The Most Annoying Travel Habits (in no specific order)
- The Unprepared You are about to board a plane, a cruise ship or enter your favorite amusements park. Why oh why don’t they have all the required documentation ready to go? The lack of preparation causes delays not only for yourself but for other travelers. Airlines are short-staffed so make an effort to check-in online and have your app ready or boarding pass to be scanned. If the sign in the TSA area says to remove your shoes, do that as you get close to the conveyor belt versus holding up the line waiting until the last minute. Get everything you need out of your carry-on before boarding the plane. Standing in the isles of the airplane going through your bag for items you want to use on the flight is holding up the boarding process. Disney and Universal have paperless options for theme park tickets so all you need is your cell phone and their app. Be aware of the COVID-19 requirements and print out test results if they are needed. For cruises, you can now do most of the check-in process online again saving up to 20 minutes at the time of check-in. If masks are required, have them where you can access them easily versus digging at the bottom of your carry-on or purse. The point is to be prepared so that things will go smoothly.
- Anti-Maskers We are all in this together. No one enjoys wearing it, but if a mask is required, please have it on and wear it correctly. Don’t put your comfort above those around you, particularly if you are not vaccinated. In places like the outdoors where a mask is no longer required, some people still choose to wear one. It’s a personal choice. They could be immune-compromised, anxious, or just prefer it. Don’t mask shame.
- Noise Makers This is one of the most annoying travel habits. These kinds of travelers are oblivious to those around them. They make all sorts of noise whether it be opening up a bag of chips on a red-eye when everyone is sleeping, blowing their nose at the dinner table or just talking loudly at a historical site.
- Talkers So you want to talk a few minutes before taking off….no problem. We’re talking about those that are either on their cell phones talking loudly until the last minute, or people next to you that won’t stop talking throughout the entire flight and you are trying to figure out when is a good time to put on your earphones without being rude. Another issue with a talker is when your fellow travelers won’t stop talking even inside of a museum, or when you are trying to hear your tour guide. Another bad habit is speaking loudly in another language.
- Selfie Taker Sure, you want to have pictures of yourself at a cool destination, but don’t constantly be taking selfies. Travelers that are chronic selfie-takers will take selfies everywhere with no regard to others. They will actually get in another traveler’s way or bump into others as they are trying to get the perfect shot. They don’t have a lot of regard for others and their personal space and they slow down their entire travel group making stops every few minutes. Keep in mind you are not the only person trying to get the perfect shot that makes you look like you are holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and travel groups are on limited time take your pics and then move on to allow others to pose. If you loves selfie’s we are sure you will enjoy our post on Creative Ways to Document Your Travels.
- Culturally Insensitive When traveling abroad, local cultures might be very different than your own. It’s still important to try to be culturally sensitive. Not every traveler is like this and they always put their feelings (and bad habits) first and don’t take into account another culture. Culturally insensitive travelers aren’t great at really internalizing what’s going on around them. They will often say and do things that are very offensive to not only the locals, but tourists as well. It’s best to speak to a travel agent who has been to the country you are visiting, or research the destination online and get to know local customs.
- Sloppy Eaters You will probably be doing a lot of eating while on your vacation. This means that you will come across some diners that are pretty messy. Sloppy eaters don’t really care about those around them and are about fully enjoying their food. These types of travelers have no worries about smacking their lips, talking with food in their mouth or putting their greasy fingerprints onto everything around them.
- Mobile Phone Addicts We’ve all seen it- we’re on vacation at some fabulous place, but yet, a lot of people aren’t really enjoying it as they are glued to their phone. Mobile phone addicts are constantly posting to their social media pages or searching for things on them. They will use any excuse to whip out their phone. While in some instances it can be beneficial to look up something during your vacation, don’t make it a habit to be on your phone all of the time, as you could really miss out on a lot and aggravate your travel companions.
- Penny Pinching Yes, we all need to stick to budgets, but make sure and discuss with your traveling companions if you have concerns, or go off on your own rather than adding tensions to others. How can you or the people with you, enjoy a trip if you are always focused on money? Also, consider if you will even be able to visit this place again and what opportunities and experiences you may miss out on because you think the price is too much. If budget is a concern, cruises are a great option because meals and entertainment are included in the price. Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean cruises and NCL Cruises are the most reputable and affordable cruises. If you prefer exploring, tour companies like Trafalgar Costsaver, Cosmos tours and G Adventures have budget trips where hotels, some meals and sightseeing are included upfront minimizing the amount of money you need while traveling. All-inclusive resorts are also another option. One last tip on this topic is to discuss your budget and concerns with your traveling companions before you leave. If you agree to split all meals, for example, don’t get upset when someone orders more than you do. Otherwise, ask for a separate check. You can also consider using an app. Check out our blog on Best Apps to Split Travel Expenses.
Annoying travel habits are best avoided when you understand proper travel etiquette. For more practical travel guidance, see our solo travel safety guide Solo Female Travel Safety Tips and our tips on Tips for Stress-Free Thanksgiving Travel.
Annoying travel habits can be avoided with the right preparation. Start with our advisors’ guide to Common Mistakes to Avoid When Traveling to Europe for practical, experience-backed advice.
