Check out our list of the worst travel mistakes you can make and learn how you can avoid them....
✈️ Crammed itineraries: too much planning can be a bad thing.
You want to give yourself enough time to see and do everything and squeezing in every single hotspot or hidden gem will make your schedule so tight that you will barely have a moment to really enjoy and appreciate the place you so desperately wanted to see. Also make sure you take in to account the travel time/distance between locations as this will have an impact on how much time you will be able to spend there.
✈️ Not notifying your bank/credit card company before you travel.
Making a call or sending an email to your bank before you leave your home country can save you a lot of hassle when you touchdown in your paradise destination. For security reasons they could freeze your account if they see "unusual transaction activities" so make sure you notify them before you travel.
✈️ Exchanging all your $$ at the airport instead of at your destination.
Exchanging money at local banks is not only convenient but also much less expensive than exchanging at airports or hotels. They also tend to give better exchange rates.
✈️ Not checking for visas prior to travel.
Every country has their own set of visa requirements therefore it's very important to research this well in advance. Whether it's a tourist visa, student visa, or working visa, make sure you apply for the correct one, if you don't do this it could result in you being denied entry at your destination.
✈️ Not researching the culture, local customs and national holidays.
Taking a trip to a foreign destination is an exciting adventure but there most likely will be customs and traditions that are different from your home country. Whether it's wearing a particular clothing garment to enter a place of worship, table etiquette, pointing, tipping... The list is endless! Do your research and make sure you respect the country that you are visiting.
✈️ Overpacking.
We are so guilty of this but packing cubes help and also a portable scale. Plan your outfits beforehand and mix and match to make different outfit combinations. Download our FREE Suitcase Essentials checklist by subscribing to our newsletter at the bottom of this page.
✈️ Using a credit card with foreign transaction fees.
Unlike your current credit cards, which on average charge 3% of every dollar spent while abroad, certain international credit cards have no foreign transaction fees. These sneaky little charges can add up quickly so double check by reading the small print and compare with other international credit cards to get the best deal for you.
✈️ Not reading reviews on vacation rentals, hotels, restaurants and tour companies before planning a trip.
TripAdvisor, Airbnb and other well known travel review sites are a source of free knowledge, use them to your advantage.
✈️ Checking your passport expiration date on your way to the airport.
Some countries will only allow you to enter if your passport is valid for 6 months after the date you will enter the country so make sure your travel documents are valid well ahead of time, don't leave this until the last minute because it can take up to six weeks to renew your passport.
✈️ Check which airport you are flying in and out of.
Twice we have driven to the wrong airport! Oops! Many big cities can have multiple airports, often a larger one and a smaller one. Make a note of the 3 letter airport code when you book your flight and then find out exactly which airport it is.
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