As a novice traveler, it can be even more challenging to ensure that you have all of your bases covered before and throughout your trip. Ahead, you'll find five frequent mistakes tourists make, including some advice on how to avoid them all.
Avoid Exchanging Currency At The Airport.
If you do that, you will receive the worst exchange rates possible. It would be better for you just to set fire to your money. Once you are inside the city and away from the airport, the best option to get the best exchange rate is to use a credit card or an ATM. It will get you as near the rate the interbank uses as possible and will ensure that you are not being taken advantage of. Never switch currency unless there is an urgent necessity for it. If you do find yourself in need of currency exchange, it is recommended that you do so at a bank located in the downtown area because you will receive better rates and pay fewer costs.
Avoid Eating Near A Major Tourist Site.
Food near famous attractions will be twice as expensive and half as flavorful as elsewhere. When restaurants know their customers aren't returning, they don't have to worry about maintaining consistent quality. What, after all, do tourists know about good local meals? They have just arrived in the city! It's all significant to them, and many are glad to return home and tell their friends about eating "excellent" pizza at the front of the Colosseum. Restaurants in tourist locations have little incentive to be excellent.
Local, non-touristy restaurants, on the other hand, must be of excellent quality, or residents would abandon them. These establishments cannot survive by serving slop. Rather than eating in a tourist attraction, walk at least five streets away. The further you travel, the cheaper & tastier the cuisine. Also, steer clear of establishments with multilingual menus. That's a dead giveaway of a tourist trap.
Travel Insurance Is A Must.
It may seem like a silly extra cost, but travel is all about what you don't know. On the road, anything can happen at any time. You could break a leg, end up losing a camera, or pop an eardrum while scuba diving. A natural disaster could also force you to leave a country. Travel insurance keeps you safe when traveling abroad, so you shouldn't skip it. It's the smart thing to do. In case of a medical emergency, it is there to protect you.
If you don't have insurance and something terrible happens, you could have to pay thousands of dollars out of your pocket. A friend of mine stopped paying for insurance because she wasn't using it. She broke her arm in Switzerland after that. It cost her a lot of money to go to the doctor.
Don't Get In A Taxi
Taxis kill budgets because they are almost always too expensive. Ignore them. You should only use these if you have a lot of people to split the cost with or if you need to get somewhere late at night. Instead, take the bus or train as much as you can. Use Uber or a similar service in your area (if you can). Almost every country now has its version of Uber.
If you need to go a long way and can't find a bus or train, or if they are too expensive or whole, you could use BlaBlaCar. It's just like Airbnb for cars: you look for someone going to drive to your destination and pay a small fee to join them. It works well for both short and long trips.
Avoid Booking Flights & Hotels Too Early For Your Trip.
It's natural to become enthusiastic about a vacation and immediately book a hotel, flight, or resort to cement the experience in your mind. You've finished and are ready to leave! That, however, is a blunder. Somehow you'll end up paying more than everyone else. Early birds don't always receive the best deals when it comes to travel. Don't be a sludgy slob. Keep your eyes peeled for bargains.
Reserving a flight should be done roughly three months before your trip. Flight prices can rise or fall depending on demand at this point. Wait till the last minute to book a cruise or a tour group. Because they don't want to leave with an empty boat or tour, they offer incredible last-minute offers to get people to sign up for their services.
Conclusion
When organizing your trips, be proactive to ensure that you have the proper resources and flexibility once in-country to take advantage of any opportunity to experience something new while abroad. That way, you may create a one-of-a-kind journey that you will cherish for years. You won't believe a little extra thought and effort can make a difference.
