May 23, 2016

10 Commandments of Traveling


1. Thou shalt always be planning the next grand adventure.
Whether it's tomorrow, in a few months, or a few years, always be dreaming of your next trip.

2. Thou shalt always take lots of pictures on your trips.
Cheap trinkets may break or be lost, but your pictures make for priceless souvenirs. Sometimes even hilarious, borderline blackmail ones.

3. Thou shalt never participate in the "traveler" versus "tourist" smack talk.
Can we just grow up? Whether you like visiting the main attractions, seeking out the most off-the-beaten track locales, or a mixture of both, there is no shame in either, and trash-talking one or the other is ridiculous.

If seeing structures like this only makes me a "lowly tourist," then that's just fine with me!
4. Remember the jet lag, but remind yourself that you can sleep another day.
Jet lag? Schmet lag! Never waste a vacation day sleeping. Get yourself on the local timezone as quickly as possible by staying awake until a normal bedtime and not oversleeping in the mornings.

5. Honor the dress codes of the culture.
Don't be that person that attempts to visit the Vatican while wearing a profane t-shirt or thinks it's perfectly acceptable to promenade around the Middle East in a mini-skirt and a tank top. Not only will you be denied entry to various attractions, but you'll attract unwanted attention and be offensive to the cultures you're visiting.

6. Thou shalt not deface natural wonders or man-made monuments.
This really should be a "no, duh" commandment, but you still see headlines about tourists carving their initials onto the Colosseum or snapping fingers off 600 year old statues (allegedly by accident). Don't be stupid, people!

This is the end result of #TouristsBehavingBadly (Photo circa 2010 in Germany)
7. Thou shalt not eat from American fast food franchises when overseas.
Why in the world would you travel all the way to Rome and just order a Big Mac at a McDonald's?! Don't do it! Go for the local cuisine in order to have an authentic gastrointestinal experience.. Your taste buds will thank you.

8. Thou shalt not waste time standing in lines.
Go early in the morning, late in the afternoon, or buy your tickets in advance so you don't spend precious vacation time standing in lines at popular attractions. We Americans have precious little vacation time compared to the rest of the first world, so be good stewards of it by planning ahead and avoiding long lines with good time management and itinerary planning.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against the places you've visited.
If you hated a place, don't say you loved it just because that's the popular viewpoint. I failed to fall under the charm of Paris, and I was honest about it. But I was forthright in my hopes that future visits will change my mind!

A photo posted by Thrifty Gypsy's Travels (@thriftygypsytravels) on

Irony is when your Instagram pictures of Paris are among the most popular on your feed even though it wasn't your favorite city to visit!

10. Thou shalt not covet the travels of thy neighbor.
Find yourself overcome with jealousy when you see the traveling exploits of your friends all over Facebook? Stop pouting and start planning! Get your finances in order so that you can make some memories of your own!


What commandments would you add to this list? Join the convo on Twitter with the #TravelCommandments hashtag!

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Last Week's #TravelTuesday Faves:
Tropical Islands Near Berlin by Joanna at Me and my itchy feet
Exploring Chichen Itza and The Ik Kil Cenote by Setarra, A Life Happening Blog


#TravelTuesday May 2016 Theme Post:
The Best of #TravelTuesday

All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately that time has come for this #TravelTuesday link-up. Due to Bonnie’s departure and the real-life demands of the current co-hosts, next week will be the last #TravelTuesday as it presently exists. 

But before the #TravelTuesday link-up is disbanded, we would like to celebrate all that has been accomplished and shared over the last few years of its existence! We are inviting all past participants and former co-hosts to join together for one last link-up next week (May 31st) with a theme highlighting the Best of #TravelTuesday! Share your favorite memories from the link-up or provide a personal montage of the blogger-friends you’ve made through #TravelTuesday. Feel free to share up to three posts, whether yours or a favorite from another blogger, so that this last link-up features the best of what #TravelTuesday provided!

Next week we will be sharing a list of travel link-ups that will enable you to collaborate with even more people in the travel blogging community!


Theme Prompts:
What are your favorite memories or posts from #TravelTuesday? 
Did you become friends with any of the bloggers you met through the link-up? Provide a personal montage of the friends you've made through the link up!
If you could spend the day with any of the co-hosts (past or present), who would it be and where would you go?

We look forward to linking up with all you wonderful people one last time next week for the best #TravelTuesday link-up yet!

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Travel Tuesday Link up and new Host search




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