We all love to travel, but ever since the advent of social media, this has become something that we do under scrutiny. When travelling, we can now expect to be seen. And not only will we be seen, but the evidence of our adventures will be kept forever for posterity.
It seems like everyone we know is going on one lavish holiday after the next. Posing with those ‘sausage-or-leg’ legs at the side of beautiful pools, and trekking across deserts while somehow not having a hair out of place. Meanwhile, we go down the road and stay in a muddy-looking BnB.
So, the question is, how do you travel in style and look great at the same time?
And just in case this post sounds a little bit narcissistic… well, that’s the world we live in. But at the same time, knowing how to travel in style can also ensure that you will be able to create amazing memories that you look back on fondly and ensure that you feel that little bit less stressed while you’re on the move.
Read on then, and we shall reveal the secrets of those stylish travellers…
Travel Light
So, the first tip that we’re going to share is to travel light. Moreover: go generally as minimal as you can. The easy mistake to make here, is to think that travelling with lots of clothes and makeup is going to help you to look better and dress for more occasions.
The truth? This just makes you look flustered, tired, and hot!
Carrying large suitcases is one surefire way to ensure that you do have hair out of place. Lots of it.
And wearing too much makeup in the heat is a surefire way to ensure that you end up with running eyeliner and lipstick on your teeth.
In other words: when you’re travelling, this is the time to cut back and to learn to do more with less. To learn to go minimal.
Take a few simple items of clothing – ideally things that travel well without being ironed – and try to wear a more natural look in terms of your makeup. This is easier to maintain and it means you’ll be less stressed during your travels.
Go to the Right Places
Another tip is to make sure that you are travelling to the right places. Try to think less about the next place you want to tick off your list because it sounds good, and think more about places that are conducive to low stress, luxury travel.
Often, that means spending a little bit more. You can bet that those people who look beautiful in every shot will have spent a little more to get to wherever it is they’re visiting. They’re staying in the nicest accommodation possible, because that a) makes for good backdrops, and b) ensure sthat they have all the facilities and creature comforts that they need.
But you don’t need to spend a fortune. Just visit somewhere that is well maintained. This can even mean staying in an RV – where you can keep all of your belongings with you, changes of outfit and more. And with the right campground management, these spots are increasingly well maintained.
Sometimes travelling within the country is actually better from this perspective too. Visit somewhere in your own country and you can carry less and you can avoid the stress of getting on a plane.
Learn to Take Great Photos
If your aim is to help your travels look more attractive, then learning to take great photos is one of the best tricks you should invest some time into learning.
The right photo can make all the difference when it comes to telling your story, and it also helps you to make better memories.
This could be a whole article in and of itself, but some top tips include:
- Upload fewer photos – just take your very best and keep those
- Use a good camera
- Stop and think about your composition – what story are you trying to tell? Where is the light coming from?
- Learn your good side and learn how to camera smile
- Think about what is in the background and what that says about the trip overall
These few tips can make a huge difference to the quality of your photography and the memories that you make and share with others.
Don’t Cram Too Much In
Finally, don’t cram too much in. Try to keep your trips relatively light in terms of your activities and your itinerary. It’s better to do a few things and to have a great time doing them, than it is to try and do everything and end up rushing from one stop to another without having time to fully appreciate anything. This just makes you look and feel harassed.
And after all: ticking off landmarks and tourist traps on a list is not truly what’s special about travelling. The best travel is about soaking in the atmosphere and feeling what it’s like to actually live in the country that you’re visiting.
Just walking down the alley ways of Paris by night is far more romantic than posing in front of the Eiffel tower. And it makes for better photos, because these aren’t the photos that every other person has!
Conclusion
While this might still seem like a narcissistic post, I hope that the message you’ve taken from it is not to spend your whole trip worrying about how you look.
What I’m actually trying to get across here, is that the trips that look the most elegant and stylish are the ones that think about the person on them. In other words: be kind to yourself, and plan ahead.
Don’t pack too much. Keep your bag light. Stay somewhere nice and well managed. Take thoughtful photos on a good camera. And don’t rush from one thing to a next.
The holidays that look the best very often are the best. And that’s because they provide the thing that every holiday should: a bit of TLC for the person who is on the trip!
Author’s bio:
Written by Joseph Pineiro. Joseph is the Digital Marketing Manager at RoverPass, an online reservation system for booking 7,000 campgrounds and RV parks in the United States.
