VACATION PITFALLS
Worst travel mistakes
An overseas vacation usually costs a lot of money, planning and precious days away from work. That’s why it’s heartbreaking when things go wrong. And if the trip is ruined because of something you did (or didn’t do), you’ll feel even worse! Here are four critical mistakes to avoid when planning a holiday to foreign lands.
SHORT LAYOVERS Travel conditions are becoming increasingly unpredictable across the world. If you need to catch a connecting flight or train, ensure a generous layover – it’s better to wait around for an hour or two than face the delay and expense of missing your connection. Also factor in the time needed to navigate your way around an unfamiliar airport or train station.
HEAVY LUGGAGE Are you staying in a place where you’ll need to lug your bags up multiple flights of stairs? Will you be using public transport to make your way around the country? Are you covering multiple destinations in a short period? In such situations, the weight of your bag becomes critical. The last thing you want is to twist an ankle or hurt your back while trying to lift a heavy suitcase. So sacrifice those extra clothes, electronics and heavyduty items in the interest of a hassle free holiday.
CASH IN HAND Many ‘expert’ travellers recommend not changing any money at the airport because of the poor exchange rate.
However, reaching an unfamiliar destination without cash is even worse! You’ll definitely need to spend before you actually get into town – whether it’s paying for the taxi to your hotel, purchasing a bus ticket to the city centre or buying a bottle of water.
Remember: cash is still king in many countries. It’s best to get some local currency at the airport – enough to cover your immediate needs and a little extra for emergencies.
UP-TO-DATE INFO You land at your hotel only to realise that its city centre location costs you an expensive 30 minute taxi ride to all the attractions you want to visit. Or there’s a building project right next door with construction work going on endlessly. To avoid such disasters, don’t rely solely on old guidebooks or recommendations by friends when booking your accommodation. Check the most upto-date online reviews and get a sense of the location in the context of key sites on your list.
Don’t rely solely on old guidebooks or recommendations by friends when booking your accommodation