Like many people I love travelling, and it’s exciting to plan new trips and experience a location for the first time.
However, practice makes perfect when travel planning and the more you do it the better you get at it. During the first few adventures, those new to the experience might make a few mistakes. Not all of them are so terrible, either, and can be thought of more as happy accidents that lead to some unique experiences.
Some errors should be avoided thought and these mishaps can ruin a travel experience, potentially driving up costs or even putting you in a risky situation.
We’d like to offer some advice to help you stay on the right side of the ‘travel mistakes line’. Read on for some tips.
Overpacking
We often err on the side of caution, with many people thinking ‘better to be safe than sorry’ when packing suitcases in preparation for travel.
However, this can be an expensive mistake as it was reported that UK travellers dumped a staggering £207,000,000 in toiletries and makeup, a figure partly attributed to overpacking for travel. The same source also revealed that the average traveller only uses three-quarters of their luggage anyway. It’s quite eye-opening, highlighting how expensive this problem can be.
It should go without saying, but only take what you need on your trip. It’s not just about the wasted money, either. Heavy luggage is harder to carry and if you are visiting a few locations it can be a pain to lug around, particularly on public transport.
Moreover, overpacking may even raise the likelihood of injury, or even having things stolen or damaged during travel. So, its worth travelling as light as you can, by having a plan of what you might wear each day and taking travel-sized toiletries. Find out what the hotel provides as you may not need to take towels, hairdryer or many other essentials.
Not thinking of the environment
Nearly all forms of travel generate emissions and there aren’t many holidays you can take without some impact to the environment.
However, you can take steps which minimise your carbon footprint. We’ve mentioned overpacking as a problem already, but that, too, can contribute to creating more emissions. The heavier the weight your car is, the more fuel it needs to consume to operate effectively.
There are other travel habits that are more likely to harm the environment, too; for example not shopping locally, taking indirect flights, choosing unethical tours and hotel providers, and even requesting daily hotel cleanings.
While you can’t be expected to spend your entire holiday obsessively worrying about every action you take, you should try to be mindful of the things you do and your responsibility to the planet as you travel around it.
Travelling without insurance
Even with the best laid plans, things can go wrong on holiday. It’s important to safeguard your well-being and not take unnecessary risks.
I’ve had to claim on travel insurance when I’ve cancelled due to family illness, and also for medical cover abroad. On top of that I’ve received payouts for trips which were affected by the pandemic.
I would never travel without adequate insurance to cover our adventures abroad. That’s doubly true for long-haul trips to Australia and other far-flung destinations, where medical treatment can be eye-wateringly expensive if something goes wrong. Fortunately, there are plenty of insurance providers out there, for example the holiday cover by Staysure as they protect your belongings and cover you in case of an accident or emergency. You should check insurers are covering the location or locations you choose to go to, as this is an important safety net you should have ticked off before you go travelling.
Always check the excess, as you can often pay a small extra premium to get a zero excess, which you’ll be grateful for if you need to claim. Also, arrange insurance as soon as you book the holiday so that you’re covered for cancellation if something arises in the meantime. And finally, always declare all your medical conditions as it can be expensive to get medical treatment abroad.
Other things that can go wrong
Of course, you might experience other problems travelling, such as forgetting your passport or not getting it renewed in time (I’ve done that!). In some countries it helps to know how to avoid being pickpocketed because it can be rife – do check reviews of where you’re going to on TripAdvisor to see if anyone mentions it. Make sure you pack plenty of Factor 50 to avoid getting surnburn and do take care if hiring scooters or mopeds as accidents are common – it’s another scenario where it pays to have the best insurance when you most need it.