The Ten Commandments of Travel

Do you want to know how to make your vacations more enjoyable, safe and effortless? Simply follow our ten commandments of travel.

1) Explore at least one new place every year. Most people love the familiar and visiting their favorite holiday destinations time and again. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's also a good idea to spread your wings now and again. Seeing the world is more educational than any textbook or documentary and opens you up to new people, cultures and experiences. It's rocket fuel for the mind.

2) Create friendships during your trip. Great travel is not just about the destination, the journey or ticking off sights in a guidebook. It is also about the people. Yes, we live in precarious times and need to be aware of stranger danger but traveling abroad and not interacting with others is to miss out. Strike up conversations, and your life will be richer for it.

3) Take things slowly. Sure, you can drive across several European countries in one day and breeze through a city's top attractions in a few hours. But trying to cram too much in will only leave you with mere snatches of memories. When you're not rushing around like a blue bottle, you've got more time to experience and connect with the places you visit. Explore at a leisurely pace and go for quality over quantity.

4) Be sure to sample the street food. Don't underestimate the mouthwatering joy of sampling street foods cooked by locals for locals. Intoxicating aromas and delicious flavors are not just the provinces of Michelin-starred gourmet restaurants. Whether it's scoffing calzone in Naples, feasting on ground beef chapli kebabs in Pakistan or pork sausages seasoned with curry ketchup (currywurst) in Hamburg, a culinary world of treats awaits.

5) Get off the beaten path. Wander off the beaten path and experience a neighborhood as the locals do. Try not to make your vacation just a long list of monuments, museums and galleries. See what else an area has to offer that's not in the guidebooks. Even the world's most-visited destinations have hidden surprises in store.

Stepping back from the main thoroughfare may open your eyes to wonderful places you might not have otherwise visited. Embrace the joy of just wandering aimlessly. Fill your days with local experiences and top tourist attractions to get the best of both worlds.

6) When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When preparing for a trip, research the local cultural landscape and any customs or cultural differences you need to be aware of. Common habits or gestures for you could have different and even offensive meanings in other places. For example, in Japan, don't use the chopsticks you are eating with to pass food to other people at the table. This is considered rude. When visiting any religious site, dress conservatively.

7) Don't experience your vacation through a camera lens. We all want to capture a moment, but one snap soon becomes another and then another. Before you know it, you're focusing more on your pictures than your surroundings. Avoid incessant picture taking and retaking to get the 'perfect’ shots. Spend more of your time actually living and experiencing your vacation and less on updating your Instagram or other social media accounts.

8) Be prepared. If there's one thing to keep in mind for a smooth travel experience, it is to be prepared. Therefore, make copies of your passport and other forms of identification and keep them separate from the originals. Also, bring a first aid kit with you and make sure you’ve had the vaccinations specific for your destination. If you don’t know which ones you need, speak to your healthcare provider.

9) Keep your children in check. You love your children more than you can express. They're funny, thoughtful, delightful, and an inspiration. However, fellow passengers on a plane, ship, or bus are unlikely to think the same, especially if your offspring are clambering over the seats and generally being unruly. So, make sure your children are well behaved and not little monsters.

10) Always be thinking about your next great adventure. There's nothing like getting over the end-of-vacation blues than planning your next trip. Whether a few months or a year away, the moment to start planning is now. Fix the date in your diary and start counting down the days. You will enjoy a significant boost to your happiness as you look forward to the good times ahead.