The 10 BIGGEST TRAVEL MISTAKES Not to Make | Tips for Traveling Abroad

In today's video, we highlight the 10 biggest travel mistakes not to make. We have made many of these and we see others making them as well. Stopping these common travel mistakes can make for more enjoyable travel experiences, save cost, reduce frustration and enable some amazing experiences around the world. We hope you find these tips for traveling abroad helpful in planning your own trip.

▶️ We started our channel to inspire and share our world travel lifestyle, adventures, and optimistic outlook on life with others. After completing a two-year journey in our Airstream to see all 50 states and 51 National Parks, we left to travel abroad. We have downsized our possessions and sold our home so that we can wander about with only the things in our backpacks.

We love living on the road, traveling each week to a new location. We plan to travel extensively to every part of the world. Ours is not a slow travel lifestyle but rather a vagabondish one. The goal is not to check a country off a list, but to experience it by meeting new people, seeing how others live, and making new friends. We believe in laughing, loving, and living our lives to the fullest.

We are working hard to build a beautiful website where you can get travel information about the places we have been. In addition, we post blog articles to help you travel better. Our channel is a way of augmenting that effort, so sometimes we post videos about how to travel or a vlog showing our lives on the road as we do an activity or an adventure. We also post Shorts, so check those out, too. We hope to entertain you, but most importantly, we want to inspire you and give you the confidence to plan your own adventure around the world.

Video # 105

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@RetirementTravelers

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00:00 Introduction
00:40 International Travel Tip #1: Overpacking
01:44 International Travel Tip #2: What to Wear Worries
03:24 International Travel Tip #3: Eating Only Familiar Foods
04:40 International Travel Tip #4: Only Visiting Tourist Hotspots
06:44 International Travel Tip #5: Too Reliant on Cars
09:21 International Travel Tip #6: Only Going on Guided Tours
11:06 International Travel Tip #7: Stop Being Comfortable
12:45 International Travel Tip #8: Stop Trying to Do Everything
13:48 International Travel Tip #9: Listening to Everyone Else!
14:26 International Travel Tip #10: Don't Skip Research

[lizmikols]

Thanks so much. I'm a widow and 72 years old. My dear husband and I used to travel a lot. But alas, that ceased several years ago. I've come up with a formula that works for me: I book a tour (like Smithsonian or Road Scholar). Sometimes with a buddy; sometimes not. Then I bookend it with travel on my own, akin to what you two do. I'm pretty friendly, fearless and speak German and some Spanish, which helps in some locales. But even I tire of being totally alone for a month or more. I also look at other people's blogs and sometimes even steal ideas from packaged tours, for the things and places to visit when I'm on my own. This seems to work for me. And Yes: DON'T overpack. Use Public Transport. Rather than "learn to be uncomfortable, " I would say: "learn to be flexible and get out of your comfort zone." A slight semantic difference. Your other recommendations are terrific.

[MagentaOtterTravels]

Local FOOD is literally the best part of travel for me ❤

[Xrusader]

You're right about Guatemala. I just got back from a solo trip Antigua/Lake Atitlan. One of the best vacations I've ever taken.

[markusreineck]

Huge respect for this video from a pre-retirement traveler from Europe! 👍

[susiedavis]

A couple of years ago we went to Israel with a tour group. All our meals were local, though mostly at the hotel. However, it was fun to eat at a McDonald’s with the “golden arch sign” written from right to left and in Hebrew. Great job on your videos! I watch them over and over!

[ngengs]

Aloha John & Bev, I like tip #6 because my wife and I have always planned our trips to Europe. This gives us an opportunity to choose our itinerary, when, how long and where. The planning alone is an adventure it itself. Recently (mid-May thru end of July), we went on a 4 country trek-Greece (Athens, Paros, Naxos, Santorini, Crete), Croatia (Plitvicka Natl. Park, Split, Dubrovnik), Iceland (the entire country via Ring Road), and Spain (Barcelona, Granada, Alicante, Valencia and back to Barcelona). It's very time consuming and at times maddening, but very satisfying to know that we were going to where we want to go. A lot of research is involved, reading travel guidebooks, your youtube vids, asking friends for tips. When we got to some of our destinations, we did go on day tours to places that cannot be access by foot, for instance the sunset catamaran cruise in Santorini, with only a few people on board, a walking tour (FREE) of Dubrovnik. All in all we enjoy traveling this way and we are now in the early planning stages for our next trip... back to the motherland, the Philippines. THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your vids, great content as usual, please keep traveling so we can learn more from you! Aloha, Ed.

[Anonymous-One]

Thank you for sharing. You are so right about not listening to the naysayers. When we went to Costa Rica, we were warned about theft. We didn't encounter any issues whatsoever. It doesn't mean we were complacent, but we also didn't live in fear. It makes sense for some places to go with a tour group. We went with a trekking company to hike in Nepal. It was money well spent as they took care of all the logistics and most importantly, the Sherpas are trained in how to keep you safe. If you get serious altitude sickness, they make arrangements to get you evacuated out via helicopter.

[joycem]

Yes, the videos about what not to wear in Europe are funny! Public transportation knowledge and comfort is my biggest obstacle. I would love to see you show more about the transportation you use as you travel.

[benjaminjohnson]

Fantastic tips. I particularly liked #4. Some of my most memorable travel experiences occurred in lesser-known destinations. Thank you for sharing your tips with us. Happy travels.

[tissiereeves]

Love your videos and I appreciate your advice. I've followed all of it and it's been so helpful!

[jamesslate]

Two comments: Recently my friends went to Prague, and they booked a private cooking lesson with a local chef. He took them to the market to buy the ingredients, and then they were given a demo on preparing a three-course meal, which of course, they enjoyed eating. I know that the street cars in Melbourne can be ridden for free, within the CBD. I suppose there must be other cities with the same transportation deal.

[Heatherengelsman]

Greetings from sofia, Bulgaria I really appreciate this video, thanks

[budlayton]

Hello Guys & Gals, I have recently retired, and am 6 mos. ( Oct. 09 flight), from traveling to Cebu, then Valencia in the Philippines. Just began watching your videos and seriously thinking about doing a similar trek. Your videos give much-appreciated information, and I will probably become a fan. Enjoy your life folks.

[jackiebowen]

You guys are great; so encouraging and helpful to point us all to see more of our planet. I'm sure it is tons of work to do these presentations, but thank you, thank you for the valuable info and especially the exhortation to get out and see for oneself. Blessings to both of you 🏵

[chrisbuchanan]

You have really great advice. These tips are very valuable. Ive done solo trips to Europe and find your suggestions spot on. You are both so warm and thoughtful. Love your videos!

[michaelwebber]

Glad the algorithm popped you guys up!!

[Ann-tfcu]

Great content guys…… still my favorite you tubers. Enjoy following your journey.

[keosavathph]

You two are great on everything, thank you for sharing, love all your clips and songs, I share with my friends who are also retired and not retired, they definitely love it!

[dimitrinastoycheva]

You two are so inspirational! I discovered your channel recently, while researching for our honeymoon - it will be on the island of Crete :) We booked our own trip, without a car and too much hassle, we are looking for relaxation, beauty and amazing food. I am so in line with everything you say and advise, you are so right. Keep it up and enjoy!

[gwentie]

John and Bev, Thank you so much for your entertaining and informative blogs. My husband and I have been traveling for 6 months and have learned some of these lessons first hand. It has reinforced my personal adage, " I am my own pack mule" and am always attempting to carry less. Your suggestions are awesome as well as your journey to share with us your travel experiences around the world!. The world is a wonderful place filled with much excitement, exploration and wonders. Again, thank you so much for sharing your wealth of information with us. Have a blessed day. 
G&M