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A few years back, I went to Sri Lanka<\/a> and, outside a few facts I\u2019d picked up by reading the news and talking to friends over the years, I realized I knew shockingly little about the country. <\/p>\n I knew it was once ruled by the British, there was a long conflict between the Tamils and Sinhalese, the country produces a lot of tea, it has beyond-delicious food, its capital is Colombo, and there are some amazing jungles and beaches to explore.<\/p>\n But, beyond that superficial understanding, I knew nothing.<\/p>\n I couldn\u2019t tell you if the country was cheap or inexpensive, what to see, one famous ruin, safety issues, where in the country is popular to visit, how to get around, what their currency or culture is, or anything in between.<\/p>\n Sri Lanka was a blank slate to me.<\/p>\n I never like to go somewhere new blind \u2014 it\u2019s a sure-fire way to get ripped off<\/a>, eat the wrong thing, get sick<\/a>, make a cultural faux pas, and, generally, have something go badly. <\/p>\n Knowledge is power and, given that so much information is available online, I feel like going somewhere without any<\/em> understanding of that place shows a laziness in your planning and a sign that you’re an unskilled traveler.<\/p>\n So, when planning my trip<\/a> there, I needed to do some preparation. Normally, if I have enough of a basic understanding of a place, I just wing it \u2014 I\u2019ve been to neighboring countries, know people, or have read enough to have an idea. Sri Lanka required some work.<\/p>\n Faced with a knowledge gap, here\u2019s what I did \u2014 and you should do \u2014 when you travel somewhere you’ve never been before: I think guidebooks<\/a> are still important for travelers. Even though their practical information is often out of date, I love flipping through them to get an overview of how to get around, form ideas on what to see and do, develop itineraries, and look at the maps and featured places. <\/p>\n Reading guidebooks helps me put together the foundation of my planning. Besides, there\u2019s just something enjoyable about holding a book and highlighting places that reading a blog doesn\u2019t offer.<\/p>\n For this trip, I bought the Rough Guide to Sri Lanka<\/em><\/a>. In addition to Rough Guides, I love Lonely Planet<\/a>. I like the the guides\u2019 look, organization, light weight, and emphasis on budget travel. Next, I went searching for travel blogs. Guidebooks are a good foundation, but blogs can fill in a lot of gaps as you can find more up-to-date information and off-the-beaten-path destinations, and ask questions of the bloggers. I searched, read, and searched some more for content and stories that gave me a sense of the destination. Here are a few blogs worth checking out:<\/p>\n Simply doing some Googling will get you great results, but if you want to go straight to some tried-and-trusted sources, here’s my list of favorite travel blogs.<\/a> Once I had my guide and read over some blogs, I asked friends and family for their advice (or if they knew anyone who could give me advice). It turned out I had a few friends who had been there recently and a few with family there. They gave me advice, tips, and suggestions on hotels and restaurants, and connected me to family members. <\/p>\n Then, when I landed, I had some people to stay with, show me around, and help me get situated. Nothing beats a local host<\/a>. Now I know that not everyone has a friend group that travels as avidly as mine. But everyone (that’s reading this blog at least) can use the internet to find new friends and connections. I suggest using networks like Couchsurfing<\/a>, joining Facebook groups, and even posting to your personal social media accounts. You never know who might know someone that’s been where you’re going!<\/p>\n For me, with so many people reading this blog, I figured there must be some readers who had been there. The tweets, Facebook posts, and blog posts that I wrote produced a flurry of messages with tips and advice, and even some locals looking to meet up<\/a>. <\/p>\n It was incredibly helpful, and then I already had some people to hang out with right when I got there! As I\u2019ve said in the past, you can\u2019t know a place if you don\u2019t know its history. With a long flight ahead, I bought a few books about Sri Lanka\u2019s history so I could get a better understanding of the country\u2019s rich history.<\/p>\n Here’s what I read:<\/p>\n Here are some of my other recommended travel reads:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Getting a sense of what to watch out for in terms of general safety is a good idea no matter where you’re going, but especially in a place that’s completely unknown to you. <\/p>\n You’ll want to be aware of any common travel scams to look out for<\/a> as well as how to conduct yourself in the destination. Even things like learning the general dress code and local customs will go a long ways to helping you blend in. It’s not just respectful of the place you’re visiting, but will help you avoid standing out as a target for opportunistic petty theft.<\/p>\n Here are a few of our safety guides to help you get started planning your next trip: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I recommend getting travel insurance no matter where you’re going. It’s the number one thing that I never leave home without, and I recommend that you don’t either. Travel insurance will protect you against unexpected costs that could arise if something goes wrong on the road, whether it be a broken arm, smashed phone, or a stolen bag. When going to an unknown place, definitely<\/em> get travel insurance.<\/p>\n Here are some posts to start with:<\/p>\n Visiting a place you know little about in a region you\u2019ve never been to can be somewhat intimidating. To go somewhere completely different pushes you out of your comfort zone<\/a> and that can be a tricky thing. <\/p>\n Even after fifteen years of travel<\/a>, I still have a small amount of trepidation before I go somewhere completely new. <\/p>\n But talking to friends, family, readers, and bloggers gave me a sense of the destination: an affordable, safe place with friendly locals, delicious food, and slow transportation. \u201cEveryone is incredibly nice and helpful<\/a>, but don\u2019t expect to get anywhere fast unless you hire a driver\u201d was the common refrain.<\/p>\n For the first time in a long time, I went to a place I knew nothing about. I was so excited to backpack and figure things out on the way again! Sri Lanka sees a lot of tourists and it\u2019s not completely \u201coff the beaten track\u201d but it was different to me.<\/p>\n You never know what a place is really like until you go, but upon following the steps above, you’ll bring your destination into focus rather than it being a complete blur. Sure, your plans, routes, and ideas may change when you hit the ground. But you’ll have a better idea as to what you’re getting yourself into and what to expect. That all made me feel slightly more comfortable about visiting. <\/p>\n This is not about scheduling all your days and all your activities. This is simply about being more informed about the destination you are visiting.<\/p>\n Because a smart and informed traveler is a better traveler<\/a>.<\/p>\n My New York Times<\/em> best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you\u2019ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It\u2019s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the \u201cbible for budget travelers.\u201d<\/p>\n Click here to learn more and start reading it today!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n Book Your Flight<\/strong> Book Your Accommodation<\/strong> Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong> Want to Travel for Free?<\/strong> Need a Rental Car?<\/strong> Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?<\/strong>
\n <\/p>\n1. Buy a Travel Guide<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\n2. Read Travel Blogs<\/h3>\n
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\n <\/p>\n3. Ask Friends\/Family for Advice<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\n4. Ask Other Travelers<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\n5. Read Some Books<\/h3>\n
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6. Learn How to Stay Safe<\/h3>\n
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7. Get Travel Insurance<\/h3>\n
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\nHow to Travel the World on $75 a Day<\/span><\/h3>
![\"How](\"https:\/\/media.nomadicmatt.com\/bookimages\/HowtoTraveltheWorldon75aDay.jpg\")
<\/div>\nBook Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a>. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. <\/p>\n
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. <\/p>\n
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n\n
\nTravel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation \u2014 all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites<\/a> to get started and see the latest best deals.<\/p>\n
\nDiscover Cars<\/a> is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best \u2014 and cheapest \u2014 rental for your trip!<\/p>\n
\nGet Your Guide<\/a> is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more. <\/p>\n