4 mistakes every first-time traveler makes.

Preparing yourself to go travelling for the first time can be daunting.

Whether you’re backpacking for a few months or going on a luxurious holiday for two weeks, that first adventure is a whirlwind of emotions and planning.

It’s normal to be excited and nervous when you’re about to travel for the first time.

You’ll experience an unbelievable feeling as you venture into unfamiliar territory. But along with this comes stress and anxiety.

You’ll soon think about problems and delays that can crop up. As a first time traveller, you’re bound to make mistakes. It’s not a big deal but being well prepared will help you cope. And once you know how to spot the common mistakes, it’s easier to avoid them.

Here are a few mistakes to avoid when you embark on your travel journey.

Taking your entire wardrobe

A simple and general rule when you pack for a trip is that you don’t need as much as you think you need. Lay out everything you need to pack and then divide it in half. But once your clothes are laid out, don’t be tempted to empty your wardrobe and fill up your suitcases. It’s important that you don’t reach the point where the suitcase is stuffed full of clothes and accessories. Before you pack, it’s important to create a packing checklist. Take a variety of clothes, preferably neutral ones, that you can mix and match. And don’t pack clothes that need ironing.

Don’t pack too many clothes because you’ll still buy things while you travel. You just need a few necessities. Don’t take more than two pairs of shoes. Consider a pair of sneakers or running shoes if you will spend most of your time walking and another pair suitable for a night out.

Planning too much or too little

For traveling, planning is essential. It’s very important to do this but overdoing it or under doing it can be a big mistake. Perhaps you don’t want the next few weeks of your travel planned out day by day. Sometimes you want to do fun and spontaneous things. But it doesn’t mean you’ll end up in a place where you have no idea about what to do next.

Things like accommodation, transport and possible, unexpected costs of the trip are things to plan for. For instance, will you stay in a hotel or a guest house where you’ll cater for yourself? It’s always wise to consider the cheapest option. If you consider traveling locally, you’ll be able to find a lot of self-catering accommodation in Cape Town. Self-catering is certainly a saving. You should always have a rough idea of where you’re going and let it be flexible enough to clinch opportunities.

Packing too many books

There’s no doubt that guidebooks are one of the best resources for travel-related information. But although they are good, they can be heavy and quite cumbersome to carry around. The same goes for novels and magazines. We’re in the 21st century and it’s time to embrace the e-reader. These gadgets will provide entertainment on-the-go and can make your trip enjoyable and burden-free. You can have the map of your destination and any books you would like to read on your trip, downloaded onto the device. You can even carry the entire series of 13 Reasons Why or Game of Thrones on there. You’ll then seem less like a tourist and no one will know that you don’t have an idea of where you are or what you’re doing. Audiobooks are another option for traveling. They are space-efficient and a lifesaver for people who suffer from motion sickness.

Traveling too fast to explore everything

There will be a lot of excitement when you’re traveling for the first time. And as most other travelers, you would want to explore everything quickly and possibly tick each and every box as you can. But remember traveling isn’t a chase. The main idea of traveling is to learn about the country, its culture and the experiences. It’s far better to spend more time on traveling and exploring fewer places than rushing around only to boast about the places you have been to. Unfortunately, everything can’t be explored at the same time. And so you should convince yourself to travel again. You’ll only then have the appetite for similar adventures.

Many people have different ways of experiencing adventures. You can ensure a stress-free trip if you avoid these four travel mistakes. The secret is to pack light and plan ahead to help you avoid any travel-related mishaps. So be prepared and start your trip with an open mind and a fresh perspective.