Wherever you go in the world, there is never enough time to see every attraction that the country has to offer. What most people tend to do is cut their losses and only do the activities that seem the most important. But, how do you know one attraction is better than another until you can compare and contrast? You can’t, which means that way of thinking is flawed. What you need is a couple of ways to give yourself more time to explore.
Plan Ahead — Planning is essential. If you are organised, you can save yourself a lot of time to take in everything that looks of interest. For example, by looking at the itinerary you can see how much time you have to spare at certain times in your travels. So, instead of wasting time doing something that you have been doing for days, you can get your backside into gear. A perfect example is relaxing. Travellers love a good relaxing spot because, believe it or not, travelling saps your energy. But, you can always sit on the beach with a glass of beer. How often can you see the Taj Mahal or The Great Wall Of China?
Talk To The Locals — Guidebooks are brilliant, and in some cases they have been known to save lives and that is not an exaggeration. Regardless of how long you have spent in a certain place, you will never know as much as the locals. The locals are a great source of information, and it is free. All you need to do is ask them for help and listen to their answers. Trust me, you won’t be able to shut them up after a while! If time is of the essence, the locals will always be able to point you in the right direct.
Take A Tour — Tours get some bad press. The problem is you never know whether you are getting ripped off or if the guy is legitimate. For that reason, people tend to be wary of anyone offering a tour. On occasion, however, a tour is the best way to take in the city and save time. Tours like to fit everything into one day, so you can do two days’ worth of attractions in twenty-four hours. If that doesn’t sound like a good option, there are self-drive tours. A self-drive tour is where a company picks out your itinerary for the day, and you drive around at your pace.
Hire A Car — Public transport is a necessary evil because other means of transport are expensive. Still, it has its flaws: it can only go to specific places at certain times. As a result, there is no flexibility or ability to get off the beaten track and explore. Some of the best places are not on the map and need more than a bus and a tour guide. With a car, you can get around quicker and take in more than you ever would have been able to than if you stuck with public transport.
It is more expensive, but it is well worth the extra cash.
Written by Jacqueline Chambers
Jacqueline Chambers is the founder of TGIFguide. She uses her innate skills as a natural “connector” to serve businesses, brands and individuals in the LA area and beyond.
