23 Terrible Travel Advice You Should Never Follow
Some travel advice is gold. Other tips?
They’ll leave you lost, broke, or questioning your life choices. “Always book the cheapest flight.
” Sounds smart—until you’re stuck in a 30-hour layover with nothing but a vending machine sandwich and regret. From outdated tips that no longer work to downright terrible suggestions that could ruin your trip, bad travel advice is everywhere.
Some of it sounds logical. Some of it is just nonsense.
And yet, people still follow it. Let’s put an end to that.
These 23 terrible travel tips should be ignored at all costs—unless, of course, you enjoy misery.
Exchange Money at Airports
Landing and heading straight to airport currency booths seems convenient. However, airports are notorious for offering poor exchange rates.
A seemingly minor difference can quickly add up, eating away at your budget. Opt for using local ATMs or reputable local banks for better rates and lower fees.
In a pinch? Exchange only a small amount at the airport.
Doing so minimizes losses while ensuring you have enough for immediate expenses like transport. This small adjustment can lead to significant savings, making your travel experience more economical and enjoyable.
Pack for Every Possible Occasion
Preparing for every imaginable scenario can leave you burdened with excess baggage. Overpacking adds stress to the travel process, making it challenging to navigate airports and accommodations.
Instead, focus on versatile clothing that can be layered and mixed for various occasions. Prioritize comfort and functionality, and remember most destinations offer laundry services.
A lighter suitcase frees you to enjoy your travels without the inconvenience of excess weight. Plus, it leaves room for souvenirs!
This simple change can enhance your travel experience, allowing more freedom and flexibility.
Avoid Street Food
Street food often gets a bad rap due to hygiene concerns, yet it offers a genuine taste of local culture. Avoiding it means missing out on unique flavors and culinary experiences.
To enjoy street food safely, observe where locals flock, indicating quality and freshness. Foods cooked thoroughly or served hot tend to be safer choices.
This approach allows you to relish authentic dishes while minimizing health risks. Embrace street food with care, and it can become a highlight of your travel, offering insights into the local way of life and traditions.
Follow the Crowd
Sticking to well-trodden paths can limit your travel experience. Popular tourist spots often feel crowded and impersonal, diluting their charm.
Venturing off the beaten path uncovers hidden gems and offers more authentic interactions. Engage with locals, explore less-known neighborhoods, and visit lesser-known attractions.
This approach enriches your journey, providing unique stories and personal connections. While some popular sites are must-sees, diversifying your itinerary ensures a more rounded and fulfilling travel experience.
It’s about finding balance and creating your own adventure.
Skip Travel Insurance
Traveling without insurance is a gamble that can lead to financial strain. Unforeseen events like medical emergencies, theft, or trip cancellations can arise.
Without coverage, you might face significant expenses. Investing in travel insurance provides peace of mind and financial protection.
It ensures support in emergencies, allowing you to focus on enjoying your journey. Coverage varies, so choose a policy matching your needs and destination.
Being prepared with insurance means you’re equipped to handle unexpected situations, turning potential disasters into minor inconveniences.
Rely Solely on English
Assuming everyone speaks English can lead to frustration and missed connections. Language barriers may hinder your ability to navigate, order food, or engage meaningfully.
Learning basic phrases in the local language shows respect and effort, often leading to more positive interactions. Locals appreciate attempts to communicate in their native tongue, enhancing your travel experience.
Additionally, non-verbal communication, such as gestures, can bridge gaps. Embrace the challenge of language learning; it enriches your travels by fostering deeper connections and understanding of the culture you’re exploring.
Travel Solo Is Lonely
Solo travel is often perceived as isolating, but it offers unique opportunities for self-discovery and connection. Being alone encourages you to engage more with your surroundings and fellow travelers, creating meaningful experiences.
You have the freedom to follow your own schedule, visiting places that genuinely interest you. Hostels, group tours, and local meetups are excellent ways to meet people and share adventures.
Traveling solo can lead to lifelong friendships and personal growth, making it a rewarding experience. Embrace the independence it offers and the chance to truly connect.
Avoid Public Transport
Public transport in foreign cities is often seen as daunting, yet it offers a window into daily life and local culture. Avoiding it means missing out on authentic experiences and insights.
Buses, trains, and trams are affordable and provide a chance to observe and interact with locals. They’re often more convenient than taxis, especially in congested areas.
Before traveling, research routes and schedules to navigate efficiently. Embrace public transport; it enhances your travel by offering unique perspectives and opportunities to connect with the city’s rhythm.
Book Everything in Advance
Booking every detail of your trip can restrict flexibility and increase stress. While securing accommodations and major attractions is wise, leaving room for spontaneity enhances travel.
Over-planning can lead to missing local recommendations or unexpected events. Allow gaps in your itinerary for discoveries and relaxation.
Adaptability can lead to memorable experiences, like stumbling upon a hidden café or local festival. Balance planning with openness to new possibilities; this approach brings freedom and serendipity to your journey, turning it into a more enriching adventure.
Travel During High Season
Traveling during peak season might seem ideal, but it comes with high prices and crowds. Popular attractions become overwhelmed, reducing the joy of exploration.
Off-peak travel offers lower costs, fewer tourists, and authentic experiences. You can interact more with locals and enjoy sights without the hustle.
Research shoulder seasons for your destination; they often provide pleasant weather and vibrant cultural events. Embrace off-peak travel for a more relaxed and personal experience, allowing genuine connections and discoveries.
It’s a strategic approach to maximize enjoyment and value.
Use Your Phone for Everything
Relying entirely on smartphones can disconnect you from the travel experience. While convenient, they can create barriers between you and the environment.
Looking down at screens means missing real-life interactions and opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture. Consider using paper maps or asking locals for directions; these moments often lead to memorable exchanges.
Balance technology use with real-world engagement. This approach allows for a richer, more connected journey, where you truly absorb and enjoy each moment.
Experience travel by being present, beyond digital constraints.
Stay in Hotels Only
Hotels offer comfort but often lack the local flavor and interaction found in alternative accommodations. Staying in hostels, guesthouses, or Airbnb allows for cultural immersion and personal connections.
These options often provide communal spaces, fostering interaction with fellow travelers and hosts. Choosing unique accommodations can lead to learning about local customs and hidden gems.
Consider mixing your stay with hotels and alternatives to balance comfort and cultural experiences. This diverse approach enriches your travels, offering deeper insights into the areas you visit.
Don’t Interact with Locals
Keeping to yourself may feel safe, but it limits your travel experience. Engaging with locals opens doors to authentic insights and stories.
They offer recommendations beyond guidebooks, leading to unique adventures. Simple interactions at markets, cafes, or public spaces provide cultural understanding and connections.
Locals can enrich your journey with personal stories and traditions. Approach with curiosity and respect, and you’ll find these interactions become highlights of your trip.
Embrace the opportunity to learn from those who call your destination home.
Stay Connected Constantly
Constant connectivity can detract from the travel experience, causing stress and distraction. While staying in touch is important, overuse of technology might mean missing out on the present moment.
Set designated check-in times and immerse yourself in your surroundings. This approach helps balance connectivity with presence, allowing for deeper engagement with the environment and culture.
Disconnecting encourages mindfulness and appreciation of the journey, leading to richer memories and experiences. Embrace moments of digital detox for more fulfilling travel.
Eat Only at Familiar Chains
Sticking to familiar restaurant chains limits your culinary adventure and cultural exposure. Each country boasts unique flavors and traditional dishes worth exploring.
Dining at local establishments provides insight into the region’s culture and traditions. It’s a chance to taste authentic recipes passed down through generations.
Step out of your comfort zone, ask for local specialties, and savor new experiences. This approach enriches your travel, transforming meals into cultural discoveries.
Embrace the diversity of flavors that each destination offers, and let your taste buds guide your journey.
Avoid Hostels
Hostels often conjure images of cramped spaces, but they offer much more than just budget accommodation. They are hubs for meeting fellow travelers and sharing experiences.
Most hostels provide communal spaces, organized activities, and tours promoting cultural exchanges. Opting for hostel stays can lead to friendships and shared adventures.
They’re ideal for solo travelers or those seeking social experiences. Choose hostels with good reviews for cleanliness and security.
This alternative accommodation often enriches your journey, offering a deeper connection to the travel community and local culture.
Plan Every Minute
Rigidly planning every moment can stifle the joy of spontaneity, often the heart of travel discoveries. An over-packed schedule leaves little room for unexpected opportunities or relaxation.
Allowing flexibility in your plans fosters adventure and authentic experiences. Encountering a local festival or stumbling upon a hidden gem becomes possible.
Embrace a balance between structure and openness, ensuring you capture the essence of your destination. This approach transforms your travels into a more enriching and memorable experience, leaving space for the magic of the unknown.
Avoid Remote Areas
Remote areas often hold the most authentic experiences and untouched beauty. Avoiding them means missing out on serene landscapes and local traditions.
Venturing into the countryside offers a glimpse into a different pace of life, often leading to unexpected adventures. Preparation is key; ensure you have the necessary supplies and information.
Embrace the solitude and opportunity to disconnect. Exploring off-the-beaten-path locations can provide a unique perspective and deeper appreciation of your destination, making your travel experience both enriching and peaceful.
Always Follow Guidebooks
Guidebooks offer useful information, but adhering to them exclusively can limit your experience. They often highlight popular sites, which may not capture the true essence of a place.
Engaging with locals or exploring spontaneously reveals hidden gems and unique insights. Local advice often leads to attractions and experiences beyond guidebook pages, offering a richer cultural understanding.
Balance guidebook tips with personal exploration to create a more authentic and memorable journey. This approach ensures you experience the diverse and unexpected elements that make travel truly rewarding.
Travel is Expensive
The notion that travel is inherently expensive can deter potential adventures. With strategic planning, travel can be affordable and rewarding.
Budget airlines, off-peak seasons, and local accommodations offer significant savings. Prioritize experiences over luxury, and you’ll find meaningful adventures within reach.
Utilize resources like travel blogs, forums, and apps to uncover cost-effective options. Embrace budget travel as a chance to explore more and connect deeply with destinations.
This mindset transforms travel into an accessible pursuit, offering enriching experiences without breaking the bank.
Avoid Adventure Activities
Adventure activities may seem risky, yet they add excitement and unique experiences to your travel. Choosing reputable providers ensures safety standards are met, allowing you to enjoy activities like hiking, scuba diving, or zip-lining.
These experiences often become trip highlights, offering perspectives and adrenaline rushes that enrich your journey. Overcome fears by starting with smaller adventures and gradually increasing thrill levels.
This approach can lead to personal growth and memorable stories, transforming your travel into a more dynamic and engaging experience.
Stay in One Place
Staying in one location may appear convenient, but it limits the depth and diversity of your travel experience. Exploring multiple destinations offers a broader perspective and richer exposure to different cultures and landscapes.
Moving around allows you to compare and contrast various traditions, cuisines, and environments. Plan efficiently to minimize transit time, maximizing exploration and enjoyment.
This approach makes each journey diverse and stimulating, offering a tapestry of experiences that deepen your understanding and appreciation of the world.
Bargain Aggressively Everywhere
Aggressive bargaining can damage relationships and reduce enjoyment of local interactions. While negotiating is common in many cultures, respect and understanding are crucial.
Approach negotiations politely, acknowledging the vendor’s perspective. This fosters goodwill and often leads to fair deals.
Remember, your purchase supports local livelihoods, and paying a little more can have a significant positive impact. Embrace bargaining as a cultural experience, enhancing your travel by fostering respect and appreciation for local customs.
This approach leads to more meaningful interactions and a positive travel legacy.