Have you been inadvertently sabotaging your own vacations? Here are 5 travel mistakes you may be making that actually prevent you from having a dream trip!
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become a better traveler. I’ve learned to visit only the attractions that genuinely interest me, to slow down a bit, and to not try to see everything in one trip. But despite the steps I’ve taken towards enjoying each trip more and more, I still catch myself making some mistakes when I’m on vacation. I’ve written about common travel mistakes before on my blog, but what I’m talking about today aren’t just little mistakes. These are big fat no-no’s that will absolutely ruin your vacation, no matter who you’re traveling with. But here’s the Catch 22: most of the travel mistakes I address below are things you do thinking they’ll make your vacation better.
If your last few trips haven’t gone as planned and you can’t figure out why you didn’t have an incredible time, you may inadvertently be sabotaging your own trip. Here are a few red flags to watch out for on future travels.
Giving Yourself Too Strict of a Budget
Listen, I know what it’s like to travel on a tight budget. In college, I traveled through Italy for three weeks and I think I ate out maybe five times (usually to split an already inexpensive pizza with my friend). Every Euro I shelled out seemed like such a big deal, even though I limited my spending to strictly the things I needed (like bus rides and groceries). Although I loved my time in Italy, I would’ve enjoyed myself so much more had I loosened my purse strings a bit and allowed myself to spend more money on things I really wanted to do, like visit certain museums or order another scoop of gelato.
While I still travel on a budget, I’ve learned to plan my trip ahead of time so I know exactly what I’m going to be spending my money on. I give myself a food allowance as well so I can pick and choose where I want to eat out. This way, I know going into the trip approximately how much money I’ll be spending and I don’t have to worry about going over my budget since I’ve already figured things out. If you’re on a really tight budget, I still recommend choosing at least one or two activities to drop some cash on. This could be a nice meal, a tour of a historic home, a world-famous museum, a bus tour, or something else altogether that you’re itching to do. Because here’s the thing: you will regret not spending a few extra dollars on the activity you’re not so secretly dying to do. Remember: you can always shuffle your money around and make dinner at your AirBNB that night if needed!
Packing for Fashion Instead of Function
I’ll admit, I was guilty of this for so many years. I can still distinctly remember the hot mess of a suitcase I packed when my mom and I toured colleges in NYC when I was in high school. I kid you not, I packed a different pair of sandals for every day of the trip. And did any of them have proper arch support? Of course not, because I thought sensible sandals that didn’t kill your feet were ugly! At the ripe age of 25, I’m now wise enough to pack shoes that are both cute and comfortable, and I only bring one or two pairs that go with all of the clothing I’ve brought along. And if I’m going to be out in the sun all day, I try to bring longer sun dresses as well as shorts so that I’m not exposing my skin to direct sunlight for a week straight (that’s a guaranteed way for me to get heatstroke — so not fun).
If you’re struggling with feeling cute on holiday, bring along a pair of white sneakers and either plain boots with no heel or a pair of comfy sandals (like Birkenstocks). If it’ll be warm where you’re traveling, try to find a few basic sundresses made of a material that doesn’t wrinkle easily (stores like Athleta actually have tons of options). In the winter, please pack an actual winter coat. I know you’re pea coat is super cute, but freezing your butt off and complaining about being cold will quickly annoy your travel companions. To jazz up your outfit, pack a chunky scarf or two — they’ll keep you warm and can double as an accessory.
Not Getting Enough Sleep
My friends joke that I’m part grandma because I’m always in bed by 10pm, even on vacation. But that just goes to show how important sleep is to me! Another key reason why I plan out my trip ahead of time is so that I can balance my schedule and make sure I’m not overstretching myself on vacation. If I want to stay out late to experience the nightlife in a particular area, I’ll give myself ample time the next day to sleep in and recharge before setting off in the morning. Lack of sleep often results in shorter tempers, which can make a trip with friends and family seem absolutely hellish. Not to mention that not getting enough sleep night after night makes you more susceptible to catching whatever bug your seatmate on the plane had, which could also ruin your trip.
If you’re traveling in a group, don’t be afraid to peel off from the others if you’d rather head back to the hotel before they do (or vice versa). When you wake up early the next morning feeling refreshed and they’re still snoozing, don’t feel like you have to wake them up. Instead, before parting ways in the evening pick a time and place for everyone to meet up the following day and do your own thing in the meantime. This way, you’re not forcing anyone who stayed out late the night before to roll out of bed early — you’ll all be well rested when you meet back up and you’ll be much happier for it!
Read more: 5 Useful Tips for Falling Asleep in an Unfamiliar Place
Taking Public Transportation Everywhere
This is a tough one because using publication transportation is a great way to save money and help out the environment. However, there is such a thing as using public transportation too much. While I love that cities like NYC and London have subway systems, the time you spend underground keeps you from fully experiencing the cities you’re visiting. As a rule of thumb, I only take public transportation if the destination I’m trying to get to is more than a 25-minute walk away. Anything less than 25 minutes away I walk to. In my humble opinion, walking is the best way to visit any city. Your walk may not take you past the major attractions, but you’ll be able to see the city from a local’s perspective. Take note of any cute restaurants you want to circle back to or any cafes you want to hit up in the morning. If you take public transportation everywhere you go, you’ll never be able to fully appreciate the area you’re exploring.
Not Giving Yourselves Time Apart
I’ve talked about this already in a few blog posts, but I wanted to mention it again since this is a problem I know so many of my friends struggle with. No matter who you’re traveling with — friends, family, significant others — you MUST give yourselves some time apart, otherwise you’ll want to throttle each other by the end of the trip. When I say “time apart,” that doesn’t have to mean an entire day. It could be grabbing a morning coffee on your own, or laying out on the beach while they spend an hour or two exploring the shops near the boardwalk. If needed, pick a few times during your trip that you know you’ll be apart so that it doesn’t feel like you’re springing the “I need some alone time” trap on each other. Giving yourselves some alone time will allow you to recharge, and you’ll be able to look forward to seeing one another again to catch up on everything you did by yourselves.
Read more: 27 Questions to Ask Before Traveling with Friends
Tell me: What’s one mistake you’ve made before on your travels?
More travel tips you’ll love:
- 10 Useful Tips for Taking Your First Solo Trip
- My Top Tips for Traveling With Your Parents as an Adult
- 15 Common Solo Travel Mistakes to Avoid
- 10 Easy Ways I Save Money While Traveling
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