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Time to hit the road (or skies) again. Travel may be the ultimate inspiration for all things - whether it's food, fashion, hotels, adrenaline rushes or just living your best life - there's nothing quite like experiencing a different culture, another language and everything it has to offer. Whether you're looking for 5-star experiences, backpacking or somewhere in between some of the same hints apply.
Australians love to travel - maybe because we are so far away from everyone else, we tend to do extended overseas trips, often visiting a variety of locations.
Mykonos
Leaving the comfort of what is familiar, stepping outside our comfort zone and challenging ourselves is important for our growth and understanding of others. Embrace everything the location has to offer - the local food, wine, talk to the locals – there’s no point in travelling to foreign places and expecting everything to be the same as home. Be a good tourist, respectful of the cultures and religions of the country – you are a visitor. Learn a couple of phrases in the local language – you never know you may come home inspired to take up a new language.
Jaipur Splendor
After a couple of years of being grounded in Australia, it’s exciting and a little bit daunting to be able to travel again – but we may just be a little bit out of practice. Packing for a trip, which you may have previously had down to a fine art – you may just find it more difficult than you used to. It’s best to have a capsule wardrobe in colours that will mix and match and make multiple outfits. Let’s face it – you probably won’t see the same people all the time – so you don’t need a new outfit every day.
Accessories can be your best travelling companions – scarves, costume jewellery, and jackets can change the look from day to night easily. Think about what you wear at home … is your wardrobe on rotation with a few favourites? You may have good intentions to keep up your exercise regime whilst you’re away – but be realistic, running shoes do take up a bit of space in your case so if they’re not going to be used leave them at home with your guilt!
If you’re travelling by train in Europe – a huge suitcase will not make your life easy … getting on and off the train and negotiating stairs at the train stations will be fraught with challenges. If you can’t lift it easily yourself … don’t take it.
Oh, and of course, always leave a bit of your room in your suitcase or pack a soft bag that can be used for the homeward flight – you’re sure to purchase presents or something for yourself.
Amalfi Coast
Half the fun of an overseas trip is the planning. We’ve all been dreaming about when we could travel again and thinking about where we’d like to go. The hours spent on the computer researching and finding the flights, the perfect hotels, train timetables – it’s very easy to have the whole trip planned before arriving at the airport but if you’re more of a free spirit – just a return flight to and from home can be exciting – select the type of travel to suit your personality and of course the time of year. If it’s peak season you may have to be a little more organised and commit to some hotels and restaurants, especially if you have some on your wish list. If you’re planning museum visits – book online and avoid the queues. Before heading to the airport – check you have your ticket, passport (if needed), credit card, and travel insurance.
St Tropez
It’s always great to revisit a place you’ve been to before and loved but the excitement of arriving in a city or town you haven’t been to before is full of endless possibilities and new experiences. Some of our favourite websites for research on locations, what to do, restaurants, hotels, museums and a bit of history are Conde Naste Traveller, Fodors and Lonely Planet.
If you’ve been to Paris before and want to go again – make sure you add a few “new” things to your to-do list – a restaurant, a museum, something you’ve read about, stay in a different arrondissement and explore it. Some of the top restaurants have affordable lunch options so you can enjoy the experience and the food without blowing your budget. Is there a special exhibition on at The Louvre?
If you’re travelling to a new location, do your research, and make a list of “musts” – things to see and do. You’d be disappointed to get back home and realise you missed out on something you would have enjoyed.
Explore each place you visit as much as possible – what if you never make it back? Have you seen everything you wanted to? Plan extra time in locations so you can live like a local when you’ve finished being the tourist. Don’t try to do many cities in one trip – you don’t want to spend all your time on trains or planes.
Tulum
When travelling, always expect the unexpected … luggage can be misplaced, the hotel may be undergoing a renovation, there could be a strike, or delays at airports so don’t let bad experiences ruin your trip – sometimes they make the funniest and most told stories on your return.
By the time you’re home, unpacked, washed your clothes, and entertained family and friends with your travel tales, you’ll be ready to plan your next adventure.
In the meantime, if you need some instant travel gratification or inspiration, have a look at our range of coffee table travel books by Assouline. Take a living room tour of the Amalfi Coast, the Greek island of Mykonos, the turquoise coast of Turkey, the glamour of St Tropez, the spectacular colours of Jaipur or mix with the rich and famous in the Hamptons.
They’re beautifully bound in brightly coloured linen chosen to reflect the destination and filled with exquisite photos that will tempt you to book your next vacation, remind you of a recent one or excite you to search for new travel destinations.
Mykonos photography: A Boat + Mykonian houses by Febiyan. Jaipur Splendor photography: Market and Amber Fort by Ibrahim Rifath. Tulum photography: Beach by Roberto Nickson, Ahau Tulum Sculpture by Rafael Cisneros Méndez.
