Enjoy Your Travel More

Join In, Participate, Make Friends

COVID slowed us down for a couple of years, and now a few health issues challenge us.  We're still traveling if not writing about it quite so much. Our goal in 2022 was get to all seven continents in one year... and we did it.

Going forward health issues may not allow us to travel.  No one can take away those memories though.  We hope all of you are well and staying safe... and that you find some inspiration here for YOUR future travels. 

To enjoy your travel you need to work a little at it. 

Work?  Didn’t you leave that behind?  Well, yes, you left your job behind ...at least we hope you were able to.

If you had to bring some gadgets and work along, we hope you can limit how much you use them.

If this is a holiday just for relaxation, you can go ahead and float through the trip. 

But if you’re traveling to experience new cultures and see new things…

...Yes, you’ll have to work at it.



Your attitude and how much you try to connect with that new culture and join in will make all the difference in how memorable your trip is.


Keep A Positive Attitude

You do want to be positive and expect to have a good time.

We really believe you get what you're looking for, so you might as well expect to have good things happen and have fun.

On the other hand, don't expect to just float through this trip you've imagined without having to put a little effort into connecting with the local places and people.


Go With The Flow To Enjoy Your Travel More

Waiting for elephant documents in India

If you’re used to operating at high speed… slow down.  Learn to go with the local time tables.

Not every culture operates at the same pace.

Some cultures even have words to slow you down...

in Swahili "pole, pole" means slowly, slowly.

In the Indian National Park of Bandhavgarh looking for tigers… we had to sit and wait for the documentation we needed.  No rushing involved.

In a culture where things just don't happen quickly, there is no reason to work yourself up over it.

The only way to enjoy your travel is to slow down to their pace and observe how it works for them.


Accept Invitations

Respect the local culture and don't gawk or make fun of it.

The right attitude can lead to wonderful experiences.

Tea with our guide's family in Kenya

In Kenya one trip, our guide told us we were driving right past his village.

We asked if he would like to stop to see his wife and children. We went with him.

They lived in a house that was humble by western standards but fine by theirs.

His wife served us tea, telling us not to worry, that it was made with boiled water.

Then she apologized that her house was a mess because she wasn't expecting company...

THEN she said the next time we came to Africa, we should plan to stay with them.

Can't you just hear yourself or your friends making all of the same protestations and the same invitations?


Go Along With Their Customs

Practicing dances for wedding Pakistan

We were invited to a wedding in Pakistan.

We had to split up... Men and women partied separately.

Mark went with the men to eat and talk politics, I went with the women to eat and dance.

The groom's sisters had to teach me how... (I had more fun!)


Join In When You Can

In the Italian town of Gubbio, they were preparing for their annual "Ceri Race Festival". The teams were meeting in their neighborhoods.

We suggested to our friends that we should buy a jug of wine and ask if we could join the street party. Our friends didn't want to intrude, so we went to a local restaurant.

But wait....

One of the teams, the Yellow Team, came in to our restaurant and went into a back room.... when the conga line snaked out and onto the street, we joined in.

We sang for them... "Yellow Rose of Texas" and "Yellow Submarine" anyone?

At first our friends wanted to crawl away, but soon we were sharing wine with everyone. We partied the night away with the Yellow Team in fractured English and Italian.... and our friends haven't stopped talking about it since.

You can't sign up for that on a tour... you just have to lose your inhibitions and join in to enjoy your travel more.


Travel Isn't Always Easy

I'll admit that.

I had a friend who was recovering from a divorce and looking for a new relationship. She said before she ever got serious again, she would have to travel with her new partner because travel brings out the worst and the best in you.

I thought there was something to that.


Become an Extrovert

Join in.

Keep yourself humble... acknowledge that your way is not the only way.

Get lost, but don't get frustrated, take it as an opportunity to meet locals and ask questions.

Adjust your attitude and enjoy your travel.

Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it! Judy and Mark

Curious about what else we've written about?  Search our site for a destination or travel tip.

But... We'd love to have you share this page or comment on it…
Thanks, Judy and Mark

International Travel Tips l Europe Travel Tips
Hotel and B&B Tips l Packing Lists
Go from Enjoy Your Travel to MouseToursTravels Home Page

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Did it help with your travel planning and preparation? Eager to leave on that next vacation? Please leave your tips or comments in the box below.

Timely Tips

Summer Vacation
Travel is fun in the Northern summer... but don't neglect the Southern Hemisphere at this time of year.
Yes, it's winter in South Africa, but that's their dry season. It's a good time to travel there.

Lions stop traffic in Kruger NP South Africa

Sometimes you need to watch rain patterns instead of just seasons to figure the best time to travel...

Whether you're taking a road trip close to home or traveling abroad...

Whether it's summer or winter in your part of the world...
the way you pack can make it all more pleasurable.

Check out all our Packing Lists and Tips.

Need travel ideas?
Things to See in Europe
Africa Calls!
Travel In America

Don't just dream about it...
Start making plans!

Custom Tour Planning List
International Travel Planning Tips
Foreign Is Fun - Not Scary!
Get Your Passports and Visas

And Expect Good Things
There Are Tourist Angels

Search

Search MouseToursTravels
Travel questions or destination info?
Find our answers faster..
.

Translate

We want you to feel comfortable out in the world and on our pages - so surf away in your own language...

Updated Tips & New Travel Stories

  1. 2022 Travels To All Seven Continents

    After COVID, all seven continents in one year was a worthy goal for our 2022 travels..

    Read More

  2. 2021 Travels - Another COVID Year?

    Our 2021 travels were only domestic. COVID kept us close home. Road trips and a cautious flights but still fun.

    Read More

  3. 2020 Travels - What Travels?

    Our 2020 travels were slim. COVID kept us home too. One trip to the Three Guyanas, but dreaming of travel next year.

    Read More

Two Ways To Like Us!

Like Our Site Top Left
Like Our Fanpage Below
Thank You!

Navigate Our Site

Related Pages
on
Trip Planning

Guide Books
Why Travel With A Guidebook

How to Choose A Travel Guidebook

Travel Agents
A Travel Agent - Do You Need One?

Choosing Destinations
Best Time To Go

What Kind Of Trip Do You Want
More Than Throwing Darts

Some of Our Ideas
Stories About Europe
Why Not Africa?
North America
International Travel Tips

What Kind of Vacation?
Group Tour

Independent Travel
Driving Vacations
Adventure Travel
Active Travel - OK, How Active?
Multigenerational Vacations

Eco-Travel and Volunteering
Green Travel Tips
Sustainable Tourism
Volunteer Vacations - Are They For You?

Plan For Safety
Travel Advisories - Plan A Safe Trip

Don't Let Travel Worries Get To You
Keep Traveling

Planning Itineraries
A Custom Tour?
Custom Tour Planning List
Custom Tour Ideas
Top Ten Lists - Helpful, But…
Balance Your Itinerary - Mix It Up
Avoid Museum Sensory Overload
Hobbies for Trip Ideas
Where To Get Trip Ideas

Preparation
Get Passports and Visas

Travel Documents
Vaccinations and Meds 
Travel Preparation

Checklists So You Don't Forget
Travel Document Checklist

Travel Preparation Checklist
Home Departure Checklist
Pre-Departure Checklist

Ready For A New Adventure?

We escape by traveling…
But there are more ways to escape. 
Work on something you LOVE…
With A Website
SBI Teaches You Everything

First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life