5 Ways To Ruin Your Vacation (And How To Avoid Them)
Traveling is a lot of fun, but more often than not it can be hard work, too. You might feel a bit frustrated if your plans don't go accordingly. We all want our vacations to be perfect. After all, with all the time and money we spend on them, an unenjoyable day seems like a major waste. But are you planning your vacation the right way? Don't let your lost luggage or poor planning get in the way of your perfect holiday. Prevent potential problems by avoiding these five mistakes.
Mistake 1: You only socialize with the people you're travelling with.
It’s the easy way out to just talk to the person you’re with, but it doesn’t make for nearly as enriching an experience. And especially if you're visiting an all-inclusive resort, it's all too easy to travel abroad without meeting any locals. But is that really travelling?
The fix: Be open to talking to people along the way. Whether it's your taxi driver, a shop owner or another tourist on your group tour. You never know who you might meet, or what you might learn.
Mistake 2: You take things too seriously.
Every trip you take, there something is bound to go wrong. That's just life. If you can laugh about it, it makes things that much better. Sure, worry a little about keeping your passport safe and getting to the airport on time and hoping that the airline doesn't lose your luggage. But worrying about every single little thing that might go wrong during the whole trip – or anything, which hasn't gone accordingly, isn't exactly going to be a whole lot of fun.
The fix: Have a sense of humour about things. Don't take yourself so seriously! Besides, learning to have fun even in unexpected situations is a skill that will serve you throughout life, not just when you're travelling.
Mistake 3: You only do thins you've done before.
Sure, your hotel room likely comes with a TV and multiple channels. But did you really travel just to watch "Pretty Woman" with subtitles? Didn't think so. The worst travel regret is always the things you didn't do or try.
The fix: Get out of your comfort zone and try something different when you’re away. Do something that you can’t do at home – you can watch TV or sit in a bar anywhere!
Mistake 4: You neglect the status of your passport.
Passports expiring too soon can cause problems, as many countries require that they're valid for six months beyond your travel dates, and also blank pages to stamp for both entry and exiting.
The fix: Prevent problems by ensuring both that your passport has enough empty pages for the trip you're going on, and that its expiry is far in the future. While you're at it, make a photocopy, scan or digital photo and store it somewhere you can access it in case of loss or theft.
Mistake 5: You forget to check on entry requirements.
As an American, we have it pretty easy when it comes to travelling abroad. There are plenty of countries that allow us entry either visa-free or with some quick paperwork at the border. Others require planning ahead and obtaining a Visa. If you don’t have the proper documents, they won’t let you into the country.
The fix: A quick Google search will tell you what you need to know. Just make sure to do the research earlier than the night before your trip – some visas can take weeks to procure.
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