"Whoever wants to travel happily must do so with light luggage, said Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. But have you ever wondered what other conditions we must meet to achieve travel happiness? We have, and here are our reflections!"
LIVE IN THE PRESENT WITHOUT EXPECTATIONS
Bertrand Russell, Nobel Laureate in Literature, warned in The Conquest of Happiness that resignation is a fundamental quality for achieving happiness. "Many people get impatient or angry at the slightest setback, and in this way, they waste a great deal of energy that could be spent on more useful things," he states in his famous book.
Therefore, to avoid ruining our adventure by worrying about everything we think we should be doing (climbing the tallest tower, watching the sunset from that spot they recommended, dining at the trendy restaurant…) and getting frustrated with every little thing that goes wrong (trains that arrive late, luggage that never shows up…), the best thing is simply to focus on the present moment. As the omnipresent mindfulness philosophy suggests, take a deep breath, focus your attention on what’s happening - without losing perspective - and most importantly, go with the flow. After all, you're on vacation!
DON'T OBSESS OVER TAKING THE PERFECT PHOTO
We love Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and everything that involves sharing wonderful moments of our travels with friends. But there’s a difference between that and spending two hours of our precious rest time trying to get the perfect shot.
Is it really that important to copy the pose that every fashion blogger has taken at that spot? Or to wait for the exact number of stars to align for the snapshot we dream of? Unless you’re a photographer traveling specifically to capture landscapes, the best approach is to take a picture without letting the process take too much time, so we can continue exploring our destination. This way, in addition to saving time for more enjoyable activities, we’ll get less stressed – both for ourselves and our companions – and who knows: maybe we’ll break away from the dominant trend and finally start taking spontaneous photos, the kind that really transport us back to the moment when we took them.
BECOME THE IDEAL TRAVEL COMPANION
We all have good days and… less good days. We’re talking about those days when we’re exhausted and can’t stop making excuses for everything because every walk feels like climbing an 8,000-meter peak. But don’t panic: it’s possible not to ruin our wonderful vacation over a disagreement or a moment of tiredness – as we know, in travel, like in the Big Brother house, everything gets magnified.
To achieve this, even during our lowest moments, the key is not to lose sight of the qualities of an ideal travel companion: the ability to communicate, tolerance, and patience. Putting these skills into practice will sometimes help us endure the other person's attitude with a positive attitude… and other times, it will help us not to get carried away by our own bad mood!
INTEGRATE INTO THE CULTURE OF YOUR DESTINATION
Don’t settle for being just a mere spectator of your destination’s daily life: those beautiful landscapes that inspired you to book your trip are more than just a backdrop – they’re alive! It’s worth immersing yourself in them to truly get to know the place, to learn from its people, and to feel that you’re really in a different spot, not just admiring a postcard. By doing so, you’ll step off the traditional tourist routes and discover extraordinary and unexpected scenes, people, and customs. And isn’t that what we travel for in the first place… to be amazed by the difference?
FEED YOURSELF WITH THE TRADITIONAL FOOD OF THE PLACE
And not just because of the whole idea of integrating with the local culture; it’s also that, in addition, it will always be much healthier than anything else. Is it really worth going to the Caribbean to eat at a fast food chain, when there are so many regional delicacies served everywhere? Remember that traditional dishes are usually made with local, fresh, and seasonal products, which undoubtedly feel great for our body and, therefore, for our well-being and happiness during the trip!
LEARN A FEW WORDS IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE COUNTRY YOU'RE VISITING
Sure, everyone understands you if you say “hello,” but doing so won’t get you the same reaction as when you try speaking a few words in the local language. In fact, seeing the satisfied look on the faces of the locals when you make the effort to communicate in this way is one of the best experiences your adventure will offer. Plus, this is a great way to win their affection and start conversations (in any language) that will open your mind to new ideas and ways of life… and, perhaps, change it forever.
PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
We all know that our planet has finite resources, but sometimes it seems like we forget this when we go on trips. That’s why it’s essential to review our travel habits: ideally, we should choose to enjoy products, services, and experiences that ensure the sustainable exploitation of the destination’s resources (including heritage, wildlife, and flora), and that guarantee fair treatment of workers. And how about trying to consume locally? This way, the place will grow instead of being gradually destroyed, and everyone will be happy enjoying that place you loved so much. Even you in the future!
LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
We didn’t pack our bags to experience exactly the same things we live at home. Traveling gives us the opportunity to be kids again, to be surprised, and above all, to live new experiences that will mark us forever. It even allows us to overcome our fears and do things that seem strange, difficult, or unknown. Is there any greater feeling of happiness than the one that comes from doing something we never dared to do? It could be eating insects, skydiving, or something as simple as learning to taste wine like a professional: the important thing is to fill your vacation with moments like these, which will become unforgettable memories over time.
TRAVEL, TRAVEL, AND TRAVEL, WITHOUT MAKING EXCUSES
Thomas Gilovich, a psychologist and researcher at Cornell University (United States), and author of several studies related to happiness, published a study that made it crystal clear: the best thing we can do with our savings is invest them in experiences, not things.
And above all, get the best hotel deals so your wallet can be happy too!
