Last updated on December 25th, 2021 at 03:44 am
Wasted money, missed opportunities, and lost time – travel mistakes can lead to all these. We all make mistakes, but some mistakes can prove costly, especially when you are traveling to a new destination.
You would certainly want to avoid Travel mistakes and make the most of your vacation.
Here is a list of some common travel mistakes to avoid.
1) Overpacking – The Most Common Travel Mistake
Imagine you have just arrived at Venice and on your way to meet your AirBnB host waiting for you near one of those pretty bridges.
But you ended up walking like a sloth because of the heavy luggage and instead of admiring the beauty of the bridges, you are dreading them with the thought of pulling and carrying your luggage over them!
Never overpack while traveling!
Not only you will have a better experience, you will also rule out the chances of being charged for extra luggage at the airports. Especially, if you are opting for one of the low-cost airlines, luggage weight is one of the key factors you need to keep in mind.
Packing light is an essential skill that enable hassle-free travel. Make use of packing cubes to compartmentalize your belongings but ensure not to stuff them.
2) Not Taking A Travel Insurance
Another travel mistake to avoid is not getting a Travel Insurance.
Like really?
Getting a Travel Insurance on an international trip is non-negotiable under any circumstances.
What if some unforeseen event happens while abroad or you fall ill?
Travel Insurance is a must-have pre-requisite while applying for Visa for most of the countries. So, you will be covered there. But in case, the destination country does not mandate a Travel Insurance, it is recommended to have one.
So, don’t think twice. Get hold of a Travel Insurance and protect yourself and your family.
3) Staying far away from City Center
If you are staying quite far away from the city center, then chances are that your commute time is going to increase many folds. This also adds up to the overall Travel Cost.
Choose your accommodation carefully because it adds to the overall experience. You will certainly not want to spend time in just commuting.
Airbnb provides affordable options that you can explore in and around city centers or maybe just a few blocks away. Head on to booking.com for good options on hotels.
4) Not Trying Out Local Cuisine
Travel and food are interrelated and if you are a foodie then trying out local food is a must.
Indulge in a carbonara or Florentine steak or a Fondue with Cheese. Read up on local cuisines available at your destination to know more about the and food stories that are always interesting.
Instead of checking Tripadvisor for the top restaurants in the area, search for the places where locals eat. This will provide a list of eateries where you can try out the local cuisine.
It is not quite advisable to look out for Indian food in Italy. And, even if you get that, it is surely going to be expensive.
5) Buying Water in countries where it is free
Did you know that you do not need to buy drinking water in many countries? You can very well carry a water bottle and get it refilled from the taps.
They are potable most of the time. By refraining from buying bottled water, you can also save money.
Word of caution: Reading up on the destination to figure out what is available or not is extremely important. Example: In India, it is always advisable to buy bottled water when you are traveling. But, you can very well skip buying bottled water in Rome.
6) Not Doing Homework on Cell Phone requirements
Did you know that if you are traveling to India, it is better to carry an unlocked cellphone?
It is a good idea to get a local connection to your destination. This will also save you some money from roaming charges.
7) Not pre-booking tickets for sites
Since I believe in immaculate pre-planning, I have felt immense pride in being able to skip-the-line and walk past the long queues (real long queues) at Colosseum in Rome and Vatican City!
Why would you like to waste time standing in queues? Isn’t it always better to spend more time exploring the site rather than waiting in queues?
Nowadays all the major sites (museums or architectural) have tickets available online.
Leverage the power of online ticketing. Not only is it going to save you time, but it will also offer a hassle-free experience.
Tip: Most of the iconic sites open their pre-booking at least 2 months before the date. You might want to keep a tab of it and pre-plan.
8) Not reading up on Culture of the Destinations – A Travel Mistake To Avoid!
This is a Travel mistake that you must avoid under all circumstances.
It is extremely important to be aware and respectful about the culture of the destination country.
Prior knowledge of the culture prevalent in the destination country goes a long way to provide the most authentic experience. If you understand the local culture, you will find it easier to interact with the locals.
Culture being an important element of tourism, a bit of research is highly recommended. Read a book on the place, blog posts, or watch a movie with the place as the backdrop. There are tons of ways to get to know the cultural background and it is must.
9) Not carrying a Power Bank for Cell Phone on Day Trips
I am guilty of committing this travel mistake and that too in dreamland like Disneyland Paris. My cell phone got discharged after a few hours and I missed the opportunity to capture some great moments.
While I did manage to click photos on our DSLR, I still regret the mistake.
Always ensure to carry a power bank for charging your cell phones when going out on full-day excursions. (In the above case, I left it in the hotel).
More than clicking pictures, it is important that you have the connectivity running – You might have to call your tour operator or simply check some directions on Google maps
10) Never Leaving the Resort
Imagine you are on a beach vacation. You are having a membership with a posh hotel chain and want to enjoy all the amenities. Fair enough. But unless you are on a long vacation, chances are you will be missing out on some good opportunities in exploring your destination.
So, step out of your resort and make the most out of your holiday. Explore the place.
Final Thought
Over to you. How many of these travel mistakes have you committed?
Or are there some more you would like to share? Let me know in the comments section below.
Depending on where we are going, I can still sometimes be guilty of over-packing by including too many ‘just I case’ things. This is especially true with countries I may not be that familiar with, or am traveling to for the first time. On the other hand, packing lightly can then offer you more space for picking up things that really grab your fancy while you are away.
For me also “just in case” things become a lot many times 🙂
Great tips! I love the one about where to stay. While it may seem like a good deal to snag a cheap hotel or house on the outskirts of town, the cost of getting around can add up so fast! We have definitely started staying more central for this reason.
It’s a great post! Overpacking is for sure The Most Common Travel Mistake. I don’t have a problem with that since I travel by van or a camper truck, and my space is minimal. I agree that Travel Insurance is must-have on every trip. I love trying local cuisine. And I always pack power bank 🙂
Ahh I realize there are lot of mistakes I should avoid 😛 I think almost all from your list. Thank you sharing this post. I think I should revisit your post before I leave for any of my trips. That will be really helpful !!
This is an interesting read, one more travel mistake to add to the list while visiting places, wearing uncomfortable footwear. I have seen girls wearing heels and all decked up, it seems they are out for a party rather den sightseeing. Thanks to Insta, this trend is on rising. I fully agree with you, do carry power banks while traveling.
Haha, great list. I know I am guilty of some of these mistakes for sure. But from our mistakes we learn, am I right? I made the mistake of bringing 2 checked bags when I first traveled to India, oof that was such a pain to deal with as I only really used one of the bags and the other was there seemingly as a decoration aha.
Great article! A few I can resonate with…overpacking, not pre booking tickets and power bank. I tend to overpack especially if I am visiting a destination with changeable weather patterns.
This is a great list and so accurate! I have fallen victim to many of these and have learned the lesson. Overpacking was something I tended to do all the time and it only caused more of a struggle and stress while traveling. I have also learned to always pre-book tickets, it just make the experience much more smooth. Thanks for sharing!
So many people are just destination hunters. They will just snap a picture or selfie and move on to another destination. In my opinion, traveling is all about finding out the culture, food, mixing with the locals, making friends.