10 Travel Skills You Should Learn

10 Travel Skills You Should Learn

At Atlas & Boots we are occasionally asked for our “expert advice” on travel. We find this equal parts flattering and embarrassing. After all, what makes an “expert traveler” anyway? Is it just knowing how to pack well, where to get insurance, and how to earn airline miles? Or does it go deeper?

We asked our readers what exactly makes a travel expert. The resulting list of travel skills gives us – and our readers – something to focus on in the coming year.

1. Speaking a second language

alt="travel skills: western woman talking to a local boatman">Dreamtime

At El Hostal de Jackie in Santa Marta we encountered our first embarrassing tourist in South America. The girl, a redhead in her mid-twenties, tried unsuccessfully to communicate with the receptionist.

She rolled her eyes as she looked at another backpacker. "I came down early, but they didn't help at all. They only spoke to me in Spanish." The receptionist politely interrupted and asked for her 'number'. "My number? Why do you need my number?" she asked irritably. I leaned forward gently. “Um, ‘nombre’ means name.” I tried to sound helpful rather than judgmental, but I'm British so it was somewhere in between.

The truth is that I've made the same mistake before (I came to Berlin without a word of German), but I've since learned my lesson. I think we can all agree that learning a second language is one of the most useful travel skills you can acquire. Make 2016 the year you start.

How to do it:Which language is best to learn?Expert tips for learning multiple languagesLanguage learning tools for lazy learnersHow to improve your vocabulary

2. Talk to strangers

The first time Peter started chatting with a stranger was on our very first trip together (Iceland a few years ago). The stranger in question was a pretty waitress, so I figured he was just exercising his male instincts.

An hour later we were sitting with two burly Icelandic boys swapping stories about our trips abroad. I quickly realized that Peter was very good at talking to strangers. He had traveled far and wide alone, forcing him to initiate conversations and form friendships across many cultures and places. I've certainly gotten better at this over the course of our big journey, but I still have a long way to go. This year is the year of recovery.

How to do it:Tips for Talking to StrangersHow to Make Friends in a New Country

3. Photograph locals

alt="Traveling skills: old Indian man in yellow turban">Dreamtime

Interacting with locals is such an essential part of traveling and therefore photography. Unfortunately, at Atlas & Boots we've never felt completely comfortable photographing people. Stop and snap has always felt intrusive, but there are better ways to do it.

Participating instead of observing is the most effective way. When you talk to people without any ulterior motive, you often find a natural opportunity to photograph them. Whether you're an amateur photographer or not, you'll find this is one of the most useful travel skills you can learn.

Here's how: Tips for photographing locals

4. Turn off

A seasoned traveler can turn off all her devices and enjoy the moment as it is. She doesn't have heart palpitations when she's out of WiFi range or religiously check email multiple times an hour.

I used to find it very easy to switch off when I traveled… until I started a travel blog. Now I'm usually connected everywhere, but I always appreciate it when I'm not. Without distractions, you can slow down, enjoy nature and take a breather. In 2016 I will try to travel more like I used to.

Here's how: Delete your social apps, disconnect from email, and turn off notifications. If possible, leave your smartphone at your hotel or hostel. Consider booking a stay at a hotel without Wi-Fi. If you must go nuclear, visit an island or area that has no WiFi at all. We recommend Mafana Island in Tonga or Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. The latter has WiFi, but it's so expensive you might as well be on the moon.

5. Travel alone

alt=“How to Improve Your Vocabulary: Woman Reading by the Water”>Dreamtime

I prefer traveling with a companion, but traveling alone can be exciting. Exploring an unknown place where you don't know anyone is challenging, scary and exciting. It gives you valuable time for yourself, helps you boost your self-confidence, and forces you to be self-reliant. There are also some practical benefits. It makes travel planning easier, gives you complete control over where you go and what you do, and helps you stick to your budget. If you've never been abroad alone, make 2016 your year.

How to do it: Tips for solo travelers

6. Save money

“Did you win the lottery or something?” A friend recently commented on a Facebook photo of us on Easter Island.

Unfortunately the answer was no. We went to Easter Island because we had been saving for a year for our big trip. Over the course of that year, Peter and I submitted a contribution each month until we reached our goal of £20,000 ($30,000). Saving was a lot easier than we expected, and as any experienced traveler knows, it's so often cheaper to be on the road than to live at home.

If you've always dreamed of traveling long-term, make 2016 the year you set a goal and start saving.

Here's how: How to save for a year's worth of travel

7. Barter

alt="travel skills: bargaining with woman in boat">Dreamtime

My family is from Bangladesh, so bartering is in my blood. Whether we're at a market stall in Marrakech or an electronics store in San Francisco, I always ask if there's "something to be done about the price."

In LA, Peter insisted that there was no way I could get a discount on fixing my broken iPhone. I asked anyway. The clerk said no, but at checkout he enforced it with his staff discount and gave us $20 off. An experienced traveler knows how and when to trade, when to push and when to back off.

Here's how to do it: Always exchange with a smile on your face, have a target price in mind, but let the seller name his price first. Push, but don't offend (if you reach your target price, don't keep pushing just for fun). Finally, the good cop-bad cop routine works wonders. Peter plays the perfect English gentleman and I play the shrew – always with a smile, of course.

8. Basic survival

On the slopes of Nevis Peak in St. Kitts & Nevis, I realized how hopeless I was at picking up a trail. Every time I lost sight of Peter, I lost track and had to call him first. I was equally hopeless with other basic skills like reading a compass and map, finding a good campsite, starting a campfire, and packing the right gear.

Basic knowledge is useful for all travelers, especially those who love adventure. It's easy to be complacent when your travel companion is an outdoor expert, but it's important to learn these skills yourself.

Here's how: How to use a compass and map How to find a good campsite How to build a campfire Ultimate camping checklist

9. Patience

alt="Samoan buses in Samoa">Atlas & Boots

When I waited 15 minutes for a bus in London, I was always excited. Hours passed in waiting along the way, and I casually set it to “Island Time,” the universal time zone for travel.

Savvy travelers can shift into a different mindset while on the move. They accept that plans will go wrong and connections will be missed, but still maintain good spirits and optimism.

How to Do It: How to Maintain a Sense of Humor While Traveling

10. Humility

If you had a good time and no one knows about it, did you really have a good time?

It seems that for more and more people the answer is no. For some, the compulsion to grab and share every meal, every cocktail, every sunrise and sunset is just too strong. We as travel bloggers understand this as much as anyone, but there's a fine line between sharing your travels and being complacent (think Instagram pictures of cocktails with the caption "My Monday morning commute").

If you're traveling in 2016, try to empathize with the people back home who can't travel right now. Bragging about your 17th sangria at Shangri-La won't endear you to anyone.

Here's how: Instead of sharing a detailed account of your travels, try uploading an album of your photos at the end of your vacation. This has the added benefit of helping you unwind. If your work revolves around travel, you can share more often, but be humble!

Find travel inspiration for 2016 with Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travel, a list of 500 amazing places around the world.

Mission statement: Dreamstime

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