Planning a trip this year? If so, you’ll want to avoid these five travel mistakes to make sure that your holiday is enjoyable without stretching your budget to the limit…
Today is Blue Monday, the day that happiness levels fall to the lowest of the year. A combination of the cold, grey weather, the Christmas festivities being over and the mid-month, still-far-from-payday date all contribute to us feeling a little down in the dumps.
But there are ways you can combat the Blue Monday vibes. Apparently, people all around the UK are using today as the nudge they need to make plans for the rest of the year, so that they’ve got something in the calendar to look forward to.
It could be meeting up with friends, booking tickets for a show, or even arranging your next holiday. Thinking about and planning any of these activities are a great way to boost your mood and add a little optimism to the Blue Monday. Which brings us nicely onto today’s topic:
If you want to travel this year then you need to make sure you avoid these top travel mistakes. If you don’t then you may find that you end up wasting time, energy and money, which can hinder your overall experience.
Here’s how to have a fun break when you want to cut costs:
Forgetting you have a budget
It is very easy for you to forget you have a budget when you are having the time of your life. Instead, you need to see your budget as a way for you to see the city from a creative standpoint. If you cannot afford to see all of the top destinations then try and find some cheaper ones that could give you a better experience, away from tourists.
Chatting with locals is the best way for you to do this, so make sure that you give that some thought and that you don’t jump into the most expensive activities you find. Remember, expense doesn’t correlate to experience, and sometimes it’s helpful to tone things down a bit so you can have a much more balanced vacation.
Having an itinerary that is overambitious
Another mistake that a lot of people make is that they have an over-ambitious itinerary. If you want to avoid this mistake then the first thing you need to do is be flexible. Don’t be afraid to change your plans if the weather isn’t cooperating. You also need to budget for any money shortages you may have. If you can do this then you will be able to go with the flow a little more.
Trusting directions blindly
If you are lost then you may be tempted to ask for directions from a local. Although there is nothing wrong with this, you really should ask for directions from more than one. If the person hesitates or if they look like they could be searching for an answer then accept any help that they may give and then ask someone else.
If you do this then you can stop yourself from getting lost in a place that you’re not familiar with. If you want to explore, then make sure you look into a luggage storage facility so you can drop your bags off. If you’re traveling to London, the Victoria Station lockers are great.
Relying on guide books
Guidebooks are great, and they do have their place. With that in mind, you shouldn’t let it define your vacation. Allow yourself to explore a little and use your initiative where possible. There is a lot more to a place than you will find in a guidebook, so be mindful of this and make sure that you look up what else there is to do. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to find the hidden gems within an area.
Overpacking your suitcases
Finally, another huge mistake that a lot of people make is they overpack their suitcases. This can make travelling more costly if you’re having to pay baggage supplements. If you want to do something about this then make sure that you only pack what you need. Buy the rest of your items when you arrive at your destination.
Once you have everything fully packed, you can then review everything you have so you can reduce your load a little more. Here’s my blog post about packing for a winter break in a carry-on suitcase, which might help.
I hope these tips will help you to get the most out of your next holiday without stretching your budget. Let me know in the comments what fun things you’re planning today in order to beat Blue Monday. And I’d love to hear your own money-saving travel tips so please leave your hacks below. Thanks!
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This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content 🙂
