10 Travel Mistakes to Avoid

Albert Einstein once said, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” Though Einstein’s statement rings true, perhaps we can learn from one another to at least avoid the same mistakes. Hopefully my list of ’10 Travel Mistakes to Avoid’ from lessons learned will at least keep you from the same fate I experienced.

1. Booking a connecting flight without checking the airport’s size.

Don’t miss a flight because you failed to scope out the size of the airport and the distances between terminals. My husband and I learned this early — on our honeymoon. We underestimated the size of Madrid’s airport, missed our connecting flight and lost our luggage too. Who would have thought you need a bus just to get to your connecting flight?

TIP: Visit the airport’s website and assess the maps to locate terminals, and other important sites such as check points and baggage claims. Also give yourself ample time between flights.

2. Arriving to an unfamiliar place at night.

Imagine driving lost in a foreign country under pitch dark skies with little ones in the back seat and no one in sight. Yes, this happened to us. We were fortunate to have found a single bar open to ask for directions — eternally grateful. Let’s just say, I do all I can now to arrive to an unfamiliar place while there is still light out.

TIP: Map out your routes and make an effort to time your arrival. Do this when planning your trip’s itinerary.

3. Trusting your GPS.

Never trust your GPS to get you to a new place without confirming the route first. My family and I learned this lesson well after a very stressful drive through unfamiliar terrain in a foreign country.

On vacation in the Republic of Ireland, we rented a car to travel from city to city. On one particular occasion, we set out for a city about 2 hours away from where we were staying. Completely unaware of how to get there, we typed in the destination and let the GPS take us through the fastest route — a narrow one lane rugged road through the middle of the mountains where all that was visible were peaks, grass, rocks and sheep for miles on end. Never again!

TIP: Confirm the route of any destination with an atlas or google maps where you can see the topography and intersecting roads.

4. Ignoring local weather updates.

Being from Miami, we get excited with the slightest cool breeze. One winter in Tennessee, we were so lucky to witness snow fall on Christmas morning. There was enough to start up a good snowball fight. Little did we know it was the start of a record-breaking snowfall. Long story short, we ended our vacation with a small roadside scare, and a lift from a tow truck. Word of advice–do not ignore local weather updates.

TIP: Check out the weather history and averages of the place you are visiting before embarking on your travels, so you know what to expect. And most importantly, stay current with local weather.

5. Failing to back up your photos.

I made the mistake once of not backing up my photos. An entire ski trip of photos vanished– Poof! All gone! It was very disappointing to have lost those tangible memories. Needless to say, I back up my photos now.

Lucky for us, today’s technology and cloud services give us more ways to safely store our precious memories. So, use it.

6. Going over budget.

Have you ever gone out expecting to spend a particular amount to only find you did not estimate right and get caught off guard? Well, I have and there is nothing quite so frustrating. This can dampen your mood on vacation and cause unexpected financial burden — it can definitely ruin your trip.

On a getaway trip with my husband, we had established a budget for accommodations, flights, food, etc.. Still, the budget was blown on a whim with an extra unplanned activity. It was difficult to pass up too because the experience was one that was unique to that location. It started an argument over whether we should do it or not. Of course we did it, but the disagreement could have been avoided with better budgeting.

TIP: Make a realistic budget for your trip before reserving and setting out on the journey. Include flights, rental cars, gas, meals, souvenirs, activities, and entrance fees to places you will be visiting. Don’t forget to add a contingency amount for any extra experience or items you may want to purchase. And do set an amount aside for an emergency such as a missed flight, a tow truck or a doctor’s visit.

7. Not getting full rental car insurance.

Yes, you can transfer car insurance from your personal car to a rental, but it may not cover it all. Dings, scratches, and car interior accidents –like from the side effects of motion sickness– may not be covered. So, when the car rental representative asks you if you would like to add full coverage, say yes.

On our trip to New Orleans, we accidentally scratched the top of our rental van in a parking garage. It was stressful, and we worried about it for days during and after our trip. For that reason, we always add it to our car rentals.

8. Being distracted in public spaces.

Don’t lose sight of your belongings, and always stay aware of your surroundings — especially when traveling. I recall my mistake of taking some time to sit on steps of an Italian plaza to sketch. It was not until moments later that I realized my bag was stolen. Consequently, I had to report the theft to the Italian police, call my credit cards, and replace my keys. I was lucky my passport was not with me. From then on, I only travel with a crossbody purse, a backpack with a hidden zipper, or an undercover travel wallet.

9. Forgetting to weigh your luggage before check-in.

Your bags are packed, you have your plane tickets, and are ready to start your vacation. Only to arrive at the check-in counter and discover your luggage is over the limit. Yikes! It’s either time to unload or buy a new bag last minute — and hopefully you have time to do so before boarding begins. This happened to us on a family trip and were fortunate our cousin had an extra empty luggage in the trunk of their car.

TIP: Weigh your bags before checking them in, at least the day before your departure. Also, confirm the quantity of luggage permitted by the airline, and make sure the luggage is the allowable size. Read your airline’s rules and TSA regulations too.

10. Not having a plan.

Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu wrote, “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” I could not disagree more. Though a lovely idealistic notion, it does not resonate with me — I mean, just look at the mistakes listed above!

I am not able to travel as frequently as I’d like. My husband and I have full time jobs and our three children are on a set routine. Not planning a trip can result in lost time, wasted money, and missing out on amazing sites and wonderful adventures. We like to get the most of our vacations and discover new things as much as possible. Because as Mark Twain stated,

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Additionally, if you are traveling with others, having a plan laid out ahead of time avoids arguments about what to do on your trip– trust me, I know this from experience.

TIP: Make an itinerary. If traveling with family or friends, share it ahead of time so everyone is in agreement before arriving at your destination. It helps avoid squabbles and frustration on your vacation.

Plus, I have learned the more information you have up front, the easier it is to adapt. Sounds odd, right? But it is true. I will tell you more about that some other time on another post.

Go on, get out there. Try new things, go on adventures and make some of your own mistakes — Just avoid these listed. Safe travels!