These random acts of kindness will transform your travel experience

This Random Acts of Kindness Day, plan one of these acts for your next holiday and make the world a better place.

On Random Acts of Kindness Day the message is clear: do something today (and every day) that will make someone’s world just a little bit better. And what better time to spread positivity than when you’re on holidays around the country, living your best life?

If you need a little inspiration to provide a ray of sunshine, try one (or all) of these acts of kindness.

1. Pay it forward

There are plenty of easy ways to pay it forward on your holiday, both to locals and to other travellers. Go out for a nice breakfast (as if we need to encourage you) and buy a coffee, or a meal, for the person in line behind you. If your accommodation doesn’t have a laundry and you visit a laundromat for a quick clothes wash, leave a few extra coins around for someone else to use on their wash. If you’re on a road trip, leave a gift voucher for petrol at the petrol pump with a sign for the next car that drives up to use it. You get it, if you can, give it to someone who might not be able to.

Buy someone else a coffee when you grab brekkie. (Image: Thai Liang Lim)

2. Give compliments

When we receive genuine compliments from strangers, that aren’t overstepping or about another human’s body, it has the ability to completely turn a bad day around. Tell someone you love their style, or they parked really well, or maybe they have a delightfully contagious laugh. whatever it is, just make it positive and true.

Just be nice.

3. Share positive feedback

On holiday, we encounter even more customer service professionals than in regular life. As a former customer service worker myself, I can promise you that those professionals have heard just about every complaint there is, but people just really don’t go out of their way to share positive feedback. Time to change that fact. If you get great service at your hotel, a restaurant, while doing a little vacay-shopping – whatever it is, take an extra five minutes to tell them, or their manager or name them in a positive online review.

If someone makes you the best coffee ever, tell them. (Image: Crew)

4. Say ‘hi’ to a stranger

The best thing about being on holiday is all those social walls coming down. I know that I’m definitely about 30 times more open to conversations with strangers the second I leave my home city. Harness that carefree attitude and say hello to a stranger. Who knows, that chat might be their only one for the day.

5. Practice self-kindness

Perhaps the easiest person to show kindness to (in theory), is yourself. And, if you happen to be on holiday, the best time to lean into treating yourself. Book an experience you really love today, whether it be a massage or a long hike. Maybe try writing a gratitude list as well, to really lift your mood. Trust me, they’re easy to do on holidays.

Treat yourself to Australia’s incredible views. (Image: Chris Fuller)

6. Clean up

What better way to give back to the place you chose for your getaway than picking up a few pieces of rubbish and putting them in the bin where they belong? This is especially amazing when you’re in a protected beach or camping area.

Love the beach you’re holidaying on? Take a piece of rubbish away with you. (Image: Niklas Ohlrogge)

7. Leave a big tip

Tipping culture might be growing in Australia, but it’s definitely not common or expected. So maybe give someone an extra treat today whether they served you coffee or cleaned your hotel room.

8. Put your phone away

Speaking of self-kindness, have you ever had a day away from technology? As someone who is very plugged in, I can assure you it’s an incredible feeling. If you can’t put your phone away for the whole day (and if you can’t on holiday, then when can you?), then be sure to put it down when spending time with your fellow travellers and give them your full attention.

Do your loved ones the kindness of putting down your phone. (Image: Dan Gold)