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There’s a high likelihood that if you’ve been traveling for any significant amount of time, your skills have improved compared to the past. Each journey offers a chance to enhance your packing techniques, reduce airport waiting times, and discover the best airfare options. It’s essential to pinpoint some prevalent blind spots in your travel approach that could hinder your progress.

Here are 10 frequent travel blunders you ought to avoid.

1. **Booking Too Early**

Securing airline tickets at the very last moment comes with certain risks (not securing a ticket) and benefits (landing a fantastic price). Conversely, making reservations too far in advance can confine you to unnecessarily elevated airfare.

2. **Avoiding AirBnb or Hotels Altogether**

Sometimes one option may be preferable over the other. Restricting yourself to just hotels or vacation rentals could lead to overlooking amenities, discounts, and a more authentic experience. Explore both options to determine which might suit you best for each trip.

3. **Transportation From Airport To Accommodation**

Even those who dislike planning should have a clear understanding of how to travel from your arrival venue to your lodging prior to getting there. You’re at greater risk of scams, overspending, and wasting time with all your luggage while you try to figure out how to hail a cab. foXnoMad Podcast guest Laurie Woolever‘s book World Travel: An Irreverent Guide provides insights for numerous major cities around the globe.

4. **Packing Excessively**

Only bring along the items and attire you will need for a week. Anything beyond that suggests you’ve packed unnecessary items that you either won’t require or can easily acquire at your destination.

5. **Neglecting Mileage Programs**

Just one flight is sufficient reason to utilize a mileage program. Here’s how to maximize their benefits, and since most program miles don’t expire, they can accumulate, even if you fly infrequently.

For the remaining five travel mistakes (a few of my personal favorites on the list), check out the video here.

The word “expatriate,” frequently abbreviated to “expat,” has undergone substantial transformation over the years. Historically, expatriates were people assigned overseas for job purposes or retirees pursuing a different way of life. Nevertheless, with the rise of the internet, the scenario has shifted immensely. Remote employment and online business ventures have resulted in an increase of individuals residing outside their native countries, commonly known as digital nomads.

Digital nomads are people who utilize technology to work from a distance, permitting them to live virtually anywhere on the planet. This way of life provides adaptability and independence, enabling them to immerse themselves in various cultures without being confined to a particular place. Numerous nations now offer digital nomad visas, granting these individuals the ability to remain for prolonged durations.

The expression “expatriate” can occasionally be contentious. Some contend that it conveys privilege or pretentiousness, insinuating that everyone living abroad ought to be termed immigrants. Yet, distinctions exist between the two. Expatriates generally select to reside overseas and preserve connections to their home nation, whereas immigrants often relocate due to financial necessity or to avoid unfavorable conditions, without plans of returning.

Expatriates can be classified into various categories, each with distinct motivations and lifestyles:

1. **Digital Nomads**: These individuals work remotely and frequently travel, commonly staying in countries on tourist visas. They emphasize economical living and dependable internet connectivity.

2. **Expat Families**: Families living overseas encounter specific challenges, especially regarding their children’s education. Choices concerning schooling and language immersion are vital, and safety along with community are major considerations.

3. **Retirees**: Retirees often search for inexpensive living and high-quality healthcare. They typically settle in countries where their fixed incomes can yield a comfortable lifestyle.

4. **Overseas Employees**: Numerous expatriates relocate abroad for job-related purposes, frequently experiencing a higher standard of living owing to favorable salary and living cost disparities.

5. **Online Business Builders**: Entrepreneurs developing location-independent enterprises often opt for locations based on affordability and community assistance. Cities with dynamic tech environments and reasonable living costs are favored destinations.

6. **Tagalong Spouses**: Some expatriates move abroad because of relationships, choosing to reside in their partner’s native country for practical or emotional reasons.

7. **Escapees**: Individuals looking for a fresh start or fleeing personal or political circumstances frequently move abroad impulsively, sometimes resulting in discontent if the new locale fails to fulfill their expectations.

Expatriates may shift among these categories over time, adjusting their lifestyle to evolving situations. The choice to live internationally is highly personal, shaped by elements such as career, family, and personal goals. Whether they pursue adventure, affordability, or a fresh beginning, expatriates enrich the intricate fabric of global migration.

Are you gearing up for a trip to the Sacred Valley of Peru to reach one of the most renowned archaeological locations in the Americas? It’s undoubtedly a well-trodden tourist route, but reaching Machu Picchu isn’t as straightforward as visiting many of the other great marvels of the world. You’ll either need to undertake a trek lasting several days or catch a train.

Until explorer and Princeton academic Hiram Bingham traversed the lands of Machu Picchu as the first non-local in 1911, the “lost city of the Incas” remained genuinely hidden. This concealed city was not the Inca capital overflowing with gold, but instead a fortress that was too isolated for the conquerors to discover. (In fact, Vilcabamba served as the last capital of the Incas before their demise.)

Nevertheless, it was a site brimming with breathtaking ancient architecture that the locals were aware of, yet no one else was. Located high on a mountain and requiring a strenuous hike to access, it contains numerous secrets likely never to be uncovered and enigmas that cannot be resolved without a time machine.

The location continues to evoke wonder and admiration today, its image now etched in our minds through countless Instagram posts. (Half of which are from the identical spot at the Sun Gate.) The government consistently increases the daily visitor limit while attempting to distribute the crowds throughout the day, with new regulations introduced every couple of years to balance maximizing revenue with appeasing UNESCO World Heritage inspectors.

This delicate assortment of ruins was never intended to accommodate such large crowds—the cap was merely 1,250 per day when I first went in the early 2000s—therefore, many of the price hikes for admission and heightened visitor regulations over the years aim to prevent having to turn people away, while still safeguarding the structures.

This is not an experience where you can simply improvise without conducting research unless a tour company is handling all arrangements. Prepare in advance for obtaining tickets and plan your route for arrival, the earlier the better.

The manner in which you choose to reach your destination influences your experience, energy levels, and the amount of time and money spent. Some travelers encounter time constraints. Others are concerned about altitude sickness or whether they are fit enough for long hikes. The journey can be just as engaging as the destination. The route to Machu Picchu isn’t solely about the arrival—it’s also about the experiences along the way.

## Machu Picchu by Train

A train ride to Machu Picchu provides speed, comfort, and significantly less planning compared to hiking options. It caters to travelers with time constraints or those who prefer simpler logistics. [Machu Picchu rail tours](https://incarail.com/en/tours) from Cusco and Ollantaytambo train stations offer direct access with dependable departures. Families, senior citizens, or those with mobility challenges may opt for the train.

The train journey is smooth, tranquil, and gentle on the body. It accommodates travelers of all ages and fitness levels. You can relax and take in the scenery without exertion. There are multiple departure times available, as trains run from the Cusco area or various locations in the Sacred Valley.

You can reserve a “vistadome” train featuring a glass panel roof to enjoy the scenery. Even on the most economical option, the train provides large windows and unobstructed views of the Andes. You’ll witness rivers, cloud forests, and agricultural land pass by your window. It may not be as picturesque as a hike, but you still get to see some of the Peruvian countryside. This is the one I rode below, but you can upgrade to a higher class for meal service and fewer passengers per carriage.

There is a notably expensive option, the Hiram Bingham Train named after the explorer. It is operated by the same company as Belmond Hotels, previously known as Orient-Express, a subsidiary of the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. If your wealthy relative is covering the costs, enjoy the inclusive drinks, meals, and entertainment: all part of the $1,140 round-trip fare.

While trains to Machu Picchu technically operate year-round, it is not unusual for service to be suspended during the rainy season, and occasionally the tracks have suffered from mudslides or floods, necessitating weeks of repairs. Unless absolutely unavoidable, it’s advisable to refrain from traveling to Machu Picchu in the months of January through March.

## Hiking to Machu Picchu

Trekking to Machu Picchu allows you to experience the countryside at a slower pace rather than watching it rush by. Hiking appeals more to adventure enthusiasts, backpackers, and nature aficionados, which was certainly my preference when I embarked on the Inca Trail in my younger days. Solo travelers frequently appreciate the guided group hikes, while couples relish the opportunity to dine