Sometimes it feels like the world has changed at breakneck speed in just one decade. Other times, it feels like ten years have gone by in the blink of an eye, and everything is as it’s always been. The ins and outs of traveling follow this same pattern. In many ways, trends like digital nomading and solo traveling have changed how people typically travel. Yet, some of the fundamentals of traveling are still relevant, practical, and mostly unchanged. Let’s take a look.
What’s Changing
They say the only constant is change, right? In travel, this principle is more true than ever. Technology, sustainability, and personalized experiences are reshaping how we explore the world.
eSims
It used to be that when you needed to use your phone abroad, you had two options: pay for an extremely expensive roaming package or buy a cheap pay-as-you-go SIM card (often from an objectively sketchy kiosk).
Today, eSIMs make it incredibly easy to use your phone globally, without having to physically change your SIM card or pay your current carrier an overpriced fee to access data abroad. eSIMs have the benefit of instant activation, so you don’t have to take time out of your day to go SIM-card shopping around town—you can activate your plan the exact moment that you land. The only hard part now is deciding on Saily vs Airalo.
Planning Trips with AI
Trip planning has often been a process that includes 42 different tabs, three pages of illegible notes, and several calculations in the margins. If you’re a fan of trip planning, that may sound like fun. If you’re busy or don’t particularly care about doing research, AI trip planning is a travel development you will enjoy.
Generative AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini can help you create curated travel plans based on your interests, budget, time frame, weather requirements, and more. Using AI tools can help you get recommendations for the top restaurants, make suggestions about what to pack, or help brainstorm popular activities in your destination to make the most of your trip.
Night Trains
There is no midnight train to Georgia, but there are plenty of overnight options if traveling from Armenia or Turkey. Sleeper trains were once the epitome of romance, intrigue, and mystery. While the popularity of night trains somewhat fell off once budget airlines came onto the scene, they are making a comeback due to a combination of nostalgia and practicality.
Trains provide a more sustainable transport option than flying. If you book in advance, you can often find train tickets at similar or lower prices than budget flights. You don’t have to worry about the stress of packing light to meet airline carry-on requirements, nor arriving at the airport two hours early. That said, arguably the greatest part about taking the night train is the feeling of adventure.
A new European company is making a huge effort to make night trains an essential part of European travel, aiming to create sleeper train routes that reach at least 100 cities and offer cabins with private bunks.
Cashless Payments
Physical bills can be germ spreaders. They can fall out of your wallet or fly away with the wind when you try to pay. Contactless payments are often faster, more secure, better for public health, and make currency exchange easier. The benefits of going completely cashless clearly outweigh the drawbacks.
If you want to ditch physical cards completely, digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Wallet make it easy to store all sorts of bank cards, which can later be used to make contactless payments. You may also have the option to store your airline and train tickets in your digital wallet, making it easy to keep track of everything.
What Isn’t Changing
We don’t want the world to stagnate, of course. But we also don’t want everything to change everywhere all at once. That includes some of the fundamentals of travel.
The Importance of Offline Prep
Even with so much tech available to help with planning and getting around on foreign soil, it’s still important to have backup in case your eSIM fails or your phone gets lost, stolen, or damaged.
Before setting out, it’s still recommended that you download an offline map, language guide (or install the language of the country you are visiting on Google Translate), train or bus tickets, and a copy of your essential documents, such as your passport or driver’s licence.
It may seem old school, but it’s still a good idea to memorize essential contacts, including emergency services, and keep the number of your country’s embassy on hand. It may not be common anymore to memorize the numbers of your contacts at home, but when you’re abroad, you definitely want to know them in case you get in a bind.
Tourist-Targeted Scams
Scams often evolve and change over time, but they don’t disappear completely. Pickpockets are still very much a threat in most crowded areas. In some cities, being pickpocketed is almost a rite of passage for tourists (an unfortunate rite of passage).
Another common scam involves grossly overcharging foreigners or tricking them into “necessary” services before demanding outrageous payment. Always agree on prices upfront when hopping in a taxi or getting shown around by a guide.
Essential Travel Insurance
Free global healthcare is still not a thing. The complete eradication of crimes of opportunity? Not likely to happen anytime soon. Therefore, travel insurance is still an essential part of taking a trip abroad.
Travel insurance can cover unexpected medical emergencies while you’re away from your home country. It can refund you some of the costs of your trip if an unexpected event causes you to need to cancel. It can also help you get reimbursed if your luggage is lost or stolen.
Traveling Through Change and Consistency
Let’s say 2025 is the year we all invite a little more balance into our lives. That should apply to traveling, too, whether you’re a solo traveller, digital nomad, or remote worker. The classic wisdoms still apply: be prepared, be insured, and watch your back. New developments are also shaping the way we move—often for the better.
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