Travel is subjective. Every human has various interests and motives, so always take travel advice with a grain of salt. Here is a list of ten tidbits we hear all the time, but readers in a recent travel forum admitted they ignored them. Do you ignore them, too?

1. Avoid Tourist Traps

They’re there and famous for a reason. Sometimes tourist traps engage individuals curious about the buzz surrounding a particular tourist trap, but other times, they deserve their popularity as they offer one-of-a-kind experiences. Macchu Picchu is a tourist trap I’d repeatedly visit.

2. Don’t Plan at All

This advice might work well for those who don’t live within deadlines or have physical job locations to return to. However, planning a trip provides potential plans and a semblance of an itinerary before arrival. If you show up with no idea where to stay, what to eat, or what to do, you’ll spend more money than expected, and you could find yourself in danger or lost.

3. Ignore Reservations

Piggybacking off the previous tip, this doesn’t help in situations where reservations are booked months in advance. The first time I visited Amsterdam, I wanted to see the Anne Frank house but needed a reservation. Guests booked weeks in advance. Book in advance.

4. Stay at the Cheapest Hotel

Hotel quality depends on the traveler’s preference. Invest in a more expensive, comfortable hotel if you value sleep and cleanliness. No one wants bugs crawling on them in the middle of the night before driving to a new place. 

5. You Need X Amount of Time in a City

Again, the traveler’s preferences determine time spent in a set location. A history buff will spend more time in Philadelphia than a geology major. Before deciding on a length of a trip, research the destination and assess your interests. Base the longevity of the journey on that. 

6. You Don’t Need X Amount of Time in a City 

On the other side of the previous tip, some jet setters like to spend more time in one place than others. Someone might tell you it’s possible to see all of California in two days, but you know you’ll need (or want) ten days to explore and witness everything the Western state offers. I despise anyone suggesting how much time should be spent in a single spot. 

7. Organized Tours Aren’t Worth the Money

Organized tours are one of the best parts of trips. Knowledgeable hosts direct you through multiple stops in a country or city while giving you insight into the history and the culture. Sometimes these day tours include meals, and the hosts are generally more well-respected than tourists trying to explore and navigate an unfamiliar culture independently. 

8. Never Visit the Same Spot Twice

This is bogus advice. If you like somewhere, you have every reason and right to go back. I’ve been to Amsterdam three times and would love to go again. Each trip is different, even if you visit the same place. Weather affects outdoor activities and tourism, meaning a summer trip to Colorado differs from a winter journey. 

9. Don’t Check Bags

If an airline has forgotten your bag before, the experience instills a trauma response, avoidance, and fear of checking bags in the future. But, removing twenty pounds from your person allows you to move through the airport freely. Track your baggage for extra security. 

10. Pack Light 

All of these tips vary between travelers, but a prevalent piece of advice doled out by self-claimed travel gurus is that you should pack light and wash your clothes in the sink overnight. This may work for a backpacker who only wants to lug around a little extra weight, but if you’re planning a two-week trip to Greece, you’ll want to bring a few more outfits than a dress and khakis. 

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This post was produced by Our Woven Journey and inspired by this thread. Featured Image Credit: Deposit Photos.