Don’t Be A Terrible Traveler

By Author: Steve Robinson
Total Articles: 467
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Plentiful cheap travel options, including cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, and cheap vacation packages help make travel affordable. However some people would be wise to just stay at home.

The following are signs that indicate you are a terrible traveler:

• Being unaware that your passport has expired. Some countries require passports be valid for at least six months after returning from a trip before allowing visitors entry. Entry requirements, including visas and vaccines, should be researched prior to making reservations.

• Being surprised that your bags are overweight. Instead of paying onerous fees or frantically try to repack your checked bags at the airport, purchase a luggage scale and weigh your bags prior to heading to the airport. Check your airline’s weight allowances and determine whether the same limits apply to connections, particularly if you are transferring from an international to a domestic flight.

• Not doing due diligence prior to booking a trip to determine what will be open while you are there, what currency is used at your destination, ...
... and what language is spoken there. Not knowing the difference between being spontaneous and adventurous and being foolishly unprepared may result in you being in tears and stranded without a hotel at your destination.

• Cutting your arrival at the airport too close. Savvy travelers leave earlier than they think they will need for the airport, train station, or bus stop. You never know how long security or check in lines will be or whether you will need additional time due to getting lost or being delayed by roadwork or accidents.

• Not knowing security carry on rules results in delays going through check points and loss of items that violate those rules. Security tends to find that four ounce or larger bottle that some people try to sneak through.

• Spending tons of time on the computer at your destination posting or emailing pictures or doing real time social media updates is a great way of not getting the most out of a trip.

• Not checking in online is a foolish way of not finding out about flight time changes as well as waiting to check in at the airport, making it more likely you will be bumped if a flight is oversold, or getting stuck in a dreaded middle seat of the last row.

• Not making a packing list before departing can result in a traveler not having a needed power converter or being unable to know how to reach an English speaking doctor to prescribe medicine unintentionally left behind.

• Attempting to bring on an oversized suitcase as carry-on and/or bringing too many carry-ons only results in delays and angry fellow passengers.

• Being rude (particularly yelling) to travel staff or fellow travelers is the ultimate sign of being a terrible traveler. You should never take out your anger over a canceled flight on a helpless airline employee. Do not try to invade a fellow passenger’s personal space because you are stuck in a middle seat. Always be polite when dealing with a travel problem.
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