Travelling is almost always guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. With so much of the world to see and so many things to discover, it’s crucial to ensure you avoid any potential mishaps or unfortunate occurrences while you’re abroad.
With travellers often making the same mistakes, here’s five of them to avoid during your travels.
Packing the wrong things
Packing for a stint of travelling isn’t always the easiest of tasks. When so many tourists feel the need to have their entire wardrobes in tow, it becomes difficult to cut it down to a simple bagful. Be aware that you won’t need a lot when travelling – just cut it down to the bare essentials.
Bring a few sensible outfits that you can rely on depending on the climate and the nature of the travelling you’ll be doing (1Cover’s Secret Traveller blog recommends leaving the singlet vests at home).
Stick to a book if you’re in need of some entertainment for the journeys, or an E-reader if you’ll be away for a long time. Your phone is a must, too – from maps to the camera, it will become your best friend. Although some seek to remove themselves entirely from technology, it’s wise not to.
Losing your luggage
Although it sounds pretty easy to avoid, losing luggage is something many travellers experience at least once in their lives. Even if it’s through no fault of their own, it’s a very common issue, and one that isn’t always easy to work out through insurance.
Depending on the circumstances in which your belongings went missing, claims can be difficult. If it wasn’t your fault and you were unable to prevent it – say, the airline is at fault – you’ll likely be successful. However, should you have been careless and negligent, it’s going to be much harder to remedy the problem. Keep an eye on your things and don’t forget to use a secure lock or two.
Falling victim to scams
Remain vigilant when you travel. Too often are travellers left unexpectedly out of pocket or short changed by opportunists looking to employ the latest scam; marketplaces, taxis and money exchanges are the three most common places where you’re likely to be duped.
Be sure to stay constantly cautious, and don’t be reckless with your money. If you need to, prepare to haggle – it may be a daunting feat for some, but when market vendors are hiking their prices up to double the original asking price, you’d be a fool not to negotiate. After all, they often expect you to. It’s part of the fun.
Hurting yourself
Don’t be one of those travellers who ends up staying in hospital for part of their trip as a result of general recklessness and silliness. Healthcare in foreign countries is often extortionate should you not be covered by health insurance, and when the risk of injury is so high in certain places and during certain activities, it’s necessary to take some out.
Ensure you’ve got adequate insurance before you embark on your travels – especially if you’re planning on being a bit of a daredevil once you’re abroad. Even simple things such as motorbike-riding could land you in a hospital bed if you’re not careful, and without cover you’re looking at costs of thousands.
Holding yourself back
Travelling is an undeniably exciting and important experience, boasting the potential for you to find yourself and discover some incredible parts of the world. With that being said, travellers often hold themselves back out of fear and hesitation, meaning they miss out on the best parts their experience has to offer.
Don’t be that person. Be sure to seize every opportunity presented to you, and live your trip to the fullest. Travelling is something not everyone is lucky enough to be able to do, so don’t take your experience for granted. Make something of it.
Do you have any more tips in regard to avoiding common mistakes? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
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