While I enjoy staying in posh places and high-class flying, for me, staying close to the ground and humble remain key aspects of my travel philosophy. For example, although I would never sacrifice health or safety when traveling – no matter the experience – I don’t mind sleeping under the stars or in my car, staying in hostels, or sharing a Bedouin tent. Those experiences serve to enhance my overall appreciation for the privilege of travel, allowing me to savor times of extravagance.

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Strict lists of things to do and see when traveling bother me. Though I often have an idea of what I want to see and a basic itinerary sketched out, both usually get modified because, once on the ground, things change. A Traveler that likes to see what they see, I just enjoy wandering. Relishing the chance to just wander and explore. Whether that means driving a foreign vehicle, riding a train, hopping a bus (with live chickens), canoeing on a river, riding a camel, or hiking through a jungle, I believe being with/in a landscape remains the key to truly appreciating it. And that means having lots of adaptability, flexibility, patience, and gratitude. Always gratitude.

 

You also need an effective packing strategy. See this general packing list and then compare it to what I usually pack for most any and every excursion. Once you begin packing less, you’ll be surprised how little you actually need, even for longer trips.

 

Finally, view some of my general tips for successful travel because, even though experience remains a good teacher, why make the same mistakes as others? Talk to people. Learn from their travel experiences. Just keep in mind two things: the most important souvenir might not always be what you think, and the ability to travel often rests in arranging priorities.

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