When you’re on the road in a foreign country you are never alone.  Sure you may have flown over by yourself and you may not know the name of that guy next to you at the hostel bar who is way too drunk even for karaoke but you are part of a group.  Your fellow travelers are all there sharing some of the same experiences you are and all with the ultimate goal of having the best trip they can.  Having a wonderful trip is often determined by the little things along the way that make your visit more pleasant and enjoyable.  A hostel may offer cinnamon raisin bread instead of plain wheat for breakfast…my morning is happier already.  The ticket guy on the train may overlook your second class ticket and let you stay in first…now I can stretch out and rest up for my big day in Prague.  The baggage claim lady at the airport may let you carry on that slightly oversized backpack…getting out of the airport and to my hotel will be quick and easy now. With these “little things” that are big deals in mind, what can you do for your fellow travelers?  Here are my top five suggestions for being a helpful, respectful, enjoyable and downright wonderful fellow traveler who deserves their cinnamon raisin toast.

1. Leave your guide book and maps for those arriving after you.

     After spending a couple days in a location you have likely collected several maps or brochures that helped you navigate the city.  You also ripped out the relevant section of your guide book to carry with you as you saw the sites and you may have circled that great restaurant you ate at.  Now that it is time to move on towards your next destination you really have no use for any of that information.  Why carry all of it with you for the remainder of your trip?   Neatly pile the materials in the lounge area of your hostel or even in your room (often they will be moved to the lounge area by the staff) and hope that it helps the next traveler who picks it up.  

      The same goes for your whole guide book.  At the end of your trip just leave your battered and used book for the next guy or gal.  You may even want to put your name in it and a list of where it has actually been…kinda cool for its next owner to see.  Chances are the book will end up on a shelf in the hotel/hostel and travelers for years to come will pull it down when relaxing around the hostel for tips and advice.  All guide books have different suggestions and no one wants to carry more than one so finding an extra one to flip through at your hostel is helpful.  Also, you’re going to want to purchase another, more current edition for your next trip so why lug this outdated brick home.

2. Don’t hog the Internet.

  Every hostel or hotel has a limited number of computers for use by travelers. Some only have one (fewer and fewer have none nowadays).  Be aware that almost everyone wants or needs to get on the internet at some point.  Limit your time to what is essential (checking facebook rarely is) and give everyone a chance to check their bookings, reservations or email.  If you’re going to be on-line for a while uploading pictures or chatting with friends back home think about finding an internet café in the area.  There, you can sit as long as you want to for what is usually a reasonable price.  If you don’t want to leave the hostel, wait until late at night when most people are out at the pub or asleep.

3. Bag your socks.

      Everyone’s socks stink after spending all day walking around the city or county side.  Rather than letting them “air out” off the edge of your bed in your hostel dorm room, bag ‘em up.  Are you really going to wear them again?   If so then you didn’t pack enough socks and need to go to C&A.  By bringing a few zip-lock bags with you on your trip you can minimize the stink you bring into an already musty/ stale dorm room occupied by travelers who may or may not have had a hot shower in a couple days.   Not only will you be being respectful of your fellow travelers but by locking away your socks in bags you help prevent the rest of your clothes and travel items in your backpack from smelling like your feet.

4. Offer your unused transit passes and share group tickets.

    Let’s say you are in Venice and rather than paying the five Euros for a one way fare on the water bus you decided to pay 12 Euros for a 24 hour ticket.  Now you really only use the bus 3 times (pays for itself) and you didn’t start your 24 hour period until 7pm when you leisurely cruised the canals at  price much cheaper than a gondola.  When you leave Venice at noon the next day why not keep your ears open for other travelers trying to figure out how to buy bus tickets.  With 7 hours still left on your ticket, passing it off to a fellow traveler and saving them five Euro can be a great help.  Venice is expensive as is.

     The same goes for situations like you might find in Germany.  Certain train passes in Germany can cover the fare of up to 5 people traveling the same direction for a fraction of the cost of the normal fare.   Ask others at the train station if they would like to split the much cheaper fare and sit near each other on the train.  If you will not be returning with the ticket or using it again within the time frame it is good for, let someone else keep it.  Doing this not only can save you money but helps your fellow travelers out who are just as likely to be on a budget as you are.

5. Don’t be afraid to eavesdrop and give advice.

   You’re bound to be sitting in the hostel TV room or around the breakfast table and hear someone next to you talking about their next destination.  They may be saying “we still need to book a hostel” or “I heard there was a five story club in Prague somewhere”.   If you recently left the city they are talking about jump in and give them some tips.  You are the best person to give advice on the hostel you just stayed in and are surely the best informed at the table to suggest a stay at “such and such” a place.  If you spent all night at a five story club in Prague and were still able to remember your way back to the train station the next day you are just the person to tell them where they can find it. 

     Don’t worry that you are butting into someone else’s conversation, your advice will be appreciated.  Keeping all the good info to yourself does no one any good and you might just make some great friends to hang out with by speaking up.  Let’s face it; you both like five story nightclubs.

      There is certainly more one can do to help out his fellow travelers.   Just keep in mind that you are all in the same boat.  What would make your trip that much more enjoyable?   Answer that question and then do that thing when the opportunity arises.  Treating everyone with the respect and consideration they deserve as travelers will ensure you are still part of the group even when you are traveling alone.