Whether you’re a first-time traveler or a seasoned pro, planning your next trip can be daunting. It’s natural to feel a little overwhelmed, and you’re bound to make a few mistakes. That being said, a lot of mistakes travelers make are 100% avoidable. I’ve done every one of these things several times over, and as easy as they are to do, they’re just as easy to avoid if you know how. OverpackingI am so guilty of this one, particularly when camping. Above is a picture of what I packed for a solo overnight camping trip. I could have gotten away with about half that stuff, but who knows, maybe I will need thirty feet of rope when I sleep in my car! (I didn’t. Obviously.) Clearly I’m still struggling with this one, but I’m actually a lot better than I used to be. When packing, you don’t need to pack for every possible situation. When it comes to clothes, a casual outfit for each day you’ll be traveling, and one night look is usually good for a week or two in a new city. You probably won’t end up using half the stuff you’re thinking about bringing, so get picky. Lay everything you’re considering packing out on the floor, and halve it. Seriously. Cut it in half; you don’t need most of it, and odds are, you won’t miss what you leave behind. If you ever forget to pack something you actually need, odds are you can purchase it wherever you’re travelling--so don’t stress! I once forgot to pack half my socks for a ten day trip to China, and the world didn’t end; I just bought some there. Not budgetingNobody really likes worrying about money and cost, but it needs to be done. A surefire way to have a miserable trip is if you’re spending all your time worrying about running out of money. This one just comes down to planning ahead. Research what things cost beforehand--lodging, flights, travel insurance, transportation, food--and don’t shy away from saving up more than you think you’ll need. Even if you have to delay your departure date a little bit, it will be worth it to have that cushion behind you. Overplanning…You don’t need to plan out every minute of your day; it’s okay to take time to relax and go with the flow. If I hadn’t worked some flexible time into my last trip to Utah, I would never have had the opportunity to take up a ranger’s recommendation to visit Snow Canyon--one of my new favorite parks! Part of what causes people to overplan is worrying too much. Yes, you should definitely have a plan, but you don’t need to micromanage your time. You’re traveling to have fun and experience the beauty of this world--so let yourself! ...but also underplanning!While overplanning sucks, the fastest way to ruin a city for yourself is to have no idea what to do when you’re there. The first time I went to Portland, I had only half a day there, and ended up really disliking my time there because I had no idea what to do! Before you travel, do your research. Like I said, you don’t need to plan out every little detail, but know what a place’s highlights are and what makes it special. In planning what I most want to do, I also like to keep a few back-up ideas in mind in case my original ideas fall through or take less time than I thought. Doing your research also involves the less-fun stuff, like budgeting, shots, and visas. Know if you need to get a visa before you travel or if you can get one when you arrive; if you need proof of an onward flight in order to be allowed into the country; and how long you’re allowed to stay. The bottom line is this: be prepared, do your research to make your travels as stress-free as possible, but try not to get super stressed in the planning stages, either. You can do this, so don’t fret! See more adventures!If you liked this post, you may also like:
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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