We often hear of the things that we should not forget to do when we are going on a trip, but rarely do we hear about what to avoid. Taking a vacation should allow you to sightsee, relax, and take a break from any stresses in your life. Regardless of where you plan on going or what you plan on doing, there are a few basic principles that everyone should know. In my travels, I have compiled a list of things to avoid when traveling. Here are the seven things that I wish I thought about before traveling.
Avoid Not Looking Into Flight Options
When booking your flight, you might not give too much thought to the times that are listed. I know I have been guilty of this. While it seems like a harmless thing to overlook, knowing which times are available and how long your layovers are can help you in picking a time that will provide a stress-free travel day. Everyone knows that traveling to your destination is not when the fun necessarily begins, but that is no reason to do everything you can to mitigate the stress. If you have connecting flights I strongly suggest that you find an option that ensures that you will have enough time. It is not uncommon for flights to be delayed, gates to change, and airports to be confusing. This is especially helpful for international flights, as passengers are sometimes required to re-check their luggage. Avoid overlooking different flight options to ensure that your travel day is stress free.
Avoid Giving in to Jet Lag
If you are traveling to a destination in a different time zone, you will most likely struggle with jet lag. Whatever you do, try your best to sync yourself to the time zone that you are traveling to. For instance, if you land at around 2 p.m. and you are really tired, I would recommend that you stay awake until at least 9 p.m. By avoiding naps and odd sleeping times, you will be shortening your jet lag. Additionally, viewing the sunrise and/or sunset may help sync your body’s circadian rhythm to the time zone. Wherever you are going, I can not overstate the importance of allowing your body to sync with the time zone. Avoiding naps and odd sleeping schedules will prepare you for your long days of sightseeing and travel!
Avoid Overpacking
I cannot stress this enough – AVOID OVERPACKING. While I have this listed in my post, 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Studying Abroad, it is so important to know. I understand that when traveling you want to bring your best clothes, however, packing less will cause you less stress. This is especially true if you are planning on using public transportation in your travels. The first time that I traveled to Europe I decided to bring two suitcases and a backpack. While some may argue that this is not a great amount, I would like to kindly remind all of you that not every country offers elevators or transportation options that allow you to easily transport all of this. I have found that by only bringing what I truly need, I allow for an easier time when traveling to my destinations.
Avoid Overbooking Your Trip
Traveling in a foreign place can be very exciting. There are so many things to see, do, and eat. While booking tours is a wonderful idea, there is a thing as “overbooking” your vacation. While you want to gain a better understanding and knowledge of the area, you also want to give yourself time to relax and enjoy it on your own. By overbooking your trip, you will most likely burn yourself out and turn your “relaxing” vacation into a stressful one. Do yourself a favor and give yourself time to just relax.
Avoid Planning Everything Last Minute
On the other side of the last tip, you also want to avoid planning everything at the last minute. This is especially true if you are traveling to a destination that is popular among other tourists. By waiting until the last minute, there is no guarantee that you will be able to obtain tickets to see everything that you would like to see. This includes tickets for museums, tours, events, etc. Give yourself enough time in advance to book a couple of things that you really want to see.
Avoid Not Doing Your Research
When visiting a different place, you can not avoid doing your research. Customs in each place vary, and for this reason it is extremely important that you educate yourself on what is considered acceptable and what is considered unacceptable. This applies to various areas, including: clothing, tipping, driving, etc. By reading up on the customs of your destination, you will be more prepared and ready to take on anything that is thrown your way. The first time that I traveled to London, I spent the first couple of days tipping my waiters between 15-20% tips, a custom that is standard in the states. What I did not know was that, while tipping is seen as very kind, it is not typical to tip every service worker the 15-20% that I was used to.
Avoid Not Being in the Present
Ultimately the biggest thing that you want to avoid while traveling is not being present in the moment. Vacations are full of picture-taking and sightseeing, but the greatest value can be found by just allowing yourself to live in the present. No vacation will be absolutely seamless, but it is through these imperfections that lifelong stories are made. So, don’t worry about planning the “perfect” vacation – it does not exist. If something does not go to plan, don’t allow yourself to get wrapped up in how things didn’t go perfectly, just move on.
Those are the seven things that I would avoid when traveling. I hope that this list will be helpful for all of you who are planning on traveling in the coming months. It is my hope that my experience with travel will help other like minded individuals make the most of their journeys. Stay tuned because I have some exciting news to share with all of you very soon! As always, I hope that you continue to wonder with me.