Learning from Our Travel Mistakes
Posted on 08. Jun, 2010 by Steph in Advice, Other
(Over the next couple of weeks I’m recounting ways that travel has helped me to learn about myself. For reference check out my first article: How Travel makes us Smarter, Wiser and All-Around More Awesome and Learning to Love Being Alone)
Once, I took a trip that wasn’t very fun.
It was one of my very first excursions into grown-up travel (as in not with my family). I was studying abroad in London and decided to take a Reading Week trip to Budapest and Prague with three girls I knew from school. I wasn’t so sure of myself back then, so I shyly stepped back and let the more assertive girls make the decisions.
Mistake. While Budapest and Prague are both lovely cities, the trip was a weeklong exercise in miserable. We had no clue what we were doing, we fought endlessly and to top it off it rained non-stop. At the time it was pretty exhausting, but in hindsight it was a great lesson for me.
Budapest is pretty even in the rain
Here are just some of the travel lessons learned:
- Choose your travel companions carefully- my companions and I had met only a month prior to committing to this trip and, in the rush of excitement, we forgot to check whether we could actually stand each other. While I liked each of them individually, the four of us together flat out sucked. Two girls didn’t get along at ALL and bickered painfully for hours on end before things finally hardened into an icy silence around day five.
To make matters worse we had two totally conflicting travel styles. Two girls were very by the book: see the top sites, eat in touristy areas and be back at the hostel before dark (because Prague is dangerous, don’t you know?). Two of us wanted to wander the city, explore and delve deeper into the culture (you can guess which camp I was in, right?). The daily tug of war over what to do and where to eat got old real fast.
- Travel agents aren’t necessary- Okay for some things they are, but a weeklong trip to Central Europe isn’t one of them. We sat down in the STA travel on Goodge Street and let the cute agent, Shane, pick our transportation and hostels for us. And even with his professional help we ended up in the shadiest train station hostel I’ve encountered to date. It was more expensive and we had less choice, but we were so nervous about the process we were happy to give up control instead of being proactive in our travel choices.
- Do your research- some people like to roll up in a new city with no information and wing it. I discovered I am not one of those people. Without a clue as to what to see and do in Prague I found myself being shuffled from one tourist attraction to another without any opinions or insight. I wised up to this fact pretty fast actually and purchased a Budapest guidebook on arrival which made the second city much more enjoyable.
- Weather Can Make a Difference- there are some good things about Europe in late fall- less crowds and lower prices for starters. None of that matters though if you are so wet and miserable you can’t enjoy anything. On this trip I learned how much bad weather can taint my view of a city- I still think I need to go back to Prague to give it a fair shake.
Cold, rainy and blurry Prague
It was a crappy trip; almost enough to put some people off travel completely. Ever the optimist though, I look back on it as a valuable lesson. It gave me a better understanding of my own travel style and needs, and the fact that I need to be a proactive participant in my own travel happiness.
Just a month later I planned a second trip: a week in Italy. This time around I picked low-key travel companions I knew I’d get along with. I bought a big thick Lonely Planet Italy and read it with the same fervor as my Victorian novels. I skipped the agent and did all the bookings myself. It was a busy week- and cold! But it was fantastic.
Whether you are traveling solo or in a group it is important to be a voice in the planning of your trip. It’s not always easy (and part of the reason why solo travel is so appealing to me), but knowing your needs and limitations beforehand can prevent a lot of bumps along the way. You are your best advocate in making sure you enjoy yourself.
Reflecting in Budapest (like self reflection, GET IT?)
What are some lessons you’ve learned from bad trips?
45 Responses to “Learning from Our Travel Mistakes”
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Lori
08. Jun, 2010
Completely agree about the research. I’m not one of those people either. I like to know a little about the place and have a skeleton of a plan. I might completely abandon it once I get there, but at least I have some info to fall back on.
During our SE Asia trip last Oct we hit a wall once we got to Kuala Lumpur and didn’t enjoy or explore it as much as we probably should have. It taught us to plan in breaks and a little of doing nothing during extended trips.
Steph
08. Jun, 2010
The idea of taking breaks is going to be a major lesson of my upcoming trip I think! It’s important to be able to adjust as you go along.
Passport Confessions
08. Jun, 2010
I learned rather quickly through all my travels to not stress when something deviates from the plan. Sometimes unexpected situations arise and you have to relax and adapt, freaking out will just make you and your vacation more miserable. After one too many bumps along the road during my vacations I’ve learned this lesson and even try to apply it to my life at home.
Steph
08. Jun, 2010
Being able to roll with the punches is one of the best skills that come from traveling.
Caz Makepeace
08. Jun, 2010
Travel is either going to make our break your relationships. I had a couple of good friends and when we traveled and lived together in London, because of various reasons, the friendship exploded. You have to be very selective. My husband and I knew we were even taking a risk setting off after we married on our global tour. 8 years later we’re still together and it has made our marriage very strong. I know other couples who weren’t so lucky! As you said if the personalities are extreme- oh dear!
Steph
08. Jun, 2010
It’s so true, it’s important to recognize that just because you like or even LOVE someone does not mean you are well suited to live or travel together.
Candice
08. Jun, 2010
SO TRUE about the companions! So important! I can get along with just about ANYBODY, but some people are idiots when they travel. I went on a Mexico vacation with some close friends, and some turned out to be either a) total whiners or b) so high maintenance, it took hours to just get the day started. Frustrating.
Steph
08. Jun, 2010
Seems to be a lesson that everyone has to experience once to really learn.
Amanda
08. Jun, 2010
I’ll just agree with what everyone else has said already — very true about choosing your travel companions wisely! I went on a cruise last year for spring break with 3 friends. One was my college roommate, who I got along with very well, and the other two were another set of roommates that we knew. Let’s just say our travel styles didn’t quite mesh, and there were a lot of awkward silences and silent anger about making compromises. Thank goodness this experience came after I’d already travelled around New Zealand with friends and had a great time.
Glad to hear you took something positive from your experience instead of letting it taint your ideas about travel. Also glad to know I’m not the only one who likes having my guidebook handy and at least a loose plan, just in case.
Steph
08. Jun, 2010
This definitely seems to be a recurring issue people have had. My strategy when things get tense is to just disappear on my own for awhile.
Adventurous Kate
08. Jun, 2010
Very good piece, and great advice!
On the choosing travel companions, it’s also good to realize that some good friends in real life often don’t make good travel companions.
The only thing is that I have NO IDEA how to tell these good friends that I HATE TRAVELING WITH THEM! If anyone has a good solution, please let me know…
Steph
08. Jun, 2010
That is a tricky one! Can’t think of any way to let people know that without causing some drama…
Adam
09. Jun, 2010
Haha I’ve flat out told people I won’t travel with them. “I just know we’ve got different ideas of travel so it’s not going to work well.”
Steph
09. Jun, 2010
Bold move Adam. But probably smart.
Adam
12. Jun, 2010
It makes sense to be honest & straightforward (even if it’s difficult). Most people are more understanding than we give them credit for.
Steph
12. Jun, 2010
This is true, and the people who aren’t understanding you DEFINITELY don’t want to be traveling with!
ayngelina
08. Jun, 2010
I´ve learned not to overbook the trip. When I´m visiting a country I´ll pick 2-3 must see things and the rest are negotiable depending on what I feel like that day because sometimes you just want to sit in a cafe and write postcards instead of climbing to the top of yet another attraction.
Steph
08. Jun, 2010
Absolutely, that’s a good one.
The Jetpacker
08. Jun, 2010
Totally agree about how weather can influence your opinion of a city. Prague was absolutely freezing in December, and at some times miserable. Because it was so cold, we started to abandon our itinerary (which was loose to begin with) and skipped attractions all together to stay inside and eat hot soup.
When we went to Budapest, however, it was a beautifully warm week in spring. We walked around at night without fear because the streets were crowded and bustling until the wee hours of the morning. Even though we didn’t see everything we wanted to see, we felt totally satisfied and had a great time.
Steph
08. Jun, 2010
We probably both need to go back to Prague in springtime for the full effect huh?
Aly
08. Jun, 2010
I went back to visit Nagasaki, my “home town”, after five-six years of not seeing it. In my mind I had created an image of the city…unfortunately in my memory photo it was always green, sunny, and warm…not in the dead of winter! Even though I’d been to the city before the cold winter weather was a shock to the system and for the eye candy! But I guess now I have a much more realistic year-around image of the city!
Steph
08. Jun, 2010
Realistic expectations is probably another good travel lesson right?
Jen
08. Jun, 2010
I learned that I do silly things on trips, like lose my ID, miss my plane and get stuck on standby for hours, get lost…I also learned that I like knowing how to get around. I’m content with the possibility of having to sleep on a beach or at a bus station or airport, but I HATE being stranded. Oh yeah, and I LOVE maps, even though sometimes I brainfart and forget how to read them. And finally: I hate making plans.
Steph
08. Jun, 2010
haha oh goodness. Have to be prepared for anything I guess!
Matt
08. Jun, 2010
I’m a pretty easy going bloke and can quite easily get along with most people – travel companions included. The only caveat is if my traveling companion has a completely different style of travel ideas than I have. This can be challenging, yet I still always look for the positive in the situation – learning how others view and choose to experience travel.
Steph
09. Jun, 2010
Yeah I’m fairly easy going myself which means I mainly clash with very high strung people as far as travel goes. But you may have even superseded my own powers to look on the bright side!
jim
09. Jun, 2010
I think it’s absolutely crucial to be in the right mindset and to have a positive outlook. Hopefully you don’t make too many mistakes that turn your trip into a miserable time but if that does happen, try to learn (as you’re doing now) and remember the better times.
There was one time we were traveling and we weren’t 100% sure which train station we were leaving out of the next day. We were in Cinque Terre so to confirm we had to scramble to find an internet cafe in Vernazza. By the time we figured it out, we had missed out on dinner.
What makes it even more tragic is that it was dinner in ITALY. Man the food is delicious there.
Steph
09. Jun, 2010
Any dinner missed in Italy is a SERIOUS regret indeed.
Sofia
10. Jun, 2010
I agree with it all, especially knowing who you really travel with before you decide to go. I made that mistake too and had to stand 2 weeks in Croatia with a girl who was literally searching for something to complain about and pick on me.
Never travel with someone who has a bad self- esteem and tries to bring you down in the dirt with her/him..!
Steph
11. Jun, 2010
Yeah it sucks being committed to someone when it’s really not working out.
Gray
11. Jun, 2010
And point #1 is why I travel alone. LOL. The one time I did travel with a friend, it was one whom I felt I would get alone with fairly well, since we shared a lot of core values. But still, we met ahead of time and I came with a slew of questions for her about her travel style and shared mine, so we both knew going into it what to expect. It worked beautifully.
Steph
11. Jun, 2010
Yeah I have one travel friend who I can travel with really well. I’m pretty wary of everyone else…
Alouise
11. Jun, 2010
I’m one of those go with the flow type of people when it comes to traveling with others, often I’ll go along with what every one else wants and I find it hard sometime to voice my opinion. I usually don’t mind but I like traveling alone because I know I can do what I want to without offending someone or causing problems. I’ve been lucky in the fact that I’ve had generally a good experience with the friends I’ve traveled with. No major horror stories, but I know there are certain friends I’d take with me on certain trips and not on others. And I like to research too, so many blogs say just to land somewhere and do whatever but I like to have some idea of what to do when I arrive.
Steph
12. Jun, 2010
Yeah, for those of us who really hate confrontation, solo travel is a nice workaround to ensure you can do what YOU want.
Rachel W.
14. Jun, 2010
Here’s a quick tip, research the hype. People rave about the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre but don’t tell you about the line, the rant about October Fest but don’t mention it’s not for the claustrophobic or children. Here’s something I recently learned on my trip to Israel: The Dead Sea, floating is awesome, the salt on the rocks looks super cool, the salt in any shaving cuts or on your personal parts, not so awesome at all. Heck, some people don’t notice. But when you do it’s a killer. So think about it a bit before bounding off into the water. Also, don’t dive in, it’ll burn your eyes.
Steph
14. Jun, 2010
haha oh god that sounds so painful! Definitely good to research these little practicalities.
Nessie
15. Jun, 2010
I spent last fall studying abroad in Prague and i’m feeling for you right now. Prague is one of the best cities in Europe I have ever been too (14 countries and counting) so please tell me you’ll give it another chance! I also had a chance to get to Budapest while on a weekend trip and both places were great.
Abhi
27. Jun, 2010
Another thing to learn, I feel.. is how to act so that mistakes (not necessarily intention or something one could have done much about) seem like a gift to try something else/enjoy the time better.
For example, when stuck with people I might not be very fond of, I sometimes note down (as part of my travel-notes) their stupid quotes or comments, hoping I’ll be able to use them as material someday when I write a travel book
Okay, that’s a bit harsh, but then one’s gotta have fun somehow while traveling!
Steph
28. Jun, 2010
I absolutely agree with this so much! I try very hard to look on mistakes as experiences and not tragedies.
Monica Rysavy
26. Jul, 2010
Good points! Go back to Prague – seriously! It’s my #1 favorite place in the world to visit. I’ve been several times (my in-laws live there) and I start planning my next trip the minute we get on the plane to return to the States. I can give you all sorts of fun locations to visit and where the best (and cheapest) meal spots are!
Steph
27. Jul, 2010
Definitely going back to prague at some point- promise!
Danielle
26. Jul, 2011
You bring up some good points! I definitely like to be in control when planning a trip. I like to do all the research, planning, and booking myself. I couldn’t imagine depending on other people!
Bunsongpayat
27. Jul, 2011
True! Some of my friends are really luxurious and they rarely dont find initiative to lower their prices because as they say we would only experience less of what we want if we get cheap accomodation and not get tour guide. But i say the true experience of traveling lies on how much i have known the country which most of the times are hidden by ‘scripted’ tour packages and luxurious hotels. I now choose the people i go with.