Top 10 Travel Mistakes and How To Avoid Them
Trying to plan for your trip can be overwhelming. Here are top 10 travel mistakes you should try to avoid when traveling.
Planning a trip can be overwhelming. Especially if you have no idea where to begin. Don’t worry, we will go over 10 common mistakes when traveling.
For better or for worse anything can happen while traveling, so it is best to try and be as prepared as possible. This article is going to help you try to avoid any common mistakes, so you can be ready to go and explore without any worries!
Number one: Forgetting your form of I.D
Make sure that you have your I.D, Passport and/or Visa on you at all times. As a back up you should make a copy of these documents to take with you, incase anything might happen to the original copy. Make sure to check your expiration date on your passport. Most countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip.
Number two: Overpacking
Overpacking is a very common mistake. My first piece of advice is to do some research on the weather of your destination. Then keep in mind how many days your are going to be there. Once you have that figured out then you need to look for the right bag/suitcase. I suggest that you start with a carry-on size bag, and then if you happen to need more space then you can size up. Keep in mind if you are flying on your trip, bigger bags have to be checked in which can take up more time at the airport, so you will need to account for that extra time. A good tip to minimizing your wardrobe is to pack neutral colors that way you can mix and match every item, to give you more options with less clothes. That way you can stick with a carry-on sized bag, which in turn will keep your price of your flight lower.
Number Three: Booking flights that are too close together
When booking connecting flights it may seem that choosing flights that are back to back is a good idea, to help save time traveling. If there is any delay on your first flight then it can cause you to miss your connecting flight and mess the rest of your trip up. When that happens then it is an uphill battle to get new flights figured out. A general rule is to allow two hours between flights. That will give you enough time to unload off the plane, get through security, grab some food, and find your gate. This will help you avoid having to rushing a crossed the airport to get to your next gate, as well as give you some leeway if your first flight got delayed.
Number Four: Airport Security
One of the most common mistakes, is underestimating the time it will take to get through airport security. Countless, people have missed their flights over the years because they did not give themselves enough time to get through security. Me included, so please learn from my mistake! The general rule is to get to the airport two hours prior to departure of your flight. If you are traveling during busier times of the year or are flying out of an international airport or just a bigger airport you should give yourself three hours. This will account for the extra traffic and having to walk more throughout the airport. This will also allow you to check in 30 minutes before your departure.
Number Five: Different Time Zones
I feel like sometimes as humans we get caught up and forget that not every place is in the same time zone. Make sure that when you are planning your trip, you take into account the different time zones when purchasing flights and making your itinerary. Your body is set to the time zone that you live in so when traveling into a new one, it can potentially throw your body off especially when traveling internationally. Another tip, you will want to nap once you have reached your destination, try to refrain from doing it. Napping can actually prolong jet leg and make is more difficult for your body to adjust to the new time zone.
Number Six: Creating an elaborate itinerary
Traveling is exciting, and there is so much to see and do in the world, and we want to try and pack in as much site seeing and tours as possible. Planing to visit eight countries in seven days, may seem like a really fun time. The fact is that you probably won't remember half of your trip because you had to run around to get to the next place on your list. Your trip will be more enjoyable if you slow it down and allow yourself to have that extra time to relax and really take in the scenery and culture of the countries you are visiting. Try and go for quality and not quantity.
Number Seven: Carrying Valuables
Carrying valuable items or high ticket items can potentially be dangerous. It doesn't matter where you travel to, carrying these types of items can attract pickpockets. There is also the chance that you personally could lose these items. Please, if it is something irreplaceable it is probably the best decision to leave it in the safety of your home. If carrying valuables is unavoidable then you should make sure you are putting them somewhere that is not easily accessible to anyone that is walking or standing by you. Minimize the area that they are in so it does not attract any wondering eyes. Take anything that you will not need on your trip out of your wallet or purse to make them look smaller and weigh less.
Number Eight: Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is very important, especially when traveling internationally. You may think to yourself, it isn't that important, nothing is going to happen. Or, maybe you are just wanting to keep your budget down for your trip, which is understandable. Regardless, you should always just bite the cost and get it, because you never know what could happen and it is always better to make sure you are covered. When purchasing your insurance make sure to read through the terms and conditions of your policy before your trip. Knowing what is and is not covered is extremely helpful. Make sure to keep all the information some where easily accessible, incase there happens to be an emergency.
Number Nine: Cell Phone Plan
This one may seem a little funny, always make sure that your plan covers the area of your destination. It may not seem that important but if you travel somewhere your service is not covered and you need to contact your travel agent or hotel or make transportation arrangements it could cause a wrench in your plans. When traveling internationally make sure that you have contacted your phone carrier and purchased the right plan for your destination.
Number Ten: Not organizing the details of your trip
Last but definitely not least, planning out the smaller detail of your trip is important. Going with the flow and being spontaneous are always fun to do on vacation, and there is a time and place for that. On the contrary, if you do plan on going to high tourist attraction areas, like a museum, popular restaurant, or a tour where booking a reservation is required. Make sure you are doing that way ahead of time, so you can secure your spot. Be aware that if you skip these details and wait until the last minute then you may miss out on opportunities to see certain places.
Now that we have gone through the list, I hope it will help you in the future when planning your next trip! Be safe out there, have fun and go explore your wanderlust!
With Love, KR :)
