Few Mistakes to Avoid on Your First Trip

     When shopping for your first trip, you'll encounter a multitude of cute, interesting, flashy gadgets that will supposedly make your trip more comfortable. Most of the items are designed to relieve you of your travel savings before you even leave home.

     Unless you're going to a very remote destination, the language difference will usually be hardly more than a small inconvenience. You may get the wrong order in restaurants from time to time, however, you can certainly get around with English and hand gestures.

     While learning some phrases in the local language is both fun and helpful, don't spend too much time studying before you leave home. You can learn exponentially faster from locals -- who will gladly help you and correct your pronunciation -- once you arrive. Practicing a local language is a great excuse for fun interaction.

     Seemingly obvious, packing too much is the most common mistake that all first-time travelers make. Dragging an overweight suitcase or backpack around can really take the fun out of moving around a fascinating country, and airlines will charge you a fortune for baggage. Many people end up giving away or leaving much of the useless stuff that they bring from home anyway.

     While it's tempting to just take your chances, the peace of mind that travel insurance brings is well worth the meager cost -- especially once you see how taxi drivers handle the roads!

     Good travel insurance will protect you and your bags; most include evacuation plans in case you become seriously injured while abroad.

     Don't let what you think you know about a country from movies and hearsay prevent you from discovering the real country. Everyone has different experiences in places, both good and bad, and formulates an opinion about a destination based on their own filters.

     Carrying money while traveling is all about diversity. Local ATMs will often offer the best rates, assuming your bank at home doesn't charge too steep of a fee; however, if the ATM network goes down as it often does on islands and in parts of Asia, you'll need backup cash.

     Despite the recent economy, US dollars are still widely accepted and readily exchanged all over Asia. Your credit card will only be useful in big resorts and cities; use it for emergencies or booking flights. Most places in Asia add a steep commission when you pay with plastic.

     Taxi drivers, street scammers, and anyone trying to sell you something can spot a newbie pretty quick; they have lots of experience. From the luggage tag on your oversize bag to the wide eyes looking around, you'll get lots of attention as a first-time visitor to Asia.

     Traveling around Asia comes with a learning curve, how expensive that beginning education has to be is up to you and your decisions. Learn to listen to your gut and to recognize a scam when you feel one developing, but don't let a few bad eggs you encounter jade you against the local people in a place.