Imagine going on a hassle-free vacation. No mishaps. No accidentally misplaced luggage. No incorrect reservations. At Garden City Realty, it is our pleasure to provide you with a list of travel mistakes to avoid. We’ve done our research and figured out the top seven travel mistakes that vacationers commit. Now, we want to share them with you so that your vacation in Myrtle Beach goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Underestimating Your Vacation Budget
One of the biggest mistakes that travelers make is creating a vacation budget that does not include extra room for miscellaneous spending. You never know what small expenses may surprise you. That is why many travelers use a vacation budget calculator like this one from Money Fit. It calculates a budget including categories for every vacation need, from travel expenses to potential Wi-Fi fees.
2. Not Informing Your Credit Card Company That You Are Traveling
Speaking of spending money, another great idea to make your vacation worry-free is to notify your credit card company that you will be traveling. This tip is mostly for out-of-state travelers. Although they only have your security in mind, it might be a bit of a nuisance if your bank freezes your credit card due to several out-of-state charges. Letting your credit card company know you will be leaving for vacation can prevent this.
3. Overfilling Your Travel Itinerary
It is tempting to try to fit all the sights and activities you can think of into one trip. However, you don’t want to spend your vacation feeling stressed. With traffic and multiple modes of transportation, you may need more time than you initially planned to make it to your next activity. Planning a vacation that leaves you time to relax and plenty of time to get from one place to another will allow you to enjoy each activity.
4. Not Double Checking and Keeping Track of Your Reservations
Nothing is more frustrating than getting to a new city and being told your reservation doesn’t exist. That is why it is important to double-check your reservation before you travel. It may also save some time if you have your reservation readily available, in the case the company needs a confirmation number to check-in. At Garden City Realty, we make it easy to save your reservation information by emailing it directly to you.
5. Overpacking
You do not want to lug around a heavy suitcase if you aren’t able to check into your vacation rental right away. Not to mention the mess that a full suitcase can make after digging through it to get to that one thing you need at the bottom. There are a lot of things that you can leave at home. Check out these tips for packing light to save space in your luggage.
6. Not Checking for Local Events
Whatever city you choose to visit they are bound to have certain annual events that may throw a wrench in your travel plans. Myrtle Beach has an annual bike week that draws a crowd from all over the country. During that time traffic increases in volume, vacation rentals are sparse, and the beaches are crowded. It is important to be aware of these kinds of events so that you have enough time to book a reservation and aren’t blindsided by traffic.
7. Not Using Sunscreen
In cities like Myrtle Beach this is a big one. You don’t want to spend all day out on the beach just to end up with a sunburn so bad that it stops you from enjoying the rest of your vacation. However, it is important to wear sunscreen all the time, even if you are just walking around and exploring. Sunscreen is one of those items you can easily purchase once you arrive at your destination. Sunscreen is sold just about everywhere in Myrtle Beach, so it won’t be hard to find.
These seven survival tips will ensure you have the best vacation ever—stress-free. Hopefully, you will be able to relax knowing all your vacation worries are no more. As always, feel free to reach out to Garden City Realty to find the best vacation rentals in the Myrtle Beach area.
Written by Katie Robison, blog contributor for Garden City Realty
