travel for knowledge

Travel Quizzes: Test Your Knowledge

Discover Your Travel Style: Comfort vs. Style Quiz

Efficient Travel Like a Pro Quiz 🌍

🌴 Find Your Perfect Family Vacation Spot for 2022 🌍

Discover Your Ideal Travel Dress Style Quiz ✨

🚀 Take Our Space Exploration Technology Quiz 🌌

🌍 Field Guide vs. Guidebook Quiz 📚

🌍 Spiritual Travel and Exploration Quiz 🧭

Discover Your Ideal Travel and Exploration Career 😎

🧠 Test Your Knowledge: Earning Points as a Google Local Guide

🌦️ Impact of Weather on Historical Exploration Quiz

🌍 Impact and Legacies of Early Explorers Quiz 🧭

Essential Communication Apps for Solo Travelers - Take the Quiz! 🌍

Finding the Right Travel Insurance for You 🌍

🌍 Cave Exploration Hazards and Safety Quiz 🧗 | Global Trusted Traveler

🌍 What Kind of Travel Consultant Are You? 🧳

🌍 Balancing Adventure and Safety While Traveling - Take the Quiz! 🧳

🚀 Take the Urban Exploration Safety and Activities Quiz

🌆 Urban Exploration Knowledge Test 🌆

🌍 Budget Travel Tips Quiz 🧳

Test Your Knowledge on Open World Game Creation 🎮

🌍 Travel Safety and the Dangers of Abandoned Places Quiz 🧐

👗 The Perfect Travel Dress Quiz

🌎 Test Your Readiness for Your Mexican Journey 🇲🇽

🌮 Mexican Cuisine Quiz: Test Your Knowledge 🌮

🌐 Reliable Travel Review Websites Quiz 🧐

🌍 Booking Procedures and Tips Quiz

🌍 Trusted Travel Resources Quiz 🧳

🌍 Understanding the Basics of Travel Insurance 🧳

🔍 Avoiding Travel Insurance Pitfalls Quiz

🌍 Test Your Knowledge: Exploring Off-The-Beaten-Path Destinations Quiz 🧳

🌍 Navigating Crowded Tourist Attractions: Tips to Avoid Crowds 🌍

🐾 Are You Ready to Travel with Your Pet? Take the Quiz Now! 🐶

🧳 Take Our Travel Safety Knowledge Test 🌍

🌍 Take the Travel Safety and Accommodation Quiz

🚆 Public Transportation Safety Quiz

🇮🇹 Explore Italy Like a Local: Take the Ultimate Quiz 🌟

Login to global trusted traveler.

• EN - English
• PT - Portuguese
• ES - Spanish
• How it works
• Become a Host
• Download the app

Top Destinations

• United States
• United Kingdom

What type of experience are you looking for?

• Non-Profit School
• Permaculture project
• Eco Village
• Holistic Center
• Guest House
• How Worldpackers works

Learn from the most experienced travelers of the community

Traveling with worldpackers, planning and budgeting for travel, make a living while traveling as a lifestyle, travel with worldpackers.

• Using Worldpackers
• Work exchange
• Social impact

Plan your trip

• Women traveling
• Budget travel
• Solo travel
• Language learning
• Travel tips
• Get inspired
• Digital nomads
• Travel jobs
• Personal development
• Responsible travel
• Connect with nature

Top destinations

• South America
• Central America
• North America
• More destinations
• WP Life WP Life
• Exclusive discounts Discounts

6 essential ways travel promotes learning and education

Is travel the purest form of education? A trip abroad expands your worldview, connects you to your global community, and empowers you to be your most authentic, forward-thinking self.

Nov 10, 2023

A few years back, I left my comfortable home and job in the United States for a year of international travel, country-hopping, and experiential learning.

I have always considered myself a lifetime student, and enjoy the experience of learning in a classroom and investing my time in school. Some of my greatest mentors have been school teachers and college professors, and many people from my formal student years have played major roles in shaping my character and supporting me on my path toward becoming my truest and most authentic self.

After many years of school and classroom-based learning in a top American college of education, I was surprised to discover the seemingly infinite ways that travel as a form of education is a game-changer . From volunteer projects in Central America and the Middle East to learning new languages by living in communities of native speakers, the educational impact of my experiences abroad has been unparalleled. 

So much has happened since my initial take-off — now a few years back — and aside from the countless ideas, projects, ventures and experiences, I have truly learned to live and inhabit my senses in so many new and exciting ways.  Life has never been better, or more interesting.

As someone who never thought of travel beyond vacations and short trips organized by travel agents to now living location-independent and making the world my classroom , this is why I believe in the power of travel; as education and opportunity, and a greater means to community and empowerment.

1. It broadens your horizons through cultural immersion

Nothing compares to the experience of being fully immersed in a country and its culture. 

International travel should be about more than tourism and site-seeing. A trip abroad is an opportunity to witness and participate in life in another country; to connect with local people and learn about the ways in which they experience the world. Thus, when you travel, the world becomes about more than you or your country of origin. 

When I travel to a new country or place, I like to give myself time to truly dive into the layers that constitute history, language, belief systems, and everyday life. There is much to be learned by venturing outside the classroom.

2. It motivates you to participate on a local level

Whether visiting the great pyramids and astounding temple complexes of Egypt, strolling the streets of Paris, or adventuring in the Brazilian Amazon, a trip abroad asks you to participate . When you experience distant people and cultures firsthand, you'll naturally feel more inclined to engage.

Whether it's by practicing the local language  or simply observing your surroundings, travel leads to a more open and global-minded viewpoint where you understand how people and places are interconnected. Immersing yourself in different cultures will help you adopt a sense of empathy for others who live differently than you. 

As you learn about other political, economic, and social structures, you'll become more motivated to participate on a local level.  Opportunities for participation are boundless and range from volunteer efforts  and work exchanges  to language groups and  eco programs  and home-stays with host families. Participating in a country's daily rhythms is an educational experience rich in hands-on and active learning, and demands that you step out of your comfort zone  and  lead with curiosity and an open mind .

3. It challenges you to grow

Traveling will make you more adaptable. Leaving your comfort zone helps you become more independent, responsible and confident. You'll become better at thinking on your feet, and you'll be a better problem solver, planner, negotiator, and more. My time spent volunteering, working and living in other countries has allowed me to discover strengths, skills, and passions  that otherwise may have remained hidden. 

While traveling tends to be seen for its glamorous side, the reality is often far from. Life on the road has its own challenges and quickly breaks down the superfluous and extravagant to the essential — patience, an open mind, tolerance, resilience.

Beyond the discovery of new places and breathtaking sights and monuments is the discovery of self, of the layers and fabric you are made of, and what it means to be true to yourself and live well.

3. It helps you connect better with others

Regardless if you are in your own country or abroad, it's easy to connect when we focus on the things we share. Every country has something to offer and teach you. 

One of my guiding intentions as an international full-time traveler is to give every country a chance.  More often than not, this means being a witness to the positivity of misunderstood and negatively perceived places, and finding a way to learn and connect with people in spite of dissimilar beliefs or attitudes .  

Differences exist in lifestyle and etiquettes across cultures, and part of the experience of traveling is finding the commonalities and being humble enough to acknowledge and appreciate the differences as much as the similarities.

Connecting with people in different places around the globe provides you with a whole new perspective and insight about a culture or way of life that previously may have seemed too foreign or alien to understand. It's humbling and eye-opening to see how others live.

Nothing beats the feeling of breaking a preconceived stereotype or seeing past the influence and bias of media and connecting with a country and its people in real time. When you travel abroad, you gain a better understanding of people and their actions. It is inspiring to listen to the stories of people around the world, and this human connection can help you become a more compassionate and empathetic person. 

Over time, these cross-cultural experiences pull you out of your cultural bubble and help you empathize and connect with people from backgrounds different than your own.

4. It promotes a deeper sense of understanding

Travel not only teaches you about the world as it is today, but also about the history behind the current complexities of social, political, and economic structures.

Everyone studies history in school, but traveling brings history to life. In addition to seeing some of the world's greatest monuments and museums, you also feel the energy of the people and countries you visit. 

What was once a standard school history lesson becomes an ongoing process of experiential learning ; you become absorbed by the play of life happening in front of and all around you, and begin to understand the underlying reasons and forces behind why societies and cultures are shaped in a particular way and differ from one another. 

The more you travel and engage, your understanding of history grows, and your understanding of the world broadens . Ultimately, this understanding extends inward as well; you learn about yourself and your true potential and become better equipped to be proactive about your goals and dreams. 

You feel that you belong to many places, and your sense of "home" expands.

5. It builds community

From cultural immersion to participation to discovery to connection to understanding, travel builds and strengthens community . Whether you go somewhere as part of a university exchange program via student travel or join a volunteer effort, whether you travel solo or go on a weekend trip and end up bonding with a local over shared cuisine or an activity, your idea of community grows. 

I used to think of my community as exclusive to my home, or the place I physically inhabit, but my understanding has evolved to include my global community, the people and efforts that exist beyond my own borders. Community is greater than something physical, something tangible; it is created, sustained, and amplified by connection, participation, and understanding. 

Traveling — if done with the right intention — can lead to a deeper understanding of global dynamics and power structures, and a heightened  sense of responsibility to the greater community .

Seeing yourself as part of the global community is essential to remembering that we are all connected, we are all in so many ways more similar than we are different. The mark of a global citizen is acceptance, tolerance and appreciation, and above all, an awareness of the ways in which countries and people are interconnected and part of an emerging powerful and dynamic world community.

6. It leads to empowerment

The more you travel and expand your worldview, the more you are empowered to embody your authentic self and take action that supports sustainable global development and a collaborative world community . 

You become more independent, and cultivate a propensity for self-study and self-improvement . The skills gained through travel experiences are more than worth the effort, and have an impact that reaches beyond life and community as you once knew it .

No matter how many years you study in formal school or your number of university degrees, travel has so much to offer you . 

You gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding of history, and you rethink everything you once knew about how to study and understand the world today. By putting yourself in unfamiliar territory, you learn how to adapt to new environments, and in the process, discover more about yourself. 

Travel has the capacity to change your life . My travel experiences have been integral in shaping who I am — a brave, forward-thinking world citizen.  When I began my journey, leaving home for my first long trip meant letting go of everything I spent my entire life trying to gain. And while I closed the door on my perceived stability and comfort, I opened another to so many incredible opportunities, all of which would have been impossible to foresee. 

The world seems fragile and scary during these complicated times of hatred, radicalization, and conflict. Nonetheless, there is so much to learn from adventuring beyond the familiar places where we feel safe and stable . Don't hesitate to let experience be your teacher.

So, to anyone who is dreaming of traveling, I dare you to go for it. It will never seem like the "right" time or the "right" amount of savings, it will never be simple, or easy.

But, if you are dreaming of taking that leap of faith, as terrifying as it may seem: take it. You won't regret it.

Join the community!

Create a free Worldpackers account to discover volunteer experiences perfect for you and get access to exclusive travel discounts!

Janaína Colomba

Janaina Colomba is a writer, traveler, and creative inspired by the beauty and wisdom of people and places. Her personal mission is to bridge cultural gaps and ignite community and understanding. Janaina is currently based in Cairo, Egypt and can be found on Instagram.

Be part of the Worldpackers Community

Already have an account, are you a host, leave your comment here.

Write here your questions and greetings to the author

Feb 23, 2019

Excellent and informative article.

Mar 13, 2019

Thank you so much, Imran!

U seem to be a frequent Traveller. I m a UN official posted in Congo. What about u?

Mar 16, 2019

Wow! I'm a writer based in Cairo at the moment.

May 23, 2023

I apologise, but, in my opinion, you are mistaken. Write to me in PM, we will discuss.

Jun 26, 2023

https://rent-a-car-alanya.com/es/

Howardboany

Oct 03, 2023

https://virtual-local-numbers.com/countries/7-canada.html

RaymondTheli

https://european-sailing.com/new-caledonia-yacht-charter

battery india

Oct 30, 2023

Between us speaking, you did not try to look in google.com?

Nov 09, 2023

https://www.sexualcase.com/

Waltergloli

https://www.doornight.com/

Shivraj Singh

Feb 15, 2020

Amazingly awesome article. It reflects perfectly crafted thoughts of a beautiful mind which is achieving enlightenment through travel.

Oct 01, 2020

Awesome experience Janaina!.. would love to know more about it

Apr 24, 2021

Hi, my name is Maryam from Egypt. I have 15 years. If I can travel to Italy and work with you, I would like to respond as soon as possible.

Dec 07, 2021

Yes we can arrange That 💪

Jan 04, 2023

Apr 26, 2023

Besides the agencies a number of independent Noida Escorts are available to spend unlimited romantic moments with you at an affordable package. https://www.sarakaur.com/noida/

May 17, 2023

You are doing amazing work! Keep it up

May 25, 2023

Informative blog https://marstyle.nl/

Sep 18, 2023

high profile call girls in Kolkata Visit Site: - https://tannusinghal.in

More about this topic

6 simple steps to make your next vacation transformational

Complete guide to slow travel: why and how to practice it

7 simple ways to become a mindful traveler

How do worldpackers trips work.

As a member, you can contact as many hosts and travel safely as many times as you want.

Choose your plan to travel with Worldpackers as many times as you like.

Complete your profile, watch the video lessons in the Academy, and earn certificates to stand out to hosts.

Apply to as many positions as you like, and get in contact with our verified hosts.

If a host thinks you’re a good fit for their position, they’ll pre-approve you.

Get your documents and tickets ready for your volunteer trip.

Confirm your trip to enjoy all of the safety of Worldpackers.

Have a transformative experience and make a positive impact on the world.

If anything doesn’t go as planned with a host, count on the WP Safeguard and our highly responsive support team!

After volunteering, you and your host exchange reviews.

With positive reviews, you’ll stand out to hosts and get even more benefits.

The 25 Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions—Answered

By CNT Editors

What are the most surreal places to visit?

Some of the strangest places on earth are also the most sublime : from the UFO-like dragon's blood trees in Yemen to a rainbow-colored hot spring in Yellowstone to a bridge in Germany that looks like a leftover prop from Lord of the Rings.

Why do you need to turn off all your electronic devices before an airplane takes off and lands?

We've been taught to fear the interference of our portable devices and an airplane's sensitive electronic systems. And despite being told to turn off our darn phones, four out of ten passengers, it seems, disregard these warnings , since there's little hard evidence behind claims that electromagnetic emissions from devices can muddle airplane computers. Still, there's ample anecdotal corroboration, like the flight where a 30-degree navigation error was rectified simply by asking a passenger to turn off a portable DVD player. The issue is still being debated, so if in doubt, flick that Off switch. We might, eventually, long for the days when a chatty seatmate couldn’t make an hour-long phone call.

Do you have to be rich to travel the world?

The beauty of travel is that it’s accessible to everyone, in some form. You don't have to go far to experience a new culture. Plus there are several ways to make most flights affordable, whether by being flexible , searching on new websites like Skypicker and Fareness , or just by planning ahead. Know the best time to book a flight : 57 days in advance for domestic flights, 117 for international. Then again, you could just make traveling the world your 9-to-5.

What are some common items savvy travelers bring with them (that less-savvy travelers don’t)?

Don’t forget a small power strip—ideal for sharing a crowded outlet in an airport, and a simple way to keep all devices close by once at a hotel. (Combine that with a Zolt —which powers a laptop and two devices with a charger the size of a lipstick—and it’s even handier.) Keep a photograph of your luggage and passport on your smartphone; lose either of them, and you’ll be grateful for the reference. Pack a scarf—always. And since calling Nespresso coffee is an insult to baristas everywhere, the best in-room alternate is the Aeropress , a nifty gizmo that’s portable, light, and makes killer morning joe almost anywhere.

Sarah James

Jessica Puckett

Kimberly Wilson

Rachel Chang

What’s it really like to be a travel writer?

"For every beautiful beach hideaway, there’s been a missed flight or delay; for every delicious meal, a nasty case of 'Delhi belly," says Traveler contributing editor Krisanne Fordham in her story on this very topic . In short: Traveling for a living is equal parts rewarding and challenging, satisfying and smelly. It teaches you to live—not linger, but really live—outside your comfort zone, to always pack a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, and to never check your bag again.

What are some things airline pilots won’t tell you?

There’s no better Bible of in-flight secrets than Air Babylon , a rollicking romp through 24 hours at an airport compiling anonymous tell-alls from a raft of staff. One sample tidbit: Aviation law decrees that after an onboard death (more common than you’d imagine), planes must land at the nearest airport. No airline wants to pay fines for being delayed, so no one is officially declared dead on board until the plane is landing at its destination.

Where are the best places to travel alone?

Well, we certainly don't recommend Tahiti, where there's an all-but-constant reminder at every juncture that you are alone , a sad friendless figure lurking amid the glowing honeymooners. There are a few places, though, where visiting solo is a bonus, not a burden: notably cruises, yoga retreats, and treks across Europe.

Who makes the best travel bags?

There’s more to in-flight baggage than a boring black rollaboard. Here are some ideas for every kind of trip , including a dapper retro case from Globetrotter worthy of David Livingstone .

Is India a good travel destination?

One of the best in the world, with a vast variety of destinations clustered together in a single country, from the Miami-esque glitz of Mumbai to the Raj-era holdovers in Kolkata, the parched landscapes and Tuscany-like city states in Rajasthan or the quiet backwaters of Kerala. Here’s some inspiration for planning the perfect first-timer’s trip , or you can pore over the site for our India-based sister magazine.

How do you pack a suit?

Don’t wear that suit if you want it to arrive wrinkle-free. Instead, heed the advice of our style editor, Jayna Maleri: "Hold your jacket in front of you, with the front facing you, and fold length-wise in half away from you (so the buttons are on the fold and the shoulders are touching). Then carefully turn one shoulder inside out, and wrap it over the other shoulder (you'll know you're on the right track if the lining is now on the outside). Then fold the jacket one more time, in half width-wise. Fold your trousers carefully in half (use their natural crease as your guide), then place the folded jacket on top of them, near the knees. Fold the pants carefully around the jacket, and pack the bundle in the bottom of your luggage. Follow these steps and we promise, it won’t need a frantic steaming in the hotel shower."

What’s the best way to sleep on a plane?

Some seasoned travelers might swear by that knockout cocktail known as an Ambientini (a sleeping pill with a vodka chaser). There are better, safer ways , though—including pre-flight exercise and a few drops of lavender essential oil.

What are some of the best travel locations that most people have not heard of?

We’re all keen to explore countries and destinations that are unspoiled or unexpected, even if we’re probably still subconsciously following trends. ( This year , Myanmar, Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago, and Sri Lanka are some of our planned far-flung getaways.) But we'd also like to reframe this question: What are some of the best destinations you haven't heard of in well-known, heavily trafficked cities? Paris, perhaps, or London? Consider somewhere reasonably central, but slightly under the radar—say, Canal St. Martin in Paris and Shoreditch in London. They're easy to reach and a offer a wonderful "wow"moment of discovery.

What are the best airport hacks?

Download the GateGuru app before your next trip: It shows maps and amenities for any terminal, so you can better plan where to eat lunch or whether you can arrive early for a quick manicure. Don't forget that Zolt charger we mentioned earlier, so your phone doesn't die before takeoff. And, of course, sign up for Global Entry.

If I visit your country, what’s the one meal I shouldn’t miss?

It’s the same answer everywhere: breakfast. No meal is more distinctive or diverse. While sandwiches for lunch might be a global go-to, breakfast is still gloriously localized, whether you're eating bird’s nest–like pancakes filled with spicy curry in Sri Lanka or flaky, just-baked croissants in France. In Russia, however, it’s probably best just to skip it.

How do you get a flight upgrade?

The days of relying on an amenable attitude and a smile to score a cushy seat are, sadly, over. But some strategies still work : First, fly often and use miles whenever you can. And never underestimate the power of a good old-fashioned complaint when an airline overbooks your flight.

What’s it like to quit your job, grab a backpack, and travel the world?

Tons of people dream about leaving their jobs to travel, and while that semi-permanent vacation can often be exactly what you've imagined, you're guaranteed to encounter a few surprises—not all of them pleasant. Here's the truth—and the best way to prepare yourself—from a woman who did it .

NYC or San Fran?

As New Yorkers, we're biased in favor of bagels, de Blasio and the Bronx (and it seems like our readers agree ). We’ll admit it, though: You can spend a killer long weekend in Manhattan or the Bay Area .

Who’s the most interesting person you’ve ever met on a plane?

We can’t match the experience of a guy who met his wife on a plane, but we’ve encountered chatty ex-congressmen keen to tell the real-life story behind a blockbuster movie. And if you're lucky, you get to sit next to Bill Murray. Then again, the most interesting people aren’t necessarily fellow passengers but the crew: wedged onto a jump seat, staring straight at you, it’s easy enough to strike up casual chatter. We’ll never forget the veteran ex-Pan Ammer who regaled us on and off for an entire flight with stories. It was like a trip to aviation’s Golden Age rather than to California.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck?

They’re both a boon to frequent travelers but we’re firm fans of Global Entry , which costs only $15 more than TSA PreCheck and will likely automatically generate the latter most times you check in for a domestic flight.

What’s the best city in the world?

We'll defer to the best experts—our readers. In this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards , the best cities in the world include Budapest and Florence, while stateside, New York is the top big city and the best small city is Charleston, S.C., a long-time favorite.

Which airline is best?

According to our readers, internationally, it remains the perennially beloved Singapore Airlines. Meanwhile, Virgin America has been deemed the best domestic carrier ever since it launched in 2007.

What are the most beautiful beaches in the world?

Antigua may claim to have 365 beaches, one each for every day of the year, but other strips of sand rival the Caribbean island for sheer beauty (we’ll take quality over quantity any time). Here are some suggestions, from an overlooked island in the Philippines to a beach made up of jet black sand in Hawaii.

What are the most beautiful places in the world?

Beauty may be subjective, but who would argue against any of these 50 choices , whether Yemen’s futuristic forest of dragon’s blood trees or the Blue City of Jodhpur?

What are the best apps for travel?

By far the best transit guide ( RIP HopStop ) is CityMapper . It's free, and offers real-time directions via public transport, on foot, or by car plus a plethora of nifty bonuses for a selection of major world cities, from Tokyo to London, New York and even Hamburg. Even if you’re not wondering whether the inbound aircraft will make it on time for your flight, there’s a wondrous joy to watching the crowded skies via another free app, FlightRadar24 . LoungeBuddy (also free) helps with trips to unfamiliar destinations, allowing you to verify what status or access you might have to a refreshment oasis at the airport. We’ve used Postagram several times to send cards from places, like Russia, where they’re hard to find—the app is free and stateside delivery of that personalized keepsake costs just 99 cents apiece.

Where should I go now?

Year-end is full of listicles recommending must-sees for the year ahead—and we’re no exception . Head to Sri Lanka, Colombia, Miami, and yes, back to Paris.

The Educational Benefits of Travel

• Posted March 19, 2021
• By Gianna Cacciatore
• Entrepreneurship
• Global Education
• Informal and Out-of-School Learning

Master’s student Yasmine El Baggari has been to all 50 states. And she hasn’t just “been” to them in a casual, check-off-the-box way. She has been to them, for extended trips, staying in the homes of more than 250 families, riding countless Greyhound buses, and fostering thousands of genuine connections across cultures.

Originally from Morocco, El Baggari decided that she wanted to travel the United States by bus when she was 17, starting from Kansas where she was living while taking part in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange — a state-department exchange program that seeks to dismantle stereotypes about Morocco, Africa, and the Middle East in the United States. “I told myself, if I can break down stereotypes in Kansas, I can do it in all 50 states,’’ says El Baggari. She continued her travels across the U.S. through college and beyond, visiting her final state — Alaska — in 2019.

Her commitment to the interpersonal and cross-cultural benefits of travel only grew from there, with additional visits to 50 countries. Six years ago, El Baggari founded Voyaj , an international exchange company that seeks to break down cultural stereotypes and foster a sense of global interconnectedness through travel experiences. Voyaj connects people of all ages with others in their destination country who share their interests and values, “in order to have a deeper cultural experience through their lens,” El Baggari explains.

The program, currently being piloted with select communities, has facilitated journeys for its clients to more than 40 countries, including France, Morocco, and the United States. Hosts open their homes to travelers, who then open their hearts and minds to embrace new cultures. The Voyaj process is planned to work through the Voyaj website, where travelers will be able to sign-up, arrange homestays, and share stories about their journeys.

El Baggari’s work at Voyaj, which is currently a venture at the Harvard iLab , is grounded in the belief that when humans from different backgrounds form authentic connections, our increased global understanding can help lead to a more peaceful world. Learning more about how the human mind works while at the Ed School has given her insight into the factors at play when two strangers sit down and form a deep bond, despite their different social contexts — factors she learned anecdotally from her travel experiences. This developmental knowledge, El Baggari believes, will help her understand cross-cultural connections, even when stereotypes, walls, and borders stand in the way.

“It is so important to realize that we aren’t really that different, and that we can embrace any perceived or real differences and identify our commonalities,” she explains.  

When COVID-19 restricted travel, Voyaj created remote opportunities for connection, facilitating online experiences for people around the globe. While these gatherings lack the allure of an international, in-person experience, they have addressed some of the social ills exacerbated by the pandemic like loneliness and isolation. “That’s one of the positive sides of COVID: More communities are looking to connect and to do so more deeply,” says El Baggari. “Because of the isolation, people are eager to meet. These virtual experiences have proven meaningful.”

El Baggari expects the evolution of Voyaj to continue — even as she concurrently focuses on her ultimate travel goal: becoming an astronaut through Space For Humanity’s sponsored citizen astronaut mission. With the support of her global team, she is running pilots for the upcoming Voyaj app, as well working to form partnerships with other exchange and travel organizations in the United States, New Zealand, Morocco, and elsewhere.

El Baggari believes that travel is about more than place. It is about people: the people you see, the people you meet, and the people who change you along the way. “I believe we have the opportunity to learn at every moment from every encounter,” says El Baggari. “We’re here, and alive! We’ve got to connect, to open and share our cultures, and realize who we truly are.”

The latest research, perspectives, and highlights from the Harvard Graduate School of Education

Related Articles

Every Child Has a Voice

Building social-emotional learning skills through the arts

Beyond Table Manners

Lynda Rodríguez, Ed.M.'22, shares how etiquette can be a powerful learning tool

A Personalized Learning App Helps Close the Divide

Before you go, check this out!

We have lots more on the site to show you. You've only seen one page. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time.

How To Enrich Knowledge & Experience Through Travel: The Power of Travel

Travel is a great way to enrich your knowledge and experience with new ideas. The best part is that you no longer have to stick to textbooks or flashcards.

The internet offers ample resources to research different ways to travel smartly. Travel is not just about taking a break from the routine; it’s an opportunity to experience new cultures, expand your horizons, and gain personal growth.

It’s a chance to immerse yourself in different environments, interact with locals, and learn about history. Traveling can improve communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability. We will explore how to enrich knowledge & experience through travel.

Table of Contents

How to Enrich Knowledge & Experience Through Travel – 13 Tips

Learning how to enrich your knowledge through travel can incredibly benefit personal growth and development. Travelling allows us to experience new cultures, meet new people, and broaden our perspectives in ways that simply cannot be achieved through books or other forms of media.

By immersing ourselves in different environments and learning from locals. We can better understand the world and develop a well-rounded view of life. Here we discuss how to enrich knowledge & experience through travel:

1. Expanding Horizons

Traveling is a great way to acquire new knowledge and skills. It expands your horizons by immersing you in different cultures and exposing you to exciting experiences. You can also gain a further understanding by exploring internet resources like YouTube or Google and staying up-to-date with current affairs or industry news.

For retention purposes, using flashcards or finding different ways of learning can be incredibly beneficial. The best part is that social media platforms allow travellers to share their experiences with others. Travel teaches problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, and communication skills- the list goes on.

2. Cultural Immersion

By immersing ourselves in different cultures while travelling, we can gain a deeper insight into their traditions food , music, art, and language. It’s a great way to expand general knowledge and appreciate diversity while promoting tolerance and respect for others.

The best part is that there are different ways to achieve this experience through flashcards or social media platforms like YouTube or Google. With travel being the industry news today and technology aiding the retention of new skills and problem-solving abilities gained from travelling, cultural immersion is a crucial aspect of personal growth.

3. Personal Growth

Travel is a great way to acquire new knowledge and skills without realizing it. From trying new things to retaining general knowledge through flashcards or social media platforms like YouTube or Google- there are different ways to enrich your knowledge by travelling. The best part is that it doesn’t feel like studying- you’re simply exploring museums, galleries, and historical sites.

Appreciating architecture and landmarks while networking and learning from locals or industry news. Traveling is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in different cultures and gain new insights into problem-solving skills while widening your horizon on current affairs.

4. Experiencing New Cultures

Travelling is a great way to enrich your knowledge & experience without relying on traditional methods such as the internet or flashcards. Experiencing new cultures by traveling can broaden your perspective and provide an excellent way to retain current affairs information that one might have otherwise missed.

Immerse yourself in unfamiliar environments and develop problem-solving skills different from what one might experience on YouTube or Google searches . Tasting unique cuisines while travelling provides various ways to enjoy food while exploring the best part of other regions. You’ll be surprised at how much you can learn about industry news and new ideas by interacting with locals during travel .

5. Interacting With Locals

Experiencing new cultures is a great way to enhance your general knowledge; however, interacting with locals takes it to another level. Connecting with the people of a foreign land can give you an insight into their values, beliefs, and cultural practices that are not readily available on Google or YouTube.

Interacting with locals is not just about sharing stories or building relationships; it also helps retain new knowledge and acquire new skills like problem-solving and leadership. So, the next time you travel, don’t forget to utilize social media platforms or industry news to develop new ideas for interacting with locals.

6. Trying New Things

Travelling is a great way to enrich knowledge and experience through exposure to new ideas and knowledge retention techniques such as flashcards or industry news on social media platforms like YouTube or Google. Trying new things, whether it be activities or different ways of problem-solving, broadens perspectives with benefits going beyond general knowledge.

One of the best parts about travelling is getting immersed in unfamiliar environments and learning about different ways of life. You never know what new skills you may pick up along the way.

7. Visiting Historical Sites

Exploring historical landmarks is a great way to gain new knowledge, skills, and perspectives that can enrich our lives. Whether through books, flashcards, internet research or visiting museums and galleries, there are many ways to learn about history and culture.

Visiting historical landmarks is particularly valuable because it offers an immersive experience that enhances retention. By exploring historical sites, we can gain insights into different cultures and traditions that can broaden our horizons. Moreover, staying updated with current affairs or reading blogs about industry news or new ideas on social media platforms helps in problem-solving and adaptability.

8. Exploring Museums And Galleries

When travelling, exploring museums and galleries is an excellent way to enrich your knowledge and experience. These institutions offer an immersive way to learn about a place’s history, art, and culture and provide a platform to gain new ideas and skills related to different fields.

Whether learning about current affairs through interactive exhibits or acquiring industry news through online resources like blogs or social media platforms like YouTube or Google, museums and galleries can contribute significantly to personal growth by problem-solving in different ways.

Retention becomes more comfortable with the use of flashcards or by participating in events that encourage teamwork or leadership skills. You can even develop general knowledge through storytelling sessions in these institutions.

9. Appreciating Architecture And Landmarks

Appreciating architecture and landmarks plays a significant role in enriching your knowledge and experience through travel. While travelling, you get to witness some of the most magnificent structures and sites across the globe.

The best part is that you don’t have to limit yourself to physically visiting these sites alone – the internet has made things more accessible, with social media platforms such as Youtube providing virtual tours of landmarks worldwide.

Researching on Google or reading up on blogs before visiting a historical site or milestone helps retain information. Doing so can expand their general knowledge while learning about problem-solving techniques used in construction during those times.

10. Language Acquisition

Enriching your knowledge through travel does not only mean exploring new places, but it is also about acquiring new knowledge and skills. Language acquisition is an excellent example of that. Immersing yourself in a foreign culture opens doors to learning a new language.

You can use resources like flashcards or search for different online or social media learning methods. Learning new words and phrases from locals can be extremely helpful too.

Expanding your linguistic abilities is one of the best parts of travelling because it enhances your problem-solving skills and helps you communicate better with people around you. By keeping up-to-date with current affairs or industry news while travelling, you get exposed to newer ideas that might help you in your work or personal life.

11. Sharing Stories And Experiences

Exploring the world is a source of fun and an opportunity for personal growth. When it comes to enriching your general knowledge and problem-solving abilities, trying out new things like getting off the tourist track by watching YouTube travel shows or reading blogs are different ways to learn more.

Sharing stories and experiences is the best part of travelling as it helps retain the information better. You can use flashcards or make notes on Google as well. Experiencing various cultures worldwide gives you fresh ideas for problem-solving with different skills.

12. Networking Opportunities

While travelling the world to enrich your knowledge & experience through various means, such as trying new things or visiting historical sites, do not forget about the importance of networking opportunities it offers.

Networking with locals and fellow travellers is not just limited to meeting new people but has a lot more to offer than that. You can stay updated on industry news by leveraging your social media networks or following travel blogs.

Learning from local experts about the place’s history on Google or YouTube is a great way to expand your general knowledge. Flashcards can be a fantastic tool for retaining this newfound information while travelling. The best part is that such interactions can also lead to gaining new perspectives on problem-solving or acquiring new skills.

13. Learning From Locals And Experts

Experiencing different ways of life is a great way to enrich knowledge and gain new skills. When you travel, one of the best parts is learning from the locals and experts you meet. Interacting with people worldwide can improve your social skills and problem-solving abilities.

From visiting historical sites and museums to exploring architecture and landmarks, travel allows you to retain more general knowledge that you can use throughout your life. You can also use internet resources like YouTube videos or flashcards on social media platforms for industry news or current affairs updates.

Travel is an enriching experience that can help broaden your horizons, enhance your cultural awareness, and provide personal growth. Visiting historical sites, exploring museums and galleries, appreciating architecture and landmarks, trying new foods, interacting with locals, and learning new languages are just a few benefits of travel.

You also build relationships with people from different backgrounds and cultures while networking with experts in various fields. Travel helps you develop problem-solving and adaptability while enhancing your leadership and communication skills. We hope the outline on how to enrich knowledge & experience through travel will be helpful to enrich your knowledge through your next travel

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some benefits of traveling for personal growth and development.

Traveling offers numerous benefits for personal growth and development. It allows you to gain a broader perspective, learn new skills, and boost confidence and independence. Additionally, it provides opportunities for self-reflection and creates lasting memories and connections with people worldwide.

In What Ways Can Travel Broaden One’s Perspective On The World?

Traveling provides opportunities to learn about new cultures, traditions, and ways of life. Meeting people from diverse backgrounds can expand your worldview. Visiting historical sites and natural wonders can deepen your understanding of history and geography. Trying local cuisine, activities, and language can enrich your experience.

Can Any Resources Or Tools Help Me Plan My Travels More Effectively?

Absolutely. Numerous resources and tools can assist you in planning your travels better, such as travel blogs, online guides, and apps. You may also seek advice from a travel agent or use a tour operator for more structured trips. Always prioritize researching visa requirements, local customs, and weather before visiting a new place.

What Potential Challenges Or Obstacles To Traveling, And How Can They Be Overcome?

Traveling can present challenges such as language barriers, cultural differences, and logistical issues. Overcome these by learning basic phrases or hiring a translator, researching customs, and being flexible with plans.

What Are Some Budget-Friendly Ways To Travel And Gain Enriching Experiences?

Travel on a budget by opting for hostels or affordable lodging, exploring through free walking or self-guided tours, sampling local cuisine at street food stalls and markets, and volunteering with cultural exchange programs like Workaway or WWOOF to save on accommodation expenses while gaining immersive experiences.

Michael C. Herrera

I’m a travel blogger with a focus on safety. I’ve been to all seven continents, and I love sharing my tips for staying safe while traveling. I also have a lot of experience with travel hacking and finding the best deals on airfare and hotels. My blog features reviews of restaurants, hotels, and attractions around the world.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

Flixbus Luggage - What You Need To Know

When travelling by bus, you must consider the amount and type of luggage you'll bring. That's where FlixBus luggage comes in. FlixBus is a popular bus company that operates in Europe and the United...

Lucas Luggage Replacement Wheels: A Simple Guide

Lucas luggage replacement wheels are an essential component for any frequent traveler. These wheels are designed to replace worn-out or damaged ones on your existing Lucas luggage. Providing an...

• Brochure Download

New places; new cultures; new experiences: why travel broadens the mind

Independent travel expert Sarah Bennett gives us her take on why students should enjoy the mind-expanding benefits of traveling.  

As a student, you should feel empowered to seek out knowledge and discover new things. Teachers should have the independence to take their education beyond the confines of the classroom, giving you the chance to gain new skills.  

The wonderful bit about all this is that you can do it on your own. And perhaps the best way is through travel. Going to a different country is a perfect way to find inspiration , with many students feeling enlightened enough to arm themselves with more knowledge about all the things they discover on these trips.

The joys of travel

Travel provides a learning experience like no other. It inspires people to seek out new places, keeping their pool of knowledge constantly topped up. It’s a great way to not only learn new things and immerse yourself in a new culture – but it also provides a constant urge to continue learning .

Many students who go on educational trips say they learn a lot from even the smallest of gestures. Often, the difference between their current destination and their home country can be so stark that absorbing new knowledge is the only way to keep up.  

For me, some of the major benefits of travel include:

• Improving your confidence; enabling you to deal with the challenges of higher education
• Lots of exciting activities and trips
• The chance to network with future professionals
• The opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture

When you travel abroad, you get to prove just how capable you are. There is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm among students as they try new things, like speaking and expressing themselves in a new language. When these endeavors are successful, it breeds the kind of confidence that will hold you in good stead for a long time to come.

Our BBA in Global Hospitality Management sets you up for a career without borders. Where will hospitality take you?

Travel more, achieve more

When you are a student, you should be challenged and pushed out of your comfort zone. Going to a new country, whether it be for a semester abroad, a field trip, or an educational tour, is an ideal way for you to come face-to-face with something new that might unsettle or challenge you.

“It’ll help you not just in your education, but also in your full-time career.”

The best part of educational travel is that you get to learn through experiences . It will motivate you to achieve more. You will be inspired to start conducting research, finding out about the local culture, getting to grips with the language, and knowing what conditions to expect.  

With more than 100 nationalities on campus, the majority of Les Roches students are experiencing living abroad as a natural part of their studies. If you have yet to go abroad and sample life in another country, why not give it a try? You’ll find it an invaluable way of improving your skills, knowledge, and confidence.

·      Les Roches offers some amazing study abroad opportunities, where you can expand your horizons, experience new cultures and build your confidence.  Find out more about the study abroad opportunities . 

• Student Life

This blog entry was written a fellow Les Roches Marbella BBA3 student and member of the Student Governance Association, Isabella…

This blog was written by BBA7 student Ekaterina Borisovskaya. September 4th of 2023 marked the start of my last semester…

This blog entry was written by Bachelor’s student Daniel González Hernández, who is also Vice-President of the Student Governance Association…

“Spark projects such as this one teach students to focus on the requirements of a real company in the knowledge…

Welcome to Les Roches

Privacy overview.

• Best of the Best
• Airport Parking
• Privacy Policy

Travel as a Source of Knowledge and Pleasure

In the minds of most people travel is associated with relaxation, new experiences, pleasure. It firmly entered the life of a man with his natural desire to discover unknown lands, monuments of nature, history and culture, customs and traditions of different nations.

Every modern person dreams of traveling, and especially students, as these are young people who seek to explore the world, gain new knowledge, develop themselves, etc. Of course, the educational load on students is quite large today, so they do not always have time to travel. But, it is important to note here that at any time they can turn to professional paper writers such as AdvancedWriters and get reliable essay writing support in the fulfillment of certain assignments. Professionals allow students to get extra time for travel and guarantee high-quality writing of academic papers.

In this article, we will tell you about the importance of travel for a modern person, consider travel as a source of knowledge and entertainment.

The Importance of Travel for a Modern Person

People have always traveled to discover new lands, meet their neighbors, find treasures, test their strength, gain previously unknown knowledge and, finally, become different from what they were before they left their native threshold. But why do some go on trips, sometimes dangerous and difficult, while others stay at home? Why, for the sake of what, for what purpose do the first ones risk their lives, run away from the borders of a comfortable and understandable world? What is their motivation?

The answers to these and other questions can be found here:

• Travel is a phenomenon created by modern civilization. Having emerged in the XIX century as a system of mass organized trips, hikes, visits, it gained a global scale. Achieving mature forms of travel has created opportunities for its theoretical, philosophical reflection;
• The main purpose of traveling is self-knowledge and self-improvement. It becomes educational in the case when this goal is realized and it is transformed from a simple movement in space into a focused process of cognizing the world;
• Travel is not only a highly profitable sector of the global economy; for many people, it continues to be associated with romance hikes in the mountains, forests, rivers. Travel has always been and remains a powerful lever in educating the younger generation, formation of the worldview of young people, ensuring a healthy lifestyle;
• During travels, people receive new knowledge: they study the culture of one or another people, their language, their traditions. All this allows a modern person to develop both spiritually and morally. Moreover, a person is removed from his daily affairs of duties, he relaxes, has fun and enjoys what he sees and hears. All this positively affects the psychological state, causes pleasant emotions in a person;
• Travel occupies an important place in culture. Apparently, in all ages, people embarked on a journey with a wide variety of goals, and then in one form or another talked about what they saw, learned and experienced. Humanity in its history has accumulated an incredible number of such stories — from travel notes to novels. In addition, the motive for overcoming the path can be found in a variety of mythological, poetic and religious traditions, as well as examples of the use of travel as an allegory in philosophy, theology, literature, and art. The universality of travel as a phenomenon and the variety of cultural meanings associated with it makes it an attractive and promising topic for discussion among the humanities.

Functions of Traveling

Taking into account all of the above, it is possible to distinguish the main functions of traveling:

• Educational. Each trip gives the person a certain experience of patience overcoming inconveniences, fosters love and respect for people, to the native land, teaches to respect traditions, beliefs, the worldview of other peoples;
• Developmental. There is a development of cognitive activity, formation of world outlook, ensuring the possibility of adequate self-knowledge;
• Cognitive. It is a function that is about knowing the world, accumulating experience, forming the outlook of each traveler. Travelers gain knowledge of geographical, historical, environmental and other environmental features. They learn to preserve them for future generations. All this contributes to the development of science, culture, art and other fields of human society;
• Socializing. There is mastering the skills of interaction with other people, the rules of behavior in the team;
• Recreational. Travel helps to improve the physical and mental health of researchers, gives new impressions.

Thus, all of the above allows us to conclude that travel promotes the development of the soul, approaching the truth, a person is in search of new knowledge, learns new things, and gets a new experience. Traveling is an excellent form of education , powerful impulse for creativity, new ideas, new opportunities revive inspiration. Therefore, we can say that travel is a real source of knowledge and pleasure.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Why Traveling Is a More Valuable Experience than Going to College

Practical Advice for Students Who Dream Of Traveling

A Simple and Effective Guide to Finding the Best Airport Hotels for Your Budget

The Top Theme Parks You Have to Add to Your Bucket List

7 Mystifying Destinations: The World’s Best-Kept Travel Secrets

What are some interesting facts about Iceland?

10 Most Beautiful Forests in Belarus

The Most Scary Places to Visit in Switzerland

The 10 Best Rooftop Bars in Milan

Escape the Ordinary: Breaking Free from Monotony Through Travel

Worth seeing.

4 Things To Consider When Choosing Your Vacation Villa

Most Incredible Stories from Pridrangar Lighthouse: A Journey Through Iceland’s Maritime...

Exploring Nearby Gems from Athens with Your Rented Car

Most Charming Parisian Neighbourhoods: A Traveler’s Guide to the Heart of...

• Cookie Policy

6 Things You’ll Need In Order To Travel Across The USA

National Geographic content straight to your inbox—sign up for our popular newsletters here

Travelers may find it difficult to empathize with locals, according to experts. Here, tourists in 2016 buy fruit juice at a market stall in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Travel is said to increase cultural understanding. Does it?

While researchers say travel does affect the brain’s neural pathways, true empathy remains an elusive destination.

Empathy is commonly defined as “putting yourself in another person’s shoes” or “feeling the emotional states of others.” It’s a critical social tool that creates social bridges by promoting shared experiences and producing compassionate behavior. But can empathy be learned? And can travel help facilitate this learning? The answer is complicated. “Research has shown that empathy is not simply inborn, but can actually be taught,” writes psychotherapist F. Diane Barth in Psychology Today . While past research has indicated that empathy is an unteachable trait, newer research—including a 2017 Harvard study —suggests that the “neurobiologically based competency” of empathy is mutable and can be taught under the right circumstances. Whether seeing the world actually opens travelers’ minds—that it makes travelers more empathetic—is up for debate. In a 2018 Harris Poll of 1,300 business travelers, 87 percent said that business trips helped them to be more empathetic to others, reports Quartz . And in a 2010 study , Columbia Business School professor Adam Galinsky found that travel “increases awareness of underlying connections and associations” with other cultures. While self-defined empathy and awareness are unreliable measurements, it stands to reason that cross-cultural exposure through travel would at least create conditions for checking conscious and unconscious biases. “If we are to move in the direction of a more empathic society and a more compassionate world, it is clear that working to enhance our native capacities to empathize is critical to strengthening individual, community, national, and international bonds,” writes Helen Riess, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of the 2017 report.

But the coronavirus pandemic and, more recently, the global Black Lives Matter protests have forced an uncomfortable reckoning—that all the travel in the world might not be enough to engender the deep cross-cultural awareness people need now.

“There’s this false adage that travel opens minds, but that’s not [a built-in] fact about what travel does,” says Travis Levius, a Black travel journalist and hospitality consultant based in London and Atlanta. “Travel does not automatically make you a better person,” nor does it clue you into “what’s going on in terms of race relations.”

Black Travel Alliance founder Martina Jones-Johnson agrees, noting that tourism boards have made it “overwhelmingly clear that travel doesn’t necessarily build empathy.”

The lack of diversity within the travel industry itself suggests that there’s much work to be done to make the industry as inclusive as the world of travel consumers. According to a 2019 annual report by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers in the leisure and hospitality industry were overwhelmingly white. Consumers, meanwhile, say they want to spend their money on travel companies whose employees reflect the world they work in, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council .

Additionally, companies that embrace inclusivity may have a better chance of avoiding tone-deaf messages , such as using “free at last”—the line is from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Dream” speech—to caption a billboard depicting white children jumping into the Florida Keys. The advertisement, which has since been taken down, launched in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis that sparked worldwide protests against police brutality.

(Related: Learn why it’s important to have diverse perspectives in travel.)

Karfa Diallo leads a tour of sites related to the trans-Atlantic slave trade in Bordeaux, France, in June 2020. Participating in activities that amplify marginalized voices and experiences can go a long way toward developing empathy, say experts.

A road paved with good intentions

Interestingly, modern tourism has fairly empathic origins. In the 1850s, Thomas Cook used new railway systems to develop short-haul leisure travel as respites for hard-working British laborers, according to Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, a senior lecturer on tourism management at the University of South Australia.

A hundred years later the United Nations declared reasonable working hours, paid holidays, and “rest and leisure” as human rights . By the 1960s, spurred by related movements to increase holiday time, the leisure sector had coalesced into a full-fledged professional industry.

Since then, the World Tourism Organization and international aid groups have championed tourism as both “a vital force for world peace [that] can provide the moral and intellectual basis for international understanding and interdependence,” as well as an economic development strategy for poorer nations.

But not everyone agrees that the travel industry has lived up to these lofty goals. In recent decades, it has been accused of doing just the opposite. As Stephen Wearing wrote nearly 20 years ago : “tourism perpetuates inequality” because multinational corporations from capitalist countries hold all the economic and resource power over developing nations.

(Related: This is how national parks are fighting racism.)

These days, inequality is baked into the very process of traveling, says veteran Time magazine foreign correspondent and Roads & Kingdoms co-founder Nathan Thornburgh. “Your frequent flier status, the stupid little cordon separating the boarding lines, the way you take an Uber or cab from the airport after you land, not a bus or colectivo or matatu —those all reinforce divisions, not empathy,” he writes in an email. “And that’s just getting to a place.”

Empathy’s downsides

Experts say developing empathy isn’t easy and comes with a host of problems. Joseph M. Cheer, a professor at Wakayama University’s Center for Tourism Research in Japan, notes that empathy inherently “others” another person.

In his 2019 study of westerners on a bike tour in Cambodia, Cheer found that despite the prosocial aspects of the experience—visiting local non-governmental organizations, interacting with local Cambodians—post-tour interviews revealed that the tourists didn’t understand the cultural context of the outing. The visitors leaned into problematic tropes like “happy,” “lovely,” and “generous” when describing locals or simply saw Cambodians as service providers.

This “othering” bias, Cheer says, becomes more noticeable the greater the distance between tourists and locals, and especially so in strictly transactional encounters, such as in hotels.

A worker at a resort in Bali. Researchers say visitors should make a commitment to understand local cultures by moving past transactional interactions.

Our individual travel experiences oppose our best intentions, says travel writer Bani Amor, who has written extensively on race, place, and power.

“The stated [positive] intentions are completely contradictive to what happens in the tourism industry and how oppressive it is to BIPOC [Black, indigenous, and people of color] around the world, how tourism laborers are being treated, and how they’re being dispossessed, not having a right to their own land and to enjoy our own places,” says Amor, who has worked in the tourism industry in their ancestral home of Ecuador.

“You can only really know your own experience,” adds Anu Taranath, a racial equity professor at the University of Washington Seattle and a second-generation immigrant.

“I think we can develop empathetic feelings and sort of crack open our sense of self to include other people’s experiences in it. We can only deepen our own understanding of who we are in an unequal world and how that makes us feel and how that motivates us to shift our life in some way or another.”

I think in its purest form, empathy is basically impossible. I can weep for you, but I can’t weep as you. Nathan Thornburgh , founder, Roads & Kingdoms

Or as Thornburgh puts it: “I think in its purest form, empathy is basically impossible. I can weep for you, but I can’t weep as you.”

Traveling deeper

While experts conclude that travel may not inspire enough empathy to turn tourists into social justice activists, the alternative—not traveling at all—may actually be worse.

“[B]ecause travel produces encounters between strangers, it is likely to prompt empathetic-type imaginings, which simply wouldn’t be there without the proximity created by travel,” says Hazel Tucker in a 2016 study published in the Annals of Tourism. It’s also one reason why it’s important to expose children to travel at an early age.

Yet truly transformational experiences require more than just showing up with a suitcase. It requires energy, effort, and commitment on the part of tourists, as well as specific conditions, says Higgins-Desbiolles. “Visitors need to be prepped for the interaction so that they are ready to engage with the people on an equal level,” she notes.

Taranath’s book Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World may provide some starting points. “It’s an invitation to think more carefully about our good intentions and where they really need to be challenged,” Taranath explains. “How do you think about identity and difference in an unequal world? What does it actually look like?”

Additionally, Tucker suggests embracing what she calls “unsettled empathy”: learning about the cultures you’re planning to visit and sitting with uncomfortable legacies of colonialism, slavery, genocide, and displacement from which no destinations are exempt.

Barbara Manigault, a Gullah sweet grass basket weaver, practices her craft in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. American tourists with limited travel opportunities can find many places in the U.S. to learn more about other cultures.

That background can be the basis for meaningful conversations, which Cheer found are “the key element that prompted empathy.” Thornburgh adds that travelers should seek out places where there is “an equal and humanistic exchange, or something approaching it, between the visitors and the visited.”

(Related: The E.U. has banned American travelers. So where can they go? )

Toward that end, experts generally ruled out cruises. Instead, immersive experiences like Black Heritage Tours that amplify historically marginalized voices provide better opportunities for meaningful connections.

Fortunately for would-be travelers, those opportunities can be found even in these pandemic times, when many countries are restricting international travel, especially for Americans.

“We are so lucky in this country that the whole world has come here to build their lives, in big cities and small, and that we have Black and [Native American] communities throughout,” says Thornburgh. “Go to their restaurants, lend your talents to their schools, help them raise money for their playgrounds.

“You want travel? You want to experience different cultures? Start at home. Start now.”

Related Topics

• CULTURAL TOURISM
• PEOPLE AND CULTURE

You May Also Like

How to make travel more accessible to the blind

The Masterclasses 2023: 10 travel writing tips from our experts

Limited time offer.

Get a FREE tote featuring 1 of 7 ICONIC PLACES OF THE WORLD

Americans have hated tipping almost as long as they’ve practiced it

Who were the original 49ers? The true story of the California Gold Rush

These are the best travel photos of 2021

To find their future, South Africa’s first people look to the past

How to spend a day exploring Berlin's art and design scene

• Photography
• Environment
• Paid Content

History & Culture

• History & Culture
• History Magazine
• Women of Impact
• Mind, Body, Wonder
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

ISTM Body of Knowledge

The istm body of knowledge for the practice of travel medicine, revised 2017.

by Physicians, Nurses and Other Travel Health Professionals

The field of travel medicine has grown dramatically as greater numbers of people travel to exotic and remote destinations. Almost a billion travelers cross international borders annually. However, studies suggest that very few seek pre-travel health advice. Many of those who obtain pre-travel advice receive information from practitioners who are ill equipped to provide current and accurate information. Travel medicine has become increasingly complex due to dynamic changes in global infectious disease epidemiology, changing patterns of drug resistance, and a rise in the number of travelers with chronic health conditions.

This Body of Knowledge was created to guide the professional development of individuals practicing travel medicine and to shape curricula and training programs in travel medicine. It is also expected to serve as a vehicle for establishing the content validity of a credentialing process.

It is the scope and extent of knowledge required for professionals working in the field of travel medicine. Major content areas include the global epidemiology of health risks to the traveler, vaccinology, malaria prevention, and pre-travel counseling designed to maintain the health of the traveling public.

In September 1999, the ISTM Executive Board established a group of travel medicine experts from its membership to define the scope of knowledge in the field of travel medicine worldwide. The final draft of their report was converted to survey format and mailed to 110 ISTM members worldwide, who were representative of the diversity within the profession. The respondents provided further input into the relative importance of each of the content areas. The results of their efforts contributed significantly to the Body of Knowledge. Since its inception the Body of Knowledge was reviewed and updated in 2006, 2012 and most recently in 2017. Each update has been based on expert review and extensive surveys to hundreds of CTH® Holders and ISTM Members

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF TRAVEL MEDICINE Body of Knowledge for the Practice of Travel Medicine – 2017 by Physicians, Nurses and Other Travel Health Professional

01. EPIDEMIOLOGY (10%)           01. Basic concepts (e.g. morbidity, mortality, incidence, prevalence)           02. Geographic specificity/global distribution of diseases and potential health hazards

02. IMMUNOLOGY/VACCINOLOGY (20%)           01. Basic concepts and principles (e.g., live vs. inactivated vaccine, measurement of immune response)           02. Handling, storage, and disposal of vaccines and related supplies

Types of Vaccines/Immunizations/Immunobiologics Indications/contraindications, routes of administration, dosing regimens duration of protection, immunogenicity, efficacy, potential adverse reactions and medical management of adverse reactions associated with the following vaccinations/combination vaccinations:           03. Bacille Calmette-Guerin           04. Cholera           05. Diphtheria           06. Encephalitis, Japanese           07. Encephalitis, tick-borne           08. Haemophilus influenzae type B           09. Hepatitis A           10. Hepatitis B           11. Hepatitis A and B combined           12. Human Papilloma Virus           13. Immune globulin           14. Influenza           15. Measles           16. Meningococcal           17. Mumps           18. Pertussis           19. Pneumococcal           20. Poliomyelitis           21. Rabies           22. Rotavirus           23. Rubella           24. Tetanus           25. Typhoid           26. Varicella           27. Yellow Fever           28. Zoster           29. Other combined vaccines           30. Other

03. PRETRAVEL ASSESSMENT/CONSULTATION (35%)           Patient Evaluation           01. Assessment of fitness/contraindications to travel (e.g. pre-existing illness, fitness to fly)           02. Evaluation of travel itineraries/risk assessment (e.g. pre-existing activities, travel to rural vs. urban areas)           03. Relevant medical history (e.g. previous vaccinations, allergies, chronic illness, mental health history and concurrent medications)           04. Screening for good mental health and personal resilience to stress in hostile environments            Special Populations           Unique management issues pertaining to the following populations:           05. Athletes           06. Business travellers           07. Elderly travellers           08. Expatriates/long term travellers           09. Immigrants           10. Infants and children           11. Travel for the purpose of international adoption           12. Missionaries/volunteers/health clinicians/humanitarian health workers           13. Pregnant travellers and nursing mothers           14. Teachers, trainers and students           15. Travellers with chronic diseases (diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, mental health illnesses)           16. Travellers with disabilities           17. Travellers to hostile environments to include: journalists, armed service personnel, scientists, academics           18. Travellers who are immunocompromised, including AIDS and HIV           19. VFR’s (those visiting friends and relatives in their countries of origin)           20. Other            Special Itineraries           Unique management issues associated with the following activities/itineraries:           21. Armed conflict zones           22. Cruise ship travel/Sailing           23. Diving           24. Extended stay travel           25. Extreme/wilderness/remote regions travel           26. High altitude travel           27. Last minute travel           28. Mass gatherings (e.g. the Hajj)           29. Travel for the purpose of medical care           30. Natural disaster areas           31. Sex Tourism           32. Travel to areas experiencing disease outbreaks           33. Other            Prevention and Self-Treatment           34. Chemoprophylaxis

                    01. Altitude illness                     02. Leptospirosis                     03. Malaria                     04. Travellers’ diarrhea                     05. Other           35. Personal protective measures (e.g. restriction of outdoor activity at dawn and dusk) and barrier protection                 (e.g., bed nets, insect repellents)           36. Self-treatment                     01. Diarrhea                     02. Malaria                     03. Other           37. Travel health kits           38. Other travel medicine medications and pharmacological issues            Risk communications regarding:           39. Animal contact (including birds)           40. Close interpersonal contact (e.g. sexually transmitted diseases)           41. Contact with fresh and salt water           42. Food consumption           43. Safety and security           44. Walking barefoot           45. Water consumption and purification           46. Antimicrobial resistance           47. Other (e.g., skin trauma, infection…)

                     04. DISEASES CONTRACTED DURING TRAVEL (12%)           Geographic risk, prevention, transmission, possible symptoms and appropriate referral/triage of:            Diseases Associated with Vectors           01. African Tick Bite Fever           02. Chikungunya           03. Dengue           04. Encephalitis, Japanese           05. Encephalitis, tick-borne           06. Filariasis (e.g. Loa loa, bancroftian, onchocerciasis)           07. Hemorrhagic fevers           08. Leishmaniasis           09. Lyme, anaplasma, babesia           10. Malaria           11. Plague           12. Rickettsia (typhus)           13. Rift Valley Fever           14. Trypanosomiasis, African           15. Trypanosomiasis, American, (Chagas disease)           16. West Nile           17. Yellow fever           18. Zika           19. Other (Emerging Infections)            Diseases Associated with Person-to-Person Contact           20. Diphtheria           21. Hepatitis B           22. Hepatitis C           23. Influenza           24. Measles           25. Meningococcal disease           26. Mumps           27. Pertussis           28. Pneumococcal disease           29. Rubella           30. Sexually transmitted diseases           31. Tuberculosis           32. Varicella           33. Other            Diseases Associated with Ingestion of Food and Water           34. Amebiasis           35. Brucellosis           36. Cholera           37. Cryptosporidiosis           38. Cyclosporiasis           39. Giardiasis           40. Hepatitis A           41. Hepatitis E           42. Norovirus           43. Poliomyelitis           44. Seafood poisoning/toxins           45. Travellers’ diarrhea           46. Typhoid and Paratyphoid fever           47. Other            Diseases Associated with Bites and Stings           48. Envenomation (e.g. jelly fish, sea urchin, scorpion, snake, spiders)           49. Herpes B virus           50. Rabies           51. Other            Diseases Associated with Water/Environmental Contact           52. Cutaneous larva migrans           53. Legionella           54. Leptospirosis           55. Schistosomiasis           56. Tetanus           57. Other

           05. OTHER CLINICAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAVEL (10%)            Conditions Occurring During or Immediately Following Travel           Symptoms, prevention, and treatment of:           01. Barotrauma           02. Jet Lag           03. Motion sickness           04. Thrombosis/embolism           05. Other            Conditions Associated with Environmental Factors           Symptoms, prevention and treatment of:           06. Altitude sickness           07. Frostbite and hypothermia           08. Respiratory distress/failure (associated with humidity, pollution, etc.)           09. Sunburn, heat exhaustion and sun stroke           10. Other            Threats to Personal Security           Precautions regarding:           11. Accidents (e.g. motor vehicle, drowning)           12. Violence-related injuries           13. Other            Psychological and Psycho-social Issues           Unique management issues associated with:           14. Acute stress reactions, post-traumatic stress disorder           15. Culture shock/adaptation (e.g., travellers, refugees)           16. Psychiatric and psychological sequelae of travel or living abroad           17. Other (e.g., flight phobia)

           06. POST-TRAVEL ASSESSMENT (8%)           01. Screening/assessment of returned asymptomatic travelers           02. Screening/assessment of immigrants           03. Triage of the ill traveller            Diagnostic and management implications of the following symptoms:           04. Diarrhea and other gastro-intestinal complaints           05. Eosinophilia           06. Fever           07. Respiratory illness           08. Skin problems           09. Other

           07. ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL TRAVEL MEDICINE ISSUES (5%)            Medical Care Abroad           01. Aeromedical evacuation (including repatriation of deceased)           02. Blood transfusion guidelines for international travellers           03. Procedures and considerations regarding medical and mental health care and recommendations regarding access of medications in resource-poor areas           04. Other            Travel Clinic Management           05. Documentation and record-keeping (e.g. vaccination certificate requirements, reporting of adverse events)           06. Equipment           07. Infection control procedures           08. Management of medical emergencies           09. Resources for laboratory testing           10. Supplies and disposables including medications           11. Other            Travel Medicine Information/Resources           12. Accessing health information for travellers including commercial and proprietary sources           13. International Health Regulations           14. National/regional recommendations, including national/regional differences           15. Principles of responsible travel           16. Other

Everyone, everywhere, deserves to get an education

Our focus is to educate teachers and students around the world. We do this by focusing on how to better educational systems around the world. The four branches of this organization include: (1) teachers teaching teachers around the world; (2) assisting students in gaining education remotely, no matter their location; (3) students gaining education through travel; and (4) humanitarian assistance for educational systems that need additional help.

Why I Started Education Through Travel

Every person deserves to have their views of the world expanded to have greater understanding of the cultures and societies around them. This is, at its core, what Education Through Travel is striving to do. My whole life has been leading up to this and I am excited to see what can come from educating through travel.

Read More...

Our Mission

• Teachers teaching other teachers
• Students having access to education, no matter their location
• Students gaining education through travel
• Humanitarian assistance for educational systems that need additional help

Support Education Through Travel

Resources for teachers, resources for students, why education is important, why education is important generally.

Education matters. Learning is important for all people, whether they are 1 or 100. There are many around the world that do not have access to the education that is necessary to understand how governments, societies, economies, ecosystems, and relationships work across the world. This basic knowledge of these various systems is essential to contributing and thriving in the world today.

Educated people help lift the countries in which they live. According to one study “[e]ducation stimulates economic growth and improves people’s lives through many channels, namely: by increasing the efficiency of the labor force and thus increasing an individual’s earning potential, by fostering democracy and thus creating better conditions for good governance, by improving health and reducing fertility, by enhancing equality, and so on.” Education can positively influence individuals, but it can also positively influence communities, societies, and the world.

There is no denying that education is important generally, but there is also no denying that primary education, or elementary school education, is exceptionally important. Primary education has a higher rate of giving back to the country, especially in developing countries. One study found that “the rates of return to education are higher for primary education, than for further education, and that primary education contributes more to economic growth in less developed countries than in developed countries.”

Education, for children in particular, creates a ripple effect in communities. Education should be provided by teachers who care and who are educated to the level they are teaching at. Every person, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, and the country they live in, is entitled to a robust education. Education matters.

Teachers Teaching Teachers

There are amazing teachers around the world, but there are some disparities depending on the country in which the teacher teaches. There are disparities around pay, levels of education, students in the classroom, amount of deference shown to the teacher, and the level of education/training a teacher has.

Pay of Teachers Around the World

Pay of teachers in the United States has been a topic of debate for decades. There are many that believe teachers should be paid more. Some countries around the world have stepped up to show how much teachers mean to the communities by paying them well. Teachers in countries such as Luxembourg, Switzerland, Korea, the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria are some of the highest paid in the world. It is not surprising that countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Korea, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands rank in the top countries based on education rankings .

Teachers are not all paid equally around the world. With regard to developed countries, the lowest paid teachers are in Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary. Other countries that rank among the lowest paid teachers are Chile, Brazil, and Indonesia.

Teachers in developing countries are paid even less than teachers in developed countries comparatively but are paid well when compared to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country in which they teach. The pay of the teacher also depends on if they work in the private or public sector.

Teachers may not have the incentive to put their heart, soul, and training into full practice if they are not compensated fully. An excellent teacher makes a difference in the lives of their students. The quality of a teacher can make or break the education of a classroom full of students and can have lasting effects on the community and world at large (as will be further discussed below).

Classroom Sizes

There is a great deal of debate as to whether the number of children in a classroom affects the student’s ability to learn. Malcolm Gladwell points out in his book David and Goliath that there have been studies that indicate that there is a “sweet spot” for the number of students in a classroom. Various developed countries have long held that smaller classroom sizes are best for the students because the teachers can give more individualized attention.

Whether a classroom size matters or not, developed countries that put high attention on education often have smaller classroom sizes, while countries that do not put as high a premium on education have larger classroom sizes . With regard to more developed countries Brazil and Chile are among the largest class sizes of thirty-two and twenty-seven, respectively. The lowest classroom sizes are in Norway and Portugal, nine and eight, respectively. In under-developed countries, such as Ethopia, have over sixty students per teacher. (teacher shortage) As will be discussed further below, with a less than 55% qualified teacher rate in Ethiopia, the number of students per qualified teacher in Ethiopia is over 120.

Deference Shown to Teachers

Teachers are not given the respect they deserve in many countries. As discussed, education can shape the lives of individuals and can color communities and countries in long-lasting ways. Proper education is extremely important, and teachers should be given the at least level of deference needed to help support proper education.

There are certain collectivist countries like China and Malaysia that usually show the greatest respect to their teachers. Israel and Brazil rank the lowest for respect towards teachers. Countries that tend to be more individualist, like the United States and United Kingdom, rank in the middle of developed countries for respect for teachers .

Teacher Absenteeism and Lack of Teacher Involvement

While, in America and most developed countries, it is almost inconceivable to think that teachers would just not show up for class absent an emergency, there is an issue in some countries of teachers being absent from the classroom, and even the school. Countries like Mozambique, Uganda, and Tanzania have a problem with teacher absenteeism. In 2017, a study showed that in Mozambique teachers were absent from the school 45% of the time and absent from the classroom 56% of the time and in Uganda teachers were absent from the school 28% of the time and from the classroom 57% of the time.

For these countries the same study showed a low percentage of time spent on teaching. This could be due to the fact that the teachers are often absent from the classrooms, but the percentages show a greater amount of time not spent teaching than the amount of days the teachers were absent from the classroom. For Mozambique the average percentage of time spent on teaching is 39.46%, for Uganda 42.03%, and for Tanzania 55.21%. These students are not gaining what they could from the teachers if the teachers were present and teaching.

This essentially means that students do not even have a teacher in the classroom over half of the time, and teachers are not teaching for a percentage of the time they are in the classroom. There is room to teach classroom techniques and other pedagogical techniques to these teachers so that students may receive the best education possible.

Where Do We Go from Here?

The differences between countries and their treatment, respect, and pay of teachers are apparent from the statistics above. This is the information that is needed to show the foundation and starting point of where the world sits with our educators. We can do better as a global society.

The world is deficient in the number of teachers necessary to teach the number of children around the world. According to one study , the world will need almost 69 million more teachers by 2030. Most countries will achieve the number of teachers they need, but there are many that will not. Countries such as African Republic, Mozambique, Uganda, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Myanmar are not on track to have the number of teachers needed by 2030.

There is much work that needs to be done to educate the world properly. The benefits of a good teacher are immeasurable. Teachers that are properly trained, educated, and desire to teach can make monumental differences in students’ lives. This is something that seems intuitive, but the statistics back up this idea.

Research by Raj Chetty, John Friedman, and Jonah Rockoff supports the idea that teachers are incredibly important in how student perform. A high-quality teacher can improve the results of students and the presence of a low-quality teacher can negatively impact the results of students. This study concludes that it is apparent through the data that the dispersion in teacher effects is substantial. These results imply that higher-quality teachers can raise a student’s test score significantly.

The old adage that “children are our future” is absolutely true, but the teacher that teach those children are an important part of how the children are taught to become the future. A good teacher, that has the ability to give their attention to all of their students, is paid well enough to not have to worry about their ability to support themselves and their families, and is given the respect they deserve, will change the world. One student at a time.

Students Learning Through Travel

Travel can help individuals expand their world view, help individuals learn beyond their normal situations, and help individuals gain experiences over theories. When students, especially teenaged students, have the ability to go learn outside of their normal day-to-day lives, they can gain an appreciation for people, cultures, and situations other than their own. This leads to greater compassion and understanding.

Expanding World Views

Traveling is an excellent form of education. Traveling to a foreign country and to different parts of one’s own country helps individuals understand various cultures and the common ground that unites different types of people. When students who are kept in their own neighborhood or small town and do not have the opportunity to see any other types of cultures, people, or places will have a difficult time understanding others.

Looking to the cultural ideologies and art of various countries and sub-cultures there may be differences, but there are similarities as well. The love of nature, art, and ancestral respect are all similarities between many cultures.

By seeing the differences and similarities in and understanding various cultures, people can start to understand how they can best contribute to the world. This is especially true for teenagers because they are able to start young and help their worldview form around that knowledge. When people can contribute to the world based on a variety of experiences it makes the world a better place for all.

Learning Beyond Normal Day-To-Day Situations

When an individual is able to get out of their routine and discover something outside of themselves, there is an enormous space created to learn. The individual can learn compassion for the lives of others, learn about themselves, and gain transformative learning experiences to become a better world citizen.

When it is discovered that people are just people, no matter where they live or what they look like, prejudice will subside. Knowing how people interact will help the global community become closer and greater understanding between peoples.

In a study in 1938, one of the pioneers of the idea of learning through experience, “proposed that knowledge and skills that a person learns in one situation can help them to understand and react to subsequent experiences.” Experiential learning has been defined as “meaningful discovery” by Boydell in 1976. Experiential learning is “when learners uncover knowledge on their own, through perceptual experiences and insights, usually as the result of a personal experience.”

Travel can be used as a catalyst to experiential learning, or meaningful discovery, for everyone. These experiences can be combined with “ perception, cognition, and behavior to create learning .” A person can change for the better when these ingredients come together. People could even transform with these experiences. One study found that “the changing viewpoints in the traveling student to be akin to transformative learning.” When there is the ability for true, deep, and lasting change and learning a person can become a better version of themselves and change the world.

Experiences Over Theory

Students can learn about history, culture, and art from a textbook, but there is more that can be learned through experience. When a person is able to travel to the historic landmarks, explore the city’s cultures, and see the artistic marks on a city or country there is greater learning that happens beyond reading. Museums, buildings, and other sites can lead to deeper understanding of what happened in a city, how it happened, and how the society has been shaped by those events.

It has been suggested that what one learns about history through textbooks is deviated from reality. When able to talk with locals and walk through the streets of a city one can understand history in a greater and more accurate way. Having these experiences can help individuals, especially students, gain a different perspective.

Humanitarian Trips to Bolster Education

Humanitarian trips can be used to better the world and allow those who go on the trip to gain further knowledge about cultures. Humanitarian trips can also be considered a failure because there are no systems that are set up to make sure that the “help” that is given continues. When an organization plans a humanitarian trip there has to be more than a quick “band-aid.” There must be a way to instill long term change that will truly help the community and the culture where an organization chooses to go.

There are also certain standards an individual should look for when deciding to volunteer. Individuals should volunteer and help the global community in whatever way they feel passionate about but traveling can also help that person grow and gain something for themselves. As mentioned above, traveling can help a person to learn and immerse in culture, but there are greater benefits when that person can go and serve as well.

How an Organization Can Truly Help

A story is related by Miriam Adeney in “When the Elephant Dances, the Mouse May Die” that was told to her by an African friend:

“Elephant and Mouse were best friends. One day Elephant said, ‘Mouse, let’s have a party!’ Animals gathered from far and near. They ate. They drank. They sang. And they danced. And nobody celebrated more and danced harder than Elephant. After the party was over, Elephant exclaimed, ‘Mouse, did you ever go to a better party? What a blast!’ But Mouse did not answer. ‘Mouse, where are you?’ Elephant called. He looked around for his friend, and then shrank back in horror. There at Elephant’s feet lay Mouse. His little body was ground into the dirt. He had been smashed by the big feet of his exuberant friend, Elephant. ‘Sometimes, that is what it is like to do mission with you Americans,’ the African storyteller commented. ‘It is like dancing with an Elephant.’”

In the book When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert reference this story. The authors point out people who go on humanitarian trips need to integrate into the cultures and systems of the communities they are helping. If volunteers come in as an independent organization or as an outsider, the work that is done will not be incorporated into the communities.

Humanitarian trips can be exceptionally helpful when there is true development with the community, rather than rehabilitation to “fix” something that appears wrong to an outsider’s perspective. These types of trips are typically one to two weeks in length. This amount of time will not do the work that needs to be done. These short-term trips must be part of a long-term development approach that is supported by local organizations that will help move the cause along, even when there is no one there volunteering from an organized nonprofit.

The authors of When Helping Hurts also point out that an organization will do the best on a humanitarian trip, especially over the long term, when the community has asked for help. Once the community has asked for help or reached out, then the people from the community should also determine what the volunteers on the trip will do. There should be a plan to not simply go into a community, “help” that community, and then leave. With resources and assistances from people in that community there will be longer lasting change and greater outcomes.

How Humanitarian Trips Benefit Volunteers

Those who volunteer can benefit from humanitarian trips as well. Before an individual volunteers they should ask questions and get information about the trip. One should research the organization thoroughly before deciding to go on a trip with that organization. A person should understand both their own motivation and the objective of the organization where they are looking to volunteer.

An individual should look for organization where the program promotes local self-sufficiency. If an organization is well-connected with the local organizations in the country or area they are supporting that is a good sign. Local presence of people who are willing to help the organization after the volunteers are gone will help to better ensure the success and value of the work. Local presence can also help a person with their experience because the help will be received well and will continue on.

One of the best things a person can do is to look for an organization that can use their expertise and experiences to better their organization and cause. If a person takes their experience and knowledge to help a cause, it can help communities, countries, and the world. Giving and gaining perspective is one of the purposes to these types of humanitarian trips.

Volunteer opportunities also give a person the opportunity to see the world and gain a view of something outside of their normal life. This is similar to how students can learn through travel. This is true of humanitarian volunteers as well. If a volunteer is able to provide service in a community the volunteer can also explore, gain experiences, and see the community or country through the eyes of a local. This is when a volunteer can become a traveler, not just a tourist.

Gaining a new perspective is one of the greatest positive impacts a humanitarian trip can have on an individual. There are so many things that people can get caught up in when they are busy in their own lives. Volunteering in another country can be life changing. There are people who have their vision of the world broadened and have a better understanding and appreciation for different cultures, peoples, and situations.

There are many other positive benefits from giving back and focusing on others. A person can reduce their stress level and can contribute to your overall sense of satisfaction with your life. Volunteering can help you gain an additional sense of purpose, keep you active, connect with people, and according to some studies can even help you live longer.

Education Through Travel is working to help people over all these areas. Our mission is to help people gain the education necessary to become better world citizens. This can apply to those who are teachers, being taught, students, volunteers, or those who are asking for assistance. Helping teachers teach teachers, students learn through travel and experience, and to build up communities through humanitarian trips are the three main initiatives of Education Through Travel. It is our greatest desire to move these causes forward in the correct way to help the most people.

Travel Information

This Travel Knowledge Base features background information about all aspects and types of travel. For example basic travel and tourism knowledge and explanation of travel terms, like sustainable travel and responsible travel, or various types of travel, like going on safari, backpacking, or beach holiday. In addition, you can find more useful  travel tips  and travel inspiration in my  travel blog section .

Articles in Travel Information

Receive Photography and Travel Tips

• 1x Each Month! A newsletter with free photography & travel tips to help you make the most out of your trip
• Be the first to know about giveaways, for instance, free ebooks and downloadable travel images

Yes, I want to receive the newsletter 1x p/month

Home » Advice » 50+ AMAZING Travel Quiz Questions and Answers

50+ AMAZING Travel Quiz Questions and Answers

By Author Macca Sherifi

Posted on Last updated: February 19, 2024

This post contains product affiliate links. These are mainly on items/hotels/tours that I personally endorse & love. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, but at no extra cost to you.

Test yourself with these travel quiz questions and answers! From capital cities to geography, see how many of these travel questions you can get right!

Do you love travelling and think you know the world inside out? Do you think you can beat your friends and family to be crowned the ‘King or Queen of Travelling’? If you answered yes, then this is the ultimate travel quiz.

If you’re looking at hosting a fun quiz or having your friends over for a travel trivia night, these travel quiz questions and answers are perfect at testing your world knowledge and geography.

In this quiz you’ll find lots of questions on fun travel trivia, flag quiz questions, world geography trivia, and there’s even a travel picture quiz in there for you too.

I’ve always loved a good pub quiz, but recently I’ve been doing about 3 quizzes a week. Once thing I’ve quickly learned is I’m quite good at general knowledge but I really know my travel trivia questions. Whenever there’s a travel round my eyes light up.

I always feel that being a travel blogger I’ve got a bit of an unfair advantage when it comes to travel trivia, but hey, I’m not complaining. One of the reasons I love travelling so much is learning about different cultures and societies. I’ve always said travelling is the best education in the world because you just learn so much.

While I’ve been locked up inside I wanted to come up with these travel quiz questions and answers to test your world knowledge.

If you fancy hosting your own virtual quiz then hopefully you can use some of these questions. First of all, let’s see how many you can get right!

Also, if you enjoy this quiz, then make sure you take my Countries Quiz Questions here. This is one of my most popular quizzes so see how you can do! And this one is a bit more niche, but try and take on my USA Trivia Questions too.

If you’re looking for some other fun quizzes to do, then make sure you check out my other site Ultimate Quiz Questions . This site is packed with the world’s best quizzes on every topic, so enjoy!

And if you need a little inspiration or information, check out my other site Fun Facts About . This website is full of interesting facts that’ll blow your mind, so take a look now!

50 Travel quiz questions

1. There are two countries that are completely land-locked in South America – name one of them?

2. Which is the only US State to have a one syllable name?

3. What is the line of latitude 23.5° north of the Equator more commonly known as?

4. Which European capital was built on 14 islands?

5. In 1993, ‘Ayers Rock’ also became known by its Aboriginal name – what is this name?

6. Which island country in the southeastern Caribbean Sea is also known as the ‘Island of Spice’?

7. In which country is there a natural gas pit nicknamed the ‘Door to Hell’ that has been burning since 1971?

8. In which country would you find the currency ‘baht’?

9. If you were having a cocktail at Bodeguita del Medio in Havana , Cuba, what would you be drinking?

10. What is Europe’s most mountainous country?

11. Which lake is called the ‘jewel of the Italian lakes’?

12. In which country is the world’s highest waterfall?

13. Who were the first two people to summit Mount Everest in Nepal? (Half a point each!)

14. Which country has the longest coastline in the world?

15. Where would you find the Callanish ?

16. Which capital city has a name that means “good airs” in English?

17. What is the only country in the world to be ruled by an Emperor?

18. What island in San Francisco Bay was the site of an almost escape-proof prison?

19. What is the largest country in Africa?

20. Which capital city has the most Michelin stars in the world – London, Paris or Toyko?

21. Which two cities did the original Orient Express travel between? (Half a point each!)

22. What is the deepest lake in the world?

23. Which two countries are the Iguazu Falls part of? (Half a point for each!)

24. In 1976, Saigon in Vietnam changed its name to…?

25. What is the most southerly capital city in the world?

26. What’s the capital of Australia?

27. Which country has more lakes than the rest of the world combined?

28. Which river formed the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA?

29. What is the only country in the world not to have a rectangular or square flag?

30. Which landlocked sea is 422m (1,385ft) below sea level?

31. How many islands does Australia have within its maritime borders – 82, 822, 8,222?

32. Germany’s flag is made up of what three colours?

33. By land area, which is the biggest state in the USA?

34. On which Caribbean island can you swim with pigs?

35. Which famous cocktail originated in the Raffles Hotel, Singapore?

Travel quiz: Picture round & flags

So, how many of these travel trivia questions do you think you got right? Did you find it easy or hard?

Right, it’s time for the answers. Fingers crossed you got more than 50%!

Plan your own quiz night

These are a few of my favourite quiz books that I use to plan fun trivia nights with friends:

• Ultimate Quiz Night
• Quiz Master
• The Big Pub Quiz

Travel trivia: Questions and answers

1. What country is completely land-locked in South America? Bolivia or Paraguay . They are both landlocked despite right in the middle of South America.

2. Which is the only US State to have a one syllable name? Maine . This one was an easy one, right? If you want some more US Trivia Questions , open up this quiz and see how well you can do.

3. What is the line of latitude 23.5° north of the Equator more commonly known as? The Tropic of Cancer

4. Which European capital was built on 14 islands? Stockholm . The whole of Sweden actually has over 221,800 islands, making it the most in the world.

5. In 1993, ‘Ayers Rock’ also became known by its Aboriginal name, what is this name? Uluru . This is to respect the Aboriginal people as the custodians of the land.

6. Which island country in the southeastern Caribbean Sea is also known as the ‘Island of Spice’? Grenada . You can get some damn good rum from there too.

7. In which country is there a natural gas pit nicknamed the ‘Door to Hell’ that has been burning since 1971? Turkmenistan . Google the pictures, it’s crazy.

8. In which country would you find the currency ‘baht’? Thailand

9. If you were having a cocktail at Bodeguita del Medio in Havana, Cuba, what would you be drinking? A mojito . This drink was invented in this bar.

10. What is Europe’s most mountainous country? Switzerland

11. Which lake is called the ‘jewel of the Italian lakes’? Lake Como

12. In which country is the world’s highest waterfall? Venezuela

13. Who were the first two people to summit Mount Everest in Nepal? (Half a point each!) Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary . This is one of the harder travel trivia questions!

14. Which country has the longest coastline in the world? Canada

15. Where would you find the Callanish? The Isle of Harris in Scotland . You can read all about it here ! Basically, it is Scotland’s version of Stonehenge dating back thousands of years. It really is fascinating.

16. Which capital city has a name that means “good airs” in English? Buenos Aires in Argentina . Hopefully you knew that one.

17. What is the only country in the world to be ruled by an Emperor? Japan . The current emperor of Japan is Naruhito.

18. What island in San Francisco Bay was the site of an almost escape-proof prison? Alcatraz . Now you can take tours of Alcatraz to see what life would have been like in the prison.

19. What is the largest country in Africa? Algeria . This is one of those geography trivia questions that always comes up.

20. Which capital city has the most Michelin stars in the world – London, Paris or Toyko? Tokyo . I always think this question is quite surprising!

21. Which two cities did the original Orient Express travel between? (Half a point each!) Paris and Istanbul

22. What is the deepest lake in the world? Lake Baikal in Russia.

23. Which two countries are the Iguazu Falls part of? (Half a point for each!) Argentina and Brazil

24. In 1976, Saigon in Vietnam changed its name to…? Ho Chi Minh City . If you’re planning of visiting this city, you can check out my Vietnam packing list to help you on your way!

25. What is the most southerly capital city in the world? Wellington . This is such a beautiful city to visit.

26. What’s the capital of Australia? Canberra . Come on, you got this one, right? This is one of those travel questions and answers that a lot of people get wrong!

27. Which country has more lakes than the rest of the world combined? Canada

28. Which river formed the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA? Colorado

29. What is the only country in the world not to have a rectangular or square flag? Nepal . This is a great road trip trivia question when you’re travelling with the family.

30. Which landlocked sea is 422m (1385ft) below sea level? The Dead Sea bordering Jordan and Israel. It’s the one where you can’t sink due to the high concentration of salt!

31. How many islands does Australia have within its maritime borders – 82, 822, 8,222? 8,222 . I visited one of them at Lord Howe Island last year. It’s definitely not what you’d expect but it’s incredibly beautiful!

32. Germany’s flag is made up of what three colours? Black, red and yellow . The same as Belgium but the lines are in a different configuration.

33. By land area, which is the biggest state in the USA? Alaska . This was the second last state to be incorporated into the United States of America in 1959.

34. On which Caribbean island can you swim with pigs? Bahamas . It sounds weird but it’s become such a popular tourist attraction these days. I just had to ask this in my vacation quiz!

35. Which famous cocktail originated in the Raffles Hotel, Singapore? The Singapore Sling

Travel trivia: Picture round answers

(Landmark = 1 point, capital city = 1 point)

1. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

2. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

3. Golden Gate Bridge, USA

4. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

5. Taj Mahal, India

Travel quiz: Flag answers

(Flag= 1 point)

3. Colombia

4. South Africa

5. Thailand

In total there are 55 points up for grabs in this travel and tourism quiz. The question is, how many did you get? You can let me know in the comments below!

Did you enjoy my travel quiz questions and answers? If so, make sure you share it with your friends and family! Test them and see how they do. I bet you can beat them though.

And don’t forget you can take the Ultimate Countries Quiz and the ever popular Funny Quiz Questions . All you sports fans can take on my Sports Quiz too. If you enjoyed these questions from around the world, then you’ll love these quizzes too!

Also, make sure you check out our quizzes about Great Britain and England over on the Great British Bucket List. They’re really enjoyable too!

About the Author

Macca Sherifi is the founder of the multiple award-winning blogs An Adventurous World and the Great British Bucket List. Every month he inspires over 200,000 avid readers to travel the world.

View all posts

Tuesday 21st of June 2022

52 out of 55. Decent quiz, I enjoyed that. Thought the Hell pit was in Uzbekistan for some reason. I thought the island of spice was Cuba... Idiot Knew Callanish was Scottish but answered as Ireland when doing the quiz.

Macca Sherifi

Wednesday 22nd of June 2022

That's a great effort Craig, well done!

Saturday 30th of January 2021

I didn't do too well, but enjoyed it a lot. Just one small point: Germany's flag is made up of the colours red, black and gold, not yellow. It dates back to the Prussian resistance against Napoleonic rule. Volunteer soldiers wore black uniforms with red buttons and golden trimmings. The colours became a symbol of freedom and nation. Thanks for the great quiz.

Santosh K Saha

Thursday 28th of October 2021

@Jean, Good photograph took. Thank you.

Santosh Saha

Tuesday 2nd of March 2021

Thanks for the comment Jean. I'm glad you enjoyed the quiz, and it's always good to have a bit more background information on Germany!

Pradip Karki

Monday 13th of July 2020

That was really fun idea. Although I didn't do well on your test but it was actually really fun to learn new things about the world.

Hope to see your coming blog. Thanks for the post.

Tuesday 26th of October 2021

@Pradip Karki, Send me more quizzes. Thank you.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Tips

50 Travel Tips T+L Editors Swear By

These 50 travel tips from the T+L staff will help you foray back to travel in style. 

Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Ever wondered how the professionals travel? The Travel + Leisure editors collectively bank a lot of miles, and we've tried every travel hack in the book ( packing cubes and apps that let you skip the line at immigration are just the tip of the iceberg). While we've learned a lot from our jetsetting lives, we've also made our fair share of mistakes. Fortunately, we've turned all of our travel lessons into tips for you — so you can travel like a T+L editor — and avoid some of the mistakes we've made in the past . From how to make a sneaky in-flight michelada to how to rack up travel points and get status on an airline, these 50 travel tips from the T+L staff will help you foray back to international travel in style.

Before You Go: Miles, Credit Cards, and Benefits

Frequent travelers should pick an airline and stick to it . Until recently, I would obviously just go online and get whatever flight was cheapest — and that's still probably the best route for most leisure travelers. But if you're on the road a lot, especially for work or otherwise on someone else's dime, it makes sense to start building up some loyalty. Try to get status, familiarize yourself with partner airlines, and if it makes sense for you, open up a branded credit card. You'll be rewarded with perks like upgrades, free checked bags, and maybe even lounge access...not to mention miles, miles, miles. — Hannah Walhout , Associate Editor

If you're just wanting to travel somewhere but flexible on when and where, use Skyscanner.com to search for cheap flights. Put in your origin city, select "Everywhere" as your destination, and choose your dates — you can choose a whole month if you're flexible — and you'll get a list of where in the world you can travel, in order of cheapest to most expensive flights, any time of year. — Karen I. Chen , Editorial Producer

Look into airlines that offer extended stopovers in various destinations for no extra charge. Turkish Airlines offers a stopover program in Istanbul, and Icelandair offers a stopover program in Reykjavik. It's a great way to extend your trip without paying for an extra flight. — Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

Get a Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum credit card. The yearly fees are high, but the benefits and rewards that offset the fees are worth it. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you get a $300 yearly credit toward any travel expenses, plus reimbursement of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees. With the Amex Platinum, you get a $200 hotel credit and monthly Uber credit, as well as CLEAR membership reimbursement. Best of all, each card gives you access to a global network of airport lounges, which has been one of my favorite perks of being a card member. Getting to spend a longer layover in an airport lounge with free drinks, food, and Wi-Fi — not to mention the opportunity to take a shower (I was once stuck in an airport for an entire day) — has been a game changer for international travel. — Karen I. Chen , Editorial Producer

If you're going to pay the annual fee for a travel credit card, know how to use it to get the most for your money, and don't leave perks on the table. Some of the luxury travel credit cards come with a complimentary Priority Pass, which gets you into a selection of lounges around the world — but you've got to follow through and sign up for Priority Pass. Many travel credit cards will also cover your Global Entry fee, but it's up to you to apply and get that Global Entry card. Take it from a financial editor turned travel writer — you need to research the perks of your travel card, and then make sure you take full advantage. — Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

If you're in the airport more than a few times a year, TSA PreCheck is absolutely clutch. It's saved my behind on many occasions when I've cut my airport timing too close. (Plus, I've gotta be honest, it's nice to not have to take off your shoes.) That $100 for Global Entry actually covers PreCheck, too — but if you're in the position to open a new line of credit, I'd recommend going with one of the many travel-oriented cards that offer both for free as a membership perk. — Hannah Walhout , Associate Editor

This may sound super simple, but keep the apps of your preferred airlines in a folder on your phone. I am not someone who likes to keep unnecessary apps on their phone. But having an app that will keep your upcoming trips saved and will always allow you to have your boarding pass digitally before you arrive at the airport really makes me feel more organized. It also ensures you always have your mileage number on hand when booking a flight — and after years of missing out on miles, I like to keep my account numbers handy so I never forget to input it when booking. — Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

If you travel abroad a fair amount, consider using T-Mobile as your cell phone carrier. Their mobile plans include unlimited international data and texting, which has been a life-saver when needing to reference Google Maps while roaming around a foreign city; call an Uber; or to look up opening hours for various attractions, restaurants, or shops. It's incredible to be able to touch down in a new location, turn on your phone, and be able to immediately start using the Internet without having to factor in contacting your mobile carrier and paying more for a global pass during your vacation. — Karen I. Chen , Editorial Producer

Global Entry is cool, but it costs $100. Instead, download the Airside Mobile Passport app for free and use it to skirt customs and immigration lines, no memberships or hassles required. — Paul Brady , Articles Editor

If you pay for Spotify, download your favorite playlists, podcasts, and albums directly to your phone so you always have at least a few things to listen to if you don't have Wi-Fi or cell service. — Tanner Saunders , Experiences Editor

Nervous about flying? Try an app that predicts turbulence so you know exactly when to expect it.

As we get comfortable traveling internationally in the COVID-era, always check the latest entry regulations for the country you're heading to . Traveling in 2021 means thinking about things like planning your COVID test before returning to the U.S. and leaving extra time at the airports for entry mishaps. If the stress of COVID-era travel is getting to you while in transit, just stay calm, practice patience, and when in doubt, double check your research.

This is a tip I learned from a co-worker early in my career at T+L: The best way to save on a hotel room is very simple, and pretty old-school. First, do your research on the property you wish to book, and know what rates are going for across the major travel booking sites for your dates. Then, call the hotel directly and ask for the "cheapest nonrefundable rate." You may be able to negotiate against the deals you found online, since hotels pay a markup of up to 30% to booking sites and would prefer you book directly. And if that doesn't work, at least you'll know you're getting the lowest possible rate. — Nina Ruggiero , Deputy Digital Editor

If I'm traveling to a new city and don't already have a hotel in mind, I always search the internet for new hotel openings. Booking a brand-new hotel can come with perks — temporarily lower rates, for some; fewer guests, AKA more personalized service for you; and sparkling, brand-new facilities. It's nice to know you're among the first to use a bed or bath tub, and generally just cool to be able to say you were among the first to check out a new property. — Nina Ruggiero , Deputy Digital Editor

When traveling with a group, consider booking a villa over a block of hotel rooms. There are a bunch of really amazing luxury villa rental sites out there — The Thinking Traveller is my go-to for Europe, and WIMCO Villas for the Caribbean — and some hotels offer villas on property as well. They may seem unattainable, but when you split the cost among your group, it may actually come out to less, and you'll enjoy having your own private space so much more. — Nina Ruggiero , Deputy Digital Editor

We all know not all hotel rooms are created equal, but even within the same price category, some can be much better than others. So whenever I end up in a room I find particularly amazing, be it for the size, layout, or especially the view, I always take note of the room number so if I ever return (or need a recommendation for a friend), I'll know exactly which room to request. — Nina Ruggiero , Deputy Digital Editor

Packing Tips and What to Bring

In my almost six years at T+L, I've tried every travel accessory under the sun — packing cubes, bizarre travel pillows, compression socks, novel suitcases, you name it. Two still come with me on every flight. The first is a Smythson travel wallet , which is just as handy and elegant as everyone says. They're on sale right now, but if you miss the markdowns, stalk them on resale sites and you can find one for a song. The second is my Trtl travel pillow , which is divisive but for those who like it, nothing else will do. — Lila Harron Battis , Senior Editor

Invest in a nice backpack if you travel a lot. It keeps your hands free at the airport. As someone who once favored a shoulder bag AND purse approach (what was I thinking?), walking through the airport without trying to juggle eight things in my hands is game-changing. If you're looking for a good travel backpack, my husband got me the Dagne Dover "Dakota" neoprene backpack — an amazing birthday gift for the traveler in your life. — Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

Travel with a good-quality water bottle. Arrive at the airport with the water bottle empty, and fill it up after you go through security. It'll help you stay hydrated on your flight, and during your travels. — Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

Keep a picture of prescriptions or medications you take on your phone in case of an emergency. Hopefully you never have to use them but in case of an emergency it can make getting what you need so much better and potentially save a trip that could be a borderline disaster. (Trust me, this diabetic travel editor knows!) — Tanner Saunders , Experiences Editor

Traveling with your license or ID card and passport as a backup — even when flying domestic — is a good idea, just in case. But accidents happen, and many don't know that if you do find yourself at a U.S. airport without a government-issued form of ID , you might still get on your flight. Just remain calm, look for any other item you may have with your name on it (prescription medication, credit cards, business cards, mail), and explain what happened to an airline rep. (If you're traveling with family members who share your last name, even better.) After an interview with a TSA agent to verify your identity, you could make it through. — Nina Ruggiero , Deputy Digital Editor

Whether I'm packing for a long weekend or a two-week trip, I rely on packing cubes to keep my suitcase tidy and organized. They keep everything compact, so you can really maximize your suitcase space, and you'll never have to dig around to find that missing sock again. — Elizabeth Rhodes , Associate Digital Editor

I always travel with a laundry bag so I can keep my used clothes separate from my fresh ones. It doesn't take up much space but it'll keep your clothes fresh the length of your trip. — Sean Flynn , Contributing Editor

Opt for a soft-sided weekender or duffle as your main travel bag. It'll often squish into overhead/underseat/car trunk spaces where roller bags fear to go (and you'll never get asked to gate check it on smaller regional jets that inevitably run out of overhead space). — Skye Senterfeit , Photo Editor

Bring your running shoes when traveling to a new destination. The absolute best way to see a city is to go on a morning run — it helps you kick the jetlag, too. P.S., it's totally ok if that run is actually a walk — mine often are. The most important thing is just to get up, get out there, and explore before the city wakes up. — Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

Invest in one or two bags you know you'll love to have on your body while exploring new places so you never have to worry about what to pack. For me, it's the Dior Saddle Pouch that sits secure across my chest and holds the essentials. Or, if I need a little more space (probably to carry a snack) I switch to a basic-but-stylish Supreme crossbody. They're both small enough to not cause any issues at events or museums and are a sort of security blanket when I'm out and about. — Tanner Saunders , Experiences Editor

Never pack new shoes for a trip that involves a lot of walking. I've made this mistake countless times — I find a pair of shoes I like right before I leave for a trip, wear them while touring a new city, and end up with painful blisters on day two. Break new shoes in ahead of time, and always pack blister pads and moleskin if you're prone to blisters like me! — Elizabeth Rhodes , Associate Digital Editor

Pack slippers. Not only do they come in handy mid-flight, but they also help make any destination instantly feel like home. — Stacey Leasca , Contributing Writer

Find an amazing walking shoe that can double as a great plane shoe to cut down on the number of shoes you need to pack. In general, your plane shoes should always be multi-purpose — it just makes you a more economical packer.

For anyone carrying a camera that is not also a phone, my advice is to pack extra SD cards, camera batteries and a battery charger. It's a hard lesson to learn but if your camera battery dies and you have no idea where to buy the battery you need and you didn't pack the charger, you're missing out on capturing the special moments of your trip. Same goes for running out of memory on one SD card. Make sure your memory cards are cleared and batteries charged prior to departure so the photo taking can happen as soon as you get to your destination. — Mariah Tyler , Visuals Editor

My biggest travel tip would be to never check a bag if you can help it. Packing lighter, i.e. in a carry-on suitcase, is helpful enough on its own: when you pare down your wardrobe and essentials, for example, you'll have more room to shop and, of course, less to lug around in airports and through city streets. Plus, you'll never have to wait in the chaos of the baggage carousel or deal with lost luggage again. — Madeline Diamond , Ecommerce Writer

This is controversial: If you want to check a bag, just check the darn bag! Those of us in travel love to sing the virtues of packing light — and, sure, there are benefits! — but it's just not worth it if you're staying up until 2 a.m. the night before a flight stressed about packing. Throw it all in a bigger suitcase, stop fretting, and get some rest. Packing light is not worth losing sleep over. — Lila Harron Battis , Senior Editor

I've been lucky enough to never have a bag go missing enroute to a destination, but that hasn't stopped me from packing a change of clothes in my carry-on. Just in case your bag is lost — or even delayed for a few days — a fresh set of clothes can carry you over until you have time to buy a new wardrobe while you wait for your bag to arrive. — Sean Flynn , Contributing Editor

Designate one of your packing cubes for dirty laundry, so you can keep your already-worn clothes both organized and out of the way. And if you're looking for the perfect packing cubes, our editors have found the 13 best offerings .

Always keep your liquids in the same toiletry bag, so if a TSA agent needs you to remove them, you don't have to go digging around in your suitcase. These are our favorite, editor-selected toiletry cases.

If you're going on a long-haul trip, pack for only a week and then plan to do laundry.

Always pack a portable charger — and every charging cord you'll need with it. You may even want to use a small case to keep all your charging accessories in one place.

On the Plane

For long-haul flights I keep a pouch filled with all of my in-flight essentials: ear plugs, chapstick, ibuprofen, sanitary wipes, cell phone charger, face cream, hydrating face masks (yes, I am one of those fliers), Liquid I.V. for helping to stay hydrated, and a pen (for when you inevitably have to fill out an immigration card before arrival). As soon as I board, I tuck the pouch in the seat-back pocket so all the things I might need are within easy reach without having to fumble through my bag underneath the seat or get up and open the overhead compartment. I leave the pouch packed between trips so I can just grab and throw it in my carry-on personal item when packing for my trip. — Karen I. Chen , Editorial Producer

If you're prone to motion sickness, headaches, or other minor illnesses that are only exacerbated by travel anxieties, pack a little emergency wellness kit and stow it in your carry-on. You might never need it (and hopefully you won't), but having things like Dramamine, Pepcid, and a couple ibuprofens on hand can be the difference between the trip you've been dreaming of and one spent on the BRAT diet. — Hillary Maglin , Assistant Digital Editor

The best thing you can wear on a plane is a plain white t-shirt that's easy to dress up with a nice jacket or dress down with trendy sweats. — Tanner Saunders , Experiences Editor

My most truly unhinged airplane ritual is this: Bring a tiny travel bottle of Tajin and a packet of lemon or lime juice or citric acid in your travel bag, order a beer and a can of Bloody Mary mix on the plane, follow your heart, et voila: in-flight michelada. Fully ridiculous? Absolutely! But also kind of brilliant? I mean, if you like micheladas, then yes. — Lila Harron Battis , Senior Editor

If you're someone who tends to swell when flying, try compression socks. We've rounded up the very best ones to buy.

Tips for When You're There

Pre-download maps. You never know when Wi-Fi or cell service will go down. Make sure you have a map handy when you need it most with apps like Maps.Me . The app allows you to download any map offline and save favorite destinations, so you can always get to where you need to be. — Stacey Leasca , Contributing Writer

Whether you're planning a trip or just scrolling the internet for travel inspiration, utilize the labels in Google Maps to save the spots you want to visit. If I read about a new restaurant or a museum I'm excited to visit, I look up the location in Google Maps and flag it with the green "Want To Go" label. During the trip I reference it as a list of places to go, and if I loved it, I mark as a favorite. Long term, I'm building a map of all my favorite spots in the world and I love seeing the flags and stars when I'm in Maps. — Mariah Tyler , Visuals Editor

Most cities have free walking tours, which I often try to join shortly after I first arrive in a city. They're a great way to get your bearings in a totally new place, learn some practical tips from someone who knows the city well (they're often led by locals), as well as gain a foundation of knowledge about the city's history and culture. — Karen I. Chen , Editorial Producer

I've only recently learned this myself, but if the hotel or resort you're staying at has an on-property spa, take advantage of it! While it's tempting to hop off the plane and immediately start immersing yourself in a new, exciting location, taking the time to pause and de-stress with a massage or bath soak really sets the tone for vacation, and you'll be SO glad you did it. — Hillary Maglin , Assistant Digital Editor

Pocket-sized city maps are a great — and discreet! — way to get your bearings without wrestling the big fold out maps so many tourists seem to favor. My favorites are these hybrid city and public transport map notebooks, that make it look like you're jotting down deep thoughts while you're really trying to figure out which train gets you back to your hotel. — Skye Senterfeit , Photo Editor

If there's a country (or a continent) that you travel to often, buy a phone and computer charger made for their outlets. I travel to Europe specifically with an EU iPhone and Mac charger and it always relieves inevitable adapter stress. — Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

​​I always try to grab a small tourist map or a subway map when I arrive in a new city. I tend to get anxious if I don't understand the geography of where I am, especially in a new place, so I like to have a physical piece of paper I can study in my hotel room to get a sense of where I am and what neighborhoods are close by. — Maya Kachroo-Levine , Contributing Digital Editor

In my estimation, most travel-related woes that affect the body or mind — grumpiness, jet lag, just feeling not-quite-right — rear their heads the most when we are either hungry or thirsty. So stay hydrated and bring a snack. — Hannah Walhout , Associate Editor

If you're looking for a great Instagram caption while traveling , look up quotes about your specific destination .

See More T+L Shopping Deals

10 Skills You Learn Traveling Abroad - And How They Apply To Business

Communications & PR Consultant, Travel junkie, Songwriter, Latina, Animal lover,

When assessing a job application, there’s a wide variety of factors recruiters look at. Education is important, but companies today want more than theory – they’re looking for experience. In a globalized world, how well-rounded can an applicant be without travel?

Today’s business world is growing increasingly location-independent and breaking the mold of the standard office cubicle stereotype. Your experiences abroad, ability to adapt to unique and changing situations, developed coping skills and creativity can help you stand out as a desirable job candidate. A well-traveled background tells recruiters you’re flexible, adaptable and worldly.

Below are ten skills you learn when traveling abroad, and how they can be applied to the business world.

1. Research & Planning

When planning a trip abroad, there are dozens of small factors that can make or break a trip. Depending upon where you’re traveling and how long you’ll be there, preparing for travel can include looking for the best itinerary and cheapest flight option, researching visa requirements, finding reasonably priced and centrally located accommodations, weighing tour options, finding transportation, navigating currency exchange rates, packing essentials and much more. A seasoned traveler is organized and prepared, knows where to find the information needed, and has the foresight to anticipate needs and unexpected challenges.

When considering what could go wrong, travelers must often prepare for any eventuality in their budget and have contingency plans. Often, choices will be presented where experiences or goods offered will prove tempting and put a strain on a traveler’s budget. Experience teaches the weathered traveler to allocate some capital to leisure spending but always have enough money saved up for emergencies and unforeseen challenges.

2. Time management

Many of us may not have the time or resources to take exceptionally long trips which would allow for a full immersion into the culture of the country we’re visiting. This forces the average traveler to make the most of what little time you have, managing expectations while also capitalizing on said time with the most (and best) experiences they can fit into the schedule.

A common error in traveling is setting an unrealistic schedule and setting yourself up for failure. Trying to execute a mad dash through countless sites in too little time will end in exhaustion instead of a pleasant experience. Similarly, not planning and leaving too much free time that results in missing out on experiences could cause frustration. Handling time and schedule constraints during travel can translate into a better sense of time management in the workplace.

3. Adaptability

There are countless things that can go wrong on a trip, from cancelled flights to lost luggage or passports, getting mugged or even health scares. Not to mention what could happen when traveling to places where there’s political unrest or risk of natural disasters. But even if nothing goes wrong, international travel often means stepping out of your comfort zone. Making your way in a foreign land with limited knowledge of the local language, customs and geography has a way of teaching us to think on our feet and be ready for anything. A traveler knows how to be flexible and adapt to change.

“An avid traveler can usually take the lead thanks to their experience, awareness and knowledge.”

4. Teamwork

Usually we travel with friends or family, but more and more often these days, travel involves tours or larger groups of people. Any of these scenarios can lead to friction as different travel styles and diverging interests emerge; these differences, the variety of choices and preferred activities can be more manageable if the group can work together as a team and play to each member’s strength.

For example, someone may have a great sense of direction, another may speak the local language, and a third may have been there before and know what sights are worth seeing. Teamwork translates into shared responsibilities and workload, which results in things getting done with each individual feeling understood, valued and appreciated.

5. Leadership

Often a group will look for a leader to help organize, unify and consolidate different opinions and requests. An avid traveler can usually take the lead thanks to their experience, awareness and knowledge, but a true leader will make sure everyone has a voice, asking for positive contributions, weighing preferences and different approaches, identifying strengths and letting people do the jobs with which they are most comfortable.

6. Communications

Language comes in so many shapes and sizes. We communicate with words, but also body language, style, customs and more. Even when speaking the same language, slang can make it sound completely different and give words or expressions altered meaning. Take Spanish, for example: more than 20 countries speak the same language, but no two countries speak it in the same way. Accents, expressions, catch phrases, slang can make the same language sound completely different.

When traveling, language barriers may be challenging at first but you soon learn to navigate around them. I lived in Barcelona for 3 years and came away speaking Catalan without a single lesson. The more languages you speak, the easier it is to expand your knowledge, especially when they’re derived from the same root (Latin).

7. Networking

Having lived in 6 cities and traveled to almost 40 countries, I have friends all over the world. Even when I don’t know anyone, I often reach out to friends who may have connections, because there’s nothing like experiencing a new place like a local. Tripadvisor or Lonely Planet may have the best tourist hotspot suggestions, but that’s usually not the reality the locals live.

Discovering an underground cafe or a sunrise fish market, or seeing an authentic local band play will open your eyes, mind and even palate to new experiences you never imagined. This is what international travel is really about, and the most enriching experience you can have. And it’s an amazing opportunity to meet, interact and learn from people you would have never connected with otherwise.

8. Diversity

Experiencing new cultures unquestionably inspires people to open their mind to different ways of thinking, new possibilities and novel ways of doing things. Having an understanding of different cultural nuances and customs leads to broader knowledge of the how the world works, why cultures function the way they do, where political tendencies stem from, and even how all of these elements influence business practices all over the world.

International travel enables you to work with culturally diverse and interesting people by developing your tolerance and open-mindedness. Being immersed in different cultures can broaden your horizons, give you a different viewpoint and allow you to understand the background, history and context people are coming from. It gives you unique perspective that is difficult to find if you haven’t been face to face with certain situations and cultures.

9. Innovation

When traveling, you won’t always have everything you need at hand or know where to find it. Traveling teaches you to think out of the box and work with what you’ve got, using and stretching whatever limited resources you have access to or envisioning where you can find new resources. This can play into packing for a trip with limited space, finding things to do on a limited budget, getting yourself out of sticky situations, dealing with unforeseen circumstances, problem-solving, and even communicating with someone who doesn’t speak the same language.

After visiting places where people lead such different lives and have unusual ways of thinking, you can often take those influences with you and find ways to apply them to your reality or way of life. Having a better grasp of the diversity in the world can be a great advantage in the business arena. Travel can often lead to new business ideas. You may come across situations you’ve never seen or twists on conventional products and services. You may see something and reimagine it in your country, adapting it to the local customs and culture. This can be a huge benefit to organizations no matter where you seek employment.

10. Empathy

When you travel, you’re constantly learning things about the world around you, growing from the experiences you encounter, and integrating those experiences into your everyday life. When traveling to third world countries, you’ll often encounter situations that will shock, impact and move you. These experiences will often develop a level of sensitivity and compassion that’s hard to grasp without having experienced first-hand the harsh reality a large portion of the world’s population lives in. This empathy is important for developing corporate social responsibility.

In conclusion, traveling is an investment, not an expense. Travel experience directly translates into a competitive advantage in today’s workplace. It has profound effects and plays an important developmental role in becoming a better team player, a more creative thinker, a more effective communicator, and a better overall person.

Travel helps you learn in so many different arenas and opens your brain to a whole new way of education. In my experience, it brings with it a thirst for new learning experiences and personal growth. New environments are a breeding ground for real-life teaching moments.

Nothing builds character or broadens your perspective quite like traveling to exotic places and experiencing new cultures. You don’t have to stifle your curiosity and imagination in favor of more practical pursuits. In today’s world, you can -and should- do both.

Support HuffPost

Our 2024 coverage needs you, your loyalty means the world to us.

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.

Dear HuffPost Reader

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.

Popular in the Community

From our partner, more in business.

17 Fun Travel Quizzes to Test Your Knowledge

Test Your Knowledge with These Fun Travel Quizzes

A great travel agent is one who is always learning, and travel quizzes are a fun way to put your knowledge to the test. From major and airports to codeshare agreements and fare rules, there are simply thousands of little details travel advisors must know to keep a baseline knowledge of travel. We’ve pulled together some of the best of our own travel quizzes and others from around the internet to give you some practice! 

So if you find yourself stuck on hold with an airline, or needing a quick break take a shot at one of these travel quizzes!

17 Travel Quizzes for Travel Advisors

Centrav travel quizzes.

• Agent Knowledge: Travel Industry Terms

Let’s see how well you know your travel lingo! If you need to brush up on your travel industry terms, check out our glossary of commonly used words and acronyms.

• Airlines: Guess These Airline Logos

How well do you know your airline logos? Try our airline logos quiz to test your knowledge!

• Airports: Airport Codes [Beginner]

Can you guess each airport by its 3 letter code?

• Airports: Airport Codes [Intermediate]

If you sailed through our beginner airport quiz, you’re probably a seasoned travel agent. We’ve kicked it up just a notch with part two! Test your skill on our intermediate quiz.

• Airports: Airport Codes [Advanced]

Let’s see if we can finally stump you with this one! See how many of these airport codes you know!

• Airports: Do You Know Which Airport Doesn’t Belong?

In this airport quiz, we listed three airports at some of the top travel destinations and one airport that doesn’t belong. Can you spot the one the doesn’t belong?

• GeoQuiz: City Skylines

Can you guess these famous destinations based on photographs of their city skylines? Do you recognize a famous landmark or a postcard-worthy piece of architecture?

• GeoQuiz: Germany

Test how well you know the basics of Germany’s geography and tourism!

• GeoQuiz: Italy

Do you know Italy like you thought you did? Take our quiz and find out how much you know about the 4th most popular tourist destination in the world!

• GeoQuiz : London

How much do you know about London? This quiz takes you through a “day in London” to find out what you know!

• GeoQuiz: Underrated Landmarks [Part I]

Anyone can recognize the Eiffle Tower or Stonehenge. Can you answer these trivia questions about lesser-known landmarks?

• GeoQuiz: Underrated Landmarks [Part II]

If you aced part one of our underrated landmarks quiz, try part two!

Other Quizzes

If you’ve traveled extensively, this game is incredibly fun! GeoGuessr drops you into a semi-randomized Google Street View location. From there you can move down the street or change your view to look for clues that might tell you your location such as street signs, geography, or architecture. When you think you know your location, simply drop a pin on the world map to guess and GeoGuessr will show you how close you were!

• Are You Smarter Than a TSA Agent?

Do you know your TSA rules? Take the test here !

• Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel Quiz

Can you name the world’s 3rd highest mountain or what year the euro was introduced? See how well you do on this 30 question quiz !

• Progressively Harder Capitals Quiz

How far can you get naming capital cities from easiest to hardest?

• World Languages Quiz

How many world languages can you list?

Shawna Levet

Shawna is passionate about helping travel agents grow their business and expand their knowledge as travel experts. She has been in the travel industry since 2011, helping agents and travelers alike find the best negotiated airfare and travel coverage to meet their needs.

Add comment

Cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

What You Need to Know About Airline Schedule Changes

Uptick in schedule changes due to changing demand for travel Why am I getting so many schedule changes? It’s the question many travel agents are asking right now as they receive schedule changes notices for so...

8 Travel-Related Gifts for Valentine’s Day

8 Travel-Related Gifts for Valentine’s Day Are you looking for travel-related gifts for Valentine’s Day? Is your special someone always dreaming of his or her next vacation? A travel-related gift is a perfect way to...

Why Fly with Aer Lingus

Why Fly With Aer Lingus With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, you may have travel to Ireland on your mind. This beautiful country should be on everyone’s bucket list. Ireland holds many delights and mysteries...

Sell Air The Easy Way!

SIGN UP FOR FREE and start using the best website in airline consolidation!

SIGN UP HERE!

• ABOUT CENTRAV
• FAQ’S

• Air Travel 116
• Destinations 77
• Resources 141
• Running Your Business 102

Centrav.com gives travel agents access to millions of discounted airfares with a simple point-and-click method of booking. Centrav has served the travel agent community since 1988, and today our industry-leading technology provides great airfares to destinations all over the world. You can book your client's domestic air travel as well! With access to hundreds of airlines you can always find the air schedule your client needs at Centrav.com.

• TRIP BUILDER
• MY BOOKINGS
• KNOWLEDGE BASE

• GROUP REQUEST
• GROUP AIRFARE

Travel For More

Do more. be more. travel for more..

Teen Humanitarian Trips to the mountains of Chiang Mai, Thailand; where you will travel for empathy, knowledge, and adventure!

Travel for EMPATHY

Spending several days with a local Karen Hill Tribe will change your life. These joyful, beautiful people don't have indoor plumbing and received electricity to their village just three years ago. You will experience their simple way of life; how they grow their food, weave their clothing, cook over a fire, and care for their families and community.

You will spend 3 days/3 nights in a homestay in the terraced rice fields of Chiang Mai. You will work side by side with members of the village to complete a service project they have planned and you have funded. Your heart will melt as you spend time in the village school learning kindness and love with smiles and games.

Travel for KNOWLEDGE

Chiang Mai is a large enough city to have all the conveniences of shopping malls and movie theaters, but small enough to still be rich in Thai culture. The 2 km 2 Old City is nearly 1000 years old and has 30 breathtaking Buddhist temples inside its 700 year old walls and moat.

You will explore local Buddhist temples and ancient ruins, participate in an enlightening 'ask a monk' conversation, spend time at local markets, ride on local transportation, and mingle with the friendly local population. The history and diversity of this beautiful city and culture will shift how you see the world and your place in it.

Travel for ADVENTURE

You have had your heart changed, and learned about the world you live in... now let's have some fun! You will spend an epic day serving at an elephant sanctuary. As you feed and bathe elephants in an Instagram worthy jungle river, you will learn everything about elephants from the mahout who spend their lives caring for them. You will love the rush of an incredible zip line and ropes course traversing through the banana and coconut filled mountain jungle.

That isn't where the adventure ends; with night markets, tuk tuk rides, cave temples, waterfalls; you will experience all the adventure Chiang Mai has to offer.

Why Travel For More?

Some say life’s real education happens outside the classroom. Travel is the best teacher of history, language and politics, but most importantly it teaches you about yourself, your beliefs and priorities. Traveling will test you when you are pushed out of your comfort zone as it forces you to do things you would normally avoid. Necessity gives us the courage to ask strangers for help, get lost in a new city, or even eat food with eyeballs.

Travel helps us understand how we are different, but most importantly, how we are the same. Differences exist in language, food, religion, and lifestyle across different cultures. In spite of the differences, we have so many things in common. A shared love for art, nature, cellphones, and ancestors bind cultures together.

Travel teaches you compassion for the way others live. When you travel, you realize that in spite of all the differences, we are all the same in our hearts. Any prejudices based on race, color and nationality disappear as you discover so many wonderful people all over the world and begin to feel at home anywhere.

Testimonials

“Just wanted to follow up and thank you. Our son had a great trip. The iternary was fun, immersive, varied and well executed. As expats ourselves, we value this opportunity to have him explore a new country and culture independently. Thank you for all your efforts. He was lucky to have had this chance!” - Heather Lovell

“We were able to work alongside a local hill tribe, experience their way of life, eat roasted pig, and take a mud bath with elephants at a jungle sanctuary. The Lassiters introduced us to the crazy city life and markets in Chiang Mai as well as sacred Buddhist temples and other amazing sites. Through all this they were great guides as they taught us history, helped us navigate language barriers, made us feel safe (even while driving on the "wrong" side of the road), and shared their passion for all they had been learning and experiencing. We came away from the experience changed forever.” -Jason Packham

“I seriously can't think of anything better for a teenager than losing themselves as they serve these wonderful Karen tribe families. If you have a teenager...check out Travel For More I can promise it will be worth it.” -Amy Tanner

Travel Agent Skills

Learn about the skills that will be most essential for Travel Agents in 2024.

Getting Started as a Travel Agent

• What is a Travel Agent
• How To Become
• Certifications
• Tools & Software
• LinkedIn Guide
• Interview Questions
• Work-Life Balance
• Professional Goals
• Resume Examples
• Cover Letter Examples

What Skills Does a Travel Agent Need?

Find the important skills for any job.

Types of Skills for Travel Agents

Industry knowledge and expertise.

• Customer Service Excellence

Technological Proficiency

Sales and marketing acumen, organizational and detail-oriented planning, top hard skills for travel agents.

Equipping agents with the expertise in itinerary crafting, GDS, and regulatory knowledge for unparalleled travel experiences and customer satisfaction.

• Travel Itinerary Planning
• Global Distribution Systems (GDS) Proficiency
• Travel Insurance Knowledge
• Destination Expertise
• Booking and Reservation Software Use
• International Travel Regulations and Visa Procedures
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software Skills
• Language Proficiency
• Travel Product Upselling
• Financial Transactions and Currency Exchange Handling

Top Soft Skills for Travel Agents

Empowering travel agents with empathy, adaptability, and a keen eye for detail to deliver exceptional, personalized customer experiences.

• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
• Communication and Active Listening
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Problem-Solving and Decision Making
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity

Networking and Relationship Building

• Time Management and Organizational Skills
• Salesmanship and Persuasion
• Attention to Detail and Accuracy

Most Important Travel Agent Skills in 2024

Personalized customer service, global travel knowledge, marketing and sales acumen, attention to detail, crisis management and flexibility, cultural intelligence and sensitivity.

Show the Right Skills in Every Application

Travel agent skills by experience level, important skills for entry-level travel agents, important skills for mid-level travel agents, important skills for senior travel agents, most underrated skills for travel agents, 1. cultural intelligence, 2. active listening, 3. crisis management, how to demonstrate your skills as a travel agent in 2024, how you can upskill as a travel agent.

• Acquire Advanced Travel Industry Certifications: Pursue specialized certifications such as the Certified Travel Associate (CTA) or Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) to deepen your knowledge and demonstrate your commitment to the profession.
• Embrace Technology and Automation Tools: Learn to use the latest travel booking software, CRM systems, and automation tools to streamline operations and offer personalized travel experiences.
• Expand Destination Knowledge: Regularly research and familiarize yourself with new destinations, travel regulations, and cultural insights to provide up-to-date advice to clients.
• Develop Language Skills: Enhance your communication abilities by learning new languages, which can help you cater to a broader client base and build rapport with international partners.
• Participate in Familiarization Trips: Take advantage of fam trips to experience destinations firsthand, allowing you to provide authentic recommendations and build a portfolio of personal travel experiences.
• Engage in Sustainable Travel Practices: Educate yourself on eco-friendly travel options and responsible tourism practices to guide clients towards more sustainable travel choices.
• Network with Industry Professionals: Join travel industry associations, attend trade shows, and connect with fellow Travel Agents to exchange knowledge and stay informed about industry developments.
• Master Customer Service Excellence: Attend workshops or take courses on advanced customer service techniques to enhance client satisfaction and loyalty.
• Stay Informed on Global Events: Keep abreast of world events, travel advisories, and health and safety protocols to provide timely and accurate information to travelers.
• Focus on Niche Market Specialization: Specialize in niche markets such as luxury travel, adventure tourism, or wellness retreats to differentiate yourself and cater to specific client interests.

Skill FAQs for Travel Agents

What are the emerging skills for travel agents today, how can travel agents effectivley develop their soft skills, how important is technical expertise for travel agents.

Travel Agent Education

More Skills for Related Roles

Creating memorable guest experiences, driving service excellence in the hospitality sector

Driving customer satisfaction, resolving issues with empathy and efficiency

Fostering customer loyalty and business growth through personalized relationship management

Driving customer satisfaction and loyalty through proactive relationship management

Ensuring passenger safety and comfort, creating memorable travel experiences

Crafting unforgettable journeys, tailoring travel experiences to individual desires

Start Your Travel Agent Career with Teal

• Share full article

Advertisement

Travel Advisers: When to Let a Professional Plan Your Trip

By Julie Weed

Decades ago, your vacation most likely began with a visit to a travel agent, who relied on a combination of expertise and connections to find the best deals on plane tickets, hotels, tours and more. Since then, the internet has turned most of us into our own travel agents, and artificial intelligence software is making research and self-booking even easier. But for some trips, that special insider knowledge can still make a big difference.

So when should you hire a professional, and how does it all work? Here are some tips.

Why should I consider a travel adviser?

It’s easy for a traveler to do the research for a standard trip, said Chris Anderson, a professor at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, “so they should look for a specialist for the type of tour they are looking for, say a bike trip in Ireland, who can really add value.”

The insider knowledge offered by a travel adviser can add the most value to trips that have multicity itineraries, involve a wide age range of travelers , are very significant (like an anniversary vacation) or are to destinations you are unfamiliar with, said Gary R. Johnson, who has run the travel agency Woodside Travel in Seattle for nearly 30 years. An adviser could help you decide, for instance, in which order to visit European cities based on local events and transportation options.

What can an adviser give me that a booking site can’t?

Travel advisers can help you research the best destinations, lodging, or activities for your particular group and travel goals, offering up specific advice that might be hard or time-consuming to find yourself. Those specializing in cruises might know which cabin to choose if you are prone to seasickness, while a safari planner could help you decide which park would be best for bird-watching or seeing specific animals, like rhinos.

Travel advisers typically have relationships with tour companies, hotels and cruise lines, sometimes through networks. Those connections can allow advisers to offer extra perks such as late checkout, free breakfast, airport transfers, a welcome basket or a credit to spend on a cruise ship.

“A good travel agent will be a better steward of your travel budget than you are,” said Guy Rubin, managing director of Imperial Tours , which arranges travel in China.

When bad weather or other circumstances disrupt your itinerary, travel advisers often have direct lines of communication with providers and can do the work of rebooking and changing plans, saving you time and stress.

OK, let’s say I need help. How do I find an adviser?

Networks like the American Society of Travel Advisors and Travel Leaders have websites that can help you start your search for a travel adviser by answering a few questions about your desired trip. Once you have a handful to choose from, get on the phone with them to talk about what they might do for you, how they charge and the level of service you can expect. Special trips can cost thousands of dollars, so it’s worth investing time up front, Mr. Rubin said.

Make sure to read over the travel agent’s reviews and any user-generated social content that mentions them, Dr. Anderson said. “If there is no external validation, that’s a red flag.”

How do advisers get paid, and how much will it cost me?

Advisers receive commission from suppliers, typically 10 to 15 percent of the price, when selling cruises, lodging and tours. They also sometimes charge travelers a planning fee, from a few hundred dollars, which may be credited to the final bill if the booking is completed, all the way up to tens of thousands of dollars annually for a luxury concierge travel planner they can call on all year. Mr. Johnson said that he charges a planning fee the first time he works with customers. If they return for other trips, he waives the fee.

Advisers may be tempted to sell you something that will earn them a higher commission, Dr. Anderson said. But, he points out, the same is true for the large online services, which promote hotels that pay them larger commissions. Travelers can ask advisers about specific commissions they receive or how they are affiliated with the products they are recommending, he said.

Sometimes a local tour company will package transportation, lodging and experiences for an adviser, who tacks on a percentage before passing it along to a client. But a bill that is not itemized can make it harder to make trade-offs — between a more expensive hotel and a special experience, for example. If pricing transparency is important to you, discuss it with the adviser up front.

How are A.I. and other technologies affecting travel advisers?

While new technologies are allowing do-it-yourselfers to create their own itineraries online based on individual preferences, and to type questions directly into travel websites, advisers are also taking advantage of those technologies to improve their services. Joan Roca, chief executive of the upscale travel planning company Essentialist said his team “uses technology to enhance the human touch,” employing artificial intelligence to choose options from a database of travel offerings selected by a human team. If a couple wants to take an after-dinner stroll, for example, Essentialist’s app will offer up ideas of where to go, based on what part of the city the travelers are in and conversations they’ve had with their travel adviser.

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

Italy :  Spend 36 hours in Florence , seeking out its lesser-known pockets.

Southern California :  Skip the freeways to explore the back roads between Los Angeles and Los Olivos , a 100-mile route that meanders through mountains, canyons and star-studded enclaves.

Mongolia : Some young people, searching for less curated travel experiences, are flocking to the open spaces of this East Asian nation .

Romania :  Timisoara  may be the most noteworthy city you’ve probably never heard of , offering just enough for visitors to fill two or three days.

India: A writer fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Darjeeling, in the Himalayan foothills , taking in the tea gardens and riding a train through the hills.

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Knowledge Distillation for Travel Time Estimation

Ieee account.

• Change Username/Password
• Update Address

Purchase Details

• Payment Options
• Order History
• View Purchased Documents

Profile Information

• Communications Preferences
• Profession and Education
• Technical Interests
• US & Canada: +1 800 678 4333
• Worldwide: +1 732 981 0060
• Contact & Support
• About IEEE Xplore
• Accessibility
• Terms of Use
• Nondiscrimination Policy
• Privacy & Opting Out of Cookies

A not-for-profit organization, IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. © Copyright 2024 IEEE - All rights reserved. Use of this web site signifies your agreement to the terms and conditions.

Lifestylogy

50 General Knowledge Questions To Test Your Knowledge?

Posted: March 25, 2024 | Last updated: March 25, 2024

Welcome to the ultimate General Knowledge Quiz featuring a collection of questions from geography, math, chemistry, english and history. Do you think you remember everything you were taught in school? Try your luck and test your memory to see if you can pass! Click to begin your journey through these general knowledge questions. Let’s Play!

How many seasons are there?

✔ correct answer: 4.

What color do you get from mixing the colors red and blue?

✔ correct answer: purple.

The sun rises in what cardinal direction?

✔ correct answer: east.

“And,” “but,” and “or” are examples of what?

• Contraction
• Preposition
• Conjunction

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Conjunction

The process of liquid turning into a gas is an example of what?

• Evaporation
• Condensation
• Precipitation
• Transpiration

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Evaporation

How many stars are on the American Flag?

✔ correct answer: 50.

Which of these animals is an herbivore?

✔ correct answer: sheep.

The Earth revolves around the ______?

✔ correct answer: sun.

The words, “Go,” “Ask,” and “Kick” are examples of what?

• Action verbs
• Prepositions

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Action verbs

A triangle with one 90 degree angle is called what?

• Isosceles Triangle
• Right Triangle
• Scalene Triangle
• Equilateral Triangle

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Right Triangle

The distance around the outside of a circle is called what?

• Circumference

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Circumference

How many inches are in a foot?

✔ correct answer: 12 inches.

Which of these words should NOT always begin with a capital letter?

✔ correct answer: church.

How many continents are there in the world?

✔ correct answer: 7.

The sum of the angles of a Triangle are always _____ degrees?

✔ correct answer: 180.

Humans are classified as what?

• Mitochondria

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Mammals

Aside from Hawaii, what is the only non-contiguous US state?

✔ correct answer: alaska.

How many legs does a spider typically have?

✔ correct answer: 8.

Which ocean is on the west coast of the United States?

✔ correct answer: pacific.

How many weeks are in one year?

✔ correct answer: 52.

What is the name of the planet that is closest to the sun in our galaxy?

✔ correct answer: mercury.

What is the fastest land animal?

✔ correct answer: cheetah.

If you have 4 dollars, 3 quarters, 2 dimes and one nickel, how much money do you have?

✔ correct answer: $5.00.

Magnets are attracted to items containing what?

✔ correct answer: metal.

What bodily organ is pictured here?

✔ correct answer: stomach.

The words “to,” “under” and “over” are examples of what?

• Conjunctions

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Prepositions

What is the state abbreviation for Maine?

✔ correct answer: me.

What is the state capital of New York?

✔ correct answer: albany, what was the 50th state of the united states.

• Puerto Rico

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Hawaii

Who was the first President of the United States?

• Thomas Jefferson
• Abraham Lincoln
• Alexander Hamilton
• George Washington

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: George Washington

Uganda, Tanzania and Namibia are all countries located in which continent?

• South America

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Africa

A collection of maps is called a what?

• Philatelist
• Encyclopedia

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Atlas

Who was John F. Kennedy’s vice president?

• Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Richard Nixon
• Lyndon B. Johnson
• Gerald Ford

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Lyndon B. Johnson

An octopus has how many tentacles?

The sculpture known as Mount Rushmore is comprised of what four President’s faces?

• George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John Adams, Andrew Jackson
• George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln
• George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton
• George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Alexander Hamilton, Abraham Lincoln

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln

The center of the Earth is called what?

✔ correct answer: the core.

Which continent is the largest?

• North America

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Asia

What chemical element does the symbol Fe stand for in the periodic table?

✔ correct answer: iron.

What is the capital of Italy?

✔ correct answer: rome.

What is the name for a shape with six sides?

✔ correct answer: hexagon.

Where is the Golden Gate Bridge located?

• San Francisco
• Los Angeles

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: San Francisco

What part of an atom is located inside the nucleus?

✔ correct answer: protons.

Which of these plays did William Shakespeare write?

• The Duchess of Malfi
• The Spanish Tragedy

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Hamlet

Jane Austen wrote which of the following novels?

• Little Women
• Wuthering Heights
• Pride and Prejudice
• The Catcher in the Rye

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Pride and Prejudice

How many cups are in a quart?

Which fruit is traditionally the primary ingredient in wine?

• Blueberries
• Raspberries

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Grapes

What is on the national emblem of the United States?

• Statue of Liberty

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Bald Eagle

Which dinosaur on the list was NOT a herbivore?

• Stegosaurus
• Triceratops
• Tyrannosaurus Rex
• Brachiosaurus

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Tyrannosaurus Rex

What is the term Wall Street uses in a down-trending market?

✔ correct answer: bear.

Which civil rights activist was famous for refusing to give up her seat on a bus?

• Martin Luther King Jr.

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Rosa Parks

What does WWW stand for in the website browser?

• World Wide Web
• World Website Window
• Web Whisk Whirl
• Website Window Writer

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: World Wide Web

How long is an Olympic swimming pool?

✔ correct answer: 50m.

What country do Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane belong to?

• United States
• Switzerland

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Australia

Who named the Pacific Ocean?

• Ferdinand Magellan
• Christopher Columbus
• Galileo Galilee
• Ponce de Leon

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Ferdinand Magellan

What’s the biggest technology company in South Korea?

✔ correct answer: samsung.

What was the name of the first woman pilot to fly across the Atlantic?

• Betsy Robbins
• Francis McDurmond
• Anne Clooney
• Amelia Earhart

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Amelia Earhart

Where does Gouda cheese come from?

• Netherlands

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Netherlands

What was the first toy advertised on television?

• Mr. Potato Head
• Paddington Bear
• Chatty Cathy

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Mr. Potato Head

Where is Area 51 Located?

✔ correct answer: nevada.

Which singer was known as the “King of Pop”?

• Elvis Presley
• Justin Bieber
• Michael Jackson

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Michael Jackson

Which artist is known for creating Campbell’s Soup can pieces beginning in 1962?

• Andy Warhol
• Pablo Picasso
• Jackson Pollack
• Salvador Dali

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Andy Warhol

Which country can you find Angkor Wat in?

✔ correct answer: cambodia.

What was the earliest form of writing material called?

✔ correct answer: papyrus.

What’s the name of the most popular arena in Los Angeles?

• Crypto.com Arena
• Dodger Stadium
• Smoothie King Arena

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Crypto.com Arena

Freddie Mercury was the singer of what popular group?

• Guns ‘n’ Roses
• Black Sabbath

✔ CORRECT ANSWER: Queen

For the Latest Lifestyle, Food, Health & Fitness, head to Lifestylogy

More for You

RFK Jr running mate announcement may boost his presidential ballot access bid

This trans man transitioned, detransitioned then transitioned again. What he wants you to know.

Jared Kushner Called to Face the Music

Dairy Queen Is Giving Out Free Blizzards in Honor of Their Summer Menu with 3 New Flavors

Vladimir Putin can be tried for his crimes now

Costco is starting to crack down on a privilege customers love

What Smells Do Mosquitoes Hate? 10 Scents You Need to Use This Summer

13 Cool Facts

Biden claims he commuted 'many, many times' by train on vehicle-only Francis Scott Key Bridge in latest gaffe

Blood pressure is best lowered by 2 exercises, study finds

Jon Stewart Torches 'Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary

32-year-old mom who makes $143,000/month in passive income: 5 books that helped me get started

The 11 Rudest Things You Can Do In Someone Else’s House, According To Etiquette Experts

Patrick Mahomes Says His Restaurant with Travis Kelce Won’t Be ‘Too High-Priced’ So ‘Everybody Can Go’

Zendaya Wears a Stormy Gray Gown with a Heart-Racing Deep V-Neckline

How to keep bananas from turning brown: Store it properly to maintain freshness

RFK, Jr 'likely to take Biden votes' as he announces VP pick: Bill McGurn

North Korea Images Spark Nuclear Fears

'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Trailer: Michael Keaton & Winona Ryder Meet Again, Jenna Ortega Joins Ghastly Family | THR News Video

14 Facts We Never Knew We Didn’t Know

• Alaska Insight
• Watch KAKM Live
• Indie Alaska
• Ways to Watch
• There is Hope
• AK Passport
• In My Family
• KSKA Schedule
• Hometown, Alaska
• Listen to KSKA Live
• All Radio Programs
• Outdoor Explorer
• Addressing Alaskans
• State of Art
• Alaska Economic Report
• Hear me now
• Military Voices
• One Small Step
• Alaska Morning News
• Talk of Alaska
• Alaska News Nightly
• Traveling Music
• Black History in the Last Frontier
• Latest News
• Environment
• Mental Health
• Rural Health
• Alaska Legislature
• Washington, D.C.
• Public Safety
• ANCSA, 50th Anniversary
• Midnight Oil
• Daily Digest
• AKPM Community Education Engagement
• Race Matters
• Ready to Learn
• Library Explorers
• Molly of Denali
• Learning Media
• Parent Resources
• Watch PBS KIDS
• Workforce Development
• Ways to Give
• Benefits of Membership
• Together We Are Stronger
• AKPM Merchandise
• E-Newsletters
• Organization
• Public Documents
• Public Meetings
• Accessibility Commitment
• Donor Portal

Safety concerns prompt sudden closure of Kuskokwim Ice Road

Following a wave of balmy weather that has quickly made meltwater of  record snowfall  on the Kuskokwim River, the ice road crew announced Friday that it was ceasing maintenance of the frozen transportation network.

Crew leader Mark Leary recommends against all vehicle travel on the river, at least for the time being.

“It’s a river on top of a river, and it’s hard on your vehicle. It’s dangerous, and it’s gonna start freezing at night, and that’s gonna put a thin layer of ice,” Leary said. “And somebody tries to drive through that and breaks that thin layer, it becomes a mess.”

Leary said that he had been hopeful the ice road could stay open longer for the use of communities along the river.

“This has caught people off guard. People have plans, they have vehicles in their villages that they want to leave in Bethel for the summer,” Leary said. “So we continued to leave it open and watch and watch.”

But when Leary checked out the river near Bethel early Friday morning, he said that he knew he needed to pull the plug.

“I had a report of a person that put a tape measure into the road, and in some spots there was 20 inches of water,” Leary said.

If weather cooperates and the opportunity arises, Leary said that the crew is prepared to plow another road parallel to the currently closed route, which it has done in previous years.

In 2023, the Kuskokwim Ice Road crew announced it was ceasing maintenance on April 1, but still found a window in the weeks that followed to get heavy equipment out on the river.

“We ran a 35,000-pound grader to Kasigluk on April 20,” Leary said.

While the ice road crew stands by for another potential window this year, breakup is just around the corner for the Kuskokwim River. The median day for breakup at Bethel over the past century has been May 12. But in 2019 the river  shattered historical trends , breaking up on April 12.

Evan Erickson, KYUK - Bethel

Related articles more from author, work on eielson microreactor project may resume this summer, gci customers can keep email accounts set to be shut down – for a fee, project seeks to gather alaska environmental knowledge embedded in indigenous languages.