5 Tips to Make Your Travel More Memorable

By: Kurt Wicklund
18/02/2020

I love to travel, so part of the reason I love my job at WorldStrides Explorica so much is that I get to help others see the world. I also get to travel with them on occasion!

Recently, I had the chance to visit Costa Rica, which was the 22^nd country I’ve visited and my first time in Central America. The opportunity came about as part of one of our Program Leader Training (PLT) tours. The Costa Rica tour was my seventh PLT with WorldStrides Explorica, (and shhhh, but it was by far my favourite!) I travelled with thirty-eight wonderful teachers, three incredible staff, and one amazing Costa Rican Tour Director.

Though every trip and every destination is unique, the flights, cab rides, and small details can start to blend together in my memory. Here are 5 tips to make sure each trip becomes its own unique memory:

1. Download new music: I’ve had new music with me on every trip. If 10 years goes by and a song comes on that I listened to while travelling, I am instantly transported back to that place and moment in time. Memory and sound have been proven to be linked, so it’s not surprising that your brain remembers so much more detail when a memory is linked with a song (or two).
2. Do an activity outside of your comfort zone: Snorkeling, horseback riding, ziplining through the jungle – I’ve done them all! WorldStrides Explorica loves to arrange these kinds of unique experiences (with a focus on safety, of course!) I love to make sure it’s an activity specific to the destination that you may not have the chance to do at home.
3. Plan to eat something “weird”: In my travels, I’ve tried fermented shark, stinky tofu, escargot, and most recently, rice pudding. Some of these may seem incredibly strange to you, and others may seem normal – it’s all relative! It’s fun to eat something that may seem a bit “out there”, because what’s strange and new to me is normal to someone else. It’s a simple way to have a cultural connection and who knows? You may discover your new favourite food!
4. Be a temporary local: I think it’s important to try to get a sense of what life is like for the locals. Take a cue from your Tour Director, and engage in an interesting conversation, ask about someone’s life, take a restaurant recommendation, or buy something handmade from a local artist. It’s a special opportunity to connect with the “hosts” of your destination.
5. Enjoy a view before taking a picture: We’re much too quick to take out our phones and document our destination, seeing the view through our screens rather than with our eyes.  Take a moment to be absorbed in the sights, sounds and smells of your surroundings so you remember more than just the photo you took.

I find these simple travel tips help me to fully experience my destination, making each trip more memorable than the last. In Costa Rica, they say “Pura Vida”, which translates directly to “Pure Life.” But there, Pura Vida means so much more – it’s a greeting, a gratitude, a mantra, an expression of contentedness, and a way of approaching life. Pura Vida goes hand-in-hand with these tips, because ultimately, both are there to help you immerse yourself in the beauty of your destination, in a sense of adventure, in delicious food, in smiles and laughter and wonderful moments. Pura Vida is why you’re not a tourist when you’re in Costa Rica – you feel like family and most importantly, you feel welcome.

Costa Rica is one of our most popular destinations for eco-tours and volunteering trips, rich in both adventure and meaningful experiences. If Costa Rica hasn’t been on your radar, or if it’s a distant bucket-list destination, please make sure you visit, and read our guide on what you need to know before you go! The next time you travel, take advantage of these tips and your next trip will be your most memorable yet!

Kurt Wicklund is a Senior Account Manager from our Toronto office and has been working with WorldStrides Explorica since 2008.