If you travel often, then you have probably wanted to facepalm about some of the things you have seen while on the road. Travelers have been known to show up at hotels while their luggage was still sitting at home by the front door. Other travelers have taken the wrong road driving hundreds of miles because they were too scared to stop and ask for directions.
Still others have missed the last turnaround and have ended up in a whole different country without proper paperwork. While these cases may seem extreme, chances are that you have made some travel mistakes if you have spent anytime on the road. Before you start your next vacation or business trip, make sure that you do not repeat these five common travel mistakes.
Not Being Flexible on Travel Dates
Unless you need to be somewhere on a certain date, keeping your travel dates as flexible as possible helps you save lots of money. First, if you are flying, you can often save money by flying on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Saturdays. Before you book your flight, however, make sure that there is not a major convention headed to your destination because hotel’s will raise their rates.
Checking Unneeded Baggage
While checking a bag is unavoidable at times, make sure that you are only taking with you the necessities that you really need. Expect each bag that you check to cost you more than $25. Many people travel very comfortably using only a carry-on bag. Make sure to check the airline, however, for regulations on allowable carry-on bag sizes.
Driving Sleepy
Many travelers make the mistake of trying to get to their destination when they are tired. Instead of driving drowsy, pull over and take a break. Up to 72,000 crashes are caused each year by sleepy drivers. Taking a 10-minute break every hour gives your body time to wake up. After all, it is much better to arrive late than not arrive at all.
Booking Your Hotel Online
While many travel services often have the same rate or a better one than if you book the hotel directly, it never hurts to check. Call the hotel directly in the location you want to stay. use the electronic device to book the tickets. If they have empty rooms available, then they often are willing to discount them. After all, some money for the room is better than no income at all.
Choose Accommodations Wisely
Choose the location of your hotel wisely. Often looking at neighboring properties can save you lots of money. This is especially true if they are located in a different zip code that is not considered as fancy. Look at the hotel’s website to see what they offer, and take advantage of as many freebies as possible. For example, many offer complimentary breakfasts eliminating the need to pay for it. Others even offer an afternoon wine and cheese cutting down on the need to eat an expensive meal at night.
While you may never forget your luggage at home or drive into the wrong country, even experienced travelers often make mistakes costing them time and money. Avoiding these five common travel mistakes can make your trip more enjoyable.
References
https://maldivesfinest.com/arrive-without-a-hotel-reservation
https://www.cdc.gov/features/dsdrowsydriving/index.html
https://www.daveabels.com/the-dangers-of-side-impact-collisions.html
http://www.viraltravel.com/problems-with-online-travel-booking-sites/