Travel: The Big Don't s Of Traveling

With international travel being so accessible and popular these days, the web is bursting with blog posts and articles on what you should do when going abroad. However, there’s less focusing on what you shouldn’t do. If you’ve got a trip coming up and you’re afraid you’re a little out of practice, here are some of the big don’ts of traveling to make sure you avoid…

Don’t Leave your Planning to the Last Minute

Okay, so there’s certainly something romantic and exciting about packing a couple of bags and heading off on some big adventure at a moment’s notice. However, if you’re a little too impulsive when planning your travel, it’s probably going to come back to bite you in a pretty big way. As soon as you’re sure that your trip is going to happen, start planning. This should include practical travel arrangements, comparing and buying insurance, dealing with entry regulations through sites like this: official-esta.com, and booking accommodation well in advance. This means that if and when there are problems, you’ll have more time to sort them out, rather than letting one little misstep ruin your whole trip.

Don’t Eat Near a Tourist Attraction

The food sold at major tourist sites is almost always going to have extortionate prices for mediocre flavor. When the restaurants know the majority of their patrons aren’t going to be in the country for all that long, they’re not inclined to provide a superior quality of food or service. Even the ones that do make great food are going to have sky-high prices, simply because they know most tourists will pay it. If you live in a big city, you’ll probably know all about this phenomenon. On the other hand, local, non-touristy restaurants depend on their high-quality standards, as if they let their reputation get tarnished too much, they’ll quickly lose their business from the locals who frequent their tables. Stay away from the tourist traps. A five-block radius away is usually the safe zone!

Don’t Exchange Money at the Airport

Airports are the one sure place where you’ll find the worst exchange rates available. In fact, unless you absolutely have to, it’s never a good idea to exchange cash for cash. When you do have to exchange cash, try to do it at a bank, either in advance of leaving or wherever you’re traveling to. This will give you more favorable rates and far fewer fees. The best way to spend when you’re abroad is by getting cash out at ATMs or using your credit card. This will get you as close as possible to the inter-bank rate and will save you from getting ripped off. Speaking of getting ripped off, sticking to cards can do a little something to keep you safe while you’re traveling. The big backpack and map already labels you as a target in some parts of the world; don’t polish off the look by flashing wads of cash around!