Things You Should Know When Traveling

Just a list of things people should know when traveling:

1. Carry photocopies of your passport. If you lose your passport this can be a huge inconvenience to you, especially in Europe, where you want to travel to more than one country at a time. So carry a photocopy because you might leave your passport somewhere inconvenient.
2. You don't need twenty-five shirts! Five is all that is needed. There are laundromats nearly everywhere you go. Five is enough to last a little more than a week. When I travel I take around five or six shirts at most and I use those over a month of travel.
3. Carry change. You need to wash those five shirts somehow and change is the only way to do it, especially if you are traveling somewhere where you don't speak the language and you are unable to communicate with people around you to make change from a bill.
4. Hostels are your best friend. Do not stay in overpriced hotels. People think that hostels are gross and things will be stolen. Some hostels offer lockers to store your belongings and the ones i have stayed at were all clean. Hostels can be about 20-60 percent cheaper than a hotel. There are some, which you should avoid, but keep your expensive and important belongings in your bed, such as under your pillow or in your pillow, so they do not get stolen.
5. Print off maps of where you need to go. This will help you so much, you can get lost quite a bit so always have a map on you to help you out. You can stop and ask directions even if you don't speak the language since you can easily point to the place you need to go.
6. If you are Canadian, people will love you. So get a Canadian pin and stick it somewhere on your person, I liked to have it on my backpack and sometimes people would give me free items.
7. Be aware of pick-pockets! Parisians are famous for their pick-pocketing techniques. An older woman will carry fake rings and pretend to find one and try and sell it to you. Or they will try and get you to sign a petition of sorts and, as you're signing, they will try and go into your pockets.
8. Do not carry extra weight that is not needed such as a book to read (unless if you are going to the beach). Or the airplane pillows since sweaters and other pieces of clothing will work as pillow as well. Do not carry loads of cosmetics; you are traveling you don't need to look like a walking salon.
9. Shoes. Shoes are so important, carry sandals, carry runners. Make sure that they are comfy, don't take shoes that appear to be comfy such as Toms. Toms are a bad idea. But Merrell's sandals have been good to me.
10. Always, no matter where you are going, unless if it's somewhere cold, carry a bathing suit. You never know when you will see a pool or a beach in which you will want to swim in.
11. Do not carry heels! they are inconvenient, you are never going to use them anyway and heels on old cobblestone equals large amounts of pain.
12. Don't use taxis! they are expensive and some drivers are crazy. it's easier to walk everywhere and use transit unless if you are traveling in America where the bus and transit systems are the worst and NEVER on time.
13. Make sure to be on time, give yourself extra time to get to places and look up chances for discounts and coupons. This can help you in the long run and you will save money when traveling. Extra time is important when traveling because you will get lost at one point or another. So don't stress and leave early to get to the airport.
14. Carry money inside of your jacket or a secret backpack pocket, so in case if your luggage or backpack is lost or stolen you have the money in your jacket to make up for it. You won't need to worry as much. This might be nerdy but carry a money wallet around your neck.
15. Make a list of things you need before leaving. This way you can check them off as you go.
16. When sitting in outdoor restaurants or bistros put the leg of your chair in your backpack so no one can walk by and steal it.
17. Carry a small bag so you don't have to drag around your large hiking/traveling bag all day. Keep essentials in the small bag such as a water bottle and wallet and camera.
18. Always carry a water bottle. No matter where you are water is an essential and sometimes you could go hours without passing a store that sells water.
19. Keep in mind that some places you need to pay to go to the bathroom.
20. Be aware of the sketchy neighborhoods before going anywhere. You can take free tours almost anywhere in the world and those are worth it because the tour guides are often locals and know a lot about the places to go and not to go.

Safe travels! Above all, have fun!