Travel is many things, and too often it can feel overwhelming or hectic. But it doesn’t have to! Implementing a little travel tradition whenever you visit somewhere new is an easy way to make the process feel smooth and stress-free. So Redditor LilacLoverr asked, “What’s a travel ritual that is like a travel hack for you?” Here are some of the travel traditions people don’t go without.
1.
“I always buy a little black notebook for the trip. I started taking notes so that I could keep track of my photos, but it has evolved into much more. Now, these notebooks serve the purpose of reminding me years later about trip details that would otherwise be forgotten. If a local recommends something in a foreign language, they’re often happy to write it in the book. I also include shopping lists, daily trip planning, tickets, scraps of paper, etc.”
2.
“I look for graffiti and street art, especially ones that are hard to find. I’ll walk through small alleys and find some amazing stuff.”
3.
“I search for places/restaurants I want to go to and save them on Google maps so I can check back what’s nearby me once I arrive at my destination.”
4.
“I clean and organize the house before a trip. It’s a non-negotiable for me. I don’t want to be stressed, annoyed, and depressed after a trip if coming home to a dirty house, especially if I go back to work right away.”
5.
“I buy reusable bags at the local grocery store at my destination. They’re cheap, help me blend in better, useful, and evoke memories of that place every time I do an Aldi run.”
6.
“I buy Christmas ornaments from every country or state that I visit. It’s fun every December to unpack them and remember my trips as I decorate our big tree.”
7.
“I always create a playlist for each trip I take. Listening to it when I get home instantly takes me back.”
8.
“My husband and I have started going to the botanical gardens wherever we are. We’ll also collect rocks, flowers, or leaves (from places where you’re allowed to do this, obviously) and put them in our travel journal.”
9.
“I pick scents (shower gels, perfume) that will remind me of a special trip before I go on that trip. Scent is a very powerful memory anchor, because where we process olfactory information lies close to the areas responsible for memories and emotion within the brain. I still have scents that will remind me of my first trip to a place. When I smell them, it’s like smelling my travel memories. It’s glorious.”
10.
“I collect currency, hotel keys, and magnets. I have a little jar with a globe in it where I put the currency and hotel keys, and we have a bunch of magnets in our kitchen. I figure it’s a cheap and easy way to keep mementos from where you’ve traveled.”
11.
“I like to buy a piece of jewellery from each destination to remind myself of the place!”
12.
“I use Shazam to look up nice (local) songs and music that I’m hearing on the spot at my travel destination, on the radio, in shops, restaurants, and make a playlist of them. When I return to my normal life and play the songs back, I’ll usually remember when and where I heard it, and it always takes me back! It’s also a fun way to discover new music.”
13.
“I really enjoy going to a McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, whatever, and seeing the local take off American fast food. One country that sticks out is India. Since not many people eat beef, most of the menu options were very different.”
14.
“A friend of mine buys a piece of pottery from each place she goes to. So when she has a place of her own one day, not only will she already be prepared, but each plate, bowl, and mug will remind her of her travels.”
15.
“I always make a list of rainy day activities because people always get upset when the weather is bad, but it’s the weather. It isn’t going to behave just because you’re on a trip! Make a list of indoor activities to do (or get a really good umbrella/rain coat/rain boots and go outside anyway!!)”
16.
“When I’m on a trip, each night before going to bed, I make a voice note of how the day went. It’s faster than writing, and I can listen to them anytime!”
17.
“I find a local bookstore everywhere I travel and buy a book or five. Part of my trip planning is finding all the local bookstores and seeing how many we can go to. I’ve also started getting a tote or sticker at each bookstore to keep track of where I’ve been.”
18.
“I look for a local art store and buy an original piece. Bring it home and get it framed. My house is decorated with pictures from all over the world.”
19.
“I buy a postcard, write down memories from the trip, and mail it to myself on the last day. They serve as a neat collection of travel memories.”
20.
“I love checking out foreign grocery stores. Not only do I usually save on expensive/fancy meals by buying local food (usually some nice fruit, crackers, etc., for snacks), but I also get to learn about the local food and stock up on interesting souvenirs. It’s lovely to be able to enjoy once home and reminisce about the trip, but also as gifts, it’s a far better ‘experience to share’ with others for a finite period of time, than physical stuff that accumulates.”
21.
“I save all my most luxurious cosmetic and perfume samples I get from buying things and from the cool cosmetic/cologne/perfume advent calendars my husband and I give each so we both have the most lovely lotions, bubble baths, perfumes and colognes to use when we travel. It feels like such a treat for us both.”
22.
“I usually try to write a quick journal entry about the day’s adventure. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy: Just a few sentences about what I saw, what I ate, or something funny that happened. Sometimes I’ll stick in ticket stubs or a postcard if I pick one up. It’s funny because I don’t always have time to sit and write a long entry, but even just a short one makes me remember the trip so much better later on.”
23.
“Instead of ‘get to the airport early,’ I tell myself, ‘get to the airport with enough time to have two beers.’ Aiming for ‘early’ means I’m stressed the whole morning before the airport, idk why. With enough time for two beers seems to put my ADHD brain at ease and lets me look forward to a reward. And if we’re running late, it’s easy to keep my cool. ‘Oh well, only time for one beer then!’ doesn’t stress me out quite like, ‘omg, we’re gonna miss the flight!’
Do you have one to add? What is a unique, meaningful, or personal travel ritual that has become akin to a travel hack for you? Tell us in the comments or in this anonymous form.
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