The Biggest Mistakes Rookie Travelers Can Make

BY KAYLA BEIRNE

If you are a homebody who doesn’t explore the world, it helps to know the biggest mistakes rookie travelers can make and follow the best tactics.

The excitement of your vacation can lead to multiple short-sighted decisions. Learning the biggest mistakes of rookie travelers can help you avoid any complications.

Packing Too Much

Novice travelers tend to make the grave mistake of trying to fit their entire closet into multiple bags. You’re not moving out of your home, so you don’t need months’ worth of wardrobe options. Additionally, you will be in different places around strangers, so no one will know you’re wearing the same shirt you had on the day before.

Packing light allows you to bring home souvenirs from your trip without having to ditch any items you brought from home. If you want to pack for an emergency, stick with small garments like underwear. You can always spend money at a gift shop for an overpriced shirt.

Overextending Yourself

Taking advantage of your free time and seeing things you never have before can overwhelm you in a flash. Overextending yourself will cause burnout, and staying in your hotel room will eventually be what you crave the most.

To avoid that feeling, diligently schedule your trip and stick with the plan. Don’t try to cram more things into your limited schedule; if you’re running on empty as is, it’s wise to cut some plans from your itinerary. The last few days of your travels will be a drag if you slow down after one jammed-pack day.

Not Sleeping

When you overextend yourself, sleep is the first thing you kick to the wayside. Trying to function on multiple nights of four hours or less sleep is exhausting. Sleep is important when traveling because lack of sleep opens the door to negative consequences, like falling ill. Fighting off a virus is a struggle, so avoid spending most of your vacation burying your face in tissues by getting the necessary rest. Sleep while you travel if possible; the sky will look the same when you leave, as will the questionable movie options.

Winging It

Improvisation may be your strong suit, but winging everything on your trip is a recipe for disaster. You can’t take advantage of your limited time if you land without a plan. Rookie travelers in the camp of “we’ll figure it out” will miss out on opportunities, wasting hours as you walk aimlessly without a purpose. A travel advisor can fill you in on the must-sees of your visit.

You can enjoy your first vacation by avoiding the biggest mistakes rookie travelers can make. It will prepare you for your first lengthy excursion and the following voyages, becoming a seasoned traveler ready to take on the world.