Have you ever taken items around the world with you that you really didn’t need?
Perhaps you’re planning your first trip around the world and are unsure if you really need to be taking so much gear?
The days are suddenly slipping by and the day of your departure into the unknown is becoming ever closer to reality. So many questions circle in your head, “will I be safe?”, “am I taking too many things”, “am I doing the right thing going alone?”. The fear of the unknown always seems to have a certain effect on you as a first time traveler.
Having been through the whole learning curve of being a first time traveler I’ve made my fair share of mistakes along the way. From planning too much, to taking items that I really didn’t need. In hindsight I would have changed a few things.
Planning
1. Planning Too Much
It is an easy trap to fall into as a first timer traveler. There is a tendency to fear the unknown, in order to combat the fear you plan. Whilst planning the first part of your trip is always a good idea, over planning can lead to a lack of flexibility on your trip.
I have known people to plan, in detail most of their trip before they’ve even left. A big part of going traveling is having the freedom to make decisions on a whim, but if you’ve made a detailed plan it’s far less likely you’ll be able to deviate.
2. Booking Too Many Tours
As the departure date creeps closer fear begins to set in, fear of the unknown. This often leads the first timer to look for some kind of safety net, it often comes in the form of a tour. While tours can be good fun, for me they do take the “traveling” element out of the experience, as all your arrangements tend to be made for you.
I take a tour when I feel I want to put my feet up and let someone else do the leg work for a change, then I can just sit back and relax. I don’t often like to take tours as most trips can be done independently.
3.Taking a Last Minute “Friend”
Fear of “going it alone” can see the first timer hunting for a travel partner to join them on the trip. Instead of being selective about who their travel partner will be they just pick anyone who is willing. In this scenario arguments can set in early causing major friction and not pleasant start to a dream journey. See my article – Should I Travel Alone? .
Gear
4.Buying a Huge Rucksack
For some unexplainable reason a lot of first time travelers opt for the biggest backpack they can find in the shop. In the mind of a first time traveler the longer the length of the time away, the more gear they have to take with them. In turn requiring a huge backpack for the hairdryer and four pairs of jeans.
5.Taking Too Much Gear
As with point 4. now having bought the large backpack the first time traveler now has to fill the bag with gear. There is a tendency to buy new clothes, new gadgets and security locks. What the first time traveler isn’t told is that they can buy most of the items they require out on the road. In many regions the items they require will be far cheaper than buying them back home. See my article – Should I Take My Laptop Traveling? .
6. Taking a Mobile Phone
There seems to be a large number of people traveling today carrying mobile phones. For me I prefer to travel without one, I want the freedom of being away from home without anyone being able to contact me anywhere in the world. Using the Internet and emails is enough for me to stay in contact with love ones back home, a mobile phone is just another expensive item to worry about losing or being stolen.
7. Taking a Beach Towel
A towel takes up a large amount of room in your backpack and is also pretty heavy. Lightweight travel towels are a good idea, or if you don’t want to take one at all you can also pick one up on the road.
8. Taking a Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags can often be useless if you’re traveling in a hot humid weather. If you are traveling in such climates it’s often a good idea to purchase a sleeping bag liner and use that instead. The liners take up a tiny amount of room and often come in handy in dirty hostels and guest houses, where a sleeping bag would just be far too hot.
9.Taking a Water Proof Jacket
Before my own trip most travel guides suggested taking a water proof jacket of some sort. I used it twice, it proved quite useless as the weather was so humid. I’d sweat so much when wearing it that I might as well have just got wet in the rain.
Besides you can always purchase a cheap poncho on the road that you can use and dispose of when you like. Obviously if the weather is less hot and humid a water proof jacket will come in useful, but on the other hand you could just go for the poncho option.
Out on the road
10. The Fear of robbery
Before their trip has even started the first timer is worrying about being robbed on the road. Various scare stories circulate making the unknown sound like a scary place when in reality it is probably safer than their home city. As long as you keep your wits about you like in any town or city around the world you should be fine.
I believe I had a much greater chance of being mugged in London than out on the road. To combat the fear of robbery the first timer will buy various security devices, padlocks are fine but taking a pack safe is a little extreme.
The key to not losing anything of value is to not take anything of value in the first place, or by making sure anything slightly valuable to you is on your person at all times.
11. The Fear of Illness
I remember someone telling me before my trip around the world to brace myself for illness and food poisoning. I was only really ill once and it was simply my own fault, I ate some dodgy train food in Thailand, the mistake I made was a basic one.
The best way to ensure that you won’t get food poisoning is to make sure the food is cooked properly. On many street stalls and outdoor restaurants you can watch as they cook the food, it is the food that you don’t see being cooked that is more of a worry. On my trip I was ill less times than I normally would be in a year back home in my day to day life.
The Fairy Tale
12. The Belief That Everyday Will Be “Amazing”
I noticed a topic posted on a travel forum recently where a girl had gone traveling. She was about three days into the trip and complaining that she was bored and that she had not met anyone yet.
It seems that a lot of people are told that by going traveling they’ll have “an amazing time” and “you’ll meet some many people”. Both statements are usually true, but what the first time traveler isn’t told is that there will be many days when you spend time on your own or days where you don’t have “an amazing time”.
Sometimes you will be lonely and sometimes you won’t be doing amazing things. You tend to get out of traveling what you put into it. For me traveling isn’t always
“amazing” everyday, it has its ups and it’s downs at times. That is exactly what makes it such a character building and memorable experience.
How many people’s favourite travel stories emanate from a bad day on the road?
A little fear is a good thing, but too much can easily cloud your judgment. You’ll make mistakes as a first time traveler, you learn and develop as your journey progresses.
Things you worried about at the start will seem insignificant and you’ll find yourself much more confident with what the world can throw at you.
Have you made any mistakes as a first time traveler?
Feel free to comment below…
Excellent post. It's amazing that you really seem to have gotten all the major mistakes together like this.One I would suggest adding is a: don't trust the guidebook too much. It's usually outdated and will lead you to where all the other tourists are. If you want to get off the beaten track, take some small risks and go to places not even described in the book.
Very good point Timen.I remember turning up at a guest house recommended by a guide book. To cut a long story short it was more like a brothel than a guest house!This was a guide book that was supposed to be up to date as well!
I agree with everything except the waterproof jacket.I travel to a lot around the world, on business and on pleasure. For business I always bring an umbrella and for pleasure I bring a very lightweight, very packable (12 ounces) rain jacket. But then again I am extra skinny, I do not sweat too much, and I don't mind being under pouring rain as long as my chest is dry.I pack light, however. Two shirts (the short sleeve and the long sleeve ones), one set of pants, only two sets of underwear/socks. In cold climates I add a wind-blocker fleece jacket/gloves/hat. I guess that and washing on the road compensate for the extra weight with the rain jacket.
Does using Lonely Planet count as a mistake? ;)-EthanBackpacking on Little Money
It could do!I wrote a whole new entry on "5 Reasons Not To Trust Your Guide Book"!
Probably one of the most innocent mistakes that I've seen was a an elderly lady who brought along with her knitting needles as a carry-on…
Good summary; I especially like the pack light and don't be paranoid references.
Travmonkey, when you say "…recovering in London after traveling solo for 22 through Asia…" do you mean 22 weeks or months?
Hi Craig,
22 Months, had a great time, saw a lot of places and meet many great people.
I'd say that not everyone needs to do 22 months, I would say that 4 months would be an ideal amount of trip of a good backpacking trip.
I bought a 'Jolly Jumper' diaper bag. This bag was fantastic, with 2 inside pockets, 2 pockets at the front, one which zips, a very noisy flap covering these and a bottle pocket suitable for carrying your water or an umbrella. Wow.
I also bought 3 tops [2 short, 1 long sleeved] 2 pair pants, 1 semi fancy jacket, 2 fancy scarves & 2 pair travel socks & undies. All of the above fit nicely into my bag.
Wearing, jacket, top, pants and carrying the rest; I travelled through England for 3 weeks. All my clothes except for the jacket were from "Tilley's" a Canadian company which makes wash and wear travel clothes. And yes that's what I did. Sink washed everything at night.
So as you can see, you can travel light.
I bought one jumper for the colder evening which I dumped before getting back on the plane.
Why carry more?
lurker
Thanks for the article, it's a great help. Me and my friends are planning to go traveling in a few years, we're at the "saving" phase at the moment. But it's good to read these useful articles from real experienced travellers. Well done guys.
I think you make some good points, but I wouldn't necessarily call these "stupid" mistakes. In particular, the mobile phone point. A mobile phone doesn't have to be expensive, and using local SIM cards I used mine to arrange a lot of social stuff with people I'd met on the road.
Anthony
Hi Anthony,
Thanks for you comment, some good points.
"Stupid" is a little harsh, it's really just meant to be a attention getting headline.
As for the point on mobile phones, I have to agree there is a case for taking one. I think it is very much up to the individual, I've tried one in many countries using local sims but always found them to have bad reception or other technical issues.
They can be handy, especially when job hunting in countries like Australia, New Zealand, USA. Although you can usually get hold of a cheap handset when you need it when get there.
Thanks,
Paul @
TravMonkey
A stupid mistake I saw while traveling is people not thinking about the weather and going to places when they are absolutely cold and miserable to go to when they could have just done their trip in reverse. The past 3 falls I have backpacked for 3 months a piece and always went from north to south as it got later into the season to take advantage of the best weather and lack of tourists.
I agree whole heartedly about planning too much…all you need is a general route; I didnt even have a guide book last fall through asia and it was the best time ever.
Hi Justin,
You've definately got a point about lack of tourists. It's also cheaper and more relaxing when it isn't overrun by tourists.
Guide books can be helpful but theres nothing like a word of mouth tip.
Thanks,
Paul @
TravMonkey.com
there are no stupid mistakes and whatever u can adapt as neccessay
the only real mistake i can see about travelling/backpacking is Not to go
I live in S ea and have travelled extensively and have a guide book for every counrty in the region. Nothing beats having an idea where ur going when u arrive somewhere new even if u dont make use of it.
Hi Richard,
I checked out your site, great photos!
I share a different view on the point about guide books. I think a lot of people use them way to much. Word of mouth works a thousands times better.
Thanks for the comment.
Keeping your friends and relatives at bay when you're bringing along your cell could be managed by flight mode :p
I don't mind not taking a laptop,camera or vid cam as long as I have my Iphone around, take great pictures and movies, I can edit them and send straight to my blog and fb and can put notes,reminders and other travel applications…life saver! For snow or diving pics…well disposable sports camera is practical burn it to a memory stick later at the local kodak shop
About first time traveler's mistakes…
Blowing all your money on first class tours and hotel packages? Hahaha…yeah yeah… it was me. I wasn't backpacking though, it was a family trip… so hope it's not that bad.
Don't carry too much cash around. Get all your cards ready, like credit cards, amex, visa debit, any cards that works on maestro,visa,cirrus link atm machines- Before you leave notify and ACTIVATE worldwide use on these cards and also allow withdrawals on them 🙂 This practically saved me once. Money conversions are not very reliable and you could get less than the actually amount. Some countries like Indonesia would depreciate your USD cash value if your notes are crumpled or wrinkled by 30% less it's value. And again if these get stolen u have ur Iphone to deactivate these cards.
Teehee…:)
Hi Andira,
Sounds like you like your gadgets! The trouble is if I had an iphone I'd be checking it all the time… we used to live without these things so surely when you're on the road you don't really need them??
Doesn't it spoil some of the adventure?
Thanks,
Paul @
TravMonkey.com
Having a dependable cell phone while backpacking is a must, but having one a durable and no hassle combonation of plan and phone is much more difficult. I highly recommend Net10 prepaid as a great travel item – low cost phones are totally your friend when you are traveling. Net10 is a prepaid company so contract is involded and you have the option to either drop the company or stick with it after your trip ends. Best of all, the international rates are great at .15 a minute to over 60 countries and many of them are in Europe and South America. Everyone needs to stay in touch and Net10 is a great tool.
LP is great and it's usually very accurate… at the time of writing. Before you buy a book, in those recommended restaurants/hotels/bars there were trillions of people with exactly the same book, just have a look around, you'll see the same people in the next city miles away. Someone once said that LP places are getting 2x more expensive and drop in half in the quality of service as soon as they appear in LP. I usually try to buy less popular travel guides, but I won't tell you which ones, sorry 🙂
Good list although i don’t really agree with not bringing a mobile phone. It doesn’t have to be a new one but it’s a need to have if you want to stay in touch with the local people you meet. In my case girls.
Neil Skywalker
Author of the book
Around the world in 80 girls – The epic 3 year trip of a backpacking Casanova