I’m sure everyone has a set of “rituals”, or actions they take to get acclimated to a new city. When it comes to my travels I am no different. Being that I travel quite often, I have a set of formalities I tend to stick to. Through the years I’ve come to find that these simple actions can become the difference between a vacation from hell and a vacation you’ll daydream about for years to come.

To begin with, I ALWAYS inspect the cleanliness of the bed and bathroom at the place I am staying. Thankfully I haven’t had a run in with bed bugs yet (knock on wood) but I always make sure I check anyway. It doesn’t matter if I’m in a hostel or a 5-star hotel. There’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night from bed bug bites. If I find anything that isn’t up to my standards I call room service and ask to have it fixed immediately. (Afterall, I am paying money to sleep there) And even if everything passes inspection… if I’m feeling apprehensive I will ask for clean sheets as well.
After I have established that my room is not only clean but bedbug free, I proceed to find the best rooftop bar or lounge in the city. I find this to be an excellent free way to gain amazing views of the city. Even if I decide to buy a drink or food, it’s all worth it. I’m all about views, on views, on views 🙂
Visit a unique museum. We have all been to the stuffy, boring, typical museums that
Kingston, Jamaica

most cities have to offer. But what I also noticed, is that most cities have some sort of art district, which is where you will find the most interest local exhibitions. It’s always good to get a feel for the “underworld” and undiscovered talent of a city.
Enjoy a locally brewed beer or liquor…… I don’t think I need to give a reason why. Who doesn’t like tasting new alcohol? If alcohol isn’t your thing try a local pastry shop.
Explore the city by foot. To some, this may be a given, but to less seasoned travelers I cannot stress this enough. Yes, it is easy to get great views of a city by car but the only way to fully immerse yourself in the culture is to travel by foot. Most of my most prized memories came about by just walking down the local streets and seeing what I encounter. An open mind and your two feet can lead you to places you never imagined.