1. Don't Overpack
This is something we have all been guilty of in the past because it's so easy to do! I know the agony of leaving something behind because 'you might need it if...' but it pays off to be disciplined and your back will thank you for it! Plus the more space left in your backpack means you can pick up more things along the way. If you find yourself in the situation where you can't fit everything into your backpack don't panic. Pretty much everywhere has a postal service that will let you send some of your things back to a home address. However, expect it to take upwards of two months to get there in less developed countries.
2. Not Budgeting Properly
Obviously the tighter your budget the more important this is to you! Although it's really helpful to look at the average costs of essential things like accommodation, food and transport it's easy to think that this is pretty much where all your money will go. However, keep in mind that the smaller costs add up - so instead of buying drinks from a beachside restaurant, pay a visit to 7/11 instead.
In our experience, budgeting does get easier as you become more experienced travelling; we've learned what things we are and aren't willing to compromise on and have adapted our spending to reflect that. For example, we might spend more money on accommodation because of its location, but then live off instant noodles whilst we're there to balance out our costs. Also, don't forget to put some money aside for unforeseen expenses like any medicines, losing money or having it stolen...and to buy souvenirs!
3. Backing Up Photos/ Videos
The memories you capture throughout your trip are undoubtedly the most precious thing you'll be carrying around, which is why it's SO important to back up all of your photos and videos. There are so many ways you can back your stuff up there's no excuse not to. Whether it's on the iCloud, Dropbox, a spare memory card or an external hard drive - always make sure you've got a back up!
4. Double Checking Flights
Something so simple surely you wouldn't be guilty of messing this up, would you? We thought exactly that, and at least on one occasion (so far) we have turned up to a flight that was booked for the wrong month! Double checking your flight could save you a lot of time and money, if you spot a stupid mistake in your booking. Take extra care when booking two flights on the same day so you don't get caught out by the time differences!
5. Arriving At The Wrong Airport
Know your terminals! Make sure you know what terminal you're going to, some airports don't have all of their terminals based in the same place, so you could end up having to pay for another taxi if you arrived at the wrong one. Likewise, some cities have two airports, so don't make assumptions as to which one your flight will be at.
6. Keeping Money In One Place
If heaven forbid you have your wallet pinched, or you misplace it, you can lessen the sucker punch by keeping your cash spread out in different places. It makes it less likely that you'll lose everything if something does go wrong.
7. Overly Ambitious Itinerary
One of the most important things is to be realistic when you're making plans. Travelling can be exhausting, and even if you're the most eager travel hungry person out there, if you do too much you'll burn out and either get ill or too tired. Pace yourself, sometimes it means you can't see everything but surely that's better than seeing everything and not feeling great for it. Sometimes binge watching '13 Reasons' is the best way to spend your time when you're exhausted and that's okay! You can't do everything.
