Whether you're an amateur or seasoned international traveler, chances are you will make or have made one of the following common mistakes that people make when traveling abroad. With a little planning and strategy, you can avoid these issues and save yourself a lot of hassle so you can focus on enjoying your trip.
Bringing a Big Suitcase
International travel often requires connecting flights and all of the logistics of getting checked baggage from point A to point B over thousands of miles of travel can make it easy for luggage to get lost. Sometimes the baggage is simply misplaced or untrackable for a few hours and able to be located within a few days, but sometimes checked baggage is lost for good. In this case, travelers are left scrambling to buy replacements for their necessities.
Prevent this massive headache by leaving the oversized luggage at home and instead use a small carry-on-sized suitcase. Check with the airlines you will be traveling with to find out their maximum size limits for carry-on baggage. While most U.S.-based airlines allow luggage up to 22 inches tall, some smaller airlines in other countries limit carry-on suitcases to a height of 19 inches or less.
Make the most of your small suitcase by keeping your clothing compact and organized by rolling each item instead of folding it. Then use a set of packing cubes like the ones from eBags to keep everything neat and orderly.
Packing Too Much
When you bring a large suitcase, it's easy to overpack. To pack light, you need to adjust the way you think about your clothes. Your goal is to create a capsule wardrobe out of a minimal amount of clothing. To start, do not bring a piece of clothing if it cannot be worn with two or more other items to create different outfits. To make this easier, make sure that everything you bring coordinates in the same color palette. Plan your outfits before packing, trying everything on to ensure that you love the way that it looks and that you feel your best wearing each outfit. It isn't worth wasting precious space in your suitcase on something that you don't love.
It doesn't matter if you'll be traveling abroad for a week or a month, you really don't need more than a small assortment of clothing. Plan to do laundry while you are abroad to minimize the amount that you need to pack. As a bonus, this experience also helps to immerse you in the local culture in a way that dashing from one tourist destination to another does not.
Taking Too Many Tech Gadgets
When it comes to electronics, the "less is more" rule also applies. While you may be tempted to bring along your bulky DSLR camera and laptop, leave them if possible. Instead, use your smartphone camera or a compact camera that can fit in your pocket or a small handbag. Leave your laptop at home and instead bring a tablet to use for in-flight entertainment and checking in on things at home.
Assuming Everything Back Home is Safe
While abroad, you plan to wear a money belt under your clothes and have bought a special backpack or purse designed to thwart pickpockets. But how protected is your stuff back home?
Don't simply assume that everything at home will be safe while you are away. Install home security cameras around your property so that you can rest assured that your home is protected. Opt for a home security camera system that can be accessed online from anywhere, like those from Lorex.
Toting Guidebooks Everywhere
Guidebooks are bulky to tote around on your travels and they often make you look vulnerable to local thieves. Leave the heavy guidebooks at home and instead download the e-book versions to your smartphone and tablet using an app like Kindle Reader or iBooks. Not only will this save space in your luggage, but it's also a much easier way to quickly access information thanks to search and highlight features offered in e-reader apps.
Employ these tips so you can spend less time stressing out and more time relaxing and enjoying scenery and culture.
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