The Dos and Don’ts of Travel Outside of Europe

By: Leif McCoy

            One of the most attractive aspects of the JDP is the opportunity to travel. Being in Scotland allows you access to some of the best parts of Europe, yet with cheap and easy Ryanair flights it is possible to get stuck in western Europe. I have compiled this guide to help students who want to branch out and go outside of the continent. This guide is by no means attempting to design a trip for everyone, just like any other place you should design your vacation around what you are interested in or want to see. However hopefully this list will provide some ideas to get you going and some things I have learned along the way. So, lets get started.

1. Do consider Morocco

As the closest part of Africa to continental Europe, this may seem like an obvious point, but it is still worth making. Morocco is a fantastic place to dive in to non European travel and it was the first place I went to outside of Europe. The food is fantastic, the people are incredibly nice, and the language barrier is a little less due to high French fluency. If you are looking to start somewhere, the flights are often cheap in the spring. I would recommend Tangier as a great starting place and Marrakech for a deeper dive.

2. Don’t be afraid to stay in a hostel.

If you are used to hostels this may also seem like an obvious point, but often you may be put off by the low price tag. Outside of Europe though, prices regularly range from two to four pounds per night and they have been some of the nicests hostels I have stayed in. Often times they will even provide tea or free extras which is a really special experience.

3. Do remember to buy bottled water.

This may not be true everywhere outside of Europe, but where I have been often times many locals don’t even drink the water in the cities. I put this on the list because when I was in Jordan I forgot to do this and became quite sick, which did not add to the experience. Bottled water is very cheap and comes in large quantities so you won’t have to worry about it being hard to find.

4. Don’t miss the markets.

You can usually find excellent spices and fruits for very reasonable prices and the experience itself is well worth it. For lunch we often eat something that all the locals seem to have from one of the stalls and wash it down with a fresh squeezed orange juice. Truly a fantastic unique experience that can really give you a good idea of local normal life wherever you are

5. Do pay in the local currency or at least use cash.

While you can usually find restaurants with a card machine, sometimes those markets or smaller local places would prefer cash. If you really want the authentic experience using cash will allow you to cut the tether to the tourist areas and go off the beaten path a bit. Also you get to participate in the age old haggling culture which is a fun time. A bonus is that whatever you don’t use can be given to your family as souvenirs.

6. Do research before you go.

It is important that you do research beforehand. My experience outside of Europe has been to Arab countries and it is best to know certain local customs like covering up for ladies and tipping before you go. Take the time to find good restaurants that aren’t purely for tourists. They’re out there and sometimes off the beaten path, but it will really level up your experience. Also learning what you want to do and how to get there is best done before you go because public transit may be different than you are used to in Europe.

7. Don’t be scared.

This is the biggest one. When you arrive, it will be overwhelming, but the best thing to do it just embrace it. I have had more experience being scammed in western Europe than anywhere outside of it and there is no reason to be worried. Always remember that even when you are in a stressful situation where you feel some service or good is being pushed on you, that is the culture and the way they do business. It can feel different or overwhelming at first, but ultimately I have found that the reason I am traveling is to go outside my comfort zone and even if something feels strange its all part of the experience.

Pro bonus tip: Drink the mint tea instead of alcohol. Alcohol can also be very expensive or even illegal in Arab countries so I find that its best to save the partying for European clubs. I guess it is just black tea with mint and sugar but something about it just hits different.