Knowing where you’re going will make your vacation better

Currency, culture, hours of business, social mores of behaviour/customs, food, drink, expectations. These are all invaluable topics to understand about a place you are travelling. Otherwise, you may find that the locals look at you askance, or you may feel unwelcome. Knowing where you’re going ensures no surprises of the bad kind!

For us, some of the most fun about travelling is learning about other cultures and societies, and understanding that our tolerance and effort can and will be rewarded by their tolerance – we find a common understanding.

Currency

Just because you may have a currency that is used in a lot of places in the world doesn’t mean they will want to use it themselves (ie. US Dollars). It may cost them money to exchange. Whether you purchase some ahead or when you get in the country, there are always ways to get it. And, it adds another layer to your experience to better understand their currency, how it is used, and what things cost.

Culture

How long has this country been around? Its people? Does it have a rich culture of bartering in the markets? Or does it find it offensive? Better to find out before you really annoy the stall owner at the local market with an offer! Is the country quite conservative? Will you offend the locals by wearing your tube top and skimpy shorts? You can say you don’t care and that it doesn’t matter, you won’t be there again, but it really contributes to the type of experience you have. Knowing where you’re going can help you to enjoy your time with the locals in their own country.

Food

Does the country eat a lot of fish? Do you? Is it a meat focused culture and you’re a vegetarian? Plan ahead and figure old how you are going to enjoy your experience. Maybe it means you rent an apartment so you can shop and eat what you are comfortable eating. Also, how comfortable are you trying new things in far away places? We always ensure our shots are up to date, and we ensure TwinRix is current as well. We always know something familiar – yogurt, water, bread – helps settle our stomachs, so we know where we can buy that near where we will be staying. Another consideration with food is how much do they typically eat and when during the day? We can push dinner till maybe 8-9pm, but any later and we have to adjust our schedule fully! So, know thyself, and where you are going and you will be better off!

Drink

Is it a wine focused or beer focused culture? Good to know so you don’t arrive in restaurants wondering why something (like wine!) isn’t on the menu. Are alcoholic drinks available outside of stores? I find it amazing how many countries sell their alcohol in their grocery stores, so much so that I think Canada should too! But, not every country does this. And, some only sell hard liquor in separate liquor stores. Another thing that is good to know before you go!

Expectations

Do you come from a country that has banks and stores open 7 days a week? This isn’t the case for a lot of places. We’ve been in small towns on a Sunday (ie. Mykonos town many years ago), when everything is closed, and we hadn’t planned anything ahead of time for our meals. While we were able to address dinner (we found a restaurant open but empty!) we walked the empty streets and window shopped. Should have planned a beach day or enjoyed a road trip for the day! Lesson learned all those many years ago. Hours of opening for all that you want to see and do should be noted, so you can maximize your time, and your experience as you see fit.

Knowing where you’re going means a little bit of research. It is always available online, in your local library, and even through your friends. We have used all three regularly to answer our questions, so that we are confident we will not be too surprised in our destination!

Check out our other Planning posts to learn more!