Christopher Columbus set off to discover The New World about five centuries ago. Today, Virgin Airlines is looking to offer galactic tours.

Can an explorer of old still teach us anything about travel?

Back in his time, Columbus struggled to talk anyone into financing his dreams. He campaigned for funding in 1485 and appealed to the courts of Portugal, England and Spain continuously until he finally set sail in August of 1492.

He made three trips before setting foot on another continent - actually died in 1506 believing that he had found a way around the world to India.

Moral of the story: No matter how many obstacles you need to overcome, if you want to travel badly enough, you can find a way.

Here are more lessons from Columbus that will help modern travelers make their own discoveries.

1. You can start from anywhere

When it came to math Columbus was a chopstick short.

He knew the earth was spherical, but miscalculated the diameter wildly, and also forgot to convert Arabic miles to Italian miles. As a result his earth was only 15,500 miles in circumference.

If he had calculated the correct measurement of around 25,000 miles he would never have attempted to sail around the world, as no 15th century ship could carry the provisions for a voyage of that magnitude!

2. Always keep a trick or two up your sleeve

Columbus had no formal education, but everywhere he went he learned a bit of the local dialect. Columbus spoke (and wrote) many kinds of “pidgin”, and the knowledge took him places.

Even if you only learn Hello, Goodbye and Thank You (never mind the dodgy accent!), doors will open for you everywhere you go.

In 1503 Columbus was beached in Jamaica and survived by correctly predicting a lunar eclipse. This display of knowledge immediately convinced the astounded locals that his use extended beyond being served as the main course for dinner.

Don’t ever pass on the opportunity to acquire a skill - no matter how obscure - as you never know when it will get you through a rough patch on the road.

3. Keep your eyes open and an ear to the ground

Columbus got word that a hurricane was heading his way, so he hid his ships in the Rio Jaina delta. The chaps who didn’t listen to the warning lost 500 lives, 29 ships and an immense cargo of gold.

Apart from paying attention to alerts about dangerous neighborhoods, travel scams and political coups, there are many other tips that savvy travelers should collect. For instance: did you know Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are the cheapest days to fly?

Or did you know you can instantly find the cheapest hotel (including current specials) by using just one website?

4. Don’t worry too much - think potential!

When the Ottoman Turks took Constantinople, cutting off safe passage to China and India, life in spice-deprived Europe headed for bland.

Columbus and his brother reacted by hatching a plot. Their proposal was for an alternative route to India, sailing directly west across the Atlantic to get silk, opiates and spices.

The two uneducated brothers might not have had such a warm reception if there had been less economic competition between developing nations for the best trade routes and the newest colonies.

In the same vein, it’s sometimes easier to travel in countries experiencing economic difficulty, especially if financing is your problem.

Look out for amazing specials, volunteer work and teaching opportunities in countries currently deemed “too unstable.”

5. Don’t communicate disease!

Columbus and his crew took various maladies to the New World with disastrous results for the people he called “Indians.” The natives’ revenge? Building scientific evidence suggests that his sailors brought syphilis back home to Europe.

When infected members of his crew later served in the army of King Charles VIII, the infection resulted in 5 million deaths across Europe. Don’t let anyone stop the payment on your reality check….be safe!

6. Follow your heart

In Europe the middle class and poor would often be rewarded with a wife upon successfully returning from a voyage - hence Columbus’s marriage to Felipa Moniz Perestrello.

Columbus’ new wife gave him his first maps of winds and currents and is said to have been the impetus behind his explorations.

Modern day travel can result in a similar match - if this fate should befall you I strongly advise you heed Christopher’s example and match yourself with relationship partners that approve of travel.

7. Pack your children

As early as 1461, at the age of ten, the young Christopher had already gone to sea, and within another decade he was traveling the oceans as a pirate.

Okay, maybe the pirate bit doesn’t do much to support my theory, but I believe that traveling with children will generally guarantee adventurous spirits and broad horizons for them (and eventually an excellent retirement home for you).

8. Write it all down

During his time on earth Christopher was thrown in jail and generally held in low regard. What turned him into an instant hero 5 centuries later? His journals!

Don’t worry about perfect prose or special kit; just get paper and pen (or a travel blog) and spend some time every day writing about your experiences.

Over time, you will have changed, the place will have changed, and eventually your memories will fade.

So whether you aim to inspire others, just remind yourself of your experience, or plan on being a phenomenon in 2508, heed the example of Columbus and the words of Paul Theroux: “Travel is only glamorous in retrospect.”

9. The Golden Rule

There is a dark side to the Columbus saga. Columbus was incarcerated during his lifetime for his barbaric treatment of his sailors and the Native Americans.

Various atrocities are documented during his governorship and he has been blamed for setting in motion the mass genocide of Native Americans by the Spanish.

In the modern world we have moved away from the general idea of colonization, but common courtesy to other cultures is always appreciated. Treat people how you want to be treated.

10. It’s about the journey

“Following the light of the sun we left the Old World behind…”

With these words Columbus departed on his journey. He would not set foot on the American mainland until his third voyage, and even then he assumed it was the eastern reaches of India.

While he failed completely in the original mission he set for himself, in the process of NOT finding one continent he discovered more than 1700 islands and became a legend.

If you have the courage to leave the old world and follow the sun, the rewards of travel will find you!

What classic adventurers inspire you with their travel tips? Share in the comments!

Suzie Jones was born into a family of aviators, and travel was fed to her along with squishy bananas. She guarantees that her own little monsters will carry the itchy feet gene for another generation. Not unlike Columbus, her husband spent his life on the seas serving in the Navy. Clearly she has a bit of a weakness for sailors…

Suzie Jones

Suzie Jones was born into a family of aviators, and travel was fed to her along with squishy bananas. She guarantees that her own little monsters will carry the itchy feet gene for another generation. Not unlike Columbus, her husband spent his life on the seas serving in the Navy. Clearly she has a bit of a weakness for sailors!