The Happy Traveler’s Secret Weapon – A Smile

Here is a post originally published on Dandelion Moms:

If I could give one piece of advice to everyone who travels or dreams of venturing off to foreign lands, it would be – REMEMBER TO SMILE!! My family has found smiling to be the key factor to our incredible travel adventures. A sincere smile combined with a kind, “Hello” will create an environment ready for a positive experience!

I am currently writing this post from the gorgeous Red Sea in Egypt, a country my kids now consider one of their world homes. My family has spent the past month exploring many sights and cities in this fascinating country and have loved every minute of it! Although sights like the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, King Tut’s tomb, and the Nile River are astounding, what has made our trip so memorable and inspired us to return for the second time this year – the Egyptian people. They are truly wonderful – kind, funny, generous, and oh so friendly!

I have talked to many fellow travelers who did not have the same positive experiences that we did – they liked Egypt, but it did not touch their hearts like it has for us. In fact, after talking to many other travelers while in our favorite countries, we found their experiences were also less meaningful and profound than ours. The variations in these experiences made me want to delve further into the reasons behind them. So, after spending several months watching and comparing their actions to ours, my conclusion is that a sincere and light-hearted smile and a kind “Hello” to almost everyone we meet, has created a sort of “sparkle” that breaks down cultural barriers and leads to laughter, playful encounters, and new friendships.

Smiles are universal. They spread joy and kindness, enhance open communication and approachability, and can break through all language barriers. As travelers, we are guests in the places we visit. We are not entitled to special treatment by the locals just because we are there. It is our obligation to show our “hosts” respect and gratitude for having us in their “homes”.

Even though many travelers are not unkind to the locals and hotel/restaurant/transportation staff they encounter, the issue is that they are apathetic. They act as if the locals/workers are not even there or expect them to treat them like royalty. Although we often end up laughing as we struggle with the local language, my family smiles and talks to all the locals we encounter throughout our journey. We get to know their names. We ask about their families. We play with their kids. We take selfies with them (many locals LOVE taking photos!). We treat THEM like royalty – and guess what – our kindness is reciprocated tenfold.

Want a sure-fire way to enhance your travel experiences that doesn’t cost a thing? Show your joy, kindness, and appreciation with a heart-felt smile! You will radiate happiness in all directions and make the world a better place. Happy Travels!! 🙂