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40 Interesting And Helpful Charts And Infographics For Every Traveler Out There
No matter how travel-savvy you think you are, taking a trip usually comes with a fair bit of chaos. Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter who’s hit up many corners of the world or a travel novice who’s never explored beyond the comfort of your own country, something can always go wrong. No one is immune to little mishaps on the road, but if you want to improve your travel know-how, we’ve got you covered.
After all, the pleasure you get from your vacation generally depends on the amount of preparation you put into it. So our adventure-loving team here at Bored Panda has scoured the web for some of the most clever charts, maps, and infographics about traveling to help you prepare for your next journey.
From packing tips and flying tricks to tourist scams to be on the lookout for, we’ve put together this informative list to make sure you leave your home stress-free and ready to enjoy a phenomenal vacation. So take out your notebooks, get ready to pack your bag, and enjoy scrolling through these guides. Keep reading to also find our interview with travel writer and blogger from the US, Megan Starr. Upvote the ones you found most handy, and be sure to let us know what you think of them in the comments!
Psst! If you’re looking for even more insight to take your traveling to the next level, check out our earlier piece about the biggest mistakes most tourists make.
This post may include affiliate links.
Power Socket Type Guide
Just A Cool Guide
Most Popular Tourist Scams To Avoid When Traveling
I fell for the shoe shiner scheme in Istanbul. Yet somehow, I don’t mind - it wasn’t too expensive and it’s always a great starting talking point when discussing tourist experiences.
Traveling means something slightly different for everyone. For some, exploring foreign territory is an extremely fulfilling experience. It's an opportunity to visit another country, get acquainted and embrace a new culture, or simply take a much-needed break from reality and the never-ending responsibilities of everyday life. For others, however, leaving their comfort zone is filled with hesitation, stress, and fear of finding themselves in novel surroundings where they can get lost, be scammed, or even worse.
People aren’t born savvy travelers but rather build their skills throughout their years of on-the-road experience. But what if you haven’t had the chance to explore the world that much? It’s reasonable to feel overwhelmed and unsure of your abilities, but the digital world that we have at our fingertips offers an endless source of golden nuggets to arm us with knowledge before our next trip. Much like the charts and infographics you see in this list, gathering information gives us confidence and makes planning our vacation that much easier.
Different Electrical Outlets Per Countries
Denmark is among the happiest countries in the world and so are their sockets.
Backpacking Tip
The Worst (And Safest) Countries For Solo Female Travel Based On The 50 Most Visited Destinations Around The World (2019)
Megan Starr, who is originally from Virginia, US, agrees with this line of thinking. She is one of the founders of a travel blog called Megan & Aram that’s all about visiting Scandinavia, the Eastern bloc, and beyond. Living abroad for 12 years now, Megan is an avid traveler that has hit up many fascinating places on the globe and has collected quite the arsenal of handy little tricks to share with others.
"To be honest, I think charts and infographics about traveling are a fantastic resource for those who struggle with the layout of articles and blogs online," she told Bored Panda. "Human beings don't take the time to digest long-form info these days and many people don't have the time or attention span, so I think they are great."
Megan pointed out that they are also a helpful tool for adventurers who set out to explore new places. "I think these are great for people to print and use on the road," she said, adding that travelers can print out checklists, allergy charts, and other information they find useful.
Pre-Trip Checklist
This is great. But I'd say that several items on the week or two ahead list should be done at least a month ahead.
Places Where Birthright Citizenship Is Based On Land And Places Where It Is Based On Blood
In the UK (since 1983) as a rule, three different factors will help to determine your nationality as an individual: The country where you were born. The nationality of your parents (or ancestors in some cases). Your date of birth (because of rule changes). https://www.theukrules.co.uk/rules/legal/citizenship/british-nationality/index.html
Is It A Crime To Knock On A Door And Run Away?
Moreover, the travel blogger agreed that some people can feel confused with the myriads of information about different travel destinations they find online or in real life. Coming across clever visual charts that present handy advice in a clear and efficient manner can instantly teach people how to travel smarter.
"Guidebooks are heavy to lug around and a simple checklist may be all one needs," she explained. "It is easy to carry and fold up in your purse or wallet and can be an incredibly useful resource! I also think having a list of important information (ingredient names in the local language, as an example) can help you take advantage of things despite the language barrier." Megan revealed she has previously used the kind of resources to detail that she has an allergy to a certain food herself, and assured us that it worked very well.
Airplane Etiquette
For Couchsurfers And Vagabonds In Europe, Here's An Interesting Map Showing Which Countries Are Most Likely To Offer You Food As A Guest In Their House
Guide To Metric System For U.S. Travelers
Hmm, okay that's confusing. In Australia a 1 cup measurement is 250ml, so now I have to make sure to check if a recipe that uses 1 cup measurements is talking about US cup or Aus cup.
When asked about other ways people can become more travel-savvy, Megan told us she personally thinks that the smartest people are the ones who are flexible. "You can read about scams and money-saving tips all day, but I think it is hard to truly get to know a place if you don't have a Plan B and expect interruptions."
"When you allow for that, you then can assess what you did wrong (or right!) for future trips and you allow yourself to understand the world a bit better," Megan continued. "As a travel blogger, I welcome 'interruptions' on the road as it helps me explain to my readers what 'could' happen, and here is how to do what I didn't do!"
Cool Little Guide I Found
Map Showing Safest To Worst Countries For LGBTQ+ Travel
For Your Next Trip: How To Order Coffee In 8 Different Languages
For example, Megan previously shared with us a few insights about tourist traps and how to make sure our care-free vacationing selves wouldn’t be taken advantage of abroad. "You will always find a lot of scams around popular tourist attractions (not necessarily tourist traps)," Megan said, adding that The Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and Milan Cathedral were a few where she was bombarded with what felt like scams. "I also had a man try to pickpocket me around the metro at the Eiffel Tower — so it is not only scams to beware of, but these types of things too!"
The Best Time To Buy Plane Tickets
Travel Etiquette Tips Around The World
Correction for the Asian tip thingy: No tip if in Japan and China. Others will gladly take some extra cash. (Edit: Indonesia is no tip as well. As for Korea, I have lived there for a while before moving and I always gave tips but some people say otherwise)
True about China. And regarding the personal space advice, it seems to be quite the opposite. Chinese don't seem shy at all when it comes to crowding together on trains and buses. Trust me on that one lol
Load More Replies...Prot Tip "Asia" (sure in Japan not sure in the rest of it): Don't stick your chopsticks directly in the rice leaving in there stuck upwords (like, if you have to drink and want to free your hand) as it resembles offerings to the dead during mourning periods and it's considered rude/bad luck People won't really mind, but it's a small thing to remember just in case. It shows respect.
How do you avoid pointing your feet at someone? Genuinely curious what that means on a practical level.
Some examples would be: if sitting on a couch with someone else and you have one leg crossed on the other (ankle on the other knee), make sure your foot is not facing the person sitting next to you. Another would be if someone was sitting opposite you and you put your feet up on a table or ottoman so that the feet face the person opposite you. Avoid that. I hope that helps.
Load More Replies...actual tips from actual african: do not point at PEOPLE. do not click your fingers, especially at people. Do not make and hold eye contact, rather look down. You can talk during a meal. Hand is not an issue if you are using a knife and fork like a westerner. Maybe hand issue applies outside of south africa. Most important thing actually is to acknowledge other people and ask after their health, and wait for an answer, and interact with the answer. IE do not just say "give me 5 packs of cigarettes" or whatever. Start with greetings and health questions. Queue if possible. If others are not queuing, you don't have to. ALWAYS tip generously.
I apologize for the silly question, but I'm genuinely curious...why should a person only eat with their right hand?
Load More Replies...None of the “asian” etiquette apply to India. It’s about time people learn geography to know “asia” does not just equal to china!
Yeah, I was hoping there'd be at least something about India on there!!! It's definitely on my travel bucket list.
Load More Replies..."Greet shopkeepers and say goodbye" - this should be common sense everywhere. Same with bus/ taxi drivers, museum staff etc.
Not really a thing in Finland. If you greet the shopkeeper, they'll think you need help with something. So it's more like: Come in, do your browsing in peace and when you have questions, want to try something or are ready to pay, then you greet the shopkeeper.
Load More Replies...Africa one is way too general, it depends a lot on where in Africa you are. Especially the eating while talking and eating with your hands.
yeah it won't apply in south africa unless you are talking rural or a braai.
Load More Replies...In Spain you have to wait for WHAT??? I must say that all the siesta thing is A LIE!! Like all the rest of the world thinks we stop the entire country only to have A NAP?? WTF?? My dudes that's totally wrong, we close at 2pm most shops for lunch breaks and sometimes (mostly in summer because of the heat and having way more hours of sunlight.) some restaurants will stay closed from 3pm until 8pm or so, and that would apply for most places because you don't want to have a heat stroke working, so we open later. It's more a weather thing, not that we simply go back home to have a nap....
It's odd that using your left hand for things would cause a scene. It's a hand. I'm left handed too and the other person who replied to your comment is making me think that being left handed makes you a freak or inappropriate? It makes me sad.
Load More Replies...Having cared for many Chinese patients and their families, we were given to understand that when you are conversing, do not look them directly in the eyes. It’s considered very rude. As far as South America and arriving a little late, my nephew is married into a family from a South American country that shall go unnamed. Try 2-3 hours. At some point when I visit I will be meeting his wife’s family at a gathering. I’m going to need to duct tape my mouth as I am a very punctual person and consider that kind of late to be disrespectful. But, then again, just roll with the cultural norms because they are such laid back folks. I could probably learn something about how to live your life with less stressing out.
In western countries it is the opposite ... From an early age they tell you that it is rude not to look in the eyes when talking to people
Load More Replies...The "siesta"' thing applies for Greece too. Although it's not that everything stops at some point during the day so people can go have a nap. It's directly connected to the weather conditions in these countries( can be really hot in the summer during specific hours of the day) and as time went by it's become a thing in their culture. Like many many things in other countries that are affeliated with the climate
Etiquette in Israel: none. Be as loud and vulgar as you want, nobody really cares
For the South American one: don’t listen to the info and BE ON TIME while some are patient it depends on where you are and what you are going to
It's interesting to see people from various countries commenting offended by the stereotypes listed here and no one really does that, or saying that the thing listed is completely natural so of course everyone always does that. The cool thing with this big world is that many different things are normal in different places. I feel privileged to learn about practices that are outside of my experiences so far!
I'm left handed and eat left handed, so I guess I'd be pissing Arab folks off.
It's something you can practice at home before going. I'm capable of eating with right even though I'm a lefty like you. Mainly the left hand is not so much an insult as it's a ewwwww because that's the hand you use to wash your butt after using the toilet.
Load More Replies...Who would walk into or out of an establishment without greeting? In what country people do this? That's absolute peak rudeness in my book. 😲
Also in the Midwest US here, and in most stores I would never address them on arriving or leaving. I would only expect it in a small fancy store with few customers. I would however usually exchange a few words while checking out and paying, and that might end with "thanks, have a nice day" before I left.
Load More Replies...Not exactly sure but I guess could mean your done or maybe some countries think its rude. Never heard of that in Brazil, Argentina or Uruguay so maybe it's specific for certain countries. All I know for sure is there's no such thing as a quick meal in restaurants; you're usually there atleast 2 hours between eating and talking.
Load More Replies...Lol, here the ok gesture means something like "go f**k your self", it can mean other stuff as well but mostly vulgar as the circular shape is either as a reference to a**s or vagina.
In the US, over the last few years, the "ok" gesture is associated with white supremacists. When done with your right hand, the way your hand appears to other people is forming a "W" and a "P" meaning "White Power," something historically said by white supremacists. The middle, ring and pinky fingers make the "W," and the thumb and index along with the wrist make the "P."
Load More Replies...When traveling in China and Hong Kong, the bellhop and staff bringing in room services always stood in the room waiting for a tip. When getting a foot massage in HK, the shop owner wouldn't let these 2 women leave until they tipped their masseuses in cash. In China, I was prohibited from giving the girl (who gave me the best foot and should massage of my life) a tip. My friend, who is a local, said the girl could get fired for accepting a tip.
Forgot to tell women to dress as civilized human beings and not cheap tarts when visiting churches, temples, museums, and someone else's home.
No siesta in Portugal. Restaurants might close between meals for the staff to rest, though. But everything else is open all the time.
This Is So Useful For Road Trips
The travel blogger stressed how important it is to stay on alert and prevent finding ourselves in situations that would put a damper on our trip as well as our self-esteem. "I just swing my bag around front and am super diligent. And if someone comes up for a chat randomly, I remain skeptical (which sucks but this seems to be how it often happens)!"
The Safest And Worst Destinations For LGBT Travelers (Updated March 2021)
How To Avoid Bed Bugs While Traveling
A Backpacker's Guide To Packing
This reads like something a magazine editor threw together at the last minute to fill a page or segue to some sponsored links. Silk sheets? Really?
Traveling is one of the most enriching experiences we can have on this planet. And remember, it only becomes a headache if you let it. If you feel overwhelmed by the idea of stepping away from familiar routines and fear of embracing the unknown, Megan had a few pieces of advice to share with you.
"Plan ahead, be flexible, and mix a few of your favorite things in the mix with local cultural sites, etc. If you're a wine lover, find some local wine bars to enjoy in the evening. If you love cycling, rent a bike and see the city that way. You'll be in your comfort zone but still see a new place," she concluded.
Found This While Researching Possible Routes For A Road Trip
Calling Codes Of Asian Countries
Countries Where You Can Drink Tap Water
We drink tap water in South Africa - we even drink it right out of the hose while watering the garden!
The Eurovelo Is A Net Of Cycleways With More Than 70000 Kilometres Of Extension Which Crosses The Whole European Continent
The Eurovelo is made by 15 routes that go through 42 counties, making traveling Europe by bike not only possible but quite easy as well.
How To Fly Like A Pro
Travel Packing Do's And Don'ts
The Essential Travel Guide To Rome
LOL cars WILL stop if they see you! We're not going to tranform you in a human pancake on purpose! Just look both ways before crossing and don't jump suddenly into a busy road and you're safe ahahahaha
Traveling To The US From European Countries (Visa Requirement And Refusal Rate)
east and south european people get refused more often than russians, i.e. those from a literal enemy state of western countries? ok. I'm czech, I's gladly pass on going to the US but this offends me.
Which Side Of The Road Should You Drive On In Each Country?
Packing A Backpack
A Guide To Off Season Travel In Countries Around The World
Actually for Australia it depends on where you travel, for example it is best to visit the Northern Territory during May to Oct as that is the dry season.
Canadian Travel Advisory Country Safety Ratings
High decree of caution for France ? I know we have a reputation of being rude, but come on...
How To Fold A Suit Jacket For Travel
Gay Travel Index Across The EU And The US. The Index Takes Into Account Matters Like Law, Rights, And Locals' Friendliness Toward The LGBTQ+ Community
yeah they need to split usa into two countries: america and dumbfuckistan.
Useful Business Travel Apps
Travel Safe, From Start To Finish
The Essential Travel Guide To Paris
The food recommendation is a bit sad. Imagine going to a place with such a rich and sophisticated cuisine and eating mostly sandwiches? Nothing against croque monsieur, I could have it every day... but if I had limited time in Paris/France in general, I'd want to try out more fancy dishes.
An American's Guide To European Capitals Pronunciation
Regions Considered Safe To Travel To By The French Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
I love charts and graphs (I even mentioned it in my bio), but these were just boring... Especially the dozens of posts on power sockets
This was a tad bit racist. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal and many others all have drinkable water and are mostly safe to travel to, and yet the data says otherwise. However, many of the “Safest” countries aren’t safe at all, but I feel that they were ranked that way because they were a European country. I’m taking this post with a grain of salt.
Indian here. We prefer boiling water. Outsiders will find it tough. But water is not bad. Safe is as safe you keep yourself. Of course, travelling in India as a single person esp. woman can be dicey. I have seen many foreigners esp. from Europe or America can be too trusting. No idea why.
Load More Replies...stopped reading half way, got too angry about how blatantly racist the "information" is without even a glimmer of shame. So to summarise: gays and women are welcome in south africa, and our tap water is safe to drink, we have had gay marriage since 2007. If you are ANY person however you must not go out at night alone or walk streets alone as there are lots of poor people who might think you have money. This is commonsense logic in a country where lots of people are desperate! Honestly these maps just perpetuate the racist myth of africa is a dark continent full of scary people . I hate it. Just keep away from slums, this is commonly understood world-wide. You will not get raped or murdered or drink poisoned tap water here: https://nelsonmandelasquare.co.za/ ... yes, we have hotels, aircon, wifi, cars, roads, skyscrapers, electricity. We do not have lions wandering in the streets, we do not live in mud huts, and you are not going to be put in a pot and eaten by a cannibal. Stop being such racists. Thanks.
Racism and nationalism are two different things, not sure if you were aware of that. Like I think Cleveland is a c**p hole, and it is full of white people (yes I know Cleveland is a state, just giving a s**t comparison.
Load More Replies...The LGBTQ travel areas in USA are off by a lot. Most of the south east USA (Bible belt) will be very opinionated to the negative end. Just about anywhere else is mixed opinion and it depends what area you are in when it comes to individual states (larger cities are usually more open, but it doesn't mean smaller cities are dangerous). Pacific West is most commonly known as the friendliest area, but North Atlantic is also good.
No mention, unless I missed it, of male and female underwear with zip pockets for cash, credit cards etc when travelling.
I love charts and graphs (I even mentioned it in my bio), but these were just boring... Especially the dozens of posts on power sockets
This was a tad bit racist. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal and many others all have drinkable water and are mostly safe to travel to, and yet the data says otherwise. However, many of the “Safest” countries aren’t safe at all, but I feel that they were ranked that way because they were a European country. I’m taking this post with a grain of salt.
Indian here. We prefer boiling water. Outsiders will find it tough. But water is not bad. Safe is as safe you keep yourself. Of course, travelling in India as a single person esp. woman can be dicey. I have seen many foreigners esp. from Europe or America can be too trusting. No idea why.
Load More Replies...stopped reading half way, got too angry about how blatantly racist the "information" is without even a glimmer of shame. So to summarise: gays and women are welcome in south africa, and our tap water is safe to drink, we have had gay marriage since 2007. If you are ANY person however you must not go out at night alone or walk streets alone as there are lots of poor people who might think you have money. This is commonsense logic in a country where lots of people are desperate! Honestly these maps just perpetuate the racist myth of africa is a dark continent full of scary people . I hate it. Just keep away from slums, this is commonly understood world-wide. You will not get raped or murdered or drink poisoned tap water here: https://nelsonmandelasquare.co.za/ ... yes, we have hotels, aircon, wifi, cars, roads, skyscrapers, electricity. We do not have lions wandering in the streets, we do not live in mud huts, and you are not going to be put in a pot and eaten by a cannibal. Stop being such racists. Thanks.
Racism and nationalism are two different things, not sure if you were aware of that. Like I think Cleveland is a c**p hole, and it is full of white people (yes I know Cleveland is a state, just giving a s**t comparison.
Load More Replies...The LGBTQ travel areas in USA are off by a lot. Most of the south east USA (Bible belt) will be very opinionated to the negative end. Just about anywhere else is mixed opinion and it depends what area you are in when it comes to individual states (larger cities are usually more open, but it doesn't mean smaller cities are dangerous). Pacific West is most commonly known as the friendliest area, but North Atlantic is also good.
No mention, unless I missed it, of male and female underwear with zip pockets for cash, credit cards etc when travelling.