The COVID pandemic may have hurt international tourism, but the numbers don’t lie: international tourism is rebounding.
And for good reason. An international vacation is the chance to experience new cultures, see new sights, try new foods, and relax.
Few things are as exciting as an international trip. But if you’re not careful, that international trip may be exciting for all of the wrong reasons – if it even happens.
Here are 6 common international traveler mistakes – and more importantly, how to avoid them.
- Not Checking Visa and Passport Requirements
If are a U.S. passport holder, you can generally enter most countries without pre-arranging travel due to favorable travel agreements with other countries. However, that’s not always the case.
Some countries require an entry visa. This usually requires a small fee. But the big issue is that a visa can sometimes take a few days or weeks to get in advance, which means that leaving it until the last minute means you may be denied entry into your destination country.
Passport requirements for your destination can vary too. Some countries require a passport that is valid for at least 3 months. For other countries, it may be 6 months.
- Not Taking Care of Their Health
International travel is definitely exciting but if you’re not careful your excitement will get in the way of self-care, and your health.
Remember to practice basic self-care. Drink plenty of water, and eat enough healthy food to keep your body fueled.
It’s okay not to do things too. Being in another country doesn’t mean your sleep requirements have suddenly changed.
You still need the same amount of sleep. If that means skipping an early morning excursion or going to bed early so you can get enough sleep and get breakfast the next morning, then so be it.
- Trying to Do Everything
Likewise, you don’t have to pack every day with back-to-back events. Not every hour needs to be planned. Rushing from one activity to another is a great way to guarantee that you will be stressed, forget something important, and be too busy to enjoy the moment.
It’s easy to set your sights on a destination and start scouring for local dining, activities, and tourist attractions. Instead of overloading your day, plan one primary event or activity each day, then build your itinerary around that.
For example, you could plan your morning around California surf lessons, which will be a blast, and then after that, you could eat a very large, indulgent lunch. From there you might take a lazy nap, ready to enjoy a calming walk around the beach, and perhaps a few drinks in the evening after browsing a few shops. That’s a lovely day, and an adventure, without burning yourself out for tomorrow.
- Not Understanding Jet Lag
Jet lag is when your body’s circadian rhythm is disrupted from its normal routine. This results in circadian rhythm disorders, which is when your body’s internal clock is out of sync with your environment.
Symptoms of jet lag include daytime drowsiness, general malaise, and sleeping problems. Jet lags can last for days or even a few weeks.
Resolving jet lag involves resetting your body’s circadian rhythm. Basically, you need to rest your body’s internal clock so it matches your destination.
Light exposure to natural sunlight helps speed up the process of acclimation. Sunlight tells your body to wake up.
Likewise at night avoid artificial light, such as the blue light emitted from electronics such as laptops, tablets, and cell phones. At night a melatonin supplement may also help.
There are lots of other ways to minimize jetlag: limit alcohol, don’t overdo caffeine, and stay hydrated.
If you’re lucky, you won’t have jet lag at all. It doesn’t affect everyone, and it seems to be worse depending on the length of the trip, the number of time zones crossed, and the direction traveled.
However, it never hurts to be prepared and understand what jet lag is and how it can affect you. The last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined by jet lag.
- Lack of Knowledge About the Local Culture
In the modern age, there are fewer and fewer excuses to not have at least a very basic understanding of the local culture, religion, and customs when traveling to other countries.
Part of understanding your destination is understanding the language. You don’t have to be fluent, but understanding a few key phrases such as greetings will go a long way in impressing the locals. Of course, the more off the beaten path you go the more likely you are to need additional phrases. Learn what you can in advance, and use apps and dictionaries to fill in the knowledge gap.
Google Translate, for example, allows you to download an offline dictionary. If you do this prior to your trip you won’t have to worry about accessing a dictionary while using a spotty or expensive internet connection.
- Keeping Experiences to Yourself
If there’s one thing frequent travelers love almost as much as traveling, it’s sharing their travel stories – not just in person either. Odds are you may have even wondered about how to start a travel blog, or a YouTube channel chronicling your adventures.
Many travelers have already done that, and they freely share their knowledge and experiences via podcasts, YouTube, and travel blogs. Checking out travel blogs can help you get a feel for what to expect when visiting popular travel destinations.
But learning about others’ experiences and sharing your own does more than teach you what social faux pas to avoid. Traveling helps you figure things out and move forward, allowing you to see what’s really important to you. It makes you extremely self-aware,
The more you travel the more you understand people and how the world works. It’s a powerful way of learning how to be understanding and empathetic.
One of the best gifts you can give yourself is the gift of travel.
Avoid These International Traveler Mistakes
Everyone has travel horror stories. But if you follow these tips and avoid making these international traveler mistakes, your international trips are guaranteed to be better.
Looking for more travel tips and resources? Check out the rest of the site to get ideas on your next destination, or for advice on packing for vacations.
