1. Ask my parents- EUROS ARE NOT, IN FACT, THE SAME AS MONOPOLY MONEY DOLLARS. I should have taken advantage of the exchange rate app in my International Travel App Blog. Although I came home from Europe in the summer of 2012 broker than a joke, I cannot say that I regret a single euro spent. I got the opportunity to see amazing places, do exciting and daring things, as well as try out one too many new restaurants and mysterious foods.
2. Be as friendly and open to new people and new cultures (even if that culture wears utterly terrifying outfits) as you can without getting "Taken". You'll see new outlooks on the way you live your life, make life-long friendships, and uncover travel/local-city secrets. Thank goodness for Skype and social media for allowing me the chance to keep in touch with these individuals. God forbid I would actually have to mail a letter :).
3. No matter how detailed you coordinate your trips, you will still have delays in transportation. I missed numerous buses, planes, and trains due to delays or strikes. While getting utterly lost, dead-sprinting through foreign airports, and losing luggage is an experience I think we all need at some point- taking advantage of real-time travel apps could've saved so much frustration. Kayak from my Domestic Travel App Blog, for example, can track your luggage, flights, and map out most airports.
5. Do your research before you spur of the moment go somewhere. Make sure you have your Visa before you fly into Vietnam and get temporarily detained in a government hotel, know your Bed and Breakfast Address before you enter England and get questioned by London Authorities, and make sure you know the laws for what you can and cannot have in public plazas in Madrid. That being said, save time to just explore the new city you're in. Wander around, talk to locals, and chill by a river in Porto for hours on end basking in the sun. Most of us only get a little precious time in each place we visit- make the most of it!
6. Finally, utilize the technology available to you! I could've avoided carrying extra toilet paper in my purse from being used to Spanish public restrooms not having any. I could've stayed clear from nasty hostels, saved more money, saved more time by going through the "local" entrance of an exhibit, checked into my locations and mapped out my travels for easier blog writing, and saved myself a third-degree burn in the Canary Islands. Technology can really make a huge impact on your travels- please take my word for it! :)