Nothing changes you like travel does.

I know, because after 26 years of suburban stability, I recently sold my house, pulled up my stakes and hit the road. Im a different person because of it.

A new Booking.com survey reveals the transformative power of travel. More than 10 percent of respondents said a first-time travel experience led them to switch careers or change a relationship. And 21 percent decided to move somewhere completely different as a result of traveling.

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Frequent travel, while often glamorized, have have many physiological and emotional detriments, according to a recent study by a school of hospitality and tourism management. Edgar Su/Reuters

So if youve never really made it past that summer week in an Ocean City, Md., condo, or a camping trip to Shenandoah National Park, this storys for you. Its the one I wish Id read before I became a global nomad.

Prepare for change: Whether youre starting a job that lets you travel for business or becoming a post-retirement vagabond, constant travel changes you. Youll become part of a fraternity of frequent travelers whose perspectives have been shifted by new places and people. Youll be less afraid to embrace new ideas or cultures or to try new things. Either youll learn to live with the vagaries of life on the road or youll go mad. Ive seen that happen. So my first piece of advice: Be flexible. Because if you arent, this wont work.

Find an adviser: Whether you work with a corporate travel manager, a travel agent or someone who just understands travel, youll want someone you can turn to. Invariably, problems can be avoided by booking with a travel professional, says Arnt Pederson, the chief executive of Accent Travel International, a travel agency in Minneapolis. Hes right. Almost every day, I see situations where having a knowledgeable adviser could have prevented a misunderstanding, a lost reservation or an intractable problem. And while using a travel agent may add a little to your cost, in terms of booking fees, it can really pay off when you find yourself stuck at the airport with only the floor to sleep on. Ive been there, and fortunately, I was saved by an agent.

Mind your manners: Proper etiquette will keep you out of trouble while youre on the road, and I dont just mean using please and thank you. Im talking about cultural sensitivity, something that might not be entirely intuitive. Take the handshake, for example. You probably knew that neglecting to shake someones hand is considered rude. But did you also know that Western and Eastern Europeans shake hands again when they part and that you should always remove your gloves before shaking? Also, a woman initiates a handshake with a man in all European countries, says Pamela Eyring, president of the Protocol School of Washington. Thats a lot to remember.

Plan ahead: The most experienced travelers never wing it. They think about each trip and plan each segment, often in painstaking detail. And if you spend a little time talking to them, theyll tell you about the kit a collection of must-have items they bring on each adventure. Orlando-based event planner Jamie ODonnell never goes on a car trip without a phone charger or access to a GPS-enabled device for directions, plus the latest version of Waze, an app for road conditions and directions. It will significantly reduce your stress levels, she says. To that I would add carrying a spare charger and using it in your hotel room or vacation rental. That way, youll never find yourself in the car with a lifeless phone, screaming, Wheres the charger?

Know the rules: Travel rules are a little wacky, so take some time to get familiar with them. Airline contracts are among the strangest and most counterintuitive. For example, did you know it often costs less to buy a round-trip ticket than a one-way ticket? Or that if you miss one leg of your flight, your airline will cancel the rest of your reservation without offering a refund? If youre traveling for business, you have an extra layer of absurdity your corporate travel policy. Know your companys travel policy, advises Evan Konwiser, a vice president for American Express Global Business Travel. It might sound tedious, but the best way to make the most of your travel is understanding what you can and cant do.

Avoid bad habits: Travel can be fun and exciting, but it can also turn you into an entitled and insufferable card-carrying frequent flier. Resist that temptation. Ive spoken with countless travelers who regret the habits they picked up along the way. One of most memorable conversations was with Bob McIntyre, a retired business traveler from San Antonio, who described himself as a former loyalty program addict. Points are a natural byproduct of travel and can be redeemed for even more travel. But youre easily seduced into taking a darker path that tempts you to manipulate the system, using manufactured spending to earn even more free trips.

Try to relax: A majority of travelers in the Booking.com survey (61 percent) admitted that any nervousness they felt before they departed was unnecessary. Its true: In my experience, the jitters you feel before a trip are completely unfounded.

Even so, not everyone is suited a life on the road. Travel has the power to alter the course of your life for better or worse, and as someone whose life has been transformed by travel, I would urge you to consider that carefully before you go. I now find experiences are far more important than material things. The people in my life are more valuable than my possessions. And the here-and-now is worth more than what might come next. Thats the transformational power of travel.

And its a warning, too. Because once youve experienced it, you may never want to come back.

Christopher Elliott's latest book is How To Be The Worlds Smartest Traveler (National Geographic). You can get real-time answers to any consumer question on his new forum, elliott.org/forum, or by emailing him at chris@elliott.org.

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Want to Travel the World? Read This Before You Go - Newsweek