6 Simple Tips on How NOT to Get Lost while Traveling
Since I was little, I think I have this ability to get lost and getting back home safely. I don’t know how I did it but it just happened and still happens all the time. Of course, when I was a kid, I had little worries because I was carefree.
As I grew up, anxieties about traveling have grown as well. So, I thought of sharing these six simple tips that could help the lost ones return to their home in no time.
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Table of Contents
1. Always Plan Ahead
It should be an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) when you travel no matter how near or far your destination would be. Planning ahead can save you time and enjoy your travel longer. It can also save you from getting lost on the road. How to do this? You can simply research travel blogs, travel websites, or even read books about the place you’re going to. Use the worldwide web optimally!
2. Bring Maps, GPS Devices, Etc.
When I travel, I always screenshot the “how to get there” part of a blog I’ve researched. It’s just like bringing a map at the palm of your hands. Some people would consider maps to be outdated; nevertheless, it’s one of the most useful tools while traveling. GPS devices are limited, and if you are a DIY and shoestring-budget traveler (like me), these would not be on top of your options. You can choose any of these as your guide as long as it’s convenient for you.
3. Ask for Directions
This never gets old. Asking people for directions is one of the most convenient things to do when you’re lost. And the best people to ask are the locals because they know the place very well. They could even tell you the shortcuts and the best spots in town! Bumping to other travelers is inevitable. Use the situation to ask for directions and make new friends as well. Who knows? You might have an instant travel buddy along the way! They might also share their discoveries with you. Make sure to be polite when asking for directions and use your charm if necessary. *wink* Also, it is okay to have little trust issues. Pick the right person to ask.
4. Be a Keen Observer
Most travelers should possess this kind of trait. Observe your surroundings carefully not only for security reasons but also for navigation. When I travel to unfamiliar places, I read all the signs there could ever be just to know where I am. If you’re traveling to a city, I suggest you check for banks because they state their branch location. When you’re traveling to a province, check on establishments like grocery stores and hardware shops. They provide their address on their shop signs. Road signs are the best to check on because they tell you where you are and how far you are from your destination. These can save some of your worries.
5. Use your Common Sense
Always, always, always a must for travelers. This should not be out of your options. Need I say more?
6. Use your Photographic Memory
Sometimes, we travel to the same province but different town. When you know you have traveled that road before, try to recall all the landmarks you used to pass by or the scenes that you saw when you traveled that road. Photographic memory is one skill that could help you get through your journey. So the next time you travel, make sure to capture those landmarks and store it in your memory bank. This could save you from being a castaway in the future.
As for me, these tips have become rules for myself when I travel anywhere especially to unfamiliar places. I know a lot of you have done all of these during your travels, but some still forget the significance of each tip. So the next time you get lost, don’t fret and follow these simple tips. But when all else fails, getting lost is always an extraordinary experience. You’ll never know what you might discover on those less-traveled roads.
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Actually, the 5th one is not a tip. It’s a thing we all know to do.It was kinda offending. Rest all were fine. Thanks!
You should be a little kinder. Your last two tips were very rude.”Use your Common Sense”.That is a very rude way to address to your viewers.You could have written it in a different way also.Reading it changes the whole view of how we look at this website or how we have an image on the writer.
It is good for the parents whose children are often carefree.
All great advice. The worst is getting lost in city or town traffic when you’re also trying to drive on the “wrong” side of the road. (Make sure to rent/hire a car with a hinged side view mirror.) Even if you can afford to use a GPS device or app on a phone, GPS is not always available. We were frequently lost in rural Ireland and often there was no GPS signal. For that particular trip I had purchased a comprehensive road atlas at the airport, but out in the countryside, there are little, unlabeled roads. That’s when your suggestion to ask locals comes into play—although admittedly, at times, the only “locals” around were sheep.