If you’replanning your first overseas trip, you’re probably losing sleep because of too much excitement. After all, travel offers the prospect of novelty, adventure, relaxation, socialisation, and the potential for learning and personal growth. But before you drown in anticipation, you may need to first focus on planning for your upcoming trip. Otherwise, you may end up committing mistakes that can waste your money, time, and energy—or even rob you of a satisfying and relaxing vacation.
Learning from the mistakes of other travellers can help you successfully navigate your first overseas adventure. From booking dodgy accommodations to wearing uncomfortable shoes, here are some of these newbie traveller mistakes and what you can do to avoid them.
Booking Lodging Based Solely on Price
Opting for the cheapest accommodation option without considering other factors is probably the most common mistake many rookie travellers make because inexpensive does not always mean the best choice. To find the most suitable accommodations for you and your party, you need to consider location, the purpose of travel, and many other factors. If you book solely on price, you may end up spending more on transportation and other services since incredibly cheap places are often poorly maintained, inaccessible, and inconvenient.
If you are travelling to the Lion City, for example. Booking Singapore Airport accommodation is probably the best choice after weighing all factors. For one, you can rest comfortably as soon as you arrive and catch your flight back without worrying about your commute or the traffic. You can also save money on transportation costs since you can enjoy all the remarkable attractions in Jewel Changi Airport and explore other places more conveniently using public transportation with minimal expense.
Wanting to See and Do Everything
Many first-time travellers plan too many activities in a single trip that they overexert and stress themselves instead of enjoying the experience. While it is understandable that you want to take advantage of the opportunity to explore everything you can while you’re there, doing this can reduce your journey into a mere activity of completing “to-do” and “to-see” lists.
Be realistic when planning your itinerary, especially if you are only vacationing for a day or two. Prioritise must-visit attractions and allot a few hours of free time each day. This way, you can relish each destination, explore hidden gems, and soak up the beauty of the place.
Packing Too Much Stuff
If you want to know how you can readily distinguish newbies from seasoned travellers, you often only need to look at their luggage. The gigantic and bulky suitcases usually belong to rookies, while the neatly-packed small bags are the signposts of veterans. Naturally, you should take your cue from the experienced ones and pack light as much as you can.
No matter how tempting it is to bring all your favourite outfits and several pairs of shoes to look stylish in your travel photos, resist the urge. Remember, you can never go wrong with travelling light. Aside from saving on baggage fees, you can get around faster, take public transportation with greater ease, and protect your belongings better when you pack light. Don’t worry about looking shabby because you can always pack versatile clothing pieces that you can readily mix and match to create different outfits. You can also elevate your outfit of the day using the right accessories.
Taking Too Many Pictures
Snapping too many photos to capture every little detail of the trip is another common rookie traveller mistake you should avoid. Travelling is more than a mere activity or an opportunity to fill your social media feed with enviable images. It is an experience. That means you should be fully present to savour the moment and keep it in your memory.
Did you know that most people tend to get distracted and miss beautiful moments when they focus too much on documenting everything? As such, make a conscious effort to immerse yourself in the experience instead of worrying too much about whether you have enough pictures to remember your vacation. Relax, pay attention to your surroundings, mingle with the locals, and be grateful. Do these things, and you will undoubtedly create meaningful and lovely memories—even with just a few photos.
Wearing Stylish Yet Uncomfortable Shoes
Many newbie travellers sacrifice comfort for visual appeal when choosing shoes for travelling, which is a huge mistake. Unless you want your feet to suffer from pain and fatigue or stay immobile most of your trip, you should wear ultra-comfortable pairs of footwear—shoes that feel and look good.
Perhaps you can invest in high-quality white leather sneakers (or similar styles) because they can support your feet well and are easy to maintain. They also complement most outfits and can be dressed up or down. You can explore different places, try exciting activities, and have fun no matter the time of the day with such a pair of stylish yet comfortable footwear.
Travelling overseas for the first time is one of the most exciting experiences you can ever have. However, if you fail to prepare well, you will probably commit costly mistakes that can ruin what could have been the perfect vacation. That said, keep the abovementioned tips in mind and as you plan for your trip to ensure a satisfying and more meaningful journey.
