What not to do when travelling

We’ve given lots of tips for first time travellers here on the blog. What they should do when packing, apps to download, items to take. But we haven’t really looked at what you shouldn’t do whilst on the road.

So, to make sure you don’t make any really common mistakes we’ve thrown together a list of things NOT to do while travelling!

Don’t always go for a taxi – Sure, taxis are often the quickest way to travel about a city. But you can’t get the complete feel for a city without using the public transport system. Most have pretty good transport links, and more often than not, they’re much cheaper than taxis!

Don’t keep your head in your travel guide – The travel guide will be your friend when you’re in a new city, but don’t be afraid to explore without it sometimes. Ask people you meet where they like to go, because the travel guide is going to tell you about the popular tourism spots in the city. Not the quirky bars that you like.

Don’t keep your camera to your face – Yes, you’re going to want to remember the city you’re in and the best way to do that is with pictures. But don’t be one of those people that spend the whole trip with their eye in the viewfinder.

Breathe the city in and then take a picture!

Don’t stay in your comfort zone – It’s quite scary being in a big new city on your own and so it can be tempting to stick to what you know. You musn’t do this. Explore. Try something you’ve never done before. It’s your chance to try new things.

Don’t go overboard – On your first night you’re going to be tempted to go all out. If you’re going to drink then it’s important you know your limits. The last thing you want to do is alienate yourself from the other people staying at the hostel by getting too drunk.

Don’t feel like you can’t take time out – You’re in a new place, you want to see everything you can while you’re there. But that’ll mean you’ll burn out sooner rather than later. Don’t be ashamed if you want o take a day off laying around the hostel.

Recharging your batteries is important if you want to stay refreshed and healthy on your trip.