1. Buy a Travel Guide

To get started, I bought the Rough Guide to Sri Lanka. I think guidebooks are still important for travelers. Even though their practical information is often out of date, I love looking over them to get an overview of how to get around, form ideas on what to see and do, suggest itineraries, and look at the maps and featured places.

2. Read Travel Blogs

Next, I went searching for travel blogs. Guidebooks are a good foundation, but blogs can fill in a lot of gaps as you can find more up-to-date information and off-the-beaten-path destinations, and ask questions of the bloggers. I searched, read, and searched some more for content and stories that gave me a sense of the destination.

3. Ask Friends/Family for Advice

Once I had my guide and read over some blogs, I asked friends and family for their advice (or if they knew anyone who could give me advice). It turned out I had a few friends who had been there recently and a few with family there. They gave me advice, tips, and suggestions on hotels and restaurants, and they connected me to family members.

Now when I land, I have some people to stay with, show me around, and help me get situated. Nothing beats a local host.

4. Ask Other Travelers

With so many people reading this blog, I figured there must be some readers who had been there. Tweeting, Facebooking, and my blog posts produced a flurry of messages with tips and advice, and some from locals looking to meet up. It was incredibly helpful, and now I have some people to hang out with when I go!

Since not everyone is a blogger, I would suggest Couchsurfing or The Nomadic Network as an alternative. They are both great ways to connect with locals and travelers alike to get insider tips and information.
 

5. Read Some Books

Finally, I bought books. As I’ve said in the past, you can’t know a place if you don’t know its history. With a long flight ahead, I bought a few books about Sri Lanka’s history so I can get a better understanding of the country’s rich history

Here’s what I read:

• The Cage
• Island of a Thousand Mirrors
• Elephant Complex

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Talking to friends, family, readers, and bloggers has now given me a sense of the destination: an affordable, safe place with friendly locals, delicious food, and slow transportation. “Everyone is incredibly nice and helpful, but don’t expect to get anywhere fast unless you rent a driver” was the common refrain.

For the first time in a long time, I am going to a place I know nothing about. I can’t wait to try to backpack and figure things out on the way again! Sri Lanka sees a lot of tourists and it’s not completely “off the beaten track” but it’s different to me.

I’m sure my plans, route, and ideas will change when I hit the ground. But as of now, I feel I have a better idea as to what I am getting myself into. I have a sense of what to expect and that makes me more slightly comfortable about visiting.

You never know what a place is really like until you go, but now the picture of Sri Lanka is not a complete blur — it’s come into a lot more focus.

Visiting a place you know little about in a region you’ve never been can be somewhat intimidating. To go somewhere completely different pushes you out of your comfort zone and that can be a tricky thing.

Even after ten years of travel, I still have a small amount of trepidation before I go.

Sure, it disappears right when I land and I think “What was I so worried about?” but there is that voice in the back of my mind that sometimes goes “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Doing a little research to get an understanding of a place mutes that voice.

This is not about scheduling all your days and all your activities. This simply is about being more informed about the destination you are visiting.

Because a smart and informed traveler is a better traveler.

There’s still much to learn about Sri Lanka but now I don’t feel as if I’m completely at a loss or ignorant about the place.