08 Mar 10 Travel Mistakes To Avoid
Ineffective Planning
One of the most common mistakes made by new travelers is ineffective researching and planning before the most important aspects of their upcoming trip. Last minute flights, changes in hotel reservations and not creating a reasonable itinerary and schedule can cost you a lot of money but can also leave you very disappointed in the event that hotels, restaurants and attractions are sold out or booked solid. When it comes to planning your trip, you will want to begin planning as soon as possible to ensure that no important detail is left out that would have a negative influence on the quality of your trip.
Ineffective Budget
One of the oversights travelers make besides not planning early, is not setting a reasonable budget. Once you have decided on your destination and a rough timeline as to when you plan to travel, set up a budget immediately. You will want to start by writing down all the current expenses associated with your upcoming travel which includes estimations for hotel charges, rental cars, flights, attractions, insurance, travel and food. That way, not only will you be able to create an overview of what to expect but minimize any unwarranted surprises during your trip. Setting a budget well in advance also makes it easier for you to strategize ways to cut costs, save money and get prepared.
Outdated Information
Make sure that you do your research on the country’s entry requirements or the places you plan to visit. The last thing you need is for your trip to be cancelled because you don’t have the right documentation to be allowed entry. Most countries also require that your passport be valid for at least six months after arrival, so make sure you check the expiration date well in advance and renew it ahead of time, if necessary. Some countries require verification that you’ve received immunization prior to allowing you entry, of which will ask proof that you’ve been vaccinated against yellow fever. Make sure to make copies of all important travel documents in the event you lose your original copies, print out these hard copies prior to travelling and keep a copy on you at all times. Also check for the latest Covid 19 travel related restrictions and entry requirements at your destination prior to your trip and you are required to have the correct travel documents that are up to date. Some countries are also considering vaccine passports including South Africa as a strategy to curb the spread of the virus as such it important to keep up with the latest Covid 19 updates, you can do this on Travel Restrictions (joinsher pa.com) which is a helpful site that has all the updated travel requirements for every country or destination.
Over-packing
Travel excitement will make you want to pack outfits for every single occasion possible which is highly not necessary when travelling. Overpacking makes it hard to get around with your luggage and may get you stuck with high baggage fees for accidentally exceeding the weight limit. Instead, when packing put side things you plan to wear and then select the stuff that you actually need because you will not wear them all even if you want to if you overpack, therefore creating unnecessary expenses discussed in the previous blog. Also check baggage allowance as this varies for each airline, the common allowance for international flights varies from 20kg – 35kg per bag for Economy. Business Class and First Class baggage allowance ranges between 40kg – 50kg. Some airlines allow one or two checked bags per passenger depending on the destination.
Not Confirming
One of the common mistakes that travelers often make is failing to confirm reservations. This includes flights, hotels and even attractions, in case the weather has caused changes to occur, or flights have been delayed. Double-check that if any of your flights have been delayed or rescheduled, that they still align with any connecting flights you have booked. You also need to double-check any travel documents, including your passport, visa (if required), and other identification. And finally, make sure your credit cards aren’t set to expire shortly before or during your trip.
Not having the Local Currency
As soon as you leave the airport, you will notice that it is rather beneficial to have local currency for things like transportation or cab rides, visiting local markets, buying street food or souvenirs because many of these places don’t accept or require credit cards. The exchange rate is always different from one country, if you do not purchase it in advance you might end up paying extra amount for the exchange rate last minute. Withdrawing money from the airport’s ATMs also gives you better exchange rates, so it’s better to take out the amount that you need and maybe a little extra for emergencies.
Not Informing Your Credit Card Company/ Institution of Your Travel Plans
Upon departure, notify your bank, or any other financial institution whose services you might require while traveling. Credit cards have become the most efficient way of handling payments and most of the people use them while traveling. As such if you are planning to do so as well remember that it is necessary to inform your bank that you will be leaving the country so that they can allow you to use it overseas as well. This is because banks, or credit card companies will flag foreign transactions in case of credit card fraud and may freeze your account, so be sure you inform your company ahead of time. While you are doing this, you can also find out if they charge a foreign transaction fee, so there are no surprises during your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance is very important because it covers a lot of travel related issues such as delayed or missed flights, missing luggage, health and other unplanned occurrences that might disturb you while traveling. Therefore, do not take travel insurance lightly because things do not always go according to plan as such it is safer and comfortable to know that in the case of an unexpected occurrence that can affect your trip you are covered. Having travel insurance is crucial now due to the global Covid 19 pandemic, therefore when making decisions about which insurance to choose, look out for a plans that cover Covid-related trip cancellations and medical expenses in case of an emergency because not all travel insurance plans cover Covid-related issues.
Not doing your research about the Weather:
Weather is always unpredictable, therefore relying on the average climate of a country may prove to be inaccurate on some occasions. Do some research about the weather during the duration of your travel and make sure to pack the clothes accordingly. Even if the weather is warm in that country, always pack one or two warmer clothes and jacket or jersey in case the weather changes. This way you can avoid having to buy these when the weather happens to change.
Valuables
It is advised that you should always keep your valuables stored in a safe place while traveling and keep them stored away safely where you are staying. Do not leave your handbags at restaurants or rest areas unattended where there is a high chance that it might get stolen. Tourists sometimes find themselves in an unfortunate position of being targeted especially in touristy areas with high tourist traffic, therefore remember to be alert at all times especially if you are a lone traveler as it might get risky depending on the on which area or destination you are in.