*This is a collaborative post*
There’s a lot of capacity for having a good time when you’re travelling, but it’s not as if the good times are automatically guaranteed. When you’re undertaking an epic journey, far from home, then any number of small and big issues can arise. The good news is that if you’re aware of them, then you can take steps to minimise their impact on your travel plans. Take a read through the most common travel issues below, and you’ll be on your way towards having a fun and memorable trip.
Inconvenient Travel Times
We can sometimes be lured by cheap flight prices, but it’s always worthwhile digging a little deeper and figuring out if it’s going to cost you in other ways. Let’s think about a dirt-cheap flight that departs at 6 am. Since it’s unlikely that there’ll be any public transport running at that time, you’ll need to get a taxi. And since you won’t have had time to make breakfast, you’ll need to get food at the airport. So the cost of the flight will suddenly not look so agreeable. But the other point inconvenient flight times can disrupt the enjoyment of your trip. Get up too early or arrive too late in the day, and you’ll always be trying to catch up on sleep.
Long Journeys
As well as looking at the time that you depart, take a look at the overall journey time. This can include things like how many connections you have to make, and how far your eventual destination is from the airport. Of course, there are some destinations where you’ll have no choice other than to go for a long ride, but in most cases, you’ll have some control. It’s especially important to check the overall journey time when you’re flying with a budget airline: they sometimes use airports that are far away from the popular destination.
Low-Quality Accommodations
If you’re going to enjoy all that travelling has to offer, then you’ll need to get a good night’s rest under your belt. But in some places, this just isn’t possible. When it comes to booking your accommodation, make sure that you’re choosing highly-rated hotels and hostels where you need you’ll be able to get a full night of rest. It’s not about staying in the most expensive hotel in town. Cheap accommodation can be excellent, as anyone who’s spent the night in one of the world’s best hostels will know. Even though where you sleep will only be a base, it’s not something you want to take too many chances with. It’s one of those things that can quickly ruin your trip!
Inappropriate Clothing
The clothes that we pack when we go on a travelling adventure shouldn’t have too much of an impact on our trip, but they do. Since most travel plans involve a lot of walking, adequate shoe insoles, like the ones from Protalus.com, are a must. It’s not about looking good (though it’s true that a stylish look can boost our confidence); it’s about being ready for the weather. It’s always good to remember the old saying: ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.’ So check beforehand. A lot of people only look at say, the high temperature of the day, and end up packing shorts and t-shirts. But what about the low temperature? Things can become chilly once the sun goes down, even in hot countries.
No Plan
While there’s much to be said for going with the flow, there is a risk that you’ll have a less than memorable trip. Of course, it depends where you’re going, but in general, it’s a good idea to do some research regarding your destination before you go, so that you have some things lined up when you arrive. If you don’t, then you could end up in a scenario that can dampen the spirits of even the most enthusiastic traveller: just mindlessly walking around. It’s not about having a full schedule of things you need to do; just about having a list of some things that you’d like to do. You might find that, once you arrive, you’re happy to abandon your plans and take a more free-spirited approach — but you’ll be happy you made some plans if that doesn’t end up happening.
Sensory Issues
There are many ways to experience the world when we’re travelling. But when you break them down, you’ll find that there’s one important component: your senses must be in tip-top condition. You won’t enjoy the grandeur of the alps, for instance, if your vision isn’t all that it could be. You won’t enjoy the delicious food of Southeast Asia if your sense of smell (and thus taste) is poor. There are things you can do to improve these things, however. You can get a prescription for glasses; once you have it, then easy click here, and get a pair that you like. If you already have glasses, then you may consider buying a second pair, so you have a backup should you lose your first pair. Your sense of taste will be negatively impacted if you smoke cigarettes. If you’re travelling in the near future, then look at giving up — you’ll notice that your taste has improved even if it has only been a couple of weeks since you last smoked.
Conflicting Desires
There’s much to love about taking a trip with your nearest and dearest. But it would be wrong to suggest that everything about this approach is perfect: it is not. You’re much more likely to end up in arguments, for starters, and you’ll sometimes find that you have conflicting desires as to what you should do when you’re exploring. Now, we’d always say that there’s value in travelling by yourself; it’s something that many people shy away from, but it can give you oh so much. But anyway, that’s not the solution when you’re travelling with your loved ones. You can’t leave them and do your own thing. So what’s the solution? It’s all about communication, and discussing what you’re going to do beforehand. There’ll be times when you have to sacrifice something that you want to do; that’s just the cost of doing business.
Sun Damage
It can, of course, be fun to spend some hours in the sunshine. And especially so if you’re from a corner of the world that doesn’t receive all that many sunny days. However, it’s important to remember that while the sun can be your friend, it can also be your enemy. If you’re spending too many hours in the sunshine, then you could end up with a nasty sunburn, especially if you’re not used to the sun. This problem can be avoided by engaging in some straightforward sun safety tactics. That means being generous with the sun lotion, staying hydrated, and staying in the shade during the hottest period of the day (from midday through to 4 pm).
Expensive Attractions
It’s exciting to be in a destination that you know can provide a lot of fun. But it’ll be problematic if you don’t have the cash to enjoy all that it has to offer. One way to get around this issue is to choose your destinations wisely. You might want to visit, say, Dubai, but if you don’t have the budget to enjoy all that it has to offer, then it’ll be better to visit somewhere more affordable. You’ll always be able to visit the most costly places on earth once your financial situation has been improved!
The Weather
We talked earlier about how the sun can compromise your enjoyment of your trip. Talking more broadly, other weather can also negatively influence your trip. Of course, this isn’t something that’s within your control. You can try to visit a destination when you know the weather will be good, but there are never any guarantees when it comes to mother nature. The only foolproof solution for getting around this issue is to not be easily swayed by the weather. You might hope that you’ll experience a balmy spring day, but if it’s raining, then so what? If you have an umbrella and some waterproof clothing with you, then you’ll be able to have a good time, so long as you don’t dwell on how things could be better, and instead focus on what you have!
Sky-High Expectations
Finally, let’s think about your expectations. It’s normal to be excited about taking a trip that you’ve been planning for a while. But it’s another matter to have too rigid an idea of what it’s going to be like. You might end up having a life changing experience, but it would be wrong to go into it. Why? Because there’ll be too much pressure on the trip. Instead, just prepare well, go with the flow, and see what happens. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst — this attitude will always see you through!
Conclusion
Anything can happen when you’re travelling. Take the tips above, and you’ll find that you have reduced the chances of things going wrong, and that you have an excellent time more often than not!
