We all know the days to a trip can be overwhelming, whether you are travelling locally or abroad. There is always so much to be done at the same to me with very little room for mistakes. No one wants to find himself stranded because he did not take care of one or two vital details.
Unlike someone who has taken multiple saa flights or travelled many times using other airlines, a first-time traveller is likely to make some mistakes that can only be attributed to a lack of experience. But making mistakes shouldn’t worry anyone because we learn through mistakes.
If you are a first-time traveller, it gets even more daunting because you are almost experiencing everything for the first time. That means the chances of omitting important aspects of your preparation are very high. You just can’t afford to take anything for granted.
Here are 10 mistakes that first time travellers make:
1. Poor Planning
Many people travelling for the first time just want to start the trip without going through the stress that comes with getting ready. There are so many things that can go wrong when you do this. For example, you can arrive at your destination only to find the worst weather or an important event that makes it difficult to access important sites. With proper planning, such inconveniences wouldn’t occur.
2. Not Carrying Enough Money
If you run out of money in the middle of a trip, it’s not only a huge inconvenience, but can also jeopardize your safety. You want to enjoy your trip but at the same time be in a position to take care of any contingencies. The only way to do this is to make sure you carry enough money.
3. Carrying too much Stuff
Contrary to what many people think, you don’t really need a lot when travelling. When you pack too much, just know you will have to carry everything on your back or drag it behind you. You don’t want to be walking around in a new town or village while dragging bags of clothes and accessories. To avoid this, carry just enough stuff. The less you carry the better.
4. Not Carrying Medications or a First Aid Kit
If you are travelling to a developed country, you may not need to carry a big-sized first aid kit as medical services are easily accessible. But if you are headed to a Third World country, having a well-stocked first aid kit can sometimes be the difference between life and death. Safety comes first at all times.
5. Overbooking
It’s easy to assume that booking everything from hostels to meals to transfers before going on a trip makes things easier once you get there. That is not always the case. It’s important to be a bit flexible which is difficult when everything is locked in beforehand. Once you book your flight and accommodation, leave everything else for when you get there.
6. Leaving Everything to Travel Agents
Although travel agents help make things much easier, you don’t have to let them do everything. An agent is there to make money. You should do things like booking flights and accommodation to avoid bad surprises and also save some money. Many people have relied too much on agents only to be disappointed after some of the instructions were not followed.
7. Mistrusting Locals
Not every local is a crook or trying to rip you off. In fact, a most of the locals are good people who love to see visitors. So relax and enjoy your adventure and also make some friends. If you focus your mind too much on trying to avoid losing money, you will not enjoy your trip.
8. Not Carrying Copies of Important Documents
Carrying extra copies of important documents will save you a lot of trouble in case you lose the originals. At the same time, some places want physical copies rather than electronic ones which mean you have to be prepared for anything at all times. Carrying extra copies makes it easy to maneuver such situations.
9. Trying to Reach Every Place
A good trip is not about how many places you reach but how much you enjoy the experience. So, slow down and have fun. If there are places, you aren’t able to see, there is still a chance of doing it on your next trip. Why should you rush to 25 places and not remember half of what you saw there? It’s better to visit a few places and soak in as much as possible.
10. Not Taking out Travel Insurance
On any trip, there is always a chance of things going wrong. To be on the safe side, take out travel insurance even if the trip is only for a few days. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you are involved in an accident, lose your luggage or get sick, you will be glad you had insurance.
On a trip, mistakes are bound to happen. The most important thing is to be able to adjust quickly when they happen. As long as you are well prepared, you have nothing to worry about. Hopefully, you don’t repeat these ten mistakes that many first-time travellers have made before.
