Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
London's Oyster Card makes using the Underground a breeze.
Additionally, don't forget to
validate your ticket
. On most subways, you insert the ticket into
the turnstiles at the entrance of the station and that validates the ticket. But some cities don't
have turnstiles, so you simply walk into the station and find the machine that validates the
ticket. On trams and buses, the validation boxes are inside by the doors. Riding with a non-
validated ticket is the same as riding without a ticket so don't forget.
Random Helpful Tips
Here is a list of random tips that I've discovered during my travels. Most don't have anything
to do with money, but they're things you can do to have a more enjoyable adventure.
Don't feel bad about being a tourist.
A lot of “elitist” travelers shun anything that is re-
motely touristy. But just because something is touristy doesn't make it bad. It'd be a shame to
skip the Eiffel Tower just because it's one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world. What
you actually want to do is avoid tourist traps. Of course you should seek out the local culture;
don't get so caught up in the idea that you must act like a “local” all the time to have an “au-
thentic” experience.
Prepare for burnout.
Not many people talk about it, but most travelers reach a certain
point in their trip where they start to feel burned out. This is especially true for people that
travel at a breakneck pace, but nearly everyone will feel it at some point. For most people, it
kicks in around week two or three. It's perfectly normal, so don't worry. Take some time to
do normal stuff. Go see a movie. Spend a few hours relaxing with a book in a park. Just walk
around. A lot of people resist doing these “normal” things because they feel like they're wast-
ing their trip but it's not true. You need time to recharge your batteries, and the more you put
it off, the more it will affect your travels.
