Top 7 Travel Tips for Adventure Travelers

Adventure travel is set to boom by nearly 50% over a five year period ending in 2020. The more affordable travel costs, technological advances, and the greater exposure people have to other parts of the world these days accounts for a part of that growth. And the rest of it is a fruit of that inimitable spirit of adventure that naturally resides in so many of us.

But deciding to venture out to another part of the globe, or to a remote area of your own country or continent, is only the beginning. To make your trip truly successful, free of unnecessary glitches and stress-points, and as enjoyable and as memorable as possible, you need to plan ahead.

Here are seven top tips for adventure travelers that will help make your trip all you want it to be:

1. Avoid Airline Hassle and Restrictions

Overcrowded planes, inconvenient flight schedules, and tight luggage restrictions are anything but helpful for the adventure traveler.

If at all possible, consider private jet rental as an alternative – over 6% of regular airline luggage doesn’t reach its destination on time, and that alone is a reason enough to go on a private jet, instead of risking a day’s or week long wait for your adventure gear to catch up with you!

2. Bring Lots of Film or Memory Cards

You may think you can just buy more film or memory cards when you get there – but it may not be available when and where you want it and it will likely cost a lot more than if you bought it and brought it with you.

You want great pics to remember your trip by for years to come and to post on social media for your friends back home to follow, so don’t skimp on film or deny it its rightful packing space.

3. Keep a Travel Journal and Use It Daily

It may be old fashioned and less technologically advanced, but there’s no way to replace a travel journal.

It will be a storehouse for your memories that you can peruse years later to recall what you did, what you learned, and how you felt about your trip.

4. Bring All the Meds You Can

If you use prescription drugs regularly, bring enough to last your whole trip if possible: getting refills overseas could be a tedious and costly process, and it will eat into your adventure time.

Even over the counter drugs should be packed (in moderation), including anti-diarrhea and anti-altitude sickness drugs. (Diamox is great for the latter.) And, finally, bring extra glasses or contacts if you wear them.

5. Pack Some Sunscreen

Sunscreen can also be rather pricey in many countries, where people don’t use it much and it’s considered a tourist product. And you don’t have to be going to the beach to need it.

Trekking in high mountains or just exploring a big city in an equatorial land can easily give you a painful sunburn.

6. Make Use of Hotel Storage Services

When you arrive with expensive equipment and belongings at your hotel, or after you purchase souvenirs you really don’t want to lose, extra security may be desirable.

You don’t want to lug everything with you everywhere you go, but simply leaving things in the room isn’t always good enough.

Most hotels will specially storage and guard your valuables for you, often for a small fee – make use of that service because it’s well worth it.

7. Make ATMs Your Main Source of Financing

Research ahead and ensure there are ATMs you can use in the cities you will stop at. Be sure both international withdrawals and your particular bank are accepted.

The small bills you get from ATMs are safer than $100 bills (which are often counterfeited), and travelers checks aren’t always easy to use in remote locations.