Hi there!

 

It is common for all of us to make a few mistakes when traveling and trying out new places. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from others or even our own mistakes when we are planning our vacations out.

Which is why I’m here today.

Today, we will put some time and preparation in planning our trip so we can avoid these rookie errors when we embark on some new territory.

Instead of going down the rabbit hole and playing the “what if” game, I’m going to keep this simple and give you 7 common travel mistakes and how to avoid the unexpected.

 

Without further ado, Let’s jump into the article.

 

 

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7 Common Travel Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

 

 

#1. Overpacking

 

 

 

Most people know that less is more when it comes to luggage on a long trip. Just ask any traveler on a big trip what they wish they would have done differently, and most will say “I should have brought less.”

To me, this is one of the most common travel mistakes being made by people. If your luggage is close to being at full capacity, you might have a problem.

Many travelers get way too caught up in the ” weight”, but they should shift their focus to volume instead.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Take in consideration the amount of potential dirty laundry coming back with you. Dirty laundry takes up more room than folded and clean laundry.
• You should take in account any new purchases you might make on the trip coming back with you.
• Repacking your luggage for every move should not consume all of your time.

Tip:  If you travel frequently, make some simple packing notes at the end of each trip. It’s not fun at first, but what’s not fun is coming back with overkill because we didn’t allow ourselves to dial it back.

 

Be Realistic and Don’t Overdo it

 

 

#2. Creating an overambitious itinerary

 

I made this mistake when I was younger, so I have learned the hard way on this one. It’s more than okay to pace yourself while traveling.

If you’ve ever experienced “travel burnout” and have returned home from a trip completely exhausted, you’re not alone.

One of the most common travel mistakes being overlooked is we tend to overdo it sometimes when planning out our itinerary.

It is human nature for us to go “all out” while we are on vacation. Everyone has the mantra nowadays is “work hard and play hard.”

Well, that might work for a few years while you’re young, but when you get older, you’ll find it more enjoyable to pace yourself.

Here are a few tips to prevent travel burnout:

• Leave room in your itinerary. Having this flexibility will take off the pressure of having to do everything at once.
• Stay in your destination longer and stay clear of the tourist traps.
• Leave gaps in your travel planning.

It might take some practice at first but leaving gaps in your itinerary leaves more room for spontaneity, which often makes for the most interesting travel experiences.

 

 

#3. Dining next to major tourist attractions

 

Generally speaking, you’re more than likely going to spend more money in a tourist hot spot than if you were to venture a little further from those said hot spots.

From my personal experience, I have found a better selection of more affordable and better restaurants if you choose to eat where the locals eat.

For example, when I book an Airbnb, the hosts will often include a list of “things to do”, from places to eat or popular attractions in the area.

This local insight to me is invaluable, giving you a better taste for the culture and more enriching experiences, rather than doing what the masses do.

 

 

#4.  Booking flights erroneously.

 

 

Booking flights too close together is one of the most common travel mistakes people make. This is why.

We all like great deals.

Keep in mind that just because your airline will sell you an itinerary with a tight connection, that doesn’t mean you should buy it.

Getting off a plane and walking to a distant departure gate can easily condense a 30-minute connection into almost nothing.

Plus, what is the benefit here?

Even if you make it in time, the experience can be stressful and leave you with no wiggle room for things like a bathroom trip or buying a meal before your next flight.

 

Don’t forget about the Bank

 

#5. Forgetting to inform your bank about your trip.

Have you ever been somewhere and your bank out of the blue puts your card on hold because they thought the purchases you were making on your trip were fraudulent?

I’m sure this has either happened to us, or we know someone who has experienced this before. Banks do whatever they can to protect you from identity theft. But if you’re not careful, your bank’s eagerness could backfire when you are traveling.

Tip:  When you let your bank know that you’re going away, they add a record to your account and share it with their fraud detection system. This prevents your “abnormal” spending patterns in an unknown city from triggering a block on your card.

Tip No. 2:  Notifying your bank about your travel plans is not the only financial precaution you should take. You should always have copies of your important documents and information, like your bank’s 24-hour service number and your account numbers.

 

Save Those Pictures

 

#6. Not backing up your pictures

I have heard a number of devastating stories about how people lose their precious photos. Photos can be lost in a variety of ways. Let’s take a look at them:

• Theft
• corrupted data (usually from water, damage or viruses)
• Accidental deletion/overwriting

Tip: Use the Cloud

Cloud storage is ubiquitous nowadays and increasingly cheap. A lot of services can connect directly to your phone, or a Wi-Fi enabled camera and automatically back up your shots.

This is a great option but has some drawbacks.

Modern photos have large file sizes, so the data and connection speed required to upload a large number is high. This isn’t a big deal if you’re in the U.S. or have unlimited mobile data. However, it can be an issue if you’re visiting multiple countries or less developed areas.

 

#7. Carrying too many valuables

When you carry expensive jewelry, cameras, or even a small laptop, you might attract the wrong people. Even if theft isn’t the major concern, it’s really easy to lose these things while you’re traveling.

Thieves are smart. They target travelers, because travelers have money. But we can do our best to outsmart them. This is how, let’s take a look:

• Don’t flash your valuables around, especially on public transportation.
• Don’t leave valuables sitting out in your hotel room.
• Get Travel Insurance if you can.

I’m a big fan of travel insurance for a number of reasons. For one, it will cover health issues and accidents/injury abroad, but in many cases can also help you out if your stuff gets stolen too.

 

 

Thoughts & Takeaways

And that wraps things up for today. Traveling if done correctly can be very rewarding. On the other hand, if these solutions aren’t put into practice, it can make the trip go awry. If we make the extra effort into planning our trips with intention, then we can avoid some of these common mistakes people usually make when traveling, I hope you found this article to be helpful, please share your experiences on good travel practices in the comment section below.

 

-CT