Hello travel bunnies! How are you doing and where are you going? I haven’t taken a flight in a few months until the start of September when I wen to Madrid to learn Spanish for a week. Anyways, today’s post is all about the 10 things I wish I knew about travel before. Let’s face it there are a few things you probably wish you knew before you started travelling. Here’s mine.
10 Things I Wish I Knew About Travel Before
Over Hyped Places
You know the places that’s hyped up on social media? They can be over hyped and can be a let down. For example, the Little Mermaid in Denmark. If you’ve been then you know and if you haven’t been let’s just say, it’s small, really small. Or you go to a restaurant that’s been the rage and when you finally get the booking, get to the restaurant, order your food and its mediocre at best. Do your research off of social media to get a realistic perspective.
3-Hour Layovers
If you’re travelling long haul that includes a layover that’s 3 hours or less, please don’t do it. I’ve had this happen to me thinking ‘oh 2 hours will be enough’. My dear reader, it was in fact not enough time and I was speeding through a really large airport. I’ve also missed a connecting flight and was put on another flight that was to another inconvenient airport. So please take my advice, avoid 3-hour or less layovers for your sanity.
Checked Bags Aren’t Always Needed
Okay hear me out, you don’t always need to have checked bags for a trip. If you’re travelling for up to a week most times you don’t need to check your bag. Often times you don’t wear all the clothes or outfits that you pack. The trip to Madrid I mentioned earlier, I went for a week with only hand luggage and even had a couple of items I didn’t use. It helps to plan outfits and have pieces that are interchangeable.
Cut Out the Middle Man
When I say, cut out the middle man, I’m talking about flights. I understand the need for the middle man when it comes to looking for flights. However, I noticed that sometimes, well a lot of times, these companies might be cheaper but if something goes wrong you don’t have a leg to stand on. I had this experience when covid happened and it took months to get a refund. Most times booking directly with the airline saves the hassle and if they have a points system, like Avios, you can earn points to drive down the price.
Detailed Itineraries
I know for Type A personalities having a detailed itinerary is something that works for you. For me and alot of people, spontaniety is part and parcel of a trip. You don’t need every hour, minute or second of the day planned. I’m all for booking tours or places that I must visit especially if they get booked up quite quickly. With that said, leaving time to just have a wander can and has added something unexpectedly magical that wouldn’t have happened if every moment was planned.
Travel Insurance
I was one of those travellers who didn’t have travel insurance unless it was required for visa purposes. That all changed when covid hit and now I have an annual subscription. Anything can and usually does happen especially when you’re in a foreign country. Also, as the UK is no longer in the European Union there’s no guarantee that health care in European countries will be free or affordable. Get the travel insurance.
Lounge Access is Worth the Money
I’ve spoken about this time and time again and the benefits. So just to recap, getting a lounge membership i.e. Priority Pass which is what I have, has saved me many, many times. It’s great when you have long layovers and you can use the facilities. There’s nothing better than having a shower before you get on your next leg of your trip. Trust me!
Not Everywhere Takes Card or Cash
Not every country, city, town or village accepts card payments. To be prepared, I read through blog posts about what type of payments are expected. I then have a bit of cash just in case especially if I’m landing late at night and need to pay for a taxi. If they don’t accept cash then I use a global card so I don’t get hit with the conversion rate.
These are the 10 things I wish I knew about travelling before. I’d love to know what you wish you knew before travelling in the comments below.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time, be well! X
