5 Travel Mistakes to Avoid to Ensure a Smooth Trip

Heading on holiday is exciting and there's plenty of fun planning involved. But, don’t get yourself tangled up in a sticky situation when caught up in all the thrills. With The Departure Desk's help, you can avoid these 5 travel mistakes to ensure your next holiday is a success. 

Mistake #1: Not Allowing Enough Time To Experience A Destination

You’re on holiday now, so it’s time to slow down and relax! You may only have limited time on vacation but use your time wisely. Choose a destination or two that you really want to experience in depth, instead of trying to tick off as many places as possible. By trying to cram as much as possible, you won’t be able to fully soak in the experience. You may also find yourself in a stressful situation with limited time if you miss an appointment or are running late for your next mode of transport. Leave the stress at home and enjoy a slower pace of life. We recommend no less than three nights in a place - one night to rest after your travels and two nights to enjoy and explore.

Mistake #2: Not Allowing Enough Travel Time

This mistake ties in closely with mistake #1… By rushing around and trying to do as much as possible, you may find yourself with limited travel time. This is fine if everything runs smoothly, but doesn’t leave you with much wriggle room if it doesn’t. Plan accordingly and factor in things like delays and cancellations into your plans. Unfortunately many transport operators do not provide refunds or changes for missed connections if it is the fault of another operator. Save yourself the stress and allow extra time on either side. If you think you have enough time, add a couple extra hours in between just to be safe.

Mistake #3: Not Doing Your Research

This is a big one, please do your research! Many travel plans can become interrupted by not having the right travel documents or finding yourself in an unsafe area. With the internet and now AI at our disposal, it’s never been easier to conduct some research. However, our favourite method is the old-fashioned way with a physical travel guide (think the classic blue Lonely Planet guidebooks) but there are plenty of options to help you plan your trip. Another hot tip, smarttraveller.gov.au is a great resource to understand local laws, visa requirements and customs of the country you’re travelling to.

Mistake #4: Overpacking

It may seem tempting to don a fresh outfit every single day of your holiday, but think about all that extra weight to carry around! Our recommendation, take with you enough underwear for every day and then rotate your wardrobe. Most items can be worn at least twice before needing a wash (unless you’re undertaking some strenuous activity). Bring a couple of nice outfits for special occasions but leave the walk-in ‘drobe at home.

When packing, think about the destination you’re travelling to, the climate and time of year to help determine both your wardrobe and luggage. Emphasis on luggage because you don’t want to be lugging around a heavy roller wheel suitcase up and down cobblestone staircases in Europe - trust us a backpack is much more useful in this situation! On the flip side, if you’re headed to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun leave the 80 litre trekking pack at home and pack for convenience.

Mistake #5 Not Getting Travel Insurance

Without trying to sound too much like your mum - Please. Get. Travel. Insurance. If you think you don’t need it because you’ve never been hurt on holiday, think again! Those are often the times where something goes wrong. There are plenty of travel insurance options out there to suit all budgets and needs. Conduct your research and purchase the right travel insurance to suit your holiday, as not all policies cover the same things. There’s no use in getting scuba insurance on a skiing holiday… That’ll be one expensive helicopter ride off the mountain. The Departure Desk recommends Covermore insurance as they offer short-term policies to year-round and even policies for working holiday makers (call and ask for The Great Stay policy).

These are just some of the most common travel mistakes when it comes to booking a holiday (trust us, there’s plenty more… we know from experience!). Get ahead of the game with these tips and plan an epic trip with The Departure Desk that’s mistake-free. Read more travel blogs, guides and itineraries at thedeparturedesk.com