by Lindsay Shapka in Adventure, Travel Tips, Travel
I am a sucker for a good notebook, and because I love to handwrite when I travel, I always keep a few blank journals on hand so that I can grab one to throw in my bag.
The key to a good travel journal is to have a paperback notebook (so it is not too heavy), with enough pages to capture all of your experiences, and have room to glue or tape in ticket stubs, postcards, or any other tidbit that reminds you of your trip.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Travel, Travel Tips, Adventure
These travel tips, which are not usually found in guide books, are guaranteed to help make your trip a lot more fun!
Rather than giving out money, the balloons and bobby pins are great little gifts for young children that you will inevitably come across in the course of your travels.
The tattoos are great to give as gifts too, but can also come in handy in countries where people knowing where you are from (instead of making incorrect assumptions) will keep you safe. It’s a nice alternative to having a huge flag sewn onto your backpack.
A pillowcase can easily be stuffed with clothing to create a make-shift pillow in emergencies and also makes a perfect laundry bag.
It is the perfect place to keep the names and contact info for people you meet and to jot down hotel/hostel names and prices of things to pass on to friends and family.
The glue stick will keep you from losing ticket stubs, postcards or other bits that make perfect souvenirs.
Preferably a one liter Nalgene-style one with a wide opening. You could easily drop hundreds of dollars buying water while touring around all day, so having your own bottle will save you money.
And, when packing, it is the perfect place to put breakable items like perfumes, or delicate souvenirs, so they won’t get squished or break in your bag.
Everyone is trying to get that perfect, tourist-free postcard-style shot of the well-known tourist sight, but that is easier said than done.
Sometimes, the best thing to do is to just buy the gorgeous postcard as your souvenir, and focus on enjoying where you are rather than taking pictures.
I lived in the small city of Ansan just outside of Seoul, South Korea (close enough that I was still on the Seoul subway line) for a year and a half while I was working there as an English teacher. Because I was so close, I spent almost every weekend exploring Seoul’s winding historic alleyways, huge high-rises, modern art galleries, curated natural areas, and layer upon layer of food, fashion, and culture.
When I was first asked by some fellow foreigners in South Korea if I wanted to get naked in a public bathhouse and sauna on my first weekend in the country, I looked at them like they were nuts.
Somehow though, they managed to talk me into it (I blame severe jet lag), and it was one of the best decisions that I have ever made.
Lisbon is one of my favourite cities in the world! Sun drenched squares, colourful architecture covered in elaborate tiles, charming locals, amazing coffee, bakeries everywhere, amazing views, and easy-to-navigate public transit — what’s not to love!?
Here’s everything you need to see, eat, and experience in Lisbon on your next trip.