We travel for various reasons – vacation, work, education, and many others. Each of the trips should involve careful preparation to increase chances for happy moments after. They will depend on both the purpose of the journey and the country to which we are going.
You may feel like you’re the best traveler in the world, and the problem doesn’t involve you… Well, according to recent research whole 87% of Americans have made at least one travel mistake in 2022. Today’s article offers a handful of tips on preparing for a trip abroad. You will be surprised how many things need to be taken care of. Read on and learn!
1. Expect people to know your language
Before leaving, check what language is common for the place and whether you can communicate basic phrases at least. The previously mentioned survey revealed that 67% of Americans expected everyone to speak English and then regret it.
Therefore, it is crucial to rehearse your skills and ensure you are communicable in the language you plan to use. Plus, it is also a good idea to learn some basic phrases in the language of the country you’re going to. This always makes a good impression and helps break the ice. Mini phrase books or a dictionary can also be helpful.
2. Not doing enough destination research
Each of us has at least one place that we would like to visit. Before we buy airline tickets, it’s a good idea first to do some research. Check what kind of weather you can expect at the destination. This is especially important if you are planning long-distance travel – no one would like to spend their vacation in a hotel room when the rainy season is going on outside the window at its best. We should choose the time and place based on our preferences – if we are not fond of too hot weather, then let’s not plan a trip to southern Europe or northern Africa in the summer vacations. It’s worth checking whether there are any important events or festivals taking place on the dates we are interested in. In such a case, our dream place may turn out to be not only very crowded but also the prices of accommodation may erode our travel budget. A very popular mistake people make is choosing a destination based on how Instagrammable the pictures will be – let me tell you, it shouldn’t be the only deciding factor.
3. Choosing a precarious accommodation
Choosing the right accommodation depends purely on your personal preferences, budget and expected level of comfort. Those who appreciate hotel comforts can look for accommodation on Booking.com or through the search engine HotelsCombined. If you like to interact with people from all over the world and have a smaller budget, you can find good prices in a hostel.
What you should always pay attention to, however, are the reviews of a place. Unfortunately, there are often situations in which the actual appearance of the rented room strongly differs from the one presented in the photos in the offer.
4. Poorly plan your tour
Always make a pre-plan of what you would like to visit. Check what days and hours the places or museums you are interested in are open. Some museums, galleries, etc. can be visited for free at least once a month. It is worth remembering that certain places (e.g. The Last Supper in Milan) are very popular and entrance tickets to them need to be booked in advance. For many attractions it is better to buy tickets earlier online – they are then cheaper and we can bypass long queues.
However, remember to be flexible in planning and not to over-plan. Wanting to see too many places and thus spreading the trip out poorly is a very common mistake.
5. Failing to check the required documents
Did you choose your dream travel destination? Great! But before you start booking tickets or accommodations, read up on what documents you will need to cross the border. Is an identity card enough? Or is it necessary to have a passport, though? How long must such a document be valid? Many countries indicate that a passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Do we need to get a visa? Can this be done before departure or is it possible to obtain one at the border? It’s also worth considering, especially for longer trips with a connecting flight, whether a country requires a visa even for transfers. When transferring at an airport in the United States or Canada without citizenship, we also need to have an electronic travel authorization.
Well, now you know what things to avoid when planning a trip! So… Tickets bought? Accommodations booked? Suitcases packed? Then now all that’s left is to enjoy the upcoming trip!
About the author: Magdalena Sadowska, the Community Manager of UK Passport Photo. With a background in psychology, she is fascinated by how people interact and create their reality. As a travel enthusiast, given a choice of sea or mountains, she chooses both.
