Everyone loves to travel, but there are some big mistakes that are easily overlooked when the excitement of traveling kicks in. Check out these 5 common traveling mistakes to make sure you avoid them when planning your next trip.

1. Overpacking

The biggest mistake people make when planning a vacation or traveling is overpacking. You always have tons of options for your trip and because you've been looking forward to your vacation, you want to bring the perfect outfits along. Because of this, it can be tempting to bring an outfit for every occasion, but this makes lugging your bags or suitcases around, that much harder. By bringing only what you need or outfits that can fit multiple occasions, you can lighten your luggage load and avoid any surprise luggage fees for exceeding weight limits.

Pack what you want to bring, cut it down to what you need to bring, then cut that down to things that can be used or worn multiple times. If needed, you can always do some laundry on your trip. It is also important to consider that you will probably bring home some souvenirs and this could include a new t-shirt or pants. Once you've bought them, they can be added to your current wardrobe and will replace an outfit you already planned to wear.

2. itinerary overload

Many people tend to pack too much in their suitcases and too much into their itinerary. It is understandable that you want to explore as much as possible and do all that you can do, but most of the time, there is too much to do in the little time you have there. If you pack your itinerary full, you are limiting your opportunities for spontaneous adventures.

Having a packed itinerary may also give you added stress on your trip. If you're late to one thing, you'll be late to all the rest. Make sure to plan for  travel time and any unexpected obstacles. Most importantly, make sure you give yourself time to relax and reflect on the best part your day, everyday. Nothing is worse than going on a vacation and not remembering a lot of it.

3. forgetting a cell phone plan and telling your bank

If you're planning to travel abroad, it is necessary to know if your cell phone plan covers data roaming. If you're not covered you should make sure that you have your data turned off while on your trip. After all, you don't want to be charged outrageous prices. If data is important to you, look into getting an international plan or buying a SIM card once you arrive at your vacation spot.

Along the same note, it is equally important to warn your credit card company/your bank about your trip. Banks will flag foreign purchases and may sometimes freeze your card because they think your information was stolen. To prevent this, tell them all the countries you'll be visiting on your trip so they aren't caught by surprise and freeze your card.

4. Not having enough foreign cash

Even though you may be planning on using your credit card for most expenses on your trip, it's always a good idea to have extra cash for emergencies. Some of the more down-to-earth places you may visit might only take cash. You should research and find out if any of your destinations require cash only. Before you leave for your trip, exchange just enough to cover you until you arrive at your destination and then go to an ATM or kiosk to get the rest that you'll need. This will be cheaper for you in the long run.

5. Not Backing Up Pictures

One of the most devastating things that can happen when you're traveling is losing all the photographs you took. It is a good idea to back up photos either using a USB, computer, or the cloud. You can even store them on online sites. Your memories of the trip are the reason you're going, so make sure you take care of them!

That being said, be sure that you aren't forgetting to live in the moment! You want to really immerse yourself in your travels so don't forget to put the phone or camera down sometimes and just enjoy what's going on around you.

Following these five tips will certainly help you have a better vacation or traveling experience. If you're looking for more mistakes to avoid, check out this website. If you're looking to travel to the Lancaster, PA area, consider booking with us at the Warehouse Hotel.