Common Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Trip

Planning a trip can be enjoyable, but also quite stressful. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, it’s common to make mistakes that can cause extra aggravation, struggles, and costs. Before you plan your next trip, be aware of these common mistakes that travelers make when planning and be sure to have a stress-free trip!

1. Cramming Too Many Activities into One Trip

We all want to get the most out of our travel experiences and see and do as much as possible. It might seem like a good idea to jam as much into your vacation as possible, but it can actually result in a costly and tiring trip. A few years ago, I did a road trip around Italy with some friends. We were eager to do as much as possible while we were there, so we crammed as much as we could into our two week itinerary. This resulted in us not having enough time to thoroughly enjoy each city as we were just racing from one to the next. When it was time to go home, we all wished we just picked a few cities one area of Italy to explore instead of being in such a rush.

2. Over-Planning Your Trip

Don’t plan your trip down to the very last detail. Although it may be temping to pack your binder full of reservations, schedules, and brochures, the best things that happen on your trip are the things you don’t plan. Also, you never now what things might interfere with your plans. You may sleep in by accident, miss the bus, get a flat tire. Don’t end up panicked and frustrated! Take a deep breath and enjoy the moment.

3. Not Being Flexible

One of the most important things when planning a trip is being flexible. Perhaps you were planning on taking a vacation in August but you find out October is better because there are not as many tourists and shorter lines. Staying flexible will make it so that you get the best opportunities for your trip. Give yourself the freedom to wander, discover, and be spontaneous!

 4. Not Doing Enough Research

DO NOT just book the first thing you see on Google. Research as much as possible. It’s easy to compare different offers and find the best deals using the internet. Going on a trip takes up a good amount of time and money, so you want to make sure you are making the most of it!

5. Not Getting Off the Beaten Track

Travelers tend to want to visit the major cities and sights of the world, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, don’t forget the smaller sized cities as they can be just as amazing. Take the road less traveled! Research to find what the hidden beauties are in a country or region. Smaller cities are often cheaper and the people are often nicer.

6. Packing Heavy Instead of Light

I used to pack and pack until my suitcase was ready to burst. Over-packing is very tempting because you want to be well prepared for your trip. Well, the truth is, you can’t be prepared for every little thing. It can be costly and exhausting to travel with too much luggage. Try packing light!

7. Under-Budgeting

Once you’ve planned out your budget for your trip, take that number and add 25%. I’ve been on many trips and although I am good at budgeting my money, I rarely ever stay on budget. There will always be extra costs that you may not have planned for. For example, ATM fees, Internet charges, taxes, tips, etc. So leave a little wiggle room in your trip budget!

Alannah McEwan, Itchyfeetravel | July 26, 2016

Alannah has a serious case of itchy feet and incurable wanderlust! Originally from Canada, she went on her first international trip at the age of fifteen to Paris France. Since then, her passion for travel and adventure has continued to grow. She has currently been to over thirty countries and lived in three. She writes a travel blog where she shares her adventures and travel tips.

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