Instead of making sure that you're packed and planned for three months in advance for a week away, do it the night before. It might sound like an incredibly bad idea; packing the night before, however, makes life more interesting and it's that element of risk that adds to the feeling of elation that you get when going away.

Just make sure you have your tickets, passport, etc before the last minute. Worrying about that sort of thing makes for panic, as opposed to hurry; the latter is more fun, the former an accident waiting to happen (last time I panicked before travelling I managed to leave hair straighteners on, on the bed, and burnt the duvet: not fun).

II. Travel with Friends, Not Family:

Unless your family don't burst into argument over dinner on at least a once weekly basis and enjoy the same activities as you it's probably a good plan to avoid going on holiday with them if you can. Basically, if you're old enough to travel alone then give it a shot and see how much more fun it is when you're doing what you want and, if not what you want, then something you can enjoy with friends.

I've been travelling by myself since I was fourteen and with friends since a year after that, it's much more interesting when you can go where you want and do as you will, rather than get stuck somewhere less fun than in front of your PC.

III. Absorb Foreign Culture Instead of Planting Yours:

“Travel” and “holiday” are not synonymous. Travel is often what comes prior to the holiday, or maybe the entire holiday will be spent moving around; either way it can be an experience rather than a requirement.

Cutting to the point, when travelling in order to enjoy a place, it's hypocritical to go somewhere because it's different to your own home (sunnier/more interesting/busier/quieter/etc) and persist in treating it like that home. If you go to Africa, go visit something that you don't have at home, by all means, but keep it interesting by doing those things in a different way. If you go to the Mediterranean and want an interesting experience then don't lock yourself away in a compound full of people of your own cultural background, surrounded by little houses built by people of that culture for their own.

IV. Make It Interesting - Be Interesting!

Be interesting yourself. Don't expect a different place and its people to be interesting just because they're not the same as at home. Places and people differ, but on the other side of the coin they also share a lot of traits. Therefore the people on the train don't talk to you because you don't talk to them; the man at the foreign restaurant does not make an effort to speak your language, not because he doesn't speak any of it, but because you didn't go to an effort to learn his; the pictures you take look like boring holiday photos because you took them like that.

So be responsible to yourself and make an effort to actually be interesting to both yourself and other people, it's hardly hard to do it and have fun. You actually have more fun when you feel as fascinating as the place you're going and you make life more interesting and better for other travellers and the natives.

Be alert of a giant dancing squid while swimming!

Please do not poop on the tree!

Cool, what type of burger is termed “Yo baby burger?”

Actually reads: “Watch for children...they could be yours.” What is the purpose of this sign? Do kids in Quebec usually go to the road and then become unconscious?

An emergency brake found in a Dutch train. Nevertheless, someone purposely wrote “room service” on it, which means pull here for room service!

Be careful; do not let the sea claim your car!

Coffee and what?! Some snack of SNAKE...

If your dog has a giant hair on his neck, he will be the next king.

Wait! The ducklings and their mother are crossing the road.

The poop is in an odd shape, it looks like charcoal ice cream.

...the latest design of a toilet ball?

Hmmm ... lost the faith in GOD?

It is Ok you do not speak Dutch, as “urinoir” means...

The sign says “Warning! Trying to climb the bin is dangerous.” Someone may change his mind at the last minute by climbing into this old clothes collection bin and be mistaken for donation.

Do not use your laptop while...

The sign means, “Take your dog's poop home!” Oops, poop has feelings, too! The poop has an angry face, how funny is that?!

Hey, kid, you do not hit your target!

...have people really locked and suffocated their toddlers in the plastic bin that call for a warning sign???

Awesome! Monkeys or coworkers...

Hmmm ... an emergency meeting area...

The sign in Japanese reads: “Smoking in a clump of people is bad. People's coats are mostly expensive.”

Wow, UFO ...an alien abduction area?!

Naked men with hats not allowed entering the church.

Oh no...Is this “modern” corpse transportation? Why is this stiff dead man still smiling?

What kind of bin is this? Do not put fish or a bag in the bin or it will bite you. ...oh no, dwarves and children cannot use it too...hmmm...anyway do not stick your head in it.

Danger! You will be chased by possessed construction machinery"....

No passing gas here, please!

An explosive car should not be here!

Do not flush baby bottle, fork, syringe, bottle, cup and underwear down the toilet!

Attention! Mr. Superman, do not cross here!

Mr. Elk: “Hey you alien baby, do not touch my antler velvet!”

Do not laser your hand! It will turn black!

Japan Tobacco made a series of these posters to encourage smokers to be more polite about litter and smoking in public places. Some of them are indeed very poetic.

Do not smoke here or a man in a top black hat will break one of your legs with a smile.

Shut up! Let us go! (A comedy group called "Eure Muetter" means “Your mother” is coming around to present their new program "Nix da "Leck mich!" Auf geht's!" that means "Shut up! Let us go!")

Mr. Pooper, do not poop here, please!

In the name of love, STOP!!!

If you let wheels and turtles roll into the bowl, you are not going to rocket away by the power of your bowel!

Oops, upside down ducks like swimming in the garbage ponds?!

Hmmm……..toilet for two headed female?!

For those who aim the best………probably this is the right place.

Wow, what kind of coffee is this?

Confused…….Non? Oui?

“WRONG WAY” or “GNORW YAW” ……???

The sign says in Spanish, “Jesus Christ is the remedy...?”

Oops … A tree with a BRA. Awesome though!

Hmmm… Does the sign that is located upside down means that one can queue across the intersection?

Perhaps this is not a good place to buy foods.

Female may feel nervous of using this restroom.

Ideal place for one stop shopping: buy some real estates, get a haircut and a divorce for $99.

I just saved £30 on my train fare to friends in Yorkshire over Christmas. From a quoted price of £86 return I managed to pay for my journey for only £56. I did this by shopping around and breaking the journey up into single fare day tickets.

My journey involved three changes of trains so by breaking it down:

My experience

• A return quote from Dundee to Bingley in Yorkshire was £85.50.
• Breaking it down it became single ticket from Dundee to Bingley at £14 but coming home a single from Bingley to Dundee was to be £71.50 so still giving a total of £85.50. However! Knowing I had three changes of train for this journey I checked them out. I found out I would have to take a bus from Bingley to Shipley for the train but I can get a lift to Shipley station.
• Single day ticket from Shipley to York = £10.50 plus single day ticket from York to Dundee = £31.50 giving a total there and back of £56.

Tips to Getting the Best Deal

1. Start planning early. You can book up to 3 months ahead and the more notice you can give the bigger savings you can get.
2. Shop around. Two sites worth checking out are Nationalrail.co.uk and Thetrainline.com
3. Even then take the time to check if you can get it cheaper by buying two single tickets rather than one return ticket.
4. If you are going to have to change trains on your journey check out whether you can buy cheap day single tickets for each leg cheaper than buying one ticket for the whole journey.
5. If you are a student, have a family or are over 60 it is worth investing in a rail card. If your trip is likely to cost more than £60 or if you will take more than one journey during the year it is worth paying the £20 for the card.

These may be some useful tips while you travel by train:

1. Look for the most direct route to reach your destination. Well, there may be lot of routes long ones as well as shortcuts.
2. Also, you may have to change your train several times in your journey. Check for the one which has very minimal changes. This will help you to reduce stress and also possibilities of missing your next connections. And yes, obviously it will minimize the risk of luggage loss due to connection missing.
3. Online booking has made our life very easy. Some private trains provide facilities to even choose your seats in the train all by yourself. So go ahead and choose your favorite seat where you think you can enjoy the most.
4. Well, before that you need to have a proper planning for your trip. Choose your destination places where all you need to go. Book accordingly if it is a single way journey that is well and good. You can visit all the places you need to see on the way,catch your train and get going.
5. Minors or children under 2 years who do not occupy seats can travel freely in train as compared to flights and buses.
6. Also,if you have kids below 16 years they may get some discounts in booking. Just check up the costs with the rail authorities.
7. Some rail companies provide other facilities like accommodation,rental cars,discounts with the whole package of site seeing. Just check up before you start.
8. If you are traveling for long hours say more than 6 or 8 hours, then you could best travel during night time. This will help you pass your time easily.
9. There are birth system in trains which help you to stretch your legs comfortably and sleep well while you travel. Though you may have to pay more for the sleepers, it is worth going on them.
10. I would love to have window seats while traveling in train. I can afford good amount of site seeing while traveling in trains. If you have kids or your family traveling with you you can book a four seater with windows facing each other.
11. You can also go for a dining car or cafe cars or domed cars which enable you to walk on the lounges when you are tired of sitting for long hours.
12. Avoid seating near the toilets. I hate to be seated in such places where you get constant bad smell and too many people coming and going that way. It may not be safe for your luggages too if you have some precious items.
13. Some trains have varieties of facilities. You may even get coffee vending machines at some point. There may be dressing rooms too.
14. Some trains provide you with food and drinks if you are traveling for long hours.
15. Also, you may enjoy the platform breaks when the train stops at every station, get out of the train smoke or inhale some fresh air and then get into when It starts.