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None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
If you are lost in a city that has pizza delivery, ask a driver for directions.
Drivers often know the local area and road closures better than GPS or random pedestrians.
- Only works if the place delivers.
- Help is limited to the driver's specific district.
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Ask UPS drivers for directions if you see them, as they often know every street and address in their long-term route.
They have been working the same area for years and know the quickest way to get there.
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- Avoid asking mail carriers for directions.1
Estimate south by extending the length of the Southern Cross constellation four times from tip to toe and drawing a line downward.
This method helps get your bearings approximately.
- This points to approximate south, not dead south.
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Use a unique hand signal, such as raising your arm and bending your hand at a 90-degree angle to look like a duck bill, to get attention from across a large crowd.
It is unique enough that they know it's you.
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Place your hotel business card inside one of your shoes when alcohol is being consumed.
It remains safe even if you lose your phone, wallet, or jacket.
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Ask if the person wants the physical address or verbal driving directions.
Most people prefer to input the address into their own GPS.
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Find a city bus or public transit vehicle if you are lost without a working phone.
These vehicles usually display free city maps.
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Check pizza delivery maps posted in shops to identify safe neighborhoods.
The maps show where they will and won't deliver, helping you avoid sketchy parts of towns you don't know.
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Do not ask to borrow someone's phone for directions.
It comes across as an attempt to steal the phone.
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Look up your route on Google Maps before leaving home instead of relying on turn-by-turn GPS while driving.
Knowing the route helps you anticipate upcoming turns or highway exits.
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Consider asking someone walking a dog for directions, assuming they are a local, but be aware this strategy has significant limitations and potential risks.
People walking dogs are often assumed to live in the area and know it well from daily walks.
- Some dog owners admit their directions are poor or that they are just as lost as others.
- In some cities, like Hong Kong, pet ownership is rare or different.
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Store your hotel room number in a safe place separate from your key, especially if you drink or travel frequently.
The number is easily forgotten.
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Go to a hotel front desk for directions, as staff typically speak English and know the local area.
Hotels generally have English-speaking staff who are familiar with the area.
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Use a reliable 'beater' car for high-mileage jobs like pizza delivery instead of a European luxury car.
Maintenance costs on luxury cars will eat you alive.
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Give the simplest directions to someone unfamiliar with the area rather than the fastest shortcut.
Simplest directions reduce the chance of getting lost, as shortcuts may confuse people.
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Find someone who appears to be a local rather than a tourist and ask them for directions.
This avoids overthinking the process of finding help.
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- Ask if the person prefers the quickest or simplest route before providing directions.1
Look back after passing intersections to memorize landmarks for your return trip.
This helps cement landmarks so you know exactly where to go on the return journey.
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Let the person with poor direction sense drive to build spatial cognition.
Research shows that navigating complex streets can physically enlarge the hippocampus over time.
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Ask people carrying bags of groceries for directions.
They are likely returning home.
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Give a description and your phone number to postal workers when looking for a lost pet.
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Take different routes to familiar places to understand how roads connect logically.
It helps you discover connections and navigate logically rather than just memorizing paths.
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