Travelling around the world can often be a combination of truly exciting and utterly overwhelming, and despite all of the planning that a person can make, it’s inevitable that some things will go wrong, and they will themselves in something of a bind.
But learning and growing from mistakes is part of the journey, although sometimes these mistakes can be quite costly. To try and mitigate that, these are some of the most common mistakes that inexperienced travellers make and how they can be avoided.
Taking Extra Document Copies
It’s not uncommon to have government officials request for copies of an important document, such as a travel visa, and it might be at a time when it’s simply impossible to find a copier shop and have everything copied and printed.
This is why it’s a good idea to always have copies of any important documents available when travelling, which can then be quickly handed over to the official asking for them without any issues. Along with this, having the extra copies can quickly stop a situation from becoming disastrous, especially in a foreign country where there may be a language barrier.
Exchanging Money
It might be tempting to immediately go to a currency exchange venue at the airport, but it’s worth remembering that they might have terrible exchange rates that could reduce the overall amount of money available.
It’s a better idea to instead ask around for trusted places that offer lower exchange rates. It’s also a good idea to avoid using ATMs unless the traveller takes a bit of time to double check that the rates offered are average, and that the prices haven’t been artificially hiked to try and exploit those coming in with a stronger currency.
Not Buying Travel Insurance
It’s easy to scoff at the idea of purchasing travel insurance before setting out, but this can quickly turn into a nightmare in the wrong scenarios. Travel insurance not only covers the costs of lost luggage, but it can also help with medical emergencies, cancellations, and much more. It might be expensive, but travel insurance is always worth the asking price.
Roaming Charges
There’s a lot to think about when getting ready to head out to a new country, and while some people might plan ahead when it comes to their mobile data usage, most completely forget to buy a SIM card as they touch down. This can become an expensive problem, as a foreign mobile SIM will often revert to roaming charges, which can be extremely costly, even if it’s just for a few rounds of games that mobile casinos Canada offer. The best way to avoid this is by making sure to get a hold of a local SIM card and some accompanying data as soon as the plane gets to the destination airport.
Not Learning Language Basics
Another mistake that new travellers tend to make is not learning the basics of a language that’s predominant in the country they’re visiting. This is often why foreign travellers are scammed more often, and why they are more likely to fall prey to price hikes at restaurants and other venues.