We all make mistakes, don’t we? Even if you’re traveling solo or you have traveled multiple times, people tend to make some mistakes that end up in a disappointing trip and there are only regrets after a moment.
Hence note these common first-time traveling mistakes that you can avoid while you’re on a trip!
If this is your first time, and traveling solo, explore the Best Cities to Travel alone in the USA as your first trip.
Having that said, let’s dive into Common First time traveling mistakes to avoid so make sure you keep these points in mind for you to take your trip.
Are you planning to take your First Solo Trip? We’re here to help you with Safe Solo Traveling Tips for Women, which you can consider before you pack!
1. Overpacking
The most common mistake that we do while traveling is Overpacking, the reason that we focus on what we “might need” more than we actually need. We don’t need a lot.
Just like a nice pair of jeans that can be worn multiple times without even washing, you need to list out essentials that you can’t do with, things you can skip, and packing light as much as possible.
Women get tempted to pack more outfits, makeup, and toiletries than they need and then regret the trip as they can’t shop extra, or sometimes they need to pay for extra baggage!
Here are a few things you can keep in mind:
- Pack Anti-Stink Clothes.
- Pack minimum makeup and toilet essentials.
- Pack travel friendly shoes in neutrals so that they match all outfits.
2. Over Ambitious Itinerary
Of course, we want to visit every attraction possible as we don’t want to miss out on anything but overscheduling a trip will only end up chaotic and all you’ll remember is checking in to a new destination, hustling to tour the whole day, and return home exhausted.
There’s a different satisfaction that comes with getting lost in a new city and exploring the unknown and that is only possible when you’re a little free on planning the itinerary.
Here are a few things you can keep in mind:
- Always plan locations that are nearby to visit together
- A day should not consist more locations than 2-3 as you’ll also required time to walk, eat and experience the unplanned.
3. Unrealistic Budget
Budgeting plays a huge part while traveling. First of all, it’s important to make a basic budget list before you actually leave, try to stick on the same plan until something important or an emergency situation comes along.
You might be very good with money management but overspending during traveling is an issue every traveler faces at some point of the time.
Here are a few things you can keep in mind:
- Don’t compromise on accomodation and food but still keep an average spending buget for the same.
- Plan on the major activities apart from room, food and travel and keep a tap of your extra spendings.
- For adventure activities make sure to compare prices.
4. Booking Sustainable tours
Some of the travelers mention their guilt for not booking sustainable and ethical tours. By that, we mean that while you’re planning a trip to places like Safari, making sure the company keeps a good distance from animals and not harming them is of utmost importance.
Make sure you ask yourself a question are you contributing anything to the environment or not!
Here are a few sustainable travel companies:
- Responsible Travel
- AndBeyond
- Kynder
- Ecocompanion
5. Not double checking documents and booking errors
Check your documents and reservations for everything from hotels, flights, trains, buses, etc, and recheck them, again and again, to make sure you don’t miss out on anything.
In addition, keep a tab of personal documents for security reasons.
Here are a few things you can keep in mind:
- Always make sure that your name is spelled right in all your documents
- Keep a fanny pack handy to store all your essentials.
6. Not buying Insurance
Spend an extra few dollars to buy insurance for emergency situations and you lose any expensive, crucial belongings.
Some of these situations include lost baggage, trip delay or cancellation, medical emergency, you can get travel insurance that will cover your losses for good.
Travel insurances include:
- Loss of Baggage
- Passport Loss
- Health Insurance
7. Not following Local culture
The world will be so boring if all locations had a similar culture, hence it is fun and adventure! Research things like dressing, the length, things that matter, the eating culture, the languages, and things that might offend the locals.
The offending don’ts are important, the important local customs is VERY IMPORTANT!
You can do that by:
- Reading about cutlures online.
- Talking to localites and learning about it more.
Although these are not only the point to remember, you need to also focus keep in mind that you don’t place unrealistic expectations of the place, ignore locals’ advice, smoke or drink a little more while you’re in a foreign land, having knowledge about the foreign taxes and charges, are the things are also to be kept in mind.
