Get On Fusion

The Best Stories You'd See Today

How to Act Like You’re Well-Traveled (Even If Your Passport Is Empty)

Share on linkedin
Share on twitter
Share on facebook
Share on whatsapp
how to fake being well-traveled

So, your friends are always flexing their vacations in Santorini, Dubai, or the Maldives, and your biggest trip last year was from Lagos to Ibadan? Relax, my dear.

Who needs international stamps when you have vibes, confidence, and an unlimited data plan? Here’s your ultimate guide to convincing everyone that you’re well-traveled; even if the only “trip” you’ve taken is falling asleep in a danfo and missing your bus stop.

RELATED: Group Trip 101: How To Convince Your Friends To Pay Without Sounding Desperate

1. Sprinkle Foreign Phrases into Every Conversation

Why say “thank you” when you can dramatically whisper “arigato” and nod like a wise Japanese monk? Did someone offer you suya? Respond with “gracias” like you just got served tapas in Madrid. The key is to be as unnecessarily extra as possible. Nobody will ask you where you learned it because they’ll just assume you’re well-traveled or you studied abroad (or have an international sugar daddy).

2. Wear Travel Merch Like You Just Came Back

A Paris hoodie, an “I ❤️ NY” T-shirt, or a tote bag that says “Venice, Italy” is enough to make people assume you just got off a flight. Pair it with a mildly tired look like jet lag is still holding you hostage, and boom – instant traveler status. Bonus points if you complain about how “the time difference is messing with your body clock” (even though you’ve never left WAT).

PS: There are tons of IG vendors who can help you print on that hoodie, shirt or tote bag. Nobody’s gonna know.

RELATED: 10 Items You Must Have As a Solo Traveler

3. Use Google Maps Like a Local

Nothing screams “seasoned traveler” like knowing random street names in foreign cities. Casually drop, “When I was in Amsterdam, I stayed near Dam Square, just a short walk from Rijksmuseum.” It doesn’t matter if you’ve only seen it on Google Street View. Confidence is key.

4. Take Strategic Airport Photos

how to fake being well-traveled

You don’t have to actually fly anywhere – just visit the international terminal, take a picture of the departures board, and post it with a vague caption like “Off again! ✈️ #Wanderlust.” Watch as the comments roll in asking where you’re going. Never confirm. Just respond with “You’ll see soon” and let imagination do the rest.

5. Become an Expert in Foreign Snacks

Buy imported chocolates and foreign-brand biscuits from supermarkets with overpriced international sections. Casually mention how “European Pringles just taste different” or how “Oreos in the US have way more filling.” Nobody will fact-check you because… who has the time?

RELATED: Top 9 Visa-Free Destinations For Nigerian Passport Holders

6. Master the Art of the Fake Holiday Story

how to fake being well-traveled

“Oh my God, Bali was such a dream! But the humidity? My skin suffered, sha.” Who needs to actually go when you have YouTube vlogs and Instagram influencers to do the traveling for you? Just memorize details from travel blogs and say things like, “The Eiffel Tower is nice, but Montmartre is the real gem of Paris.” Congratulations, you’ve just won ‘Best in Well-Traveled.’

7. Use a VPN to Fake Your Location

how to fake being well-traveled

Want to convince people you’re in Canada? Get a VPN, change your location to Toronto, and start posting weather complaints. “-5°C and still have to go out? Life is hard, eh?”—Your Nigerian friends will never question you because they don’t know what that level of cold feels like. And just like that, you’re well-traveled.

RELATED: The Nigerian’s Guide to Living A Fake Life

8. Follow All the Travel Bloggers

When your feed is filled with content from people actually traveling, you’ll start sounding like a pro by association. Drop random travel trivia like, “Did you know Tokyo has vending machines that sell fresh eggs?” Everyone will just assume you’ve been there.

9. Start Every Story with “When I Was in…”

This is the pinnacle of international flexing. It doesn’t matter if you were in Johannesburg via Google Images, just start the sentence with “When I was in South Africa…” and let the details flow.

10. Use Airport Codes Like a Pro

No one says “London” anymore. It’s “LHR.” Stop saying “Dubai”—it’s “DXB.” And for extra spice, say things like “I prefer JFK over LAX, but ATL has its charm.” Even if you’ve never set foot in these places, people will nod along, impressed by your expertise.

You don’t need a visa, flight ticket, or immigration stress to be a world traveler. All you need is creativity, audacity, and a little bit of Google. With these tips, you’ll soon be the most “traveled” person in your circle, without ever leaving your neighborhood. Bon voyage, my fellow travel con artist!

Join the Travel and Hospitality community on Fusion for more travel inspiration, tips, and fun trivia where you can test your ‘travel knowledge’ and show off your expertise. You can also win cash prizes while you’re at it. A win is a win!

Join Now!
Nesiama Fasola
Nesiama Fasola
Nesiama (Ness) Fasola is a community manager, tech enthusiast, writer and full time hopeless romantic. She loves to scribble words in a bid to make sense of the jumble of thoughts, ideas and emotions that constantly plague her mind. At her leisure, you can either find her nose-deep in a book, brewing coffee or poking around in her garden.

Related Posts

9,787 Responses

  4. I simply couldn’t depart your website before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the usual information an individual provide to your guests? Is going to be back frequently in order to check up on new posts

    Reply

  8. Hi! I’ve been reading your weblog for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Huffman Tx! Just wanted to say keep up the fantastic work!

    Reply

  13. Superb blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you propose starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any tips? Thanks!

    Reply

  17. Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this website. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very hard to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and visual appearance. I must say that you’ve done a fantastic job with this. Also, the blog loads very quick for me on Opera. Outstanding Blog!

    Reply

  23. Greetings! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I really enjoy reading your articles. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects? Thank you!

    Reply

  34. Thank you for another informative website. Where else could I get that type of info written in such a perfect way? I’ve a project that I’m just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info.

    Reply

  43. I like this blog so much, saved to bookmarks. “Respect for the fragility and importance of an individual life is still the mark of an educated man.” by Norman Cousins.

    Reply

  45. Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a twenty five foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay in the loop.

Get notified about upcoming Fusion events near you and trending topics from top-rated communities

No. 2 Abebe Village Road, Iganmu, Lagos. | +2348165491678 | support@fusion.ng

 
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter