Why travellers are the best problem solvers

From speedy maths to our packing prowess, here are 10 reasons travellers make the best problem solvers.

Whether it was a short weekend away or a month-long expedition, your most recent trip likely taught you something. And the little nuggets of wisdom picked up on the road can be useful back home too, making seasoned travellers well-equipped to overcome anything. Here are 10 reasons you're a great problem solver if you travel lots.

1. You always manage to get from A to B

We’ve all been stumped by a tricky subway system or misplaced the map, but chances are you won’t end up stranded for too long.

With some serious head-scratching – and assistance from an obliging local, perhaps – you'll be back on track in no time at all. And you'll be ready to impart our wisdom on the next disorientated traveller that crosses your path, too.

WAYHOME studio/Shutterstock

 2. You're a master of suitcase Tetris

It doesn’t matter that your bag was fit to burst before you arrived, you'll always find a way to cram everything in on the way back home too.

After a little patience and a lot of repacking, you'll also squeeze in those duty-free purchases, souvenirs and the kids’ new beach towels.

3. You find a way to sleep anywhere

Whether you're embarking on an eight-hour plane journey, a two-hour train ride or delayed at an airport, when it comes to sleeping, you get creative.

You might use a scarf as a pillow, model a makeshift footrest from your hand luggage or become a master of contortion in an awkward aeroplane seat.

Alex Brylov/Shutterstock

4. You're prepared for every eventuality

You never know what the road might throw at you so it pays to come prepared.

The forecast said sunshine but you're now stuck in a torrential downpour. No problem: you've got the rain macs. Turns out that great little café you were headed to for lunch closed down just last week. Not to worry: you've got emergency snacks to feast on while formulating Plan B.

We’re all well aware that the best-laid plans often go awry, so travellers always have the right tools to get them back on track.

5. You find creative ways to overcome the language barrier

A lack of local lingo can sometimes be a stumbling block when ordering food at a restaurant or asking for directions. But you never let that deter you from initiating conversation.

Potential solutions include a hand-drawn diagram scrawled onto a crumpled tourist map or a desperate mime that escalates into a full-on interpretive dance. Either way, you'll get your message across to that bemused local taxi driver in the end.

gvictoria/Shutterstock

6. You're not afraid to take risks

Sometimes overcoming a travel mishap means delving into the unknown. Ended up in the wrong town entirely? Stay and explore a while. You might stumble across something you didn’t know you were looking for. You misunderstood the restaurant menu and were served up a surprise? Give it a try – it might be delicious.

7. You're excellent negotiators

A good problem solver knows how to negotiate and compromise, and it’s a skill you use multiple times a day when travelling with other people. Whether you're holidaying with friends, family or your significant other, chances are not everyone will always agree on the best way to spend the day, so the art of negotiation must be employed.

Check out these tips for travelling with your partner, and don't miss this guide to multigenerational family holidays.

8. You're brilliant at quick arithmetic

Budgeting for a day’s activities. Totting up what everyone owes for lunch. Calculating the exchange rate on that bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. You do a surprising amount of mental maths on your travels and it’s a skill you can regularly flex when back on home soil.

Max3105/Shutterstock

9. You're expert code crackers

It’s a common occurrence – you arrive at your destination to find that someone has forgotten the combination to their lockable luggage.

Short of prying open the case with force, you begin stringing together number sequences loosely related to the person in question, twisting them in as you go. You'll no doubt hear that much-anticipated “click” eventually.

10. You can think on your feet

Even for the most seasoned of travellers, adventures won’t always run smoothly and it’s impossible to prepare for every eventuality. When you find out your luggage is lost or your connecting flight is cancelled, you don’t delay in formulating a plan.

A swift trip to the nearest shops will see you through until you’re reunited with your luggage. Beach gear becomes a bed at the airport after a cancelled flight. The more creative the solution, the better.