castle.
We can all agree that traveling like this is not fun and there should be a better way.
So I mentally reframe bad experiences in a different way.
Instead of running away from them, welcome the bad experiences.
No really.
Sometimes your worst travel situations can create the best memories and stories.
Let’s be real, nobody wants to hear about your perfect trip. If you want to talk about stuff like that, DM me when you start your blog so we can collab.
On the other hand, it's much more interesting to recall bad situations, like having to hitch a ride on the back of a police truck to escape a flood in Colombia. I was worried during that ordeal, but now I look back and
laugh.
This is me being shameless on the back of the truck in Colombia.
What’s the point?
Having this shift in thinking makes traveling a lot less stressful because…
The anxiety around wanting a trip to go perfectly causes more harm than most bad situations.
But there are more benefits.
Knowing that bad situations won’t affect your travel experience gives you the confidence and clear thinking to navigate through those tough situations.
At the end of the day, it's usually not that big of a
deal.
Let me be clear, this doesn't mean pretending everything is fine when bad things happen.
I'm no Buddha, but I believe I will get through tough situations in one piece, and that gives me peace.
The
whole point is to keep traveling. Just like bad things happen in life, bad things will happen while traveling. The more bad things happen, the tougher you'll become at handling future problems.
As a general guideline, just do your best. Plan to make your trip go as smoothly as possible, and if it doesn’t, you'll get some great stories.
P.S. For you planners out there: During my planning phase, I specifically plan for things to fail, so I have a backup already in place. I may not be able to control the future, but I’m going to try to shape it to my will.
Keep traveling,
Andrew
What's a bad travel experience you've had that turned out to be a great memory?
Cocktail of the Week
The Pegu Club cocktail was named after the Pegu Club in Rangoon, Burma, a popular social club for British officers during the colonial period. This classic cocktail was created in the early 20th century and became a signature drink of the club before gaining popularity worldwide.
Recipe:
2 oz gin
3/4 oz orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or Triple Sec)
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
Lime twist for garnish
Directions:
Fill a shaker with ice.
Add gin, orange liqueur, lime juice, and bitters to the shaker.
Shake well until chilled.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Random Travel Thought
Traveling is like those finger traps, you solve it by relaxing.
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The Plug
Cheap flights:
Going.com: This might be the only discounted flights website you need.It’s a paid service that sends you notifications when deals become available, but they expire in a couple of days so Act Fast!!
Secret Flying 🤫: This website emails you about free flight opportunities and even better… it doesn’t cost a thing!!
Skyscanner: An older, but still reliable website that’s also *FREE* so there’s no reason not to use it. Use the "Explore the World" feature and set your departure date to "Whole Month" to find the cheapest deals.
Insurance:
Safety Wing: I use Safety Wing as my travel insurance because the plans are flexible. You can easily insure a 1-week trip for like $11 dollars which is less than the cost of a cocktail at the bar.
Travel Gear
Compression socks: Sitting for extended periods of time is not good for the body, so keep
yourself healthy enough to go on more trips.Link
Apple AirTags: Consider getting Apple AirTags for the peace of mind of always knowing where your luggage is. Link
Smart Phone holder: It's a foldable sheet that can be used as a stand for your iPhone or iPad.Link
Packing cubes: Having a separate container works wonders for keeping clothes wrinkle-free. It also makes packing/unpacking much easier.Link
Donut Power Strip: Power outlets are always in demand, but sometimes they're in weird spots. I use this bagel because it's lightweight, and I don't have to think about it.Link
Travel Case Organizer: Cable organizers can be a pain, but this is what I use to keep my cables organized. Link
Backup batteries: I like these backup batteries because they have three important components for me: 1. They have enough power to recharge my phone multiple times at
once, 2. Are small enough to put in my pocket, and 3. Are sturdy enough to survive a fall. Link
Yoga Mat: I use this thin mat to get my stretching in even when I'm traveling. Link
Jump Rope: It's so easy to bring a jump rope with you for exercise because it weighs almost nothing and takes up no space. Link
Liquid IV: Great for hydration to keep you from dying. When you're traveling,
it's time to live it up! Link
*Above are Affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
