5 Irritating Things About Traveling

5 Irritating Things About Traveling

Traveling is one of those necessary evils that almost none of us can escape from. Whether for work or pleasure, it has become a part of our lives. Mobility has increased so much that nobody thinks about having to travel as something special. Most of the times traveling is fun. You discover new places. Meet new people. Learn something new. But there are times when it simply becomes a pain in the neck.

Image Credits: Li_sy, CC0

Among the many annoying things that you will encounter while traveling, below are 5 that you would rather not discover.

1. People Taking Up (or spilling over) Your Seat

This little nuisance comes in many forms. You can choose and select which is your favorite variety. There is the instance of ‘bigger’ passengers spilling over the arm rest into your seat. These ‘neighbors’ could be large enough that their shoulders, back, chest and abdomen temporarily rest in part of your seat.

In transport which has a reclining chair, people in front of you can constantly keep their chair in a reclining position. It was not designed to be used in this manner. It obviously makes it difficult for you to move out of your seat, if you have this seat intruding into your personal space.

My favorite is when your side passenger uses your shoulder or head for their personal pillow. They enjoy their siesta while you worry about any contagious diseases which might be migrating as they sleep.

2. Public Transport

Trying to figure out the public transport systems in foreign lands is like trying to figure out their ancient mythology. You could be forgiven for not knowing left from right, or for that matter, downtown from uptown. The change necessary for the fare is another common issue, as most travelers do not keep a handy stock of change as one of their traveling priorities.

In many countries, you have no clue where you’re headed. So getting down at the right stop is another challenge. True, by missing your intended stop and getting down someplace else, you would have a ‘real’ new experience. It is just a question of how much chaos can you take before you become chaotic yourself.

3. Hidden Fees

There seems to be an unwritten law that the traveler and tourist in particular, is the chum. Airports are a favorite villain with their crazy charges. They love to nickel and dime their customers. They will charge you to use the trolleys in which you move your luggage around. They will charge you to park your car, for those coming to see you off. They will charge you for any extra weight in your baggage. I understand that they are running a business, but sometimes it all gets to a point that anybody would consider taking the bus instead.

4. Tourist Hunters

These are those shady characters who will approach you out of the blue. They will act as your best friend, even though you have never ever seen them before. They will offer you advice and tell you the best place to buy anything under the sun. A guide is fine, but the scary thing is when these chaps are only interested in skimming money off the top for any ‘deals’ that they do involving you. I remember a shop in Hong Kong which had different signs for the same thing in English and in the local language, Cantonese. Basically they were opening distinguishing between those who could speak the local language and tourists. In the tourist places of India, it is not uncommon for ‘tourist rates’ to be far above the rates charged to locals for anything and everything.

5. The Plane Talker

Beware this dreadful species. These are those ‘friendly’ people who will say ‘Hi’ to you even before you have taken your seat. They can’t wait to get a conversation started with you. It is as if they are feasting on your brains. These pseudo-cannibals will just not stop. It may begin innocently, with tales of their summer camp or first Christmas gifts. Then the horror unfolds. The tale takes many a turn and winds up god-knows-where. I have found that the best way to tackle these predators is to tell them politely but firmly that you would rather prefer silence. They will probably act shocked at your social manners. In the end, it is a simple choice. Who is going to be the fool tonight?

About the Author

Rohit is a frequent traveler. Having traveled in many countries, he knows that each time you take a step out of your house, it is the beginning of an adventure. How pleasant or wild it will be, nobody can tell. Maybe that uncertainty is part of the fun of it all. You can find more travel articles by Rohit at www.transindiatravels.com.