Tips To Not Get Lost While Travelling
Going somewhere new?
It’s so exciting to explore somewhere new, but it can come with some complications.
I don’t know about you, but for me, I want to avoid as many problems as possible while travelling!
Here are some tips to not get lost while you’re travelling.
Good to Know First!
Click the links to check them out!
Book your Tours
Don't miss out on that great experience because it's sold out! Book in advance and know you will have this experience!
eSim Card
Stay in contact, get directions, & check out the best local places with your phone minus the expensive international charges!
Rent your Car
Get your rental car booked in advance so you can adventure around your destination.
Luggage Storage
Arrived early or staying later? Store your luggage safely so that you can enjoy freely!
Book your hotel
Get the location, class & style of hotel that you want! Book in advance & have peace of mind!
Rent Bikes etc.
Rent your motorcycle, scooter, quads,& bicycles here in advance so you can travel freely!
If you’re headed to Mexico for the first time, check out these helpful Best Mexico Travel Tips! (Read Before You Go).
If it’s your first time visiting Canada, check out these Interesting Facts About Canadian Culture.
Check the Layout
This could apply to your hotel, the city, the resort, the beach, etc… Check out the layout of the area.
Take some time to get to know where you will be. What is the shape of the place you’re staying. What is the shape of the building?
Also, check out the town or city where you will be on google maps.
Is there a square grid to the town with road running horizontally and vertically?
Maybe there are a lot of windy or diagonal roads? This could help you to get back on track if you get disoriented while exploring.
Is there a principal route or main road that you can find to get from one end of town to the other?
Knowing this can help if you get disoriented, find the main through street and simply follow it until you get to the cross street you’re looking for.
Get Phone Service
Of course, everyone wants to avoid huge phone bills. Roaming fees, international calling and texting fees, they can add up to hundreds of dollars.
You can avoid the issues of no cell phone service AND expensive roaming and internationally calling bill all together with Airalo.
You can get an eSim card for most destinations around the world.
You can use Airalo by downloading their app.
You can order an eSim card so that if you are ever lost, you can call your hotel, restaurant or destination to get help.
You could also call a cab or car service this way too.
Another tip: carry your phone charger, this way if you are out for longer than you planned and took a lot of great vacation photos and videos you may have a low battery.
Having your charger will ensure that you have battery power to make any calls that you need.
Here are my best Ways to Keep in Contact While Travelling.
Check your online maps or GPS.
Check your route in advance.
If you don’t have cell service, take screenshots of your steps to get there on google maps, so that you can still follow the route.
Look at the map to notice if it’s a straight route or has lots of turns.
Learn a little bit about the public transportation. Is there a subway line that runs north-south and west-east? Maybe there are only buses. Where is the main terminal and where are some of the main transfer points?
Take a business card of your hotel
When you check into your hotel, grab a business card and place it in your purse or wallet.
This way if you forget the name or location of your hotel, you have it on you.
If you’re staying somewhere that doesn’t have business cards, take a little piece of paper and write the address, name and phone number on it.
When choosing your hotel consider the location, as well as the amenities.
The location can play a huge factor in your travels.
Try booking in advance to get a hotel in a good location that is convenient for you.
You can check out some hotels for your next trip using this booking.com widget. You can actually book your next hotel right here!
Take screenshots or photos
This can be used in many ways.
Where did you park? Take a picture of the street corners signs, parking sign or building with name on it out front.
Take a picture of the view as you leave your hotel, this way if you get disoriented, you can reference your photo for tall buildings or other landmarks.
Take pictures of buildings near your hotel.
Take a picture of the street view as well.
You could look back at it and reference where you are to the picture.
Look for Landmarks as you Leave
Speaking of landmarks, why not take a picture of them. They also make a good memory from your trip too!
As you leave your hotel, car or place, notice what is by it, a tall building, museum, etc. take a photo!
After exploring all around the town for the day, these photos from hours ago may help you find your way back by looking for these landmarks.
If you can’t see the landmarks, you could always ask some locals if they can point you in the direction of that landmark.
This way you’re not telling a stranger where you’re staying. You’re just asking about a landmark.
Ask for directions
Sometimes, just take it back to basics.
Ask people.
I usually ask 3 people along the way to make sure that I got the right directions.
I have had experiences where people gave the wrong directions, for one reason or another, this is why I ask more than 1 person.
As I mentioned before if you don’t want the person to know where you’re staying, instead of asking for where your hotel is, ask for that landmark that is close by.
Text the directions or street names into your phone by sending it to yourself or making a note.
You could even use your calendar and create an event, but it’s really just the directions.
Look up!
When you leave your hotel, look up, what do you notice?
There’s 2 tall high rise buildings on the left, a neon sign for a building, a billboard for a real estate agent?
Take note of what is around and where it is in relation to the hotel.
This way if you see these landmarks from a far, you know you are getting closer to your destination.
Notice the angles this high rise is in front of this smaller high rise when I look from my hotel lobby.
This way you can look for the 2 high rises and walk in the direction that will make the same angle or perspective happen again.
Follow your Gut!
If you feel like you shouldn’t go down a street, don’t.
If your intuition is telling you that the way you’re going is not correct, check it out.
As a traveller, I believe that your intuition is one of your strongest protectors to you.
There will always be some scams, areas that are less safe, or sales that are not as they seem.
When you trust your gut, your instinct, your sixth sense, whatever you want to call it, it can help prevent problems in your life.
I just follow my gut. I have literally witnessed that after I crossed the street there was a sketchy situation on the other side.
Don’t doubt it, who cares if someone thinks it’s silly. I don’t.
Learn helpful phrases
If you’re going to a destination where you don’t speak the language, it will be useful to know how to say some helpful phrases.
Where?
I don’t know.
Where is ___?
How do I get to __?
What is the address?
What is the nearest cross street?
Which subway station is the closest?
Call a taxi.
Where is the bus or subway stop?
If you don’t know the language you can get a pocket-size travel phrase book for that language to help you out.
The Buddy System
Stick together, stay with your travel crew. Sometimes one person will remember a specific detail, while the other person remembers a different point.
If you’re travelling alone, you can tell your friends or family where you’re staying and where you’re going.
You could send your screenshots to them, these could also help with your safety as well.
If you’re a solo traveller, you can tell the front desk staff in casual conversation your plans for the day.
You can also leave a note in your room with your destination, address, contact person etc.
Also, you can you just simply call someone and tell them where you’re going and your hotel address, so they have it too.
Check it all out!
Look at everything, be observant, notice your surroundings.
It could come in handy if you’re lost.
It’s also a great way to really enjoy everything – the architecture, art, nature, animals, language, food, and so much more!
Choose a guided tour, the tour company will help you get to your hotel.
Which are best for you?
I hope these tip will help to prevent you from getting lost.
Have you used any of these tips? Are there any that you think are the most helpful?
Share in the comments below.
Thanks! 🙂
Besides being a travel blogger, I am also a travel writer, Amazon author and an English teacher. Check out my services here!
