10 Painful Travel Mistakes You Need to Avoid

Travel Blogging Blunders You should Avoid

Nothing beats the experience of freely traveling the world and seeing new sights! Although it may seem like a dream, there’s always things that can go wrong. I’ve made many travel mistakes over the years of travel blogging. Each turned into its own lesson and transformed me into a wiser wanderer. Here’s my top 10 painful travel mistakes I’ve made and how you can avoid them.

1. Over packing

Probably one of everyone’s travel mistakes, bringing too much stuff. Especially for a budget traveler like myself, over packing ends up costing way more money and energy than it’s worth. From backpacking around Italy, to rolling a massive luggage throughout the streets of Rio de Janeiro, I always wished I brought less stuff. Try to travel as light as you can to fit in more souvenirs!

2. Not backing up pictures and videos

This one is still painful. The photos you take on a trip are the memories you can look back at for life. If you’re using a phone or camera, consider backing up the files at the end of each night. It’s a bad day when you lose your camera or your phone gets stolen. Failing to copy my files is the reason why I don’t have a legitimate Seoul, Korea vlog. Damn you Trickeye museum.

3. Not considering layover times

When you first book a trip, the excitement of getting there overshadows the thought of how. There have been times when I wanted to explore a city but didn’t have enough time to leave the airport. There has also been times when I booked a cheaper flight with a 20 hour layover and couldn’t wait for it to end. Depending on what kind of trip you have planned, it could be nice to pick flights that will either give you more time to explore another city or get you to your destination without any delays. Who knows when you’ll be in that part of the world again!

4. Not buying enough souvenirs

Every travel destination has its own distinct souvenirs to acquire. Unique items that can’t be found anywhere else. Anything you buy on your journey is going to have great sentimental value that will keep your memories from fading. It’s okay to indulge in items that bring you back to a certain place in Time.

5. Not taking more time off for vacation

Almost every single trip leaves me with this premonition: wishing I had more time. I’m sure everyone experiences this ephemeral feeling at the end of their trip. The best way to handle this travel mistake is to try and have a flexible job schedule. For a more tips on how I travel the world while working full time, check out this blog.

6. Checking a luggage

This travel mistake goes hand in hand with packing light. Regardless if your 1st checked bag is free or not, I would still avoid doing it. It’s much faster to grab you bags and head out when they are with you. Avoiding a checked-bag can also mitigate the risk of losing it and ruining your trip. Especially when you have layovers, carrying on your luggage can save you some headaches.

7. An exhaustive itinerary

Each journey is the dichotomy of wanting to see as much as possible, and wanting to relax. My itineraries are usually loaded with a massive amount of sights to see, so it can be a bit overwhelming. I’m always grateful for the places I get to go, yet always burnt-out by the end of it. Sometimes it’s better not to plan too much so you can embrace the euphoria of each moment. Leaving extra time for unexpected events is always a pleasant surprise as well.

8. Not reserving tickets in advance

It’s impossible to plan every single detail for a trip. There have been a few occasions where I didn’t expect an attraction to sell out or had ridiculously long lines. Double checking the must-see excursions online for advanced reservations can ensure you get in. Securing a guide in for The Vatican was a perfect example of this.

9. Being afraid to travel alone

Going to a foreign country alone can be intimidating. I used to have fears of getting lost or being lonely. After my first solo trip, I can confidently say that those thoughts were exaggerated. Traveling alone allows you to learn even more about yourself and grants the freedom to choose everything you want to do. I’ve also met many friends on every solo trip. I would encourage anyone to cast the doubts aside and experience the tranquility of traveling by yourself.

10. Not being more mindful of each moment

It’s easy to get distracted with all the technology at our fingertips. We arrive at a beautiful destination and become obsessed with capturing the best pictures or rushing to see the next sight on our list. We become so absorbed with everything going perfectly we forget to just be in the moment. It is important to be mindful for the ambiance to have a deeper impression on our lives. In between recording video footage and thinking of the best instagram post, I sometimes wish I could just relish in the moment.

And there you have it! The top 10 travel mistakes I’ve made while wandering the globe. I hope you guys can avoid these and truly enjoy your next adventure. It may never be perfect, but at least you’ll have some insight on how to make it more enjoyable! Thanks for reading and keep leveling up!