Why I Do These Five Things On Each Trip

Top Travel Routines

Of course, travel is about broadening one’s horizons, literally and figuratively.  But I also enjoy the familiar when I’m out and about, whether I’m somewhere new or old.  What we choose to do (or not do) while traveling can help us cope with an undesirable location or enjoy others even more.   Today, I’m describing my top travel routines and why I consistently do them on each trip.

Watch Local News

From a young age, I’ve loved local news, while home or when I’m traveling.  I still flick on the TV in each hotel room, getting a beat on what’s happening in the region.  I also enjoy the relative randomness of the stories.  It’s comfort food, especially the news from the really small stations – you know it when you see it.  Also, it’s a great way to fall asleep.  It’s another form of a warm blanket while I’m under an actual one.

Chill Out

Part of the reason I’m under those blankets is because I love turning down the temperature in my hotel room.  It’s the first thing I do when I enter my hotel room, actually.  I want the air conditioning kicking indefinitely.  I’ve also been doing this forever, partly because I’m not (directly) paying the electric bill.

One Activity

No matter how long or short the trip, I plan exactly one daily activity in advance.  It could be a tour, museum, an outdoor experience, theme park, etc.  In particular, I’ve found that I always spend more time in museums than I expect.  If I’m able to fully experience that one item in a day, I define that as success.  The big-time planners reading this most definitely will disagree, but that’s fine.

For the way I travel, I like to maintain reasonable expectations and plenty of spare time.  Bare minimum, I know I’ll obtain the fulfillment from that single activity.  But on each trip, I’ll discover other opportunities while at the destination, and more importantly, have the time to commit to exploring them.

(Of course, this doesn’t count our Disney-related trips.  I more exhaustively plan for those.)

Visit a Grocery Store

After arriving in most any type of environment, I want to swing by a grocery store or market for a couple reasons.  First, I hit the ground running and feel part of the community.  Second, I’m able to pick up a few necessities, such as drinks, snacks, or any forgotten toiletries, at a much more reasonable price point than at a hotel or airport.

Regional Fast Food

Eat local, you may have heard.  Eat local fast food, probably not.  I like to try out regional fast food joints, big or small, when I visit other locations.  Generally, I try to do this once per trip, and maybe another round on longer trips.  I’ve found my dining costs are smaller – and so are my portions – when I opt for this here and there.  Overall, I’m fine with both.

Top Travel Routines – Conclusion

I’m a creature of habit, but these are the five top travel routines I still hold.  Bigger picture, I’ve found balance is key.  If I do too much of any one of these, I know my trip is out of wack.

People who do stuff on the internet for money seem to push more expectations onto travel.  This can be helpful, but only to a point.  Beyond, it’s self-indulgent and tone-deaf.  You know you, so feel free to mix up some old with the new.  Life is your experiences, not someone else’s.  Incorporate the little things to do big things in your own way.

What are your top travel routines?