Are you ready for an extraordinary journey you’ll never forget?
Written by Yusif Babayev
There are four things we never leave behind when we travel; passport, wallet, toothbrush, and of course our smartphone. That precious smartphone navigates us wherever we want to go with a map app, allows us to take stunning photos with its advanced camera, helps us to communicate in foreign countries through translation apps, and entertains us with music, movies, games and e-books when we’re bored. It allows us to search for where to go and what to eat, and in recent years, even lets us ask AI applications for help if we need. What would we do without it? Can we survive without it abroad?
When we travel with a smartphone, we change cities, countries, or even sometimes continents—but our travel style stays the same. But what if we do something crazy—something no one else on Earth has done yet? (Actually, many people have done that, but for dramatical writing I’m gonna keep that sentence) What if, instead of a smartphone, we travel with a dumb phone? Would it make our trip more fun? Would it turn into an unforgettable, extraordinary journey, just like back in the ‘90s?
Imagine being in London, Barcelona, Paris, or Istanbul—cities well-known for phone theft. With a dumb phone, no thief would even come close to you. You won’t have to stress about what if my phone gets stolen. Although there is still a risk of your wallet getting stolen, but isn’t that a risk that exists everywhere and all the time? Anyway, let’s get back to the topic.
First, let’s pick a bag—comfortable, not too large, easy to carry, and something that won’t bother you while exploring new places. Next, choose a notebook, not too thick or too thin—A5 or B5 size is ideal. This notebook will be one of your most important items during the trip and later become a unique souvenir of your adventure.
Of course not! You’re visiting a new place—who knows when you’ll be back there. You definitely want to capture beautiful views of the city and photos of yourself. So you’ll pack a small, easy-to-use camera. If having digital versions of your photos isn’t important, a Polaroid camera can be a great choice. Because it will make turning that notebook into a souviner easier later. If you do want digital photos, go for a regular compact camera.
To avoid this, you’ll bring a paper map—or multiple maps. To find a restaurant or hotel in the city center, just ask local people for directions.
Well, it’s 2025—there’s a good chance someone in your destination speaks English. But let’s be cautious. Before the trip, write down in the notebook some basic phrases in English along with their translations in the language of the country you’ll be visiting.
That’s entirely up to you. If you’re someone who won’t leave without trying the best food and desserts the place has, do your research before you go and write everything down in the notebook. Remember, you won’t have the internet during the trip—or even a smart device to access it. So be sure to include phone numbers in case you need to make reservations. If you’re more relaxed and prefer to discover places or ask locals once you arrive, that’s also perfectly fine.
To listen to music, you will prepare a playlist and download songs to your music player, just like in the old days. Don’t just include your favorite tracks—dig into the music history of the country you’re visiting. Download the songs of that region’s legendary artists. If you’re going to Brazil, try Clara Nunes or Sérgio Mendes; in Azerbaijan, Rashid Behbudov or Flora Karimova; if it’s Greece or Egypt, maybe Demis Roussos.
To prevent boredom during long journeys, choose one book or some magazines and add it to your bag. Another thing you can do to prevent boredom is to draw if you’re talented at drawing. Since you already have a notebook, don’t forget to pack some colored pencils as well.
If you want your trip to be more cultural, before the trip, do a little research on museums or historical architectures with stories behind them and write them in your notebook. Add that notebook and a pen to your backpack. With your passport, wallet, and most importantly—your toothbrush—your bag is nearly ready.
Feel free to add any other tools that might help in the absence of a smartphone, unless it’s smartphone itslef. Thinking about bringing a tablet to watch movies? I wouldn’t recommend it. Phone addiction is no joke—you might find yourself scrolling through social media on a huge screen while walking through new streets, completely ignoring your surroundings. Or maybe you’ll forget your notebook, your maps, even your book, because the tablet replaces them all. Your small, pocket-smart device is now a large, bag-smart device.
That’s different. It’s not really something you can use while walking around. If you absolutely can’t survive 24 hours without internet, sure—take it. But if you think you’re not that addicted, I recommend leaving it behind.
Also, if this is your first time traveling without a smartphone, don’t go far away. Start small—a nearby country or even a different city or village in your own country. Because travelling without a smartphone might be difficult at first.
You are now home. You’ve returned from a beautiful, unforgettable trip. When you come home from a nice trip, you may feel a little off for the first few days. But this time, you won’t—because it’s time to make a scrapbook, it’s time to turn the notebook—your essential companion during the journey—into a souvenir.
Your notebook is ideal for this, with the notes you kept, the research you wrote, and the sketches you drew. If you haven’t chosen a Polaroid as your camera, have your photos printed in small sizes and start making a scrapbook that will be a unique souvenir from your trip.