14 Travel Mistakes You’ll Thank Yourself for Making
There’s no such thing as a perfect trip when it comes to travel. No matter how well-planned your vacations are, there will always be hiccups. You may even turn some of those mishaps into your fondest memories.
Missing a train might mean discovering a hidden café that otherwise would have been skipped, and having excess luggage teaches you to travel light. While mistakes may feel like setbacks now, you’ll often laugh about them later.
Packing Too Much
Almost every traveler overpacks. The “just in case” mindset can lead us to pack enough clothes for every scenario, from monsoon to desert, to fancy dinner or hiking trip, but you’ll end up wearing the same two comfortable outfits over and over again. Traveling light is the way to go because after lugging around a heavy suitcase or trying to fit everything into a carry-on, you’ll quickly learn that less leaves you more room for souvenirs!
Arriving at the Airport Too Early
We’ve all spent hours at the gate, scrolling through social media and wondering why we got to the airport so early. Arriving too early can be a drag, but you’ll soon discover the best time to arrive and check-in, breeze through security, and grab a coffee without twiddling your thumbs for hours.
Not Researching Local Customs
It may seem like a major misstep to skip over local customs and etiquette, but it can be quite fun. This is sure to accidentally offend someone because you don’t understand their tradition and, if you’re lucky, the locals will forgive you and you’ll get to talk about some interesting things. If you make these small blunders, you’ll better understand the culture and have more authentic interactions with the people you meet.
Underestimating Jet Lag
Jet lag, the great equalizer. The common mistake is to think you can just power through it, and one groggy day of sightseeing might be all it takes to make you realize you need to respect the body’s need for rest. If you don’t fully prepare for jet lag, you will learn the hard way that your first day is not the time to push yourself, adjust to the new time zone, and get plenty of rest to make the most of the days to come.
Skipping Travel Insurance
Until you miss a flight or lose your luggage, travel insurance seems like one of those unnecessary things. You’ll learn the value of having a safety net after one bad travel experience. After you’ve faced an unexpected hiccup, you will always choose that extra bit of security on future trips.
Mispronouncing Words in a Foreign Language
Traveling can be awkward stumbling especially with unfamiliar words and phrases, but it usually results in moments of connection. Locals appreciate your effort, even if your pronunciation is way off. These language snafus can break the ice, produce laughter, and generate unforgettable moments. Butcher a phrase or two, don’t be afraid, it might just be the beginning of a good story.
Relying Too Much on Your Phone
If your phone is your travel crutch for directions or translations, you’re bound to run into a snag when Wi-Fi fails or your battery dies. That’s when the magic of travel kicks in. You will learn that sometimes, technology can take away the fun of exploring when you are forced to ask a local for directions or figure out how to communicate without an app. Plus, these moments get you off the beaten path in the best way.
Over-Scheduling Your Days
When visiting a new place, it’s tempting to pack as many activities as you can into your travel itinerary. However, trying to see everything will leave you feeling exhausted and doesn’t allow the joy of spontaneous discovery. Often the days you leave unplanned are the days you remember the most: stumbling across a street festival, making a new friend, or just getting lost in the charm of a neighborhood.
Skipping the Tourist Spots
You may want to skip out on famous landmarks or popular attractions in an attempt to not be a “tourist”, but those cliché spots are famous for a reason. They’re crowded, sure, but seeing something iconic with your own eyes is usually worth it. Plus, those selfie-taking crowds can be funny to watch.
Taking the Wrong Bus or Train
It feels like a nightmare getting on the wrong bus or train but it usually becomes an unexpected adventure. You’ll find yourself going to a new part of town or finding a place you didn’t even know existed. It is a good reminder that not all adventures taken are planned. Sometimes the best way to find something new is to get a little lost.
Not Having Enough Cash
As a rookie, you might be relying on your credit card or phone payment alone, but when you are in a cash-only establishment this becomes a rookie mistake. Once you realize you don’t have enough local currency, you’ll get over the initial panic and carry some cash with you wherever you go. The upside? You’ll probably find yourself stumbling into a quirky local ATM or money exchange and maybe even strike up a conversation with a helpful stranger.
Eating at a Tourist Trap
It happens to the best of us: you’re hungry and tired, and end up at a restaurant with overpriced food and lousy service. You are now more discerning when planning for future dining experiences. Plus, it’s a lesson in how to ask locals for recommendations, which is often the best way to eat the tastiest and most authentic meals of your trip.
Forgetting to Check Visa Requirements
When you realize at the airport that you need a visa to your destination it is an anxiety inducing experience. After getting through that stressful situation, you will be the type of traveler who double checks entry requirements with eagle eyes. You’ll only do it once, but it’ll teach you to be much more diligent in the future.
Misjudging the Weather
It may sound like a rookie error to pack for sunny skies, only to get a week of rain, but it can often result in some of the coziest and most memorable travel moments. These weather surprises usually end up being delightful detours — whether you duck into a café to wait out a storm or buy a last-minute jacket from a street vendor. Who knows? A beautiful rainbow, a dreamy mist, and that unexpected downpour could add this magic to your trip.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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Even if you’ve been on a safari in the past, an African photo safari is something you want to experience or at the very list add to the top of your bucket list.
But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
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