Traveling With Torie

First time traveling abroad? Taking your first solo trip? Don’t make these mistakes while on your trip! Mistakes are inevitable because no one is perfect, but some mistakes can lead to a disaster while abroad! Here are 15 common mistakes to avoid while traveling:

Overpacking

When will I learn?? At least learn from me if you can! Only pack exactly what you will need and use. Don’t pack what you THINK you might use, but honestly, you won’t use it. I still do this every time. If you happen to forget anything, you may be able to buy it in your destination.

Forgetting Your Budget

Don’t run out of money!! If you are like me, you budget down to the dollar for your trips. This means I cannot go over what I have allowed myself to spend! Over spending will cause you to run out of money before you even leave your destination. Go ahead and over budget always, that way you have money leftover if anything! Be realistic though and stick to it.

Here’s a helpful tip: If you are on a long-term trip, make weekly transfers from your savings to your checking account (like a paycheck). This way you will only give yourself just what you need for the week and not be tempted to spend more!

Booking Flights with Short Layovers

So far I have not had a huge issue with this! Even domestic travel, keep in mind that too short of a layover will cause you to miss your connecting flight sometimes! An hour is my minimum no matter where I am flying. The larger the airport, the longer you should allow yourself to layover. It is best, though, to give yourself at least a couple of hours incase you experience a delay, long customs line (ALWAYS), and/or long distances between terminals. You may even have all of these in one day, which would make for a very long day…

Not Buying Insurance

Always buy the insurance. Spend the extra dollars to give you a feeling of security in case something happens. Insurance typically will cover medical emergency, lost/delayed baggage, and trip cancellation/delay.

Not Notifying the Bank of Future Foreign Transactions

Avoid having your debit card canceled while you are abroad!! Banks will cancel your debit card if there is “unusual activity!” Let the bank know the day before (or in advance) which countries that you will be traveling to so they know it is you using your card.

Not Making Copies of Important Documents

Just in case you lose your documents, keep copies (multiple) with you to quicken the renewal process if needed. HOPEFULLY, you will be just fine, but I always make at least 3 copies and keep them in different locations when traveling abroad!

Have hard copies of your passport, ID, credit cards, travel insurance policy, etc… and a digital copy stored safely where only you can access it.

Being Culturally Insensitive

Avoid unintentionally insulting the country you are visiting. Before your trip, learn about the culture. While you are there, try to understand the culture and your surroundings. Have an open mind and absorb the culture to have a better experience and avoid making this mistake!

Having All Your Money in One Place

The worst thing you can do is keep all your money in one place. If you take out cash, you likely know that you won’t need ALL of it in just one day. Don’t bring it all with you while you are out exploring. Keep some safely tucked away wherever you are staying. Some accommodations provide safety deposit boxes, utilize these while you’re there!

Drinking Too Much

Drinking too much can not only deplete your budget, but can put you at higher risk of being robbed or injured. Be safe and only drink in moderation- know your limits. Find other ways to relieve stress while abroad!

Not Doing Enough Research

The more you research in advance, the more you will know! The more you know, the more likely you are to enjoy your experience. Quickly research your destination before arriving and having no clue what to do! There is so much more research I believe people should do than just what there is to do, but at least don’t come with nothing at all.

Relying Totally on Guidebooks

Guidebooks are there to help inform your travel, but should not be solely used to plan your trip. Go interact with other travelers (visit their blog) and talk to those at your destination for things to do and place to go! There is a lot more to a place than what a guidebook will tell you.

Having an Overly-Ambitious Itinerary

I’m guilty of this too. Lately I’ve had to learn to be flexible while traveling! Don’t be afraid to change your plans, especially due to shortage of money or the weather. Be aware of the time it takes to get from one place to another. You might not have time to do EVERYTHING on your trip, and that is okay. I have missed a tour, got on the wrong bus, and many other things that have caused my plans to change, but it did allow me to see other things I wouldn’t have seen before!

After my visit to Munich, I realized there was SO much more to see than what I thought and there was just no way I could see it all. Guess I’ll just have to visit again soon?

Using Airport Currency Exchange Kiosks

Save yourself some money and avoid the airport exchange kiosk. They have horrible rates and fees. I usually exchange through my bank before I leave. Look at the exchange rates and find the place with the best rate and little to no fees.

Exposing Your Valuables- Tempting Pickpockets

Don’t make yourself susceptible to pickpockets. I fortunately have not had any run-ins with pickpockets, but they are out there! Be smart and don’t expose your valuables. If you don’t need them, don’t wear them.

As for expensive gadgets, carry them with you in a locked bag and only use them as necessary.

Ignoring Local’s Advice

Evaluate the advice of a local. This isn’t to say to just take their advice because they are right, but no one knows the area better than them. Take what they say into consideration! Who knows, maybe their advice will save you a couple of dollars here and there?