Avid Travelers Share The Common “Rookie Mistakes” Other Tourists Make

My husband and I have been living in a tiny village in Italy for the past 5 months and have been doing LOTS of European travel along the way. And let me tell you, we’ve learned VERY quickly that every country has its own unspoken rules, cultural quirks, and telltale signs that scream, “I’m a tourist!” So, it’s always nice to hear others’ personal tips and tricks for mastering the art of traveling. And I thought, why not share some of those tips here?

Over on Reddit, seasoned travelers are spilling their absolute BEST travel secrets to help fellow wanderers avoid looking like clueless tourists. And as someone who practically lives for Reddit threads like these, I couldn’t resist rounding up some of the most brilliant, game-changing tips. Take a look:

1. “Traveling between attractions and moving from place to place often takes more time than it says ‘on paper.'”

—littlerunaway1984

“You’re also going to make mistakes. Every traveler does, especially when navigating public transportation in a new city. You’ll inevitably get on the wrong bus or train, or something unexpected will happen, like a breakdown, a lost ticket, or an unexpected delay. The best thing you can do is always build a little extra time into your plans to account for the inevitable hiccups.”

—anglerfishtacos

2. “Bring your own mini-pharmacy! Pack the basics: paracetamol, ibuprofen, something for motion sickness, and a few essentials for minor injuries. You never know when you might need them, and it’s always better to be prepared than scrambling to find a pharmacy in an unfamiliar place!”

—Limpy_lip

“Band-Aids — don’t forget to bring a couple of these. Having a small cut that won’t stop bleeding while rushing around an airport is not a pleasant experience.”

—nucumber

Editor’s note: Also, bring all your essential medications in your carry-on. It was NOT fun when my luggage was lost for a few days, and I didn’t have my meds. Lesson learned!

3. “Quick-drying clothing and layers are your best friends! Americans tend to wear a lot of cotton (jeans in particular), but if you’re out in the elements, cotton can get wet very easily and, more importantly, STAY wet. Suddenly, you’re cold, damp, and miserable. Synthetic fabrics tend to be lighter, easier to pack, and much quicker to dry.”

—Ceorl_Lounge

Related: “47 Things Other Countries Have That Make America Feel Centuries Behind”

4. “Not knowing every word in another language is no reason not to try. I’ve had plenty of conversations, made friends, and even spent entire days with strangers communicating through broken attempts at each other’s languages and Google Translate. It’s incredibly fun and rewarding to watch your brain figure out how to communicate and navigate conversations when you don’t know all the words!”

—Longjumping_College

5. “Make sure you check museum closure days in the countries you’re visiting! The #1 regret I hear from family and friends after traveling is planning an entire day around visiting a specific museum or art gallery, only to arrive and discover it’s closed. I find that Mondays are often the culprit, so I always make a point of checking opening days and hours when planning my sightseeing itinerary.”

—Loaf_Butt

6. “You can do laundry while traveling, so there’s no need to excessively overpack for every trip. Many hotels, and even some hostels, offer laundry services (although they might charge per item). Full-service laundromats that charge by weight are usually pretty reasonably priced, too, and often have your clothes ready the same day!”

—ehunke

7. “Remember to check whether you need a visa or have any other entry requirements before traveling. It always surprises me how many people don’t realize that their passport has an expiration date, so make sure yours is valid well before you book that flight!”

—dkyongsu

8. “Doing everything the cheapest way (flights, hotels, transfers, etc.) can end up costing you quite a bit more in time, money, and aggravation. I’d personally rather take fewer trips and spend a little more than scrimp on the major aspects of a trip. For example, low-cost airlines often fly into secondary or tertiary airports miles from the city, meaning you’ll end up spending extra money on transfers.”

—Speedbird223

9. “You NEED to dress in layers in many destinations. Between the sun, clouds, and rain, I went through practically every layer I packed on some days in Scotland. My kids didn’t listen, stuck to their jeans and hoodies, and spent much of the trip either damp or overheating.”

—Ceorl_Lounge

10. “When arriving after an international flight, don’t overschedule the rest of your day. Many people assume they can fly halfway around the world, drop their bags at the hotel, and immediately spend the entire day sightseeing. And while that works for some people, after a long flight, it’s often much nicer to give yourself time to settle in, adjust to the time difference, and get your bearings before jumping straight into vacation mode.”

—sashahyman

Related: Travelers Who Visited The US Are Sharing The Weird Things They Didn’t Expect To Experience And Could Not Have Prepared For

11. “The cheapest ‘local bus’ option isn’t necessarily the authentic travel experience you’re hoping for. Between the long travel time, uncomfortable conditions, and concerns about theft, it’s not always worth the savings.”

—CLINT_FACE

12. “I currently work in the travel industry, and you have NO idea how little research people do before visiting a destination, especially when it comes to the weather. As a general rule, always pack three things: a sweater, a lightweight rain jacket, and a bathing suit. All three. You never know when you’ll need them! Here’s a little example: We were in ANTARCTICA, and a guy was absolutely furious that he couldn’t find all the things he needed to go outside (long johns, gloves, hats) in his size or preferred color because he ‘didn’t know it was going to be that cold, since it was supposed to be summer.’ IN ANTARCTICA.”

—time-watertraveler

13. “Cheap flights often have inconvenient departure and arrival times, so you end up spending the money you saved on an extra night of accommodation.”

—CLINT_FACE

14. “Get a business card from your hotel. If you get too lost to find your way back, just show it to a taxi driver. It’s your safety net!”

—Longjumping_College

15. “It’s good to know which countries have safe, drinkable tap water and other general information about a country’s infrastructure.”

—ColumbiaWahoo

16. “In many countries, pedestrians don’t always have the right of way. Never assume a vehicle will stop for you or even make an effort to avoid you.”

—phasefournow

17. “Don’t rely solely on Yelp reviews. Get out, explore, and start walking until you find a busy restaurant. If the locals are eating there, it’s probably worth trying! Also, learn how to say hello, thank you, yes, no, and please in the local language.”

—Longjumping_College

18. “What a burden a huge, heavy backpack can be! Inexperienced travelers tend to focus on packing absolutely everything, while experienced travelers know how to pack light and what they can easily pick up along the way. A carry-on bag has SO many advantages. You can keep it on your lap on a bus or in a taxi, and you can comfortably walk several kilometers with a smaller pack. Trust me, the less you have to lug around, the better!”

—english_major

19. “Bring cash. When I was in Italy, my debit card suddenly stopped working. Seriously, I have no idea why, but it became an issue that my bank couldn’t fix right away. I tried going to different ATMs to withdraw money, but nothing worked. Thankfully, my sister was kind enough to cover our meals and train tickets for the next few days. We eventually got everything sorted out, but it’s something I never imagined would happen. It definitely taught me to always have some backup cash on hand!”

—Content_Pool_1391

20. “Be mindful of how long your layover is going to be. If your flight is delayed for whatever reason, a short layover could cause you to miss your connecting flight. If you’re checking bags, it also increases the chances that your luggage won’t make it onto your next plane. And it doesn’t even have to be your flight that’s delayed.”

—Extric

21. “Be prepared for some stomach issues. Even in places where you’d never expect to get sick, simply being somewhere new and eating different foods or drinking different water than you’re used to can throw your digestive system for a loop. Plan for the possibility of getting the scoots, and keep some Pepto-Bismol or Imodium on hand, just in case!”

—herethereeverywhere9

22. “Learn about local tipping customs, greetings, restaurant etiquette, and cultural traditions — such as bathhouses (onsen) — and you’ll have a much more rewarding and eye-opening experience.”

—Longjumping_College

23. “A sleep mask can come in pretty handy during the summer months, when the sun rises as early as 6 a.m. (or even earlier) in certain countries, particularly in Northern Europe.”

—etre_be

24. “I had no idea Europe used different types of electrical outlets when I first flew here from America. I talked to so many people for travel advice, and somehow, this never came up!”

—ABrokeUniStudent

25. “For jet lag, I try to adjust my eating and sleeping schedule to my destination’s time zone as soon as possible. I stop eating within 12 hours of my destination’s bedtime, and once I’m on the plane, I try to sleep according to the local time at my destination. I generally avoid eating on the flight, too. When I land, I have a big meal and get on with my day. Ideally, my first proper meal is breakfast in the new time zone. If I’m still in the air when breakfast rolls around, I’ll have a small snack and save the big meal for lunch after landing. I’ve found that adjusting my food, light exposure, and sleep schedule on the plane and as soon as I land helps me beat jet lag and can save me a day or two of feeling out of sorts!”

—Longjumping_College

26. “You don’t need to buy out an entire outdoor store to go ‘backpacking’ in Europe or Australia. Just dress normally!”

—CLINT_FACE

27. “Make sure you withdraw enough cash to get you by for at least a day before you leave. In countries like Japan, many ATMs don’t accept foreign cards, so you’ll need to find one that does (often at a hotel) to get cash. Otherwise, you might not even be able to buy a train ticket!”

—Longjumping_College

28. “If your hotel is in a remote location, ask if they can arrange a driver to pick you up. It’ll likely cost about the same as a taxi, and you won’t have to worry about getting lost!”

—Longjumping_College

29. And finally: “Schedule some time to rest. Trying to do something every day can wear you out and make it harder to fully enjoy your trip.”

—David-J

Now I wanna hear from YOU! Avid travelers, what’s your ultimate travel tip? Share it in the comments or through the anonymous form below! Mine? Buy your tickets in advance! Not only can you often save money by booking ahead, but you can also guarantee you’ll actually get to see the attractions. Some museums, art galleries, and major tourist attractions sell out WEEKS in advance, so don’t assume you can simply show up after landing and snag a ticket. Trust me, a little planning can save you a whole lot of vacation heartbreak!

Your daily brain workout: You’re One Of The Smartest People I Know If You Can Solve This Word Puzzle

Read it on BuzzFeed.com