Traveling is one of the best teachers in life. Over the years, we’ve learned that some decisions just aren’t worth repeating. Here are the things we will never do again while traveling, plus things we’ve learned from other fellow travelers.
1. Never Book a Hotel Without Researching the Area
When we first started traveling, we were on stricter budgets due to being young, fresh out of college, and just wanting to get away. So we booked a hotel for a great price. When we arrived, we realized it was in a sketchy part of town with poor lighting and not much nearby. Now, we always read reviews and check Google Street View honest neighborhood and hotel insights.
2. Never Travel Without Medicine
We’ve learned to always carry stomach medicine, pain relievers, allergy pills, and anything else we could need. One bad experience, learning that Sam is allergic to shellfish in Napa Valley and having to run out to a 24-hour Walgreens at 2am, taught us to always be prepared. Plus, by packing “just in case” medications can also help you save on those expensive prices at the hotel or convenience stores.
3. Never Force Ourselves to Travel with People We Don’t Align With
Traveling with the wrong people can ruin your trip – literally. We’ve gone on a group trip where we did not align on the schedule, budget, or priorities. It created negative attitudes during the trip and resentment once we were back home, being one of the causes of our friendship ending. Now, either we travel just with each other, or with friends who match our vibe and view. No one wants to waste PTO and money on a trip you don’t enjoy.
4. Never Push Ourselves Without Rest Days
Going to a new place, especially when traveling internationally, is exciting and we want to see as much as we can while we are there because we have that thought in the back of our heads like “what if we don’t ever make it back”. So we, especially Shari, jam-pack every day with activities and tours because of that fear of missing out. But that only left us exhausted, especially during our last trip to Germany, Austria, and Italy. Now we always plan for at least one “do nothing” day or a slow morning on every trip.
5. Be Ashamed of Our Bodies While Traveling
We’ve all had those moments on vacation where we avoided wearing swimsuits or certain outfits while traveling because we didn’t feel like our best, were a few pounds larger than we liked, or just felt insecure about our bodies. We used to feel self-conscious taking photos on the beach or at the pool. Then we realized once we were at our destination that no one cares what we look like – they’re too busy living their own lives. Now, we wear what we want, take all the photos, and enjoy each moment together.
6. Never Visit a Place Just Because It’s Trending
Instagram destinations aren’t always worth it. We’ve visited places that were overhyped and overpriced, leaving us underwhelmed and with less funds for the next trip. Now, we choose places based on what actually excites us as a couple, whether or not it’s trending online.
7. Never Listen to Travel Advice from Non-Travelers
Before trips, so many people tell us what we should or shouldn’t do, even if they’ve never left their home state. While we know for many folks, it comes from a good place, we’ve learned to take advice only from people who actually travel and understand what it’s like to explore as a couple.
8. Never Skip Eating and Mingling with Locals
One of the biggest mistakes we see travelers make – and one we’ll never make again – is skipping the chance to truly connect with locals. Trying local food and chatting with locals is always the highlight of our trips. It’s the best way to understand the culture, build genuine connections, and bring home stories that no guidebook could ever give you. Honestly, we believe if you don’t hang out with the locals and eat the local food, did you really even visit the place?
9. Never Ignore Our Gut Feeling
We’ve learned that our gut feeling is usually right and believe that no destination, deal, or photo is worth putting ourselves in harm’s way. Part of trusting our instincts means also being smart about safety. We now make it a habit to let someone back home know where we are — especially if we’re going off the beaten path, taking a late-night ride, or doing something adventurous. It’s a small step that gives us peace of mind and keeps someone in the loop, just in case.
10. Never Overpack Our Luggage
This is probably one of the hardest ones, especially for Shari. After traveling more and more, we’ve learned this one important thing — less luggage means more room for bringing home things that actually matter like local finds or gifts we pick up along the way. One of our favorite tips? We usually buy wearable souvenirs at each destination — whether it’s a locally made shirt or something from a market — so we leave extra space in our bags on purpose.
Here are the things we will never do again while traveling. Travel is about learning what works for you. These are our personal lessons, and we hope they save you from similar mistakes.
What’s something you’ll never do again while traveling? Share in the comments below.
Looking for some more lessons we’ve learned from traveling? Check out our blog on the lessons we learned from a year of traveling.
