Everyone makes mistakes, whether it is your first trip overseas or your twentieth. These can range from a minor annoyance to a ruined trip. The best advice is to do your research but be able to go with the flow. Be smart and respectful. In many ways, while traveling, you should act just as you would in large cities at home. Below are common travel mistakes people make and how to avoid them.

Planning

1. Not knowing visa requirements

  • One of your first planning tasks is to check visa requirements. Visas may need pre-approval or can be approved on arrival. If you need pre-approval, you should check if an electronic visa (e-Visa) is an option. Depending on your country of origin, some countries will let you enter without a visa.
  • Countries requiring pre-approval can take months and lots of follow up, so be sure to research well in advance. You should also look into any entrance or exit fees. Many countries require this fee in cash, often in exact cash. You may need to have copies of passport photos on hand as well.

2. Over-planning or cramming your itinerary

  • I am someone who loves to have a packed itinerary to get the most out of my trip; however, you can fall into the trap of filling your itinerary so much that there is no way you can do it all. Doing too much means that the trip may be such a blur of activity that you can’t even remember everything.
  • Keep track of time spent in transit and factor in delays. Build in some open time for rest or things you find while out and about.

3. Only visiting tourist areas

  • Popular tourist destinations tend to be overcrowded and overpriced. Some are worth the hassle to visit, some aren’t. Try to find activities and restaurants that are local favorites instead. Especially for food, which can be double the price in tourist areas and much less authentic.
  • If you are staying at a home-share (like Airbnb or Vrbo), the hosts often include a recommended list of places to go and things to do. If hotels are more your style, the concierge or front desk can answer similar questions. I have gotten some of my best restaurant tips on vacations from asking hotel staff.

4. Not researching or booking ahead of time

  • Research possible things to do, places of interest, and the area’s history. Also look up weather, local attire, holidays, key phrases, and popular scams. Without researching, you could miss a historic or famous landmark nearby.
  • I recommend that you buy tickets in advance for places or tours you know you want to see. That way you are guaranteed a spot. Without pre-booking, the largest attractions can be sold out or have particularly long lines.

5. Booking flights with short layovers

  • Short layovers can mean missing your next flight, and possibly hours or days of your trip. Delays include flight delays or cancellations, long distances between terminals/gates, and long lines at customs. I give myself at least a couple of hours between flights if possible.

6. Using unknown third-party booking sites

  • Booking direct with an airline or tour company means you are guaranteed support with changes, delays, or cancellations. Third-party vendors do not offer the same assistance. Rebooking under those circumstances can take a lot of time, money, and hassle – especially if you are already in transit.

7. Not buying travel insurance

  • There are many reasons to consider travel/health insurance. If you are prone to illness, visiting a dangerous area, planning to participate in adventure activities, or traveling with expensive gear – travel insurance is extremely helpful. Most will cover medical expenses and emergency assistance; trip cancellation, delay or interruption; baggage and gear; baggage delay; and collision damage.

8. Arriving at night

  • It is best to arrive during the day, if possible, as arriving at night is generally not as safe. Some public transportation may not be active or available that late. If you are staying at a home-share accommodation, the host may not be awake or nearby to let you in. If you arrive in daylight, you can also get a lay of the land and orient yourself which is hard to do in the dark.

Packing

9. Overpacking

  • One benefit to packing light is no extra bag fees like overweight baggage or checked bag fees. Packing light makes it easier to maneuver in public transportation (i.e., trains, buses, or subways) and easier to carry your bags. People with large or multiple bags stick out and are more likely to be targeted by thieves and scammers. You can spend less time packing and unpacking and you’ll be less likely to leave something behind.

To learn more about packing, check out my 15 Tips for Packing Light and Traveling Right.

10. Not packing a carry-on bag

  • Because checked baggage can get lost, stolen or delayed, all your important documents, medications, and expensive gear should be in a carry-on bag.
  • One of my go-to tips is to pack an extra set of clothes in your carry-on. If your luggage is lost or delayed, you will want to have something to change into the next day. It is especially useful if you have been on a long-haul or overnight flight.

Banking/Finances

11. Going over budget

  • Create a realistic budget and allow some wiggle room for unexpected expenses. Having a budget means you are less likely to overspend on last-minute or impulse purchases. Budget for airfare, accommodations, transportation (e.g., rental car, taxis/Uber/Lyft, or public transport), visas, travel insurance, food, tips (e.g., staff, guides, drivers), activities, souvenirs, gas/petrol, and parking fees.

For more details on budget-friendly travel, check out my 13 Simple Ways to Travel on a Budget.

12. Not notifying your bank that you’re travelling

  • Notify your bank and credit card companies about upcoming travel. This will keep them from putting a hold on your cards or stopping your ability to pull money from an ATM when they notice “unusual activity.” Many banks and credit cards have travel notification system on their website to make this process even easier.
  • You should also note the credit card numbers and how to contact the company abroad if you run into any problems.

13. Paying foreign transaction fees

  • Many credit or debit cards will charge fees if you withdraw money out of ATMs or use the card for purchases in another country. Check if your card charges foreign transaction fees, typically 1% to 3%. There are some cards that have no foreign transaction fees.
  • If you must use a card with fees, try to make some purchases with local currency instead to limit the added cost.

14. Not having any local currency

  • When possible, get some local currency before your trip or pull a small amount from an ATM or exchange after arrival. You may need it as early as paying to get to your accommodation. Not all stores or transportation takes credit cards so it’s important to have at least a little currency available. You can always pull more out later.

15. Keeping all your money in one place

  • Avoid carrying too much cash at one time and in one spot. If it is lost or stolen, then you are out of options. I recommend keeping cash/cards in multiple locations in your bags and on your person, so you have backups in case you need them.

16. Saving money at the expense of time

  • While sticking to your budget is important, don’t spend so much time saving every dollar that you can’t even enjoy the trip. Is saving $30 on a flight worth having two extra connections? A museum admission fee saves you dealing with crowds and long lines on a free admission day.
  • In Botswana, it was worth every penny to pay for a transfer from my lodge there to the hotel in Zimbabwe. The transport group helped us navigate the border and I had a stress-free 2-hour drive.

17. Taking taxis and/or not negotiating the fee

  • Taxis can be overpriced. Use public transportation (e.g., trains, buses) when possible. As another option, most countries have Uber or a local equivalent.
  • If you do use a taxi, ask for the price in advance. Meters can be rigged (if they have them) and routes can be exaggerated. The price is often negotiable in advance. If you want to pay with a credit card, ask the driver right away if they take cards. I have heard several people say their driver demanded cash at the end of the ride even when they had a credit card decal on the vehicle.

Behavior

18. Carrying and/or visibly showing valuables

  • It’s easy to lose things or have them stolen while travelling, so leave any irreplaceable items at home. If you don’t need your valuables, don’t wear them out. Remove any “extras” from your wallet before leaving such as loyalty cards, unnecessary credit cards, or business cards. These just make the wallet thicker and more enticing.
  • Cameras, laptops, and phones should be hidden in a zipped jacket pocket, bum bag/fanny pack, or locked bag. Take them out and use them as necessary.
  • Don’t leave your items unattended. While in the U.S., we often hang purses from chairbacks, in some countries that is just an invitation for thieves. Be mindful of your belongings on public transport where you are surrounded by strangers and are regularly bumped into.

19. Not being sensitive to local culture and norms

  • Have an open mind and try to understand the culture you are visiting. Be aware of cultural norms and traditions. Dress appropriately to blend in and not offend others. Be considerate and respectful. Remember you are in their country and should adhere to local customs and laws.

20. Drinking too much

  • Moderate your intake. Overindulging puts you at a higher risk of getting lost, injured, or robbed. If you drink too much, you might do something or trust someone that you normally wouldn’t. Alcohol can also be expensive and put you overbudget. Get your thrills from experiences instead and save the partying for home.

21. Not trusting your instincts/intuition

  • If you have a bad feeling, trust that instinct. Back out or leave a situation that makes you too uncomfortable. That said, some discomfort when trying new things is expected – don’t miss out on spectacular adventures just because you are a little out of your comfort zone.

Miscellaneous

22. Not backing up photos or videos

  • Photos and videos are a great way to remember your trip. While you hope it doesn’t happen to you, travelers can lose their camera and phone or have them stolen. If you have not backed up the files, they are gone forever.
  • Back up on a USB or external hard drive, cloud storage (e.g., Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive), or on an app (e.g., Google Photos).
  • I once had a corrupted memory card mid-trip and lost days’ worth of photos. Now, in addition to backing up my files, I also switch out memory cards partway through so if one is damaged, I don’t lose the entire trip.

23. Not having copies of important documents

  • Make copies of your important travel documents. Print and scan copies of your passport and driver’s license in case they are lost or stolen. The copies will make getting replacements easier.
  • I also bring copies of any rental car, hotel, and tour reservations as well as my travel insurance policy.

24. Having unrealistic expectations

  • Don’t expect your trip to be perfect. Many tourists get upset if they make a mistake, plans change, or they get ripped off. This has happened to me – I get very flustered and frustrated when I have last minute issues pop up.
  • When something small happens, try your best to move past it. Don’t let other parts of your trip go awry because you are still upset over things that have already ended.

25. Not having a plan for your cell phone

  • Depending on your travel destination, your phone’s global capabilities may or may not work. Often to use your cellular data abroad, there are additional roaming charges.
  • If your plan doesn’t cover the area or the added cost is too high, there are other options: mobile Wi-Fi or a local SIM card. Turn your phone to airplane mode before you land to avoid using your data.
  • Some travelers choose to rely on Wi-Fi only and plan their accommodations and restaurants with this in mind. I prefer to have the security of cellular as a backup.

If you have fallen into one of these traps, don’t be disappointed. I have made some of them too! The more you travel, and the more experiences you have, you will develop your own list of dos and don’ts. All travel is a chance to grow and discover. That is the beauty of it.

What mistakes have you made? Help your fellow travelers by letting us know in the comments what you’ve learned.

Related Posts

International

Tagged in:

, , , , ,