Theoretically, traveling is an extremely luxurious and enjoyable experience. You can drag your tired body from one city to another, immersing every second in the local culture and gradually blending in. But reality isn’t always that perfect. Budgets may be tight, time may be limited, and plans might go wrong. No matter how short the trip is, you can make the most of your vacation. Here are 11 ways to make your travels more efficient.
Before you set off, find a way to download a map of the city and its transportation system onto your phone. That way, you won't get lost even without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
2. Ask for Recommendations
You can ask locals for suggestions on fun attractions or beautiful sights. Hotel front desk staff, taxi drivers, or waiters are all good options—they can tell you where’s worth visiting.
3. Get Enough Sleep
If you’re taking a red-eye flight, make sure you’ve gotten enough sleep on the plane by the time you arrive. Bring your pillow, eye mask, and earplugs trio to create a comfortable sleeping environment.
4. Rent a Bike
If you want to get to know a new place, there’s no better way than cycling around. It’s faster than walking but not so fast that you miss out on sights like roadside museums or quirky shops. Since you’re riding yourself—not being driven by a taxi—you can control your direction and explore the city more efficiently.
5. Come Prepared
Before heading to a new city, do some research. Prepare for each short trip so you don’t waste precious time flipping through city guidebooks or agonizing over what to order at a restaurant.
6. Check for Nighttime Museums
To add more color to your journey, see if any museums have evening hours. Many museums stay open until 10 or 11 pm, especially in summer. Sometimes, museums even host local DJs and music performances for a little nightlife.
7. Bring Dry Shampoo
Sometimes going sightseeing or enjoying a holy brunch is more important than taking a shower. Bring dry shampoo and baby wipes so you don’t have to waste time in the bathroom—even if jet lag has you collapsing into bed.
8. Stay in a Hostel
Compared to hotels, hostels are not only cheaper but also great places to meet new people and see a hidden side of the city. They’re usually filled with travelers exploring the city in pairs, and hostel bulletin boards often have flyers for local events and celebrations.
9. Skip the Tour Guide
Often, traveling with a guide or museum docent is a waste of time and limits your range of activities. Don’t let a stranger eat up your precious time with endless questions. Be your own guide and go directly where you want to go—unless you’re getting some exclusive insight from a guide.
10. Take a Boat Tour
You can’t explore a city non-stop for days without getting worn out. If you need to rest your feet, try taking a boat tour of the city. It lets you see it from a different perspective.
11. Go with the Flow
Of course, you might make a little list, planning to visit every historic sculpture, every meaningful museum, and every trendy restaurant here — meticulously planning every moment of your trip is certainly an option. But don’t worry about the occasional unexpected detour. Stepping into a little roadside café during a drizzle could very well become one of the most memorable experiences of your journey.