Guest Author
There is nothing better than going on that first ever travel adventure. Whether you’re building a van to take on the open road or you’re grabbing a backpack to hitchhike instead, traveling is an experience you’ll never forget. If this is your first time traveling, however, it can feel a little daunting. How do you know where to go, what to do, and how to deal with whatever travel life throws at you? Never fear! Here are 5 mistakes that first-time travelers make, so you can avoid falling into the same traps.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Not doing enough research
Before you hit the road on your travel adventure, it’s important you do plenty of research into where you want to go, what you want to see, and how you’re going to get to all of those places. Look into the different types of accommodation available, attraction opening times, and even the best restaurants in the area. Make some notes so that you have a good idea of all the wheres, whats, and hows.
Overbooking yourself
While doing a lot of research is a good idea, make sure you don’t overbook yourself. Trying to fill your days will only lead to you feeling exhausted before the trip has even really begun. Make sure you leave enough space to go on spontaneous adventures, have some downtime, and to head off the beaten track. You’ll thank yourself when you’ve got spare time during your travels to just be!
Getting on the wrong side of the law
Not every country has the same laws as your home country! This is particularly the case if you’re going to be driving around on your travels. According to The Secret Traveller at 1Cover, there are some really wacky driving laws that you need to be aware of. Did you know, for example, you can get a fine in Belarus for driving a dirty car?! It’s not just driving laws you need to be aware of, however, as some places also have rules on what you can (and can’t) wear, behavior in public, and legal drinking ages. Make sure you’ve brushed up on any laws of the countries you want to visit.
Running out of money
This is easily the biggest mistake that all first-time travelers make – underestimating your budget! There’s nothing worse than finding out you have to cut your trip short because you have run out of money. You should definitely make a travel budget and give yourself an extra 10-20% as a rainy day fund. This will be handy if you’re ever in an emergency or have any cash stolen. Leave some money at home, too, just in case you need to get a flight home sooner than you thought.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Freaking out
Finally, a big mistake that first-time travelers make – and definitely shouldn’t – is panicking. All of this stuff to think about can seem so daunting, but you really don’t need to worry. You’re likely to meet lots of incredible new people on your journey who also freaked out before they set off; now they’re traveling the world and living the dream. Take a couple of deep breaths, tells yourself you can do this, and get going!
These are just some of the most common mistakes that first-time travelers make – so hopefully you can now avoid making them! Do you have any others to add to the list? Let me know in the comments.
The post 5 Mistakes First-Time Travelers Make appeared first on Divine On The road.
