Traveling is something that does not require a special talent. The skill can be acquired with time same like learning to foreign language or driving a car. When I first traveled I made so many mistakes (gosh!), as I was an amateur and was more excited about the other side of the moon rather than the practicability of the journey and stay. But I know my readers are proactive and will settle the vacation wisely. So here I am going to detail 14 mistakes that you can avoid with a bonus tip.
1. No pretensions please: The moment you think about travel or a tour, you may conceive the feeling of a special among your peers. There is nothing special to be labeled as a traveler. Be real as you are and behave naturally. A tourist has to see only famous landmarks, have to eat only MacDonald, and have to travel the maximum; let’s break this stereotype and be the local as you started from your native land.
2. Non-holistic approach for Itinerary: I have seen people fantasize to perform sedentary activities on the destination island. Buddies! There is no use to party together with the same friends in the same way you do in your homeland. Try to find continental ways to celebrate your happiness, once you are in the other land. Prepare your itinerary full of versatile activities so that you may learn up to the mark and make your travel worth for.
3. Best value is always not the cheapest one: I understand when people travel the first time; they are concerned about the funds and want to stretch as much as they can. However, it is not always a better idea. There are so many opportunities when you can get little high-cost accommodations but with valuable features that can add taste to your stay. In the same way, while choosing the flights and local transport the cheapest one may suck your valuable hours you could spend exploring new things. Also, you may face a lot of restrictions in multiplying the fun. So optimize your budget.
4. Do not pack over it is required: I must admit on my first travel, I carried accessories related to my leisure time activity with the idea to performing my paintings around the meadows. Honestly, that mars the fun of the travel. Needless to take the stuff that you do at home and let’s bring the unique items in exchange for your hollow baggage. Also, be very careful while packing clothes. No need to pile up the bags with a variety of clothes; just pick the basics like denim, T-shirts, sneakers, and a few simple dresses. You can add on some accessories like scarves to give it a different look each day.
5. No sign-up for Hotel Travel programs: In the race to take travel packages from easy agents, people do not update the knowledge about reward programs the hotels give to their frequent visitors. This is just like collecting and redeeming the rewards similar to the shopping sites, you usually take. This can include free checked baggage, free upgrades, free seat selections, VIP lounge, etc. Many times you get free coupons for additional drinks and rental cars. In this way, you can save thousands of dollars by just enrolling in the reward policies.
6. Not taking enough Currency: Folks if you think that online payments are the easiest ways while traveling then you are gonna freak out for some reason for sure. Useful to mention here the unsecure internet connections that are going to give you trouble. Also, never think to convert the currency at the airport as you may get extra charges to pay for that. Try to have some from the local market if you are into uncommon countries. On the other hand, if you are traveling to common countries like The UK, USA or Canada take sufficient exchange with you before you start the travel.
7. Traveling without Insurance: Yes you heard right! Insurances are not always for the long run of lives but we have them for short travels. For God’s sake be aware of the miss-happenings all around. When we travel, we never know what’s good or bad lying on the other corner far from our homes. We can face injuries, cardiac arrest, stones in the body, flights missed or canceled, and many more. It’s always good to take short- term travel insurance with you to take up the charges of all treatments on the way. Believe me; one-month travel insurance will not cost you more than the cost of your baggage.
8. Poor selection of bag colors and types: A small but very important idea to avoid puzzles at the airport. We often go for common colors and designs, but this can create a last-minute hassle as you can see an ocean of the same color bags in the pool while checking out. So be smart and select not- so-common colors like red, blue, or sometimes pink or white.
9. Ignorance about Airline apps: Gone are the days when we had to call customer care for updates during travel due to that we were panicking. Airlines provide mobile apps with tickets (soft copy), routes, and navigations with each minute of information handy. These have myriad features including seat information, baggage information, timings, and many more. And above all these apps are free of cost and quite personal.
10. No updated anti-viruses and cloud storage: if you think the anti-virus has some validities remaining, you are going to get risk prior damages. Be smart to update the systems with updated and supportive anti-viruses otherwise you may splash the invaluable memories you recorded on your devices. Also, get your memory cards aligned with cloud storage so that the moments you captured can be saved permanently for ages.
11. Un-check on passport and Visa expiry dates: must ensure the passport and visa have validity of at least 6 months due to your visit. Besides this, all other required documents according to your destination must be taken with care and validity. Never underestimate the value of every single document that is written in the list otherwise you may end up the travel with turning back with a stressful and frustrating situation. You may also face a substantial amount of fines by the Airlines.
12. Relying totally on guide books: travel is high time to come out of your comfort zone and do on your own. We have so many guidebooks which are based upon common surveys and easy to follow. But my fair people, each soul need its beast. So take out your individuality and explore the world as a solo and independent traveler. If you are in a group of your family and friends, leave them for some time and go alone to explore your like-mindedness. It will make you a resourceful super hero!
13. Not trying local food and culture: Another mistake we do when we avoid local food is just on the verge to stick to our bits and pieces for some health benefits. Guys, you are not gonna come so frequently and it’s the chance for you to know more about local cuisine and culture. Food is something that is going to give you a deeper connection with the culture while sitting in the local café. Don’t be shy to ask about the recipes that you can try later at home. Never miss to ask from local vendors about the local fruits and tasting those. Hold on! Don’t try to pack it for your return BTW if you like it a lot. You may catch insects or ants.
14. Avoid being the hefty buyer: East or west, bargaining proves the best. Being a new bee we feel hesitant to negotiate over the prices. But here is the crunch. Shopkeepers are the same everywhere with the same mindset. So there is nothing wrong to ask the discounts. Try not to accept the first price that they offer you. Realize the value and decide on your offer. No harm in even leaving sometimes.
#Bonus Tip : EYE MASK-A must have accessory :
“This might not be so appealing at first but I BET you will bless me for the ease you are goona have! Just imagine the energy and beauty you will gain if you have a sound sleep with no distractions from the fellow travelers!” you can have variety of masks like cloth, gel, cushioned or heated as per your suitability.
Once again, there is no wrong to make mistakes but the world can be more beautiful if we share and care. I hope the details are helpful.
Let me know at daindiantourist@gmail.com your travel mistakes and the corrections that may help other fellows to avoid.
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