This post is very close to my heart. Every time I travel in a public transport or share space with other people, I cannot escape the thought that people are plain insensitive and only care about their own selves while travelling. And, if you are thinking that this is a problem we face only with strangers then you are mistaken. I have had broken friendships and conflicts with friends because they are bad travellers. Travelling is the best way of knowing another person – people are stripped off their pretences, they show their good/bad sides, you will know what gets on their nerves or what motivates them when you travel with them.

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen”.    

– Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Terrible travellers – you can hate them or you can be one of them. Travelling should expand our horizons and make us better human beings. Let’s find out how you can be a good travellers in 10 easy steps.

1. Recognise others need for space

Don’t be that person who spreads their legs on a public transport or push back their seats to maximum on buses or queue up even before the airplane door opens.

A friend of mine, who is from North India never opens her shoes when she goes to someone’s house. Thats a cultural norm in North India, that does not require you to take-off your shoes while entering a home while coming from a Bangali culture, I was always taught to take-off my shoes before entering someone’s home. Now, in this situation both of us are correct as this is a social norm at our respective cultures. But, a mindful traveller will observe these differences, and wherever required will take out the shoes at the front door. This simple gesture ensures that we are respectful towards other people.

Golden Tips:

• Read about a culture before you visit. Tanvi Dave, a passionate traveller says “following the rules clearly mentioned especially when visiting religious places or historical monuments is important. If it says no pictures/no shoes or the appropriate dress code why would someone not follow and enjoy being called out by authorities”.
• Learning some of the social norms followed in a culture will ensure greater bonding with the locals.
• Respect privacy of other individuals while taking photographs. How would you feel of someone clicks you without your permission.
• Stuti Arora, an avid traveller says that respecting your seat size in all types of transport is crucial. I am sure, we all have met annoying people while travelling who can’t contain themselves within their allotted seats. Please think about others, will you like it if I do the same thing to you?

2. Support local bussinesses

Ankita Langa, co-founder of Globe Trotting Girls India says that supporting local and family run businesses is an important part of travelling as it empowers local communities. Purvi Kamaliya, ace blogger always chooses homestay over hotels as it gives her an opportunity to connect with the people. The homestay fulfils the purpose of cultural exchange as well as reduces amount of trash generated by private companies. Local businesses ensure that locally grown healthy food is served, fresh water is available for the guests and contribute to tourism economy at the basic level. One connects with nature, people and difficulties faced by locals in the area. Supporting weavers/artists/farmers at the ground level can boost up the local economy and help in empowering people.

Jayanti Pandey runs a travel firm called One Life to Travel is deeply concerned about the state of local artisans. She says “there’s a lot of local handicraft which doesn’t even get a platform to sell; markets are full of “machine made” and “imported” stuff. I’ve noticed this in so many countries where I have travelled; and in Indian towns too. Since we almost all get to travel to the artisans and in the interiors, I’d so much more buy directly from them.

She also states that it gives them the incentive to produce better and to even come to the market with their wares. This was as far as handicrafts and souvenirs are concerned. Even in foodstuffs given where we stay in hostels or AirBnbs where we cook, or fend for ourselves, it’s nice to atleast try out locally made products and give them a market or platform. We may not like all of it but we should give it all a fair try: including local wines and cheese and simple foodstuffs which have often surprised me”.

Golden Tips:

• Stay in locally owned accommodations. I always prefer staying at homestay even though its expensive at times as compared to hotels.
• Buy from local weavers and artists.
• Eat at restaurants run by locals.
• Avoid bargaining.
• Promote traditional art, weaves and culture.

3. Don’t Be High-Maintenance 

I had the chance of travelling with some real high maintenance travellers over the years. Once I met a girl in Ladakh who was searching for a proper washroom in the mountains while going from Manali to Leh. There are no or hardly any bathrooms on that route, one would simply go behind a big rock and attend to nature’s call. On many occasions, I have had travel partners, fuss over food, accommodation, general state of affairs at a small place, carry too much luggage, shop before and during a trip, splurge for a better seat or pack a make-up bag separately.

Golden Tips:

• Pack less, think twice before you stuff your suitcase/backpack with things that you ‘might’ need. I carry a washing soap to was clothes for reuse.
• Eat local food. Sometimes it’s difficult to get the flavours of local cuisine, but at least you can try. I am a fussy eater myself but I try to include local food as much as possible while travelling.
• STOP COMPLAINING. It will do you no good if you compare your country/state/region with the places you are travelling to.
• Research before you visit a location. It will save you from carrying additional luggage.
• Don’t act all privileged. People will treat you right when you treat them right. Just because you are a traveller, don’t expect people to bow to all your demands.

4. Respect Other People’s Privacy

Because we come from a collectivistic society, we automatically assume that it is our right to interfere in others lives. Be it in the form of giving unwanted advise, butt into other peoples personal space, asking personal questions related to marriage, kids, religious belifes or simply talking loudly in crowded spaces.

The most common problem for me is that people play loud music or take intimate phone calls in public areas. Now, I have no interest in knowing what kind of music you like or what is happening in your personal life. Just to show-off people would go to extra lengths. Fellow travellers Tanvi Dave and Nidhi Gupta says that it annoys them the most when people listen to music or watch videos without headphones.

Golden Tips:

• Use headphones/ear phones to listen to music.
• Take personal calls later when you are in a public space. If its unavoidable then lower your volume while speaking.
• Don’t ask people about their religious or political view points. If they dodge your questions then don’t insist on repeating it again.
• Don’t try to look into other people’s phones while they are texting.
• Pay attention to body language as it will tell you if others are not comfortable with your questions. Respect personal space of others and maintain adequate physical distance while interacting.

5. Be environmentally conscious

Would you litter in front of your house? Or would you rather keep it clean? Then why would you litter while travelling, even if its not your home/state/country, its still your planet. Please don’t disrupt the environment by littering.

Meghana Sanka, a wildlife enthuist advises that you carry a small bag and keep your trash with you. If possible pick up trash when you see it on the way. Instead of buying plastic water bottles, always carry a bottle with you and fill up water wherever possible! Little changes make a big difference. Aarti Krishnakumar echoes the same thing as Meghana, says that we should avoid single use plastic at all cost while travelling.

Golden Tips:

• Volunteer with NGOs. Ketki Gadre believes in conscious travelling. I had the opportunity of travelling with her. She says “thankfully there are many places where you can volunteer to bring a change. In many places one can collaborate with local NGOs and do their bit to contribute to the planet. Helping locals make houses, or teaching English to rural children, helping in agricultural, waste trail pick up in mountains and so many others options are available”.
• Carry a stainless steel water bottle with you instead of buying plastic bottles. If the locals can drink the water then so can you too. According to Gita Mohan Nithyanandam, one can refill bottles from ‘Water ATMs’ these days. Many railways stations, metro stations, markets provides the facilities for this.
• Carry a steel straw. I carry mine wherever I go. Gree Shma carries her own cutlery and thermos to avoid using plastic. She also carry her own toiletries so she don’t use any other ones just for a day. It seems like lot of waste to her.
• Disposal of garbage at designated locations.
• Don’t throw your chips packets, cold drink bottles, cigarette butts outside the window.

6. Be Accepting Of The Fact That Things Will Go Wrong

Things will most definitely go wrong. I have never known a single soul who said, everything went as per the plan while travelling. Unwarrented and undesirable events will follow you on your travels because you are out of your comfort zone and in an unknown territory. Expecting things to be smooth is plain ignorant. I always imagine all the bad things that might go wrong during my travels, so that I am mentally prepared for the worst.

So many times I was stranded because the bus didn’t show up, didn’t eat because the food was not of my taste, controlled nature’s call due to lack of bathroom, and shivered with cold as I didn’t anticipated the weather. What do you do in such situations, do you crib? Do you scream at others for poor planning? Or feel guilty for your own lack of ability to predict events? I did all of this and then I stopped! Because these things are not in my control, spoiling the trip for someone else because I am not comfortable is childish. Deal with your own issues and prepare well the next time.

Golden Tips:

• I carry food with me as I am a fussy eater. If I don’t like the food served then I eat a little somehow to show respect and then excuse myself. I am also pre-diabetic, so you will always find munchies in my bag. My fellow travellers are always happy to travel with me because of this. 😛
• Don’t nag about the problem. Try to do damage control and see how you can avoid further problems.
• Take a deep breath. It always helps when things go wrong.
• Always recheck the prices/deals/discounts/cab fares more than once to avoid confusion.
• If you feel unwell, don’t avoid it. Seek for help or take medicines at the earliest. Don’t push yourself, if you are ill then rest for a day or two before you feel completely fine instead of ignoring the symptoms of an illness.

7. Always Pay Your Share

Making everyday transactions in our daily life might seems like a breeze but while travelling the situation can be tricky especially if you are travelling abroad. Being stuck in an unknown place without any help can be scary. Travelling with strangers can come with money issues – splitting of share, forgetting to pay, borrowing cash etc. can put you on spot.

Golden Tips:

• Download SplitWise App. It will be the best thing you will do today. All your money splitting woes will disappear with this app. Thank me later.
• Be open about money matters. If you don’t want to over spend on accommodations or fancy resturants then be clear about it from the start.
• Its a good idea to have lot of change with you while travelling as you can pay your share immediately.
• It’s okay to remind people to pay their share if they have forgotten about it. Sometimes, it actually slips from our mind. Give people benefit of the doubt and don’t hold silent grudges against them.
• Keep your personal expenses separate. When you buy a pack of sanitary napkin along with knick knacks for a group, pay separately for your napkins.

8. Don’t Be Judgmental

Once I was stranded in a village town in Uttar Pradesh at 7 PM, i could find a bus for Delhi and few men started circling around me on their bikes. I was so scared that I could have cried then and there. But I held my post. A middle aged man walked up to me and offered to help me find a connecting bus to Delhi. I doubted his intentions.

He took me to the bus in whc=ich he was travelling and told me that this bus will go to Bijnore and from there I will find a connecting bus to Delhi. He sat with me on the bus. I doubted his intentions still. He left his stop which was half an hour before Bijnor and accompanied me in waiting for my bus for two hours. I still doubted his intentions. When I left, I couldn’t even say a proper thank you because I was busy doubting his intentions the whole time.

I failed to understand why he was being so good to me. Because in our country, women grow up doubting the intentions of men if they become extra helpful. We all are caught up being judgemental.

Golden tips:

• Make a conscious effort not be be judgmental.
• Do not go by the stereotypes.
• Don’t judge people on the basis of what they wear and how they look.
• Just because a culture beliefs in a particular tradition which you think is barbaric doesn’t make them inhuman. I few months, I posted a picture of animal sacrifice, that doesn’t mean I support the act or the people from that area are bad folks, it is just part of their culture and I have no right to judge them on that basis. What is normal in one culture can be abnormal in another.
• Don’t indulge into travel snobbery. Don’t judge people who are different from you. Everyone has a different style of travelling, some like it slow, some are ticking their wishlist, and some are travellers always on the move. I have no right to demean someone on the basis on their travel style. What is all this fuss about being a traveller vs a tourist?

Another golden tip is that if something annoys you, then most definitely it will annoy others too. Always remember to be thoughtful and generous while travelling. Let me know in the comments section how do you travel responsibly?

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