There are plenty of things you do want to do when traveling, but what about the things that you DO NOT want to do, like these 5 Things You Don't Want To Do When Traveling?
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5 Things You Don't Want To Do When Traveling
Nobody really talks about these, so today's post will focus on some of the things you absolutely should not be doing when you are on vacation. Some of these tips apply to solo travelers, while others are for families, groups, etc.
Have a read, and be sure you do not fall victim to these 5 Things You Don't Want To Do When Traveling!
Do Not Go off alone While Traveling
Never go off alone when you are traveling, particularly when you are in a group. It will just cause confusion, not to mention you put yourself in danger.
For solo travelers, you are already technically alone. However, your version of this can be: do not go off the beaten track alone.
Stay within the touristy areas, and avoid wandering off into the wilderness with nobody else around you.
When you separate yourself from the group, not only do you put yourself at risk of getting lost in an unfamiliar area, but you also put yourself at risk of being robbed, kidnapped, etc.
Be Careful Not to Disrespect the culture While Traveling
The joy of traveling is that you can experience new cultures and see new things. Unfortunately, this comes with a warning sign attached to it.
You should research the culture of the place you're visiting before you go, ensuring that you don't do anything disrespectful.
For example, in some parts of Asia, it is disrespectful to wear shoes indoors. To avoid faux pas like this, be sure to read up on the culture and follow any set rules.
Under any circumstance, do not Forget your travel documents
This is a massive no-no as it will throw your entire trip up in the air. There are few things worse than getting to the airport and realizing that you do not have your passport. It is even worse if you land in a foreign country and you realize that you do not have your visa.
On a recent trip to Mexico, my traveling companion DID of course remember her passport at all times.
Unfortunately, she did not realize that the tourist card she filled out upon arrival needed to be shown at the airport when we departed back to the United States.
Yes, as you may have guessed - she had thrown it away.
She had to stand in line to replace it and pay $30! There was a gentleman in line with her that did not have any money left after his vacation and she actually paid for him as well.
Please keep in mind to keep all of your travel documents until you return home AND make sure that you have a little padding in your bank account for unexpected expenses.
Can you imagine not being able to return home after a trip because you spent all of your money!?
To avoid difficult phone calls with an immigration lawyer, you should always double and triple-check that you have your travel documents on you.
Not only that, but keep multiple copies of any papers you have, just in case you lose one while traveling.
It's always best to try and arrange your visa far in advance if you can. Some visa applications and visa waivers may take only a few hours to process, but others could take weeks or even months.
Check whether you need a tourist visa or a separate visa for any other activities that you might be planning for your trip.
You might need a visa for work or a longer stay, or perhaps even for getting married. Even if you think that you don't need one, it makes sense to take a look at the rules.
The worst that can happen is that you do not need one, but you might discover that you were mistaken or the rules have changed and you do need a visa after all.
Be Weary of Taking money out of ATMs while traveling
Technically, you can do this, but it should be avoided. Most banks will have fees attached to withdrawals from foreign ATMs.
So, you can rack up a pretty expensive holiday bill if you keep making endless withdrawals during your trip.
Instead, the best thing to do is use a credit or debit card with no foreign transaction fees. You can pay via card as usual, but you are not charged anything extra.
Bring some cash with you as well, just in case places do not accept card payments.
If you do need to use a local ATM while traveling internationally, make sure that you withdraw a large amount of cash when you do - so that you limit the amount of ATM withdraw feels and foreign transaction fees.
Forget to check any rules before you go
This is more of a COVID-related thing, seeing as there are travel restrictions in place across the world. Just because you can travel out of your country, it does not mean that you can enter another country without facing restrictions.
You don't want to plan a trip, then land in the country and realize you have to quarantine for 10 days!
That is where we will end things for today; 5 Things You Don't Want To Do When Traveling.
Keep all of these things in mind before you begin planning your next trip, and you can be sure that you do not end up making a mess of your vacation.
So there are 5 things that you do NOT want to do when traveling...but I also have a big tip for something that you absolutely SHOULD DO when you are traveling - or at least, right before you travel!
GET TRAVEL INSURANCE!
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