How I Stopped Wasting Time on Bad Travel Choices
Here’s something many travel bloggers won’t admit to you about travel: most trips feel exhausting because most of us are terrible at choosing where to actually go, what to do once you’re there, where to eat, etc.
I’ve watched this pattern repeat itself in many places I’ve been to over the past 10+ years. Land somewhere exciting, pull up Google Maps with stars in your eyes… and end up at a mediocre restaurant spending too much money on food that tastes like crap. Or you trek across town to see some “must-visit” attractions that turn out to be a tourist trap designed to separate you from your cash as efficiently as possible.
But hey, it doesn’t have to be that way! Here are some of my favorite tips to make the best of every trip, every time.
Figure out What Kind of Traveler You Actually are
This sounds obvious until you realize how many people skip this step entirely.
I spent years dragging myself through museum after museum because I studied fine arts so therefore I must be an art gallery type of gal. Turns out I’d rather spend three hours at a local market talking to vendors or climb a mountain somewhere in nature. So ask yourself some questions:
- Do you need downtime, or do you thrive on chaos?
- Are you traveling solo (total freedom) or with others (compromise but fun)?
- What actually makes you happy? Nature? Food? History? Shopping? Nightlife?
- Can you sleep in a hostel, or do you need fancy sheets and total quiet (I do)?
If you’re honest about your travel style, you’ll stop wasting time on activities that make you miserable. You’ll also stop feeling guilty about skipping things everyone says you “have to” see. Because you don’t have to do what others say you should!
Your Daily Plan Should Not Require Superhuman Energy
The fastest way to ruin a trip is by cramming twelve activities into a day. I learned that the hard way in Barcelona when I attempted to see Gaudí’s greatest hits, eat tapas in three different neighborhoods, AND catch sunset at Bunkers del Carmel. Spoiler: I saw none of it properly and spent most of the day angry at public transport.
Better approach:
- Pick 2-3 main things per day
- Build in the actual breaks (you’ll need them)
- Leave space for random discoveries
Walking in the heat will drain you faster than you think. Traffic might slow you down. Crowds make everything take longer. A relaxed schedule means you actually enjoy each place instead of just checking boxes.
Check Reviews Before You Commit to Anything
This is where most travelers sabotage themselves completely.
That Instagram-perfect café? Could well be overpriced garbage with terrible coffee and even worse service. That “hidden gem” restaurant? Might give you food poisoning. I’ve learned this lesson more times than I’d like to admit honestly.
You need real opinions from actual humans. Marketing lies like a pro, but real reviews tell you what happens FOR REAL. Whenever I travel, I always check reviews on sites like spotselector.
Read 5-10 reviews before committing to anything. This will save you from wasting both time and money on places that look great online but deliver nothing in person.
Location Matters More Than any Hotel Photo
A gorgeous hotel room means absolutely nothing if it’s located in the middle of nowhere.
I once booked the most beautiful Airbnb in Lisbon. The photos were chef’s kiss. But the reality was a 40-minute commute to anything interesting, plus it was on a street so quiet it felt vaguely threatening after dark. That was bad.
So yeah: good location makes everything easier. You spend less on taxis, waste less time traveling between places, and have more energy because you’re not constantly in transit.
Sort Out Transportation Before You Arrive
Transport confusion ruins more trips than bad weather ever could. Now I always do this before any trip:
- Learn basic metro/ bus routes
- Download offline maps (this has saved my ass many times!)
- Install local ride apps
- Get local currency for small transportation needs
Also, build in extra time for traffic. Every city has rush hour. Every city has random delays. Planning like everything will run perfectly is planning to be stressed.
Pack Half of What You Think You Need
Overpacking is the enemy of smooth travel. Your suitcase should include:
- Comfy walking shoes (you’ll walk miles whether you plan to or not)
- Clothes that match your destination’s weather
- Small medical kit (painkillers, bandaids, your prescriptions)
- Phone charger and power bank
- Document copies (digital AND printed, because technology fails)
Everything else, you probably don’t need it. When your bag is lighter, moving between places stops feeling like punishment.
Put Your Phone Down and Actually Experience Things
The number of people I’ve seen experience entire trips through their phone screen is genuinely sad. They’re so busy capturing content that they miss the actual moments. They taste nothing. They see nothing. They connect with nobody.
Try this instead:
- Take your photos, then put the phone away
- Talk to locals when opportunities arise
- Spend time walking and observing without any agenda
The small moments create the best stories, but you have to be present to notice them.
The Real Secret to Better Travel
Smart planning beats perfect planning every single time. Know your travel style, keep your schedule reasonable, and use reviews to avoid disappointment. These habits remove most travel stress before it starts.
When you plan well, you stop worrying about logistics and start noticing the details that make travel incredible. The random conversations. The unexpected discoveries. The moments that become stories you’ll tell for years.
That’s the whole point of going somewhere new!
Amélie is a health and wellness junky. Certified yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance in the Vinyasa and Ashtanga styles, she has a Yoga Instructor Certification – Level I (300 hours) and Yoga Instructor Certification – Level II (200 hours) under her belt. She also has a certified Open Water Diver certification with PADI and SSI Scuba Schools International Freediving Level I certification with SSI Scuba Schools International. She’s been vegan for over 15 years and is obsessed with anything wellness-related.