You’ve probably followed travel advice that sounded smart at the time.

Later, you realized it made your trip harder.

More stress.
Less flexibility.
Missed experiences.

Most travel advice spreads because it feels safe and responsible. But safety and simplicity are not the same as suitability. Context matters. Preferences matter. Timing matters.

And when those are ignored, even good advice can backfire.

ID 317953685 | Confused Traveler Airport ©Mariia Skovpen | Dreamstime.com 

Below are some of the most common pieces of travel advice people follow – and the nuance that actually makes them useful.

The Travel Advice Everyone Gives – That Actually Makes Trips Worse

Arrive at the Airport as Late as Possible (The “Airport Theory”)

A viral version of this advice suggests arriving just minutes before departure to avoid waiting around at the airport.

The idea sounds efficient. In practice, it ignores real-world variables like security lines, gate changes, boarding cut-offs, and airport size. Airports are systems, not clocks.

I’ve written in detail about this in my article on airport theory and missing flights, but the short version is simple: time buffers should be flexible, not extreme. Neither panic-early nor dangerously late works consistently. Oh, yes, spoiler alert: there are PLENTY of stories online with people who share how they missed their flights while using this technique (which only works if there are no crowds, no luggage to check in, and if you are the only one doing it).

Avoid Famous Attractions and Only Go Off the Beaten Path

This is, in my opinion, one of the most repeated – and most misunderstood – pieces of travel advice.

Yes, off-the-beaten-path places can be fascinating. In fact, in all my travel guides I include such places to visit. And I often times discovered my offbeat attractions by myself, when wandering a city. 

But famous landmarks are famous for a reason: beauty, history, architecture, or cultural meaning.

Ignoring them without reflection can mean missing what actually defines a destination.

I can’t imagine visiting Paris without seeing the Louvre, or going to Vienna and skipping Schönbrunn Palace. Those places aren’t clichés – they’re reference points. Deciding in advance whether something aligns with your interests is far more effective than avoiding it on principle.

What works better:

• Decide before you go whether a landmark fits your preferences
• Adjust timing (early mornings, late afternoons)
• Combine famous sights with spontaneous discoveries

On first visits, I almost always include major landmarks and a few fun/interesting off-the-beaten-path places, while I also leave some room for wandering. On second or third visits, I leave more room for offbeat finds I discover on the spot.

Pack for Every Possible Situation – or Pack the Absolute Minimum

ID 388318845 | Confused Traveler Airport ©Roman Samborskyi | Dreamstime.com 

Both extremes create problems.

Packing for every scenario leads to heavy luggage and daily frustration. Packing the bare minimum often shifts stress to the trip itself: constant laundry, missing essentials, or discomfort.

I prefer informed preparedness:

• Research seasonal weather and typical temperatures
• Pack layers when needed (one of the tips for winter traveling)
• Add sunscreen and a hat in summer
• Bring a spare T-shirt – just in case

Prepared doesn’t mean overpacked. It means intentional.

Book Everything in Advance

This advice is often framed as “responsible travel planning,” but it can easily backfire.

Locking in every attraction and activity creates a rigid schedule that leaves no room for:

• changing weather
• fatigue
• unexpected discoveries
• mood or health shifts

What works better is priority planning.

I book in advance what’s non-negotiable – like a visit to Legoland Germany for our son’s birthday – or major museums I know I want to see – like it was with Musée d’Orsay. Everything else stays flexible.

That way, the trip can adapt to reality instead of fighting it.

Plan Every Day Down to the Hour

Hour-by-hour itineraries look great on paper. Real life rarely cooperates.

Fatigue builds up. Weather changes. You stumble onto something interesting. Suddenly, the plan feels like pressure.

And yes, I am a control freak and I like to have a precise outline. Still, it is not rigid!

My approach is simple:

• Do the research
• Decide what I want to see in the time I have in that specific city
• Group sights by area
• Create themed days (for example, “historic center walk” or “museum + views”)

I did this in Munich and again when splitting Budapest into one day in Buda and one in Pest. The structure exists – but the decision to follow it stays flexible.

Lately, I’ve leaned more toward slow travel, and this approach makes that shift effortless.

Stay Far From City Centers to Save Money

Sometimes this works. Sometimes it doesn’t.

Staying outside the center can mean lower hotel prices – but higher transport costs, longer commute times, and lost spontaneity.

In Vienna, staying near Prater with immediate access to a major transport hub made perfect sense.

In Budapest, staying in the heart of Pest near St. Stephen’s Basilica saved time and energy.

In Munich, staying slightly toward the periphery worked well for that specific trip.

There’s no universal rule – only trade-offs.

Skip Museums – They’re Boring

Museums aren’t boring. Poorly chosen museums are.

And yes, I confess: I am a museum lover!

Museums are often the only place where you can:

• see world-class art
• understand a city’s history
• experience hands-on science or niche collections

From the Deutsches Museum in Munich to palace museums like the Residenz, museums can be some of the most engaging parts of a trip – especially when you choose them intentionally.

Avoid Guided Tours – or Always Take Guided Tours

Again, both extremes miss the point.

Guided tours can add depth, context, and stories you’d never get on your own. At the same time, exploring independently allows freedom and pacing that tours can’t offer.

The key is research:

• Use guided tours where context matters
• Explore solo where curiosity leads

Cash Is King Everywhere – or Cards Work Everywhere

This advice changes dramatically by destination.

Some countries are highly cash-based. Others are almost entirely cashless. Many sit somewhere in between.

You need to research the specific country and city, not rely on blanket advice. I’ve written detailed guides on whether you need cash in Europe and on cash and card use in Japan – because this question simply doesn’t have a universal answer.

Don’t Travel During Peak Season

If your priority is avoiding crowds, this can make sense. But peak season often exists because the weather is better, attractions are fully open, and cities are more alive.

Late winter and early spring in Europe may be cheaper – but they also come with wind, rain, fewer daylight hours, and muted landscapes.

I plan trips primarily around weather, not crowds. I do not like extreme temperatures, nor heavy rain or snow… so…

Avoid Street Food for Safety

Street food can be both excellent and safe – or neither.

The deciding factor isn’t the concept of street food itself, but research:

• food turnover
• local recommendations
• hygiene practices

We eat street food often and without issues, because we pay attention in advance.

We ate it everywhere in Europe – and had no issue.

Assume English Is Enough Everywhere

This is one of the travel advice everyone follows. Many people speak some English – but not everyone, and not everywhere.

A translation app like Google Translate goes a long way. Knowing a few basic phrases helps even more. We’ve been in places – including popular tourist areas in Bulgaria – where English wasn’t spoken at all.

Preparation beats assumption.

Free Attractions Are Always the Best

There are wonderful free attractions. There are also paid ones that are absolutely worth it.

Reducing travel decisions to “free vs paid” oversimplifies the experience. Value matters more than price.

Book Everything Last Minute for Better Deals

Sometimes, last-minute deals happen. Sometimes they don’t.

We’ve had excellent hotel and attraction deals booked months in advance – and we’ve also seen trips fall apart because nothing was available last minute.

Luck isn’t a strategy. Research is.

Exchange Money at Airports

Airport exchange offices usually offer the worst rates. If you absolutely need cash on arrival, exchange a small amount, then use better options elsewhere.

Avoid Public Transport and Use Only Taxis – or the Opposite

As with most travel advice, absolutes fail.

In Munich, public transport was all we needed. In other cities, taxis made more sense – especially when booked through apps like Uber or Bolt.

Again, destination-specific research wins.

You Can See a City in One Day

One day lets you see highlights. It doesn’t let you understand a city.

How much time you need depends on:

• your goals
• your pace
• whether it’s a first or repeat visit
• your available time in a city

If you only have one day, then exploring the city center is usually the best thing to do. You can also see if there are any hop-on-hop-off options, as those can be a good option too. 

Alternatively, if you want to see a specific attraction, like one of the top attractions in Europe, then plan everything around that place.

One day can be enough – if expectations are realistic.

Travel Fast While You’re Young – or Travel Slow or You’re Doing It Wrong

This false dichotomy shows up constantly in forums and AI answers.

Travel pace depends on life stage, energy, health, interests, and purpose. What worked for you at 25 may not work at 45 (I should know:D) – and that’s not a failure.

I’ve personally shifted toward slower travel over time, and it’s added depth, not limitation.

Online Reviews Tell You Everything

Reviews are useful – but they lack context.

They rarely explain:

• who the reviewer is
• what they expected
• when they visited

Reviews work best as filters, not final decisions.  

That said, you should absolutely read reviews – because sometimes they can show you the reality of visiting a place, beyond the famous photos (often enhanced). But my advice is to read both reviews, blog posts from people who have actually been there (I always share insights that I have after visiting a place, plus useful tips, things that I did not read prior to my trips, but would have helped me to know them), and then, based on your preferences, to decide where you go or not. 

How to Decide Whether Travel Advice Applies to You

Before following any travel advice, ask yourself:

• Does this fit my destination and season?
• Is this my first visit or a repeat trip?
• What’s the real cost if this advice fails – inconvenience or disaster?
• Can I adjust once I’m there?
• Does this align with my preferences, energy, and travel style?

Advice isn’t a rulebook. It’s raw material.

Advice Isn’t the Problem – Blind Obedience Is

Most travel advice isn’t wrong.
It’s just incomplete.

The best trips don’t come from following rules – they come from evaluating advice, understanding context, and making intentional choices.

Good advice equips you.
It doesn’t dictate your trip.

Photo source: Pixabay