Travel Rituals

Ahhh, rituals. I love creating little rituals both at home and when I’m traveling. Because my job has had me traveling for a good chunk of the year for the last 25+ years, developing little travel rituals no matter the destination or type of trip has really helped keep me grounded.

I asked you all on Instagram and Facebook what your favorite travel rituals are, and I loved your answers so much, I’ve compiled them all below!

Little Rituals to Enjoy On Every Trip

Bringing your own tea or coffee ritual on the road

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about myself and others is that we all have some sort of daily caffeine ritual developed over years of trial and error. And when we deviate from that ritual… results may vary.

To make sure every trip starts off on the right foot, I encourage you to bring your coffee or tea routine with you. For me, that means bringing my own mug and tea bags from a brand I love. I find that even if a hotel offers real tea cups instead of paper cups, they’re never quite as perfect as my mug from home. And while I love finding new teas to try, I always like having a few bags of stuff I know I’ll enjoy.

If you’re not super particular and just want to make sure you get some caffeine in the morning, here’s an idea I absolutely loved. One commenter said they send their husband down early to get coffee from the breakfast area to bring back up to their room. The ritual of going down to get coffee stays the same but the results are always a little different depending on the hotel. Sometimes it means he comes back with a whole spread of those mini croissants!

Bringing other home comforts on a trip

In general, a lot of people commented that they bring, at minimum, their own pillowcases. Many more of you have mentioned bringing your own pillows, small blankets, room sprays, and I even saw someone say they always bring a nightlight, while another mentioned a travel-sized humidifier.

Sleep really is a precious commodity, so if you know you need things a certain way… bring them! Nothing is worse than trying to enjoy a new destination without resting properly.

Completely unpacking as soon as you check-in

There are two schools of thought when it comes to getting settled in a hotel room. Some of us (me) like to completely unpack into different drawers and closets. Others like to keep everything nice and tidy in their suitcase. Neither are wrong, but I do like the thought of letting all my clothes breathe after being rolled tightly in packing cubes and a suitcase for who knows how many hours.

Pampering before the trip or upon arrival

So many of you mentioned pampering either before your trip or upon arrival. Manicures, pedicures, massages… I mean booking a massage on your very first day is definitely a fantastic way to work out knots from the plane or car ride. One person even said they like to find a local salon to get their hair done.

And if massages aren’t in the budget, pampering can be as simple as getting to your hotel, brushing your teeth, and going through your skincare routine. Nothing beats feeling clean!

Scoping out the hotel gym

One of my best hotel tips is to check out their gym. You don’t necessarily need to workout, but sometimes they have a good selection of snacks and water. It’s become a little ritual of mine as I get to know my hotel, and I almost always find something to bring back to my room!

Also, I’ll add that a few members of my crew like to start every trip with a quick gym session. If you have any sort of strength plan you like to adhere to, chances are you’re only going to have time and energy for it on that first day. Plus it’s a good way to combat jet lag and loosen up your muscles after sitting on a plane. Personally, I prefer the next ritual for that….

Going for a long, meandering walk

I may not be lifting weights when I arrive but I do love putting on some sturdy shoes and going off on a long meandering walk to get to know the area. It’s nice to scope out local shops, cafes, restaurants, and just do a little people watching while you get your bearings.

Also, hey, if you’re near a residential neighborhood, it’s fun to see how people decorate their homes.

Using Google Streetview to virtually walk around

For those of you that might need a little confidence boost being in a brand new area, I also liked this idea from someone on Facebook – do a virtual walk on Google Streetview. That way you can scope things out and feel a bit safer wandering out on your own. You can never be too careful!

Checking out local grocery stores, markets, or cafés

While walking around, I love looking towards local spots like grocery stores, markets, or cafés. Grocery stores in particular are like a treasure hunt! Every country I’ve been to does them slightly differently, and it’s always so fun to stroll through aisles. I, and many of you, particularly love seeing what types of snacks are popular.

A few of you also mentioned finding some local wine, cheese, and bread shops upon arrival because everywhere has all three. Then you bring them all back to your hotel room for a night cap – love this!

And as for cafes, here’s my extra recommendation courtesy of my director: look specifically for local roasters or roasteries. That’s where you’ll find the good java!

Having similar points of interest in every place

Beyond food and drink related spaces, every city or town tends to have the following points of interest:

• Some sort of art museum
• A highest view point 
• An indie bookstore
• A thrift store
• Some sort of historic landmark
• A local library

Quite a few you mentioned having one of these places you like to find on every trip. And really, how fun would it be to browse thrift stores all around the world. You’d find some many unique treasures!

Going for a local city tour

A great first day ritual many of you mentioned was booking a local city tour. This way, you hit the ground running in terms of learning history, checking out some sights, and getting your bearings. Plus if you book a walking tour, it gets you moving all the same!

Finding the best outdoor spaces to enjoy

Another popular ritual was finding some sort of outdoor space to enjoy nature, whether it’s a park, walking trails, arboretums, or botanical gardens. One person even mentioned booking hotels specifically for nearby park access.

And hey, if you enjoy bird watching, outdoor spaces are the best way to see if you can spot some local birds.

Reviewing any brochures or magazines

Most hotels have brochures or magazines either at the front desk or in your hotel room, and many of you commented that you like to gather them to flip through for ideas. Local newspapers are also a neat way to get to know a place if you can read the language or they have an English version.

Searching for local concerts, festivals, and sports events

One of you mentioned that once a destination was booked, you liked to look up what local events would be going on during your visit. What a fun ritual that can have vastly different results depending on where you go!

Bringing a book for your trip

I saw a few mentions of bringing a physical paperback book on a trip and reading it while you’re there. One of my crew members always does that, and it’s almost like the book itself becomes a sort of souvenir.

Even better, incorporate the ritual of visiting a local bookstore and then pick out your book for the trip there. Bonus points for books on local topics or written by local authors!

Getting up before everyone else to take it all in

Many of you said you liked getting up before everyone else to just sit and take in how lucky you are to be traveling somewhere new. This is especially great if you’re on a family trip and know most of your day will be spent balancing an itinerary and multiple opinions. Some of you also added journaling or reading, but many of you just liked to take in the sunrise and enjoy the quiet.

Finding your favorite evening spot for a treat

Quite a few people commented that they like to look up local ice cream or gelato shops, while one of you mentioned the nearest Irish pub. I’d consider both a treat to top off each day of a trip! Whether you’re getting ice cream, getting a pint, or enjoying some wine and cheese back at your hotel room, I love the idea of creating a celebratory ritual for each night of your trip.

Getting specific souvenirs

So many of you have souvenir rituals! Quite a few talked about finding ornaments so your Christmas tree becomes a shrine of travel memories. Someone else mentioned getting something practical like a reusable tote from local grocery stores. Another person mentioned she loves picking out the perfect postcards to send to friends right away. And one person even mentioned buying local lottery tickets!

Enjoying the local dishes and beverages of the area

Almost every town or region has a dish or drink it’s known for, so making sure you sit down and try them is a great ritual. Everyone has different food preferences and if you’re not a huge foodie, it’s easy to get into the habit of eating quickly and simply while sightseeing. Making an effort to specifically try a local dish and beverage even if it’s not necessarily something you’d eat otherwise both lets you understand a place better and gets you out of your comfort zone. At best you discover something new you’ll love and at worst you’ll have a funny memory for later!

When I filmed in Australia a few years ago, I got to try a bunch of unique foods, including fried crocodile, a Southeast Asian noodle dish called laksa, and even a green ant (tastier than you’d think – check out my Darwin and Melbourne episodes to see)! You don’t necessarily have to start eating bugs, but food can communicate things about a culture that words can’t, and that’s a big reason why I love travel.

Splurging on a meal

Take it a step further and plan a meal where you splurge. There’s something fun about dressing up and enjoying a fancy dinner, especially if you wait towards the end and use it as a way to top off your trip. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could look up fine dining spots that specialize in local cuisine.

Listening to the same first song each trip

Such a great ritual! The commenter in question specified they listened to “Roll Me Away” by Bob Seger. One song can trigger so many memories; it’s sweet to think of two people having a designated travel song they listen to every trip they take together. I’m going to have to start this with my husband!

Spending each night journaling

And to finish off this great list of travel rituals is one I thought was particularly lovely. A commenter mentioned they liked to spend each night journaling their day and then, when they got home, they put together a coffee table type book with their pictures and journal entries!

Do you have any travel rituals you don’t see here? Let me know about them!