There are plenty of “what to do when traveling” tips. Honestly, there are quite a few “what not to do” as well, but I have a few key points that I did not come across! Let’s just say I made those mistakes so you don’t have to! Read on for mistakes I have made (or observed others making) that would be helpful to avoid for your best trip. Let me know in the comments if you have any mistakes you’d add to the list!
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1. Don’t avoid talking to others because you are trying to hide your (insert trait here).
For me, it was my United States of Americanism. I wouldn’t speak to people because I didn’t want to be identified as a loud-mouth, insensitive arse. Obviously, another huge component was my anxiety and fear of judgement, but the only way to tackle that is to push your boundaries. But don’t avoid talking to people or interacting. It’s important we challenge whatever bias or stereotypes people hold about (insert trait here). Whether it’s race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, size, or whatever, challenging stereotypes is a great way to smash them! Do interact and challenge the stereotypes!
2. Don’t say you are American if you are from the United States – the Americas are a whole lot of places and it is insensitive to claim two whole continents.
I feel like this point explains itself. I didn’t make this one up, either – on multiple walking tours, the first question asked was where people were visiting from. People from the United States, trying to be brief, said they were American. Shortly after, I heard others in the group whispering about it. Sometimes from Canada, sometimes South America, sometimes elsewhere. But every time it was essentially the same – why are those people saying they are from the whole continent? I hadn’t thought of it until then, but it makes sense. It’s only a few words longer to say we are from the United States, so say that instead.
3. Don’t rely on one form of direction.
I heavily relied on my google maps, but it massively backfired in Madrid. I missed my flight because Google told me the best way to get to the airport from my destination, but that train was down. It wouldn’t give me another option, and even being able to partially read the signs in Spanish, I wasn’t positive how else to get where I needed to be. I tried asking three different information desks, but no one was there to help me.
4. Don’t stay somewhere without WiFi.
In case of last-minute plans or changes, needing to plan, or checking in on something, an internet connection is important when traveling. One or two days without a connection is okay, but past that, plans tend to get mixed and people start to worry. At least I do!
5. On that note, don’t buy a SIM card for traveling.
Enjoy the location. I think phones having service has the potential to distract from an experience, and if you plan properly, you won’t need a SIM card/travel plan. There are also plenty of places that offer free WiFi, and if you really need data, Sprint and T-Mobile both offer an international roaming service that include free SMS texting, 2G data in nearly 200 countries, and 20c/minute calls (which can be avoided with calling apps on WiFi).
That being said, if you are a nervous traveler, don’t plan in advance, or feel like you would need to have access to a phone for another reason, go for buying extra data or a SIM card!
6. Don’t pre-pay for tours in places where free tours are offered.
In my experience, free walking tours are better than pre-paid walking tours, and you have control over how much you pay. If you can’t afford a lot, guides completely understand, and if you don’t like a tour, you aren’t stuck paying for something that wasn’t good. I have only ever disliked one free walking tour, and that was in St. Louis Cemetery #1 in New Orleans. I absolutely hated the guide, and honestly didn’t tip her. On the flip side, I took a tour with the same company two other times (the Vodou Tour with Robi and the Garden District Tour with Andrew), and tipped more than other tours cost because they were both amazing.
7. Don’t use a credit or ATM card with foreign transaction fees.
Plenty of cards now waive those fees, so there is no reason to waste money on it. I carried a fee-free atm card and was able to pull out cash from whatever country I was in from a machine as soon as I arrived. I avoided ATM fees and exchange fees this way!
8. Don’t rely on the “big name” travel websites for tips, tricks, and attractions.
Find a local blog or read it from someone who has been. I have found over the years that many of the top websites for travel don’t even have authors that have been to a location. They compile lists and information from the internet and can’t provide you with insider information and unique things to do. Blogs are typically written by people who live in that area or want to share an amazing experience, so you’ll get comprehensive information. DO get past the first page of google. So many great travel bloggers and sites don’t show up, but they are leaps better than generic sites.
9. Don’t skip the tourist sights, but also don’t strictly stay in the tourist areas.
Tourist sights are popular for a reason. Not all of them will blow you away, but some will, and that’s why I think it’s worth stopping at them. On the flip side, the essence of a country, city, or location isn’t summed up in those popular spots. It’s in that side street café, mile-away shop, or off-the-beaten path location. Finding those spots are my favorite part of travel, but I equally enjoy experiencing the big draws. One place I balanced these two ideas was Barcelona. I knew I wanted to see the Magic Fountain of Montjuic (so glad I did!), which is a big tourist attraction. Instead of eating in that area, I got a bean burger from CatBarCat first, which is a local vegan bar near the Gothic Quarter.
10. Don’t tip in a country where tipping isn’t common. It just gets awkward.
There is a caveat to this point. If service is exceptional, tip anyway. You may have to explain, though: When my parents and I first went to Europe, I was a vegetarian and my mom had a dairy allergy, which at the time was complicated and often confused servers. At one restaurant we visited, we had the absolute best server who went and asked every single question to the chefs in the back, whereas many servers stand there and either guess or do nothing with our questions. We had been tipping a small amount as was customary, but we tipped this guy a lot. So much so that he was flustered and tried reassuring us tipping wasn’t expected or necessary in his country. He could obviously tell we were visitors. But my parents reassured him they knew, and they just wanted to extend their gratitude because he was amazing. If that happens to you, definitely tip and explain away the awkward. (Do research first to make sure tipping isn’t common though).
11. Don’t eat at tourist spots if you can help it.
At the Louvre, there is a small cart that offers small lunch foods, like sandwiches. My parents ate there, but I wouldn’t recommend that food to most people. It was expensive (double what you can likely get other places) and not worth the price. But it was food if you really need it. The problem with tourist spots is the lack of expectation. Visitors only visit once, and they don’t want to waste time finding food elsewhere. There is no expectation for restaurants here to be reasonably priced or have exceptional food because the visitor turnover is high. Restaurants where locals go are a different story. If you don’t want to spend time going elsewhere, “tourist food” is fine, but I think you’ll have a better experience elsewhere.
Again, there is an exception to this suggestion. Some restaurants have become tourist spots because of their reputation! For example, The Brazen Head in Dublin is the oldest pub in Ireland. It’s a tourist spot now, but it had to do something right to get this far. They’ve even evolved to offer plant-based options, so most people can eat there.
12. Don’t spend your free time talking to people at home.
I made this mistake, but only once. I was in my first relationship on my first international trip. My parents and I went to various cities in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, two cities in England, Paris, and Amsterdam. In Blarney, Co. Cork we stayed at a Bed and Breakfast above a pub (Muskerry Arms), and they went down to the pub for the night. I was to join them shortly… but I decided to call my girlfriend. At the time, I was torn between talking to her and going down as quickly as I could but talking to her won – mostly because we missed each other. What was supposed to be a short call turned into hours, and when I finally went to the pub, my parents were essentially finished. I completely missed a fun and fantastic experience because I chose to call someone back home. Someone who should’ve understood I was on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. It’s painful to look back and know I missed that experience in lieu of a phone call that could happen anytime. I beg of you, don’t be me.
13. Don’t think you can’t have a local food because of an allergy or ethics.
Before you give up on trying that famous food from Portugal (pastéis de nata, aka custard tarts), France (macarons), Italy (pizza, gelato), or wherever you are heading, do some searching for the version of food you need. I’m vegan and have been able to find every “special” food at some point in its vegan form. Most of the time, it’s in the location it’s best known for. For example, Zarzuela in Lisbon has gluten free and vegan pastries; Ladurée in France has a couple of macarons options, and multiple restaurants in Rome have vegan pizza and/or gelato.
With that in mind, sometimes there are better options for “famous” foods outside of those famous places. Ladurée Paris has only two options for vegan macarons – at least they used to. But the Beverly Hills location of Ladurée is completely vegan with many flavors and other pastries available. For another example, there’s no vegan beignets in New Orleans (they have plenty of other vegan food though!). However, there are delicious vegan beignets in Wilmington, North Carolina!
In short, don’t be discouraged by food choices or allergies you may have. With a little research, you can have the same food enjoyment as others.
14. Don’t rule out a location because you can’t do what it’s known for.
By that I mean, even if you can’t hike, don’t discount a National Park. Even if you can’t climb stairs, don’t rule out the Eiffel Tower. Even if you can’t be in crowds, don’t rule out a city like New York. For whatever it is you can’t do, there’s probably other things you can!
When my mom and I were planning our cross-country road trip, I almost discounted the National Parks I wanted to stop at. I knew my mom couldn’t and shouldn’t be hiking due to her surgery, but then I found other things to do in National Parks! Scenic drives are a perfect option for seeing a lot, but not exerting yourself. There are also shorter, sometimes paved, trails that are offered. The Eiffel Tower has an elevator! And busy cities aren’t always busy. Visiting at certain times or visiting different parts can open completely new and different experiences.
My Things To Do in Zion National Park (That Aren’t Hiking) is a great example.
15. Don’t ignore local customs or ways to be respectful.
To be clear, I didn’t do make this mistake, but I saw plenty of people who did, and it hurts my heart a bit. In some places, keeping shoulders and knees covered is important and respectful. Places can range from entire countries, like Malawi, to spaces, like churches. Wherever you go, please try and be mindful of the customs. In some cases, skirting the rules might just get you a few negative looks, but in others it can get you arrested.
P. S. Learning a bit of the language – even just hello, thank you, or “do you speak English?” can be helpful and fall in this category!
16. Don’t avoid other tourists (or locals if you can interact with them)
Many tourists stick to the tourist areas and don’t explore outside of it, as I discussed. But this practice can also bleed into who we interact with. Some of my greatest experiences were thanks to accidental or random conversations. In Killarney, it took a simple “okay” from me to make a few new friends and experience nightlife there. In Dublin, it took some small talk for my parents and I to eat with some locals and experience a true Irish pub with singing and all. I even got a pen pal for a few months after that.
Do branch out. Try not to stay within your friend or travel group because the experiences you can have may be different.
17. Don’t think it’s impossible to travel because of ableism.
I won’t lie, I grew up thinking only the most able-bodied people could travel. Why would someone who was blind, deaf, or in a wheelchair (or any other different ability!) want to visit a castle in Spain? They couldn’t “enjoy” it. But that’s completely wrong, incorrect, and ableist mentality.
I’m proud to say I’ve grown out of that mentality, and I first recognized my bias in Barcelona. I was taking a tour of Montjuïc Castle, and at first it was only me. Three other people had signed up, but they hadn’t arrived. After a few minutes, one arrived and promised the other two were coming; they had been in the restroom. When they arrived, I learned one was blind. The other two had been her teachers in college, and they were traveling with her! They described everything to her, and she touched everything she could. The guide was helpful and direct. I’m forever grateful for these three women proving the amazing abilities humans possess.
18. Don’t throw anything away/donate it without checking it first.
I’m still mad about this mistake to this day. My grandfather came to visit me in Europe, and we drove through multiple countries. We started and ended in Germany. At the end, he gave me a few hundred dollars in cash, and I tucked it away for safe keeping. I don’t know how, when, or why, but somehow that money ended up in my shoe in Krakow, Poland. I must’ve taken it out of my bag to hide, and thought my shoe was a good spot. I forgot I was leaving those shoes behind because they were falling apart. The next morning, I left those shoes behind and took a bus to Prague. Check your belongings before leaving them behind.
Do you have any mistakes you’ve learned from during your travels? Let me know in the comments!
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This is such a cool post! I am definitely guilty of making some of these travel mistakes, oops! I especially like your tip about not spending your free time talking to people back home. Whilst it can be lovely, it’s also important to live in the moment and enjoy your travels 🙂
Thank you! I like that they at least give people something to think about 🙂 Like maybe instead of talking for an hour with someone, talk for twenty minutes!