Travel rules no one tells you

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If you haven’t heard of Robert Reid, do it now! A super awesome travel writer who has been published in so many prominent publications, I have lost count. From Lonely Planet to National Geographic Traveler to The New York Times... as I said he is super awesome. I LOVE his witty writing and his blog is full of inspiring anecdotes from his myriad travels. While reading one of his recent posts on 44 Little Travel Rules No One Tells You, I thought of writing a few of my own. They aren't as great as Robert's, but I hope you enjoy them anyway!

Have any tips you would like to add? Email them to me on ruchika@travellerstories.com and I will post them on my blog and on my Facebook page with your name and your website link.

• It’s okay to watch TV in your hotel room.
• It’s not silly to want to do touristy things. I giggled like a little girl out of sheer excitement when I sat in an ancient tram in Kolkata. Okay, that was silly. But it’s OKAY to be silly.

Yes. I clicked random people on the tram in Kolkata!

• Be safe, but don’t be over cautious. Often the most memorable experiences are those that happen unexpectedly and often involve strangers.
• It is good to get lost. Some of the best stories are about the times you got lost and all the things that went wrong. If you don’t like getting lost, sit at home.
• Don’t judge people or places if they don’t uphold your values and beliefs. There is no right or wrong when you’re travelling. Travel is all about finding yourself in unfamiliar territory. Smile and enjoy it. That IS what travel is all about.
• Accept kindness from strangers as often as you can. Yes, your mom told you not to speak to strangers. And there are plenty of evil people in this world, and shit happens all the time. But there are some insanely nice people out there too who you would regret not knowing just because you were too fearful.

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• You don’t HAVE to follow the must-do checklist of a destination. You CAN visit Amsterdam and NOT smoke up or drink. There are other things to see and do. This is what I did.
• It’s okay to visit a destination without knowing anything about it. I know how valuable it can be to know the place you’re planning to visit, to read about it or prepare a list of things you shouldn’t miss on your visit. But every once in a while, it can be fun not to plan anything at all. That is, if you like surprises. Although, if you don’t, why are you travelling at all?