I just read a great article about the mistakes people make when traveling. I think it is worth visiting and breaking down the mistakes. Think of this as a DIY guide to traveling mistake free!

Know the Destination You Will be Visiting

Most people don’t spin the globe, blindfold themselves and pick a place to go. For the most part, we hear of a destination from friends that have visited there or we see it on TV. Shows like The Bachelor film in amazing locations that make us want to go. But what do you really know about it?

You need to do a little homework and research, even if you are going to use a travel agency. If you have no knowledge of where it is you are going, you won’t understand the nuances of the destination. If you pick the location based purely on what you see on TV, you may not have that WOW experience . It is imperative that you check things out so you know if it is a good fit for you. Then Infinity Travelaz will do the rest to ensure your vacation is amazing!

Just Because Your Neighbor Loved it……..

This is my favorite ‘Don’t do it!’ mistake people make. Your family or friends travel somewhere and think just because they loved it,  you will too. It does not always work that way. Vacations are not one size fits all adventures. Especially when it comes to cruising. I have a big list of ‘dont’ do what they do’ recommendations for first time cruisers that I always share when starting the planning process. We will talk about your needs and desires and then recommend the right cruise experience for YOU.

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

A great game people love to play is waiting until the last minute to book a cruise because the cruise line will lower the rates to sell out the cruise. While this is sometimes true, you will NOT get the extra perks those that planned ahead get. Generally speaking I recommend my clients book a cruise about a year in advance, give or take a few months. If you do this you get the best cabin location choices, booking incentives like beverage packages or pre-paid gratuities and lower deposit amounts. Booking at the last minute gets you whatever cabin is left available with no choice of location and no ‘freebies’. In my opinion, you get the best value out of your vacation dollars  when you plan ahead.

Let’s Just Wing it!

How many times have you decided to just take off and be spontaneous? I have on road trips, but to date I have never booked a last minute vacation expecting it to be perfect. Flying to Cancun smack dab in the middle of hurricane season because you did not look at the weather will not be an enjoyable experience. Let’s face it, there are just a few things that need to be considered when taking off for a quick getaway and weather is certainly a big factor.

Value or Deal?

Travelers will spend hours and hours searching the internet for the ‘Best Deal’. Finding the week long package at a new all-inclusive resort for dirt cheap sounds amazing. Until you get there and realize they have opened only part of the resort and the rest is still under construction. Only 1 of the 3 sparkling pools is open as well as only the buffet restaurant because the specialty dining restaurants aren’t built yet. You begin to see that they embelished their advertisement to get business. This is where Infintity Travelaz will be invaluable in finding you an amazing resort for a decent price where the chances of your vacation being FANTASTIC comes into play. Trust your Travel Agent to know what is an incredible value for your travel dollars.

Know Your Logistics

When you are traveling abroad you need to consider jetlag. It is real, trust me. You leave the U.S. in the morning, fly overnight and arrive in your destination 1 or 2 days later (depending where you are traveling) at O Dark Thirty. You’re tired and want to get to your hotel and sleep. That is the #1 mistake travelers make. You need to adjust your body clock by staying awake. Freshen up, go exploring a little bit and try to keep going until night time. Go to bed early, get a good night sleep and be ready to take on the day in the morning. This will make a huge impact on how much you enjoy the first part of your vacation.

Driving in a Foreign Country

Did you know that in Europe and Australia drivers sit on the opposite side of the car and the ‘controls’ are on the wrong side for U.S. drivers. Cars are a lot smaller than what we are used to, and in my opinion they all drive crazy! Have you heard about 100 mph on the Autobahn? It’s true! My point is thinking you can just ‘go rent a car and take off’ when you are in a new country is not always that simple. Can you drive a stick shift? How about when you’re sitting on the opposite side of the car? Take this into consideration, plan ahead and maybe hire a driver to take you around. You will enjoy your vacation so much more than if you are frazzled by the car and the other drivers.

Know What to Pack…

Pack suitable to your destination and HOW you are vacationing. It is never a good idea to bring a suitcase the size of a refrigerator. You will have to pay extra to check it on your flight and it will be a nightmare to transport it to your cruise ship or resort once you reach your destination. AND you don’t need to bring everything you own with you anyway! Over packing is a huge mistake people make all the time. Are you really going to wear 10 pairs of shoes? No, you’re not. I include packing suggestions in all my document packages and always advise my clients to travel light. At some point on every vacation you will be schlepping your bags around. It will be easier to have less to worry about and for you to manuver. I have gotten really good at mixing and matching my outfits. Roll your clothes carefully ~ they won’t get too wrinkled and you can get more into a smaller piece of luggage. Infinity Travelaz has lots of GREAT ideas we share with our travelers. We want you to enjoy your time away!

Granted, none of these ‘mistakes’ are the end of the world. But, I hope you find the suggestions useful. Even seasoned travelers need a fresh perspective once in a while. Infinity Travelaz loves to travel and we are here to help.  And add a chuckle or 2 to your day.

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