Bringing too many clothes and getting angry over bargaining too hard – The 20 biggest mistakes not to make while traveling

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Summer vacation is peak travel season, but a little carelessness can turn it into an unhappy trip. Travel journalists from CNN, who have explored all five continents and have extensive travel experience, based on their own "painful" experiences, launched a special report titled “20 Mistakes Not to Make While Traveling.” For example, constantly taking photos, packing too many unnecessary clothes, or haggling over small amounts of money and getting angry at yourself can all lead to a disappointing trip.

▲ When traveling abroad, the first thing to watch out for is bringing too much unnecessary luggage. (Photo / Provided by the business, reference photo)

The first issue you’ll encounter when traveling is packing. According to a survey by the UK hotel chain Travelodge, nearly two-thirds of travelers find that at least six items of clothing in their luggage were never worn after their trip. The survey indicates that people often pack too many clothes, stuffing their suitcases to the brim. In reality, you don’t need to change clothes every day while traveling—even the T-shirt you sleep in can occasionally be worn out on the street, and the socks you wear on the plane can be reused. Also, be sure to check that the shampoo cap is tightly closed to avoid ruining your entire luggage.

Accommodation and transportation are also major issues. The report reminds us that many people prefer to choose hotels “close to the city center.” These hotels often use shuttle buses to transport guests, but you might have to wait through stops at nine other hotels before reaching yours—so it’s not necessarily time-saving. However, staying too far from the city center means you’ll spend more time and taxi fare, so it’s still important to compare carefully.

▲%Urgent heron still soft? Angry, ? sense of sodium lung end? Street? Gamma? Your wild ah (Photo / Olddo provided, Lydai provided, reference photo)

Travel inevitably involves shopping, starting with currency exchange. It’s generally believed that exchanging money at the airport is less cost-effective, but in fact, the exchange rates at most airports and in the city center are not much different. If you don’t want to search around the city for a place to exchange money, you can exchange some at the airport beforehand. Additionally, try to avoid withdrawing cash with a credit card, as high fees can significantly increase your travel expenses. The report also reminds travelers that if you see something you like, it’s best to buy it right away, as you usually won’t return to that city. Most importantly, know when to stop haggling—there’s no need to upset yourself or the vendor over just a few dozen yuan.

Domestic travel experts add that the most important thing while traveling is not to flash your cash, and don’t look at maps in public, which signals to locals that you’re a typical tourist. Also, don’t be taking photos all the time and forget to appreciate the local people and surroundings. Most importantly, do your homework before the trip—learn more about the local customs and culture to help avoid making mistakes.

“20 Mistakes Not to Make While Traveling”
．Taking photos all the time without truly experiencing the trip
．Packing too much luggage
．Not buying something you like right away and regretting it later
．Forgetting to activate international roaming on your phone
．Trusting hotel claims of being “close to the city center” too easily
．Being afraid to eat street vendor food and missing out on local cuisine
．Taking a cheap airport shuttle bus that stops at multiple locations before reaching your hotel
．Thinking you’ve found the perfect time to book a flight, when airline discounts often change
．Buying heavy souvenirs on the first day of a long self-guided trip
．Bringing cheap flip-flops that wear out your feet and the soles
．Relying too much on travel guides
．Not having comprehensive travel insurance
．Not checking visa requirements before departure
．Trying to see all of Berlin, Germany in one weekend, resulting in a rushed visit
．Withdrawing cash with a credit card and paying high fees
．Not printing out your hotel booking details, and being unable to prove your reservation when you arrive and your phone has no network
．Bargaining too hard and irritating both the local vendors and yourself
．Not exchanging money at the airport and arriving in the city with no cash, then searching for a place to exchange
．Underestimating the size of foreign airports, arriving too late and missing your flight
．Forgot to close the shampoo bottle cap properly in the luggage
Source: Cable News Network (CNN)