The Best Travel Advice from Travel Writers

To close out 2009 and ring in the new year, we thought it fitting to round up the best travel advice we’ve received from the noteworthy travel writers and bloggers in our NileGuide 5 interview series. The last question we always ask as part of the interview is, “If you could give one tip or piece of advice for travelers, what would it be?” Read on for a roundup of the best answers from 2009:

Embrace the Unexpected:

“Sh*t is going to go wrong, whether you’re in Albania or Vermont. The sooner you’re able to appreciate these events as legitimate travel experiences rather than setbacks, the better time you’ll have overall.” – @leifpettersen

“Don’t count on anything, be flexible and never forget you’re a visitor. A lot of tourists and travelers expect things to go according to their master plan, as if they were back in their home countries. When it doesn’t go the way they’ve envisioned it, they get upset, frustrated, lost… My experience has shown that with the least amount of expectations (and lots of cultural sensitivity), you’ll have the best time on the road.” – @everthenomad

“Planning isn’t as important as adapting. People try to plan their travels out in such detail that they don’t leave any room open for serendipity. No matter how much you plan, something will happen to make it go off course. Don’t feel afraid of just showing up somewhere without a plan and playing things by ear. That is how the best adventures happen.” – @EverywhereTrip

Go Local:

“Venture out of the touristy parts of the place you’re visiting and try to chat people up. Meeting locals and getting to know them a bit can really turn an uninspiring trip into a memorable one just over a couple beers and great conversation.” – @DavidFarley

“Learn the language. I’d say you’re missing 50% of a destination if you can’t speak the local tongue. I’m not talking fluency, but enough to communicate with someone. Meeting people, talking to them in their own language– you really can’t express how much this will add to your travels. It’s why we travel– to learn something more than ourselves.” – @almostfearless

“Meet locals. Talk to as many people as you can. Be open to new experiences, foods, people. Spend time alone. Experience as many slices of life experiences as you can to help you understand new places. Get out of your comfort zone. And smile. Nothing gets lost in that translation.” – @mikebarish

Relax!:

“I used to get really anxious about delays and cancellations and the other inevitable hassles, usually because I was on a very tight budget and disruptions often cost money I didn’t have to spare. But I haven’t been on many flights that landed on time in the last couple years, and learning to just roll with it has really helped make those situations more bearable.” – @evaholland

“Ya know the saying, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey, well that’s actually true! Your trip usually starts at an airport, am I wrong? So stop fighting it and embrace it. Learn to love it.” – @Heather_Poole

Make it a Lifestyle:

“If you’re truly passionate about travel, figure out a way to make it a lifestyle. Choose a place that’s always fascinated you. Go live there a while and experience the ambiguity of identity that’s part of being an expat.” – @collazoprojects

Pack Light:

“Stuff everything into a carry-on if you can. It will make your travels so much easier in the long run. To make packing light easier, I generally stick to one color scheme–normally, in shades of beige, brown and camel–so one pair of nice shoes, one purse, one scarf usually suffice and go with everything.” – @LunaticAtLarge

“Pack light. You don’t need all that stuff. Trust me.” – @crankyflier

What piece of advice would you give travelers? Let us know in the comments!

[Photo: melloveschallah]