6 Travel Tips That Aren’t Useful Anymore

There are some travel tips that were great and most definitely helpful in the past, but here in the 21st century, nearly everything you thought you knew about travel should be locked away in a drawer, never to see the sun again.

How so? With the advances in technology, how we book our holidays has fundamentally changed, what has not changed is our belief in things that turn out to be completely false. I’m sure there will be at least a few tips on here you genuinely still believe, but I am here to dispel those travel myths.

So, let’s find out together some travel tips that are no longer useful!

1. If you book plane tickets far in advance you will save a lot of money.

This is not true, at least not in this century. Booking plane tickets far in advance to save money was a great travel tip in the 60s, but now it’s completely insane. In the past century, flying on a plane was an uncommon thing, that’s why the demand for a flight would increase as the date got closer. Nowadays, we have so many options, especially when referring to popular routes.

If a route is on demand, you’re more likely to take advantage of a last-minute deal from all airlines—because they all want to fill the seats. However, according to recent studies, the best time to buy a plane ticket is between four months to three weeks before your scheduled departure.

Are you planning a great vacation? You’ll most likely need a lock for your luggage to avoid headaches.

2. Some say that the air on the plane is actually making you sick.

This is totally a myth! The air on the plane can’t make you sick! Planes have excellent HEPA filters. “We’ve gone through great studies to prove that they effectively remove the bacteria and viruses that people are so concerned about,” says Joe Lundquist, an air filtration expert with Pall Corp.

So, it’s not the air, maybe the answer is sitting on your left. Also, a plane carries dozens of passengers every single day, maybe the tray table you touched was contaminated with a virus by the person who sat on the same seat before you. However, it’s false to say that the air on the plane is making you sick.

Next time you fly, make sure to have some disinfectant wipes and a hand sanitizer in your handbag.

3. Most people assume that the best hotel prices are found on travel sites.

People tend to think that the only way to get the best price on a room is by searching on travel sites. Well…this is wrong. Big hotel chains such as InterContinental have great deals if you book a room directly with the hotel.

In general, most hotels offer certain discounts that travel websites tend to “overlook.” Plus, it is easier to discuss directly with the hotel than a booking agent. If you plan to travel soon, try to get in contact with the hotel manager, he or she will tell you the best deals they have.

4. If you go early, you will most definitely avoid crowds.

Some popular spots are always crowded such as New York City’s famed Times Square—no matter the time you arrive there. So, going early to a popular destination spot in order to avoid crowds isn’t a rule to follow.

In fact, recent studies found that tourists tend to leave when sun is up. So, the trick is to go in the middle of the day, when some tourists want to avoid sun exposure and others want enjoy the lunch. (Don’t forget your sunscreen, especially if your skin is sensitive.)

5. Tourists think that street food is not safe.

It seems that most tourists, especially those who are retired, prefer to eat at a fancy and expensive restaurant rather than stand in the street and eating specialty food like most locals do. Unless the food is sun-kissed for days, there’s nothing wrong with eating street food.

Think about it… if you dine at a fancy restaurant, you don’t really know what’s happening in its kitchen, so when it comes to street food, you can see everything: the ingredients, the “master-chef,” the table, everything! The number of persons in front of you can also determine if it’s safe to eat there.

6. Duty free translates to good deal.

Most of us think that duty-free products are cheaper than their local versions. That’s not necessarily true. Travelers from around the world tend to keep a big chunk of money from their vacation budget in order to spend it at duty-free.

Sunglasses, luxury perfumes, and make-up products are the most in demand duty-free items, but note that the prices are often higher than normal in the airport. The only good thing when it comes to shopping at a duty-free is that you can avoid the tax, but this only applies to booze and cigarettes.