My top 5 travel mistakes not to make

Here are my top 5 travel mistakes not to make. I had to learn these the hard way so read on so that you don’t have the same travel fails!

1. Triple check your bookings!

Number one of my top 5 travel mistakes not to make is to check bookings!

I advise you to book at least 2 nights accommodation prior to arriving at a new place. This takes the pressure away from finding somewhere last minute. You can instead relax and get to know the place while you decide on whether to continue staying there or move on. However, making the booking is all well and good but the important part is to make sure you actually booked it properly!

When I arrived in Oxford, I had a really great first day relaxing in the hostel (free coffee/tea refills!) and exploring the beautiful historic city. On the 2nd day, while sitting in a lovely retro bar, I was looking at my bookings on booking.com (really helpful company – highly recommend!) and I swear my heart literally jumped into my throat. My booking for Oxford said it had been booked for one night only. Ever so slightly panic stricken, I hurriedly looked to see if they had space for tonight but they didn’t! Unable to get through to them on the phone, I headed back to the hostel praying they had a bed for me. At this point, I would have been happy sleeping in their comfy chilling area. Miraculously, they actually had a spot for me!

So learn from me and quadruple check your booking to avoid this heart in throat travel fail moment. I am usually super organised so even if you think it’s all sorted, check again anyway!

For 5 reasons on why to stay in hostels check out this post.

2. Arrive early or book long layovers!

Arrive early for whatever form of travel you have planned.

The airport/station could be a lot bigger than you realise or like me – the airport trams may have closed early (was not a relaxing moment).

When I was travelling to America, I got completely lost in JFK airport and almost missed my next flight. I could write a book on my journey through that airport – involved closed trams, having to leave and re-enter the airport, going through security again, going down to the basement by mistake, a lot of running and a whole lot of stress – so arrive early and avoid this!

3. Always have emergency cash!

Tip number 3 of travel mistakes not to make – always have emergency cash on you.

Your card may become lost, stolen or simply stop working so cash is always handy!

While in Walmart, my card was not accepted so I tried to pay with another card I had. I didn’t have enough money on this card though, so I went to the cash machine (or whatever Americans call it – probably something over the top like ‘provider of bills’). Anyway, it turns out that I didn’t know the pin code for this particular card and I couldn’t get the data to work on my phone to transfer cash to my other card. So after returning to the angry cashier, (yes unbelievably American Walmart cashiers aren’t always the insanely happy smiley way they seem) I asked if I could pay half in cash and half on card. This was accepted thank god! Don’t know what I would have done without cash so always have emergency cash on you!

For inspirational travel quotes check out this post.

4. Always remember your luggage!

Tip number 4 may seem obvious but sometimes something is so obvious that it ends up being the mistake you make.

On my way back from a solo trip to France, I got the tram from Edinburgh airport. However, after leaving the tram, I realised I didn’t have my suitcase with me! I tried ringing the ‘help bit’ but no answer so instead I decided to run up and down each tram as they arrived and hop out before they took of. My suitcase was nowhere to be found. Eventually, I got in contact with someone and it turns out a staff member had already taken my suitcase of the tram – they must notice forgotten luggage pretty fast. So I got it back but it is far easier to just remember your luggage in the first place. This way you don’t look like right plonker running up and down the trams.

5. Pack light!

Last but not least, the final of my top 5 travel mistakes not to make is to pack as lightly as possible.

Packing light just makes travel in general easier. I have always regretted having too heavy a suitcase! Especially on check in or check out days when I have to drag it around with me.

When I visited Edinburgh for the Fringe festival (magical atmosphere!) I had far too big a suitcase! I couldn’t find my hostel (ha – lost again, what a surprise!) and according to Google maps, I had to head up the steps on the Royal Mile (I now know this was completely unnecessary). There were a lot of steps so with a fairly large heavy suitcase, this was very difficult. Luckily, a kind young doctor saw me struggling and helped. The next day, I came across the same guy advertising a play on the Royal mile that he was part of during the festival. You really do never know what random moments you will come across while travelling!

For a full range of packing tips check out this post.