How To Dress Appropriately For Any Travel Occasion
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Whether you are a seasoned traveler, or about to head out on your first solitary expedition, it can help put your mind to ease to know that you have picked clothes that are appropriate for whatever travel occasion you may find yourself in. With the help of this article, you will learn the best way to dress for any travel situation, whether it is something as simple as arriving at the airport, and traveling on an airplane, to something as culturally complex as visiting sacred sites, and attending cultural festivals.
Phase One-- Travelling to your destination:
When arriving at the airport, it’s easy to dress just for your current climate, or just for the climate of the country, you will be traveling to. Unless you know that the climates of both these countries are identical, it is best to strike at a midway point. An easy way to accomplish this is through light layers. Think along the lines of long pants, such as jeans, covered shoes, a long-sleeved shirt for guys/girls, or a short-sleeved top and a cardigan for girls. These clothing suggestions also cover another important point to take into consideration when you are about to travel, comfort. If you are about to embark on long-haul travel, the last thing you want is to feel uncomfortable, so leave any of your trendy-but-uncomfortable items for when you arrive at your destination. When traveling aboard your chosen form of transportation, it is best to remember that although most of them provide some form of onboard heating; (airplanes usually provide you with blankets) that they are also impacted by outside forces such as altitude and sea air, which can mean that it can get quite cold. The best way to prepare for this is by bringing a light-weight jacket onboard, for warmth and ease of transportability.
Phase Two-- Dressing for your new travel climate:
After surviving the immigration queues, and successfully locating your luggage, you are now free to walk out, and embrace a new culture and way of life! The inevitable truth is that climates can vary dramatically from country to country; what’s hot for one country, is only approaching lukewarm in another. What is considered chilly in one, would be considered freezing in the next. With this in mind, you will want to conduct at least a little (only a little!) preliminary research on your country’s climate before you arrive. Try to find out what season it is at your destination, then find out the average temperature during the time that you are planning to visit. This should give you a very good idea on what to pack, based on temperature and weather. It is usually not a good idea to rely just on the specific season that the country is in to make clothing choices. For instance, a summer in Thailand is very different from a summer in the UK, and vice versa, so do attempt to find the average temperature of the period in which you will be visiting.
Phase 3-- Visiting sacred sites, and attending cultural festivals:
In order for the experience of visiting sites and attending festivals to be mutually enjoyable, it is important for you as a foreigner to show respect to the local customs, not just in actions, but in your manner of dress. In sacred sites, particularly sites of worship, an important consideration to take into account is that modesty is key. For instance, in Buddhist temples worldwide, the general clothing protocols should be followed: firstly, you must always remove your shoes before entering a Buddhist temple. Secondly, it is best to wear clothing that covers your skin. To play it safe long pants such as jeans, and long-sleeved shirts will suffice (nothing sheer or tight). The dress code for other sites of worship such as mosques and churches are very similar to those of the temple. It’s vital, however, to do your research before you go so that you don’t offend the locals. There are so many cultural festivals worldwide, that it would be impossible to explain the most appropriate way to dress for all of them. Although, this is usually because festivals are a time of celebration, and as a result, no strict dress code must be adhered to. If you are at any point uncertain about what to wear to a cultural festival than it is best to turn to your good friend Google.
Although it is important to remain culturally aware and sensitive, this is also your time, so don’t overthink it too much. Remember to grab every opportunity, explore, and have fun!