Vacations have great tendencies to be imperfect. Sometimes they don’t go well just because there are things that are missing. Like there isn’t enough money to spend for more places to visit. But sometimes vacations aren’t perfect because of wrong decisions that we make.

Here are a few things a traveler should avoid doing during a vacation.

1.    Not giving enough time to plan

A seasoned traveler will say that one can lose sleep over the many ‘what ifs’ that surround a vacation. There are those that should be given less thought simply because it’s a lot more exciting that way. If one gives enough time to go over every vital detail, he or she would be able to avoid last minute panic.

2.    Making mistakes in booking airline tickets or hotel rooms.

A slight difference in the numbers you agree upon over the phone or a slight error in typing your desired days of stay, for a hotel accommodation can define the failure of a vacation. Always have a recap made after making initial agreements, and make sure to keep all sorts of documentation with you at all times.

3. Not clearing everything at home/work before leaving.

One thing that ruins a vacation is a certain snag that should have been cut off or dealt with before it all even started. Oftentimes family members would have to cut a vacation short simply because of a responsibility that should have been covered ahead of time. If it isn’t that urgent, it’s something that will linger in one’s mind while the remainder of the vacation finishes.

4. Forgetting to bring something.

It could be floss. It could be a toothbrush. Heck, it could be toothpaste. But one thing in common with these things is that they can be bought in a significant majority of countries around the world.
It’s another thing to leave a laptop, or a camera, or a certain bag of really personal belongings at home.

5. Not arriving early at the terminal.

People going on vacation should realize that they aren’t actually going to work or school, where they can afford to be there just on time. When traveling, you have to be in a particular terminal a little earlier than usual to catch the travel service that they are joining. One has to be in an airport a lot earlier than the time of departure to ensure that luggage is properly checked in and all safety and security precautions are taken.

6.  Carrying fragile or valuable packages or luggage.
Some Airlines will make you liable for as much as 2,500 dollars when it comes to compromised checked luggage. For sensitive items, a smart traveler would resort to having these fragile items shipped to the destination through a more reliable courier. At least that way, if anything happens, compensation is more than expected.

7. Forgetting to convert money.

A traveler has to take time to convert money if he or she would like some souvenirs. This is one task that one should prioritize after stepping out of the plane. When arriving at the money changer’s office, one should then figure out how much he or she would like to carry around for some on the spot shopping and other bills to pay.

8. Wearing too much jewelry or flashy clothes.

In some countries, wearing such things would be like wearing a ‘Rob me’ sign in one’s back. In fact, people who carry too much money in their pocket regardless of how inconspicuous they dress still have the tendency of wearing the same sign through their movements and facial reactions. The lesson here is, if you don’t need to look rich and famous, you don’t have to.

9.  Traveling in dark or suspicious alleys.

If you aren’t necessarily carrying too much, it is still a big factor for a tourist to consider where he or she passes through, especially at night.  Some people are unexpectedly held up, duped, or worse, simply     because they passed the wrong way.

Local security may be more lax or stricter than where one lives, and this may lead to unnecessary and unfortunate events.

One should be safe by practicing contentment with what is readily available in the place, just savor the moment and unique atmosphere and you can be sure of a trouble-free vacation.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 7:37 am and is filed under general. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.