3 times I got lost following travel guides – and what I learned

3 Times I Got Lost Following Travel Guides – And What I Learned

Picture this: you’re on a vacation in an unfamiliar city with a guidebook in hand, armed with a map and a list of must-visit tourist spots. Everything seems to be going according to plan until you realize that you’re lost. As locals pass by, it hits you- you have heavily relied on a guidebook that is not in sync with the location, and you have no idea where you are.

It’s not uncommon to get lost when traveling. Even with the best travel guides, mistakes can happen. Here are three times I got lost following travel guides and what I learned from those experiences.

Mistake 1: Not Using Multiple Sources

I was traveling to Paris and relied on one travel guide, assuming it was the ultimate source of information. The guidebook’s “must-visit” spots were vast and included landmarks like the Notre Dame Cathedral.

I intended to visit Notre Dame on a Monday, per the guidebook’s recommendations. To my surprise, the cathedral was closed that day. Confused and frustrated, I realized the guidebook did not provide me the necessary details about the destination.

Lesson learned: Always use multiple sources of information when traveling. It’s best to check both online resources and printed guidebooks. Double-check the details like opening hours, phone numbers, and entry fees.

Mistake 2: Trusting GPS Navigation

My husband and I were on a road trip across the United States, following a GPS navigation system to get to our hotel in Los Angeles. Even though it is a common city, our navigation system sent us through an unfamiliar, dangerous area.

Between the unfamiliar surroundings and the constant stoplights, we got lost several times before finally arriving at our hotel. We later found out that the GPS had used a faster route to reduce our travel time, even though it was not the safest.

Lesson learned: Don’t rely solely on a GPS navigation system when traveling. Conduct research and look up the area and route before you go.

Mistake 3: Over-planning the Itinerary

Before traveling to Japan, I had over-relied on a guidebook to plan my itinerary. It outlined multiple places to visit in Tokyo, including several temples.

After visiting one temple, my group and I were tired and hungry, and there were still two other temples to see. We were leery of missing them, so we pulled out the guidebook, found a restaurant close to each location, and instead chose a third option.

Unfortunately, the recommended lunch spot was not too great, and we spent more time than necessary searching for the restaurants.

Lesson learned: Be realistic and plan reasonable itineraries. Don’t try to cram too many things into one day. Rather than always sticking to the guidebook, trust your instincts, and allow time to explore without pressure from pre-planned activities.

Final Thoughts

Getting lost is never a great experience when traveling. However, by learning from these mistakes and taking a few tidbits of advice, future travels will be much more rewarding. Always use multiple sources, be skeptical of GPS, and plan realistically, socialize and enjoy the trip!