Don’t Make These Travel Mistakes: Part 1

overpacking

Nailing down the best ways to travel takes time and practice and if you haven’t traveled much, you may be prone to making some common travel mistakes. Here are some of our EWR Airport parking members’ favorite mistakes that you should avoid on any trip:

Spending too much time on social media

We all love posting moments from our trip on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and more, but do it too much and you’ll miss out on what’s really happening. Instead of whipping out your phone every time something interesting happens, pause and live in the moment – you’ll enjoy the memories when you look back on the trip.

Overpacking

When packing for a trip, remember that you’ll have to carry your luggage around with you (especially if you’re taking public transportation to get to your hotel or the airport). The less you pack, the lighter your luggage will be, so don’t pack more than you need. Remember you can always buy small essentials like toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, and more at your destination.

Avoiding locals

When people travel somewhere unfamiliar, many make the mistake of keeping to themselves and not interacting with the locals. Step out of your comfort zone and strike up a conversation with someone from the area – they’ll likely know the best restaurants, bars, directions, and more that can make your trip even better.

Not carrying cash

These days, it seems like everyone relies on credit cards instead of cash, but it’s important to remember that not everyone takes credit cards. Wherever you’re going, keep some cash on you for small purchases, street vendors, and mom-and-pop shops that may not accept plastic.

Only checking round-trip prices

When booking a flight, it’s only natural to check the price of a round-trip ticket, but did you know it may be cheaper to book two one-way flights instead of one round-trip one? Don’t make the mistake of overpaying – start scoping out prices early and weigh all of your options before making your final purchase. You could save more than you think.

Overplanning

Traveling to an unfamiliar destination often warrants lots of planning, from hotels to restaurants to sightseeing and more. However, sometimes the most fun adventures are ones that aren’t planned and if you plan too much, you’ll leave little room for exploration. Do yourself a favor and play some things by ear – you won’t regret it.