For those who haven’t travelled this way before it can be daunting, but it’s also a truly liberating experience. What’s the key to successful independent travel? Relax and enjoy— and avoid these 7 big mistakes!

Angst

It’s completely normal to be nervous before a trip and being organised is a good way to reduce any excess anxiety. There’s a lot to plan when you travel independently, and while this can be overwhelming at first, once you’re in control of your itinerary it’s very reassuring. 

Travel tip:

• Ditch the crowds -Travelling in the off season can make a big difference to both your wallet and your anxiety levels. Accommodation is easier to find, the queues are shorter and the ice cream tastes just as good. 
• Arrive to a friendly face- The most stressful part of any journey is arriving when you’re jetlagged or you don’t speak the language. Avoid the mayhem by organising a hotel transfer. Seeing your name and the smiling face of your driver has never been so comforting.

Methodicalness

Conversely, being too organised is not the best way to travel either.  By pre-planning to the nth degree you may feel completely in control, but you’ll end up exhausted and you’ll miss out on wonderful spur-of-the-moment experiences.

Travel tip

• Plan to be unplanned - Have days in your itinerary where you have no plans. It’s best to do this on day 2 or 3 in a new location so you have your bearings and you go back to any of the quirky museums or fabulous people watching spots you discovered.

Excessiveness

There are 2 words that every regular traveller will advise - travel light! Struggling with excessive luggage is an easy sin to commit, and one of the best ways ruin a holiday. Before you head off decide what you need, and then halve it. 

Travel tip

• Wear it more than 3 ways - Search the web for “travel capsule wardrobe” and get some packing ideas from the experts.
• Take the right bag – Hard suitcases on wheels are great but they don’t squeeze into small spaces and when faced with lots of stairs they can be a nightmare. Do your research and find out what bag suits your trip.

Vulnerability 

Don’t leave yourself vulnerable when you travel. Make sure you  consider getting travel insurance, get a full medical and dental check-up, take a spare pair of glasses, and when it comes to personal safety trust your instincts—if it feels dodgy then remove yourself from the situation.

Travel tip

• Write it down - Ask your doctor to write out a list of the medications and the dosages you require.
• Safeguard your valuables - Use the hotel safe for your passport and set an alarm so you don’t forget it when you leave. Give yourself a variety of options for accessing funds overseas, and then if the worst happens, you have a back-up.

Foolishness

Everyone’s read the story about the traveller who racked up a big mobile phone or restaurant bill. Don’t be this person! Make sure you turn your data roaming off before you depart Australia, and if there are no prices on the menu, get up and leave! Try to keep your wits about you and don’t be intimidated—if it feels too good to be true, then it probably is.

Travel tip

• Own your mistakes - With time you’ll laugh at your travel fails and realise they make fantastic stories for family barbeques and dinner parties. 

Timidity

When you travel independently the world is your oyster. Don’t be afraid to try new and bizarre foods, sip a cup of home-grown tipple and enjoy all the local festivals. You don’t want to return to home with an “I wish I’d done that” list, so leave your shyness at the door and set out to experience all you can.

Travel tip

• Be brave - A great way to meet new people when travelling independently is to book yourself on day tours. If you meet people you connect with, no matter what their age, be brave and suggest you meet up for dinner. 

Ignorance

As the saying goes, travel broadens the mind, and it’s not until you start travelling independently that you realise how true this is. You don’t want to be seen as rude or ignorant, so read up on where you’re going to make sure you understand their local customs and laws. It’s also good to do your history homework to get a better understanding of how past events have affected the current way of life.

Travel tip

• Live like a local - Take a cooking class, a guided tour with a local, or even organise a homestay and get a real appreciation for how the residents live.

Once you’ve tasted the freedom and slower pace of independent travel it’s very hard to go back to touring. So grab your spouse, your friends, or take the plunge and head off solo, and turn those travel sins into travel virtues.