This Itinerary Mistake Leaves Many New Travelers Exhausted
When we plan a long-awaited trip, it’s tempting to fit in as much as possible. We scroll through travel guides, watch videos, and make lists of must-see landmarks, neighborhoods, and day trips. With limited time and so many highlights, packing our itinerary from morning to night can feel like the best way to make every moment count. But travel experts say this common planning mistake often leaves new travelers more exhausted than inspired.
The issue isn’t enthusiasm, it’s pacing. When we schedule every hour, from early breakfasts to late-night activities, we leave little room for rest, delays, or simply enjoying where we are. Long travel days, time zone changes, and hours on our feet can take a toll, especially if we’re moving quickly from one attraction to the next without a break.
This kind of overpacked itinerary can also make small hiccups feel much bigger. A late train, a long museum line, or unexpected traffic can throw off the entire day. Instead of adjusting easily, we may feel rushed, stressed, or disappointed about the sights we have to skip. The pressure to “see it all” can overshadow the experiences we were most excited about in the first place.
There’s also the reality that travel itself is tiring. Airports, unfamiliar streets, different languages, and new routines all require more mental energy than we use at home. When we don’t build in downtime, even beautiful destinations can start to feel overwhelming. By the middle of the trip, we may find ourselves too tired to fully appreciate the places we worked so hard to visit.
A more balanced plan often leads to better memories. Leaving space between major activities gives us time to linger over a meal, sit in a park, or wander a neighborhood without a strict schedule. These unscripted moments are often the ones we remember most.
Before we finalize our plans, we think it helps to treat rest as part of the itinerary, not a missed opportunity. We recommend choosing one or two main activities per day and allowing flexibility around them. When we travel at a pace that matches our energy, we’re more likely to return home with great memories and without feeling like we need a vacation to recover from our vacation.
