Everyone, at one point or another, makes rookie travel mistakes. It's especially common for those who may have never been out of the country before. It's fine. That's why you do a little research prior, to avoid mistakes. And if one does occur, then you know for next time how to avoid it
Also, if you see true story, it is exactly that, a true story to give you examples
1. Always check the weather
-This is a good thing to do. Weather is unpredictable and you want to make sure you're prepared. If you're going to Japan to climb Mount Fuji, it's a good idea to pack for that. Extreme cold weather gear is needed the higher you go up. Or if you're going somewhere known for a lot of rain, raincoat and umbrellas will be your wingmen. Do your research on the weather of the location you're travelling to. Research pays off!
-Best bet to go with: A poncho and umbrella for rain
-Pro tip: Have the base layers of clothing for extreme hot or cold or rain
2. Overpacking/exceeding the weight limit for the airline
-First things first: airlines have weight limits. This is so that they can get everyone's luggage on the plane and also so that the plane is not weighed down. The typical limit is 25 pounds. Anything over that, you'll be paying MASSIVE weight charges. Pack only what you need. Overpacking is a common thing in my house and the culprit is usually my stepdad. But, the important thing to know is that if you can't carry it yourself, don't bring it. Know how much clothing you will need for your vacation. Know what type of clothing you'll need. If you're going somewhere warm, shorts, tees, tanks will be good. If you're going to an a la carte restaurant (nice, sit down restaurant for those who don't know), nice clothing required, such as long pants for men, sometimes a nice dress or nice clothes for women. Get collapsible organizers for your luggage (they are very useful). These items will help condense space in your luggage. Take a large suitcase and a carryon, such as a clean, unused gym bag or a backpack.
-Best bet to go with: Put the immediate essentials you'll need in your carryon. Liquids aren't allowed; they need to be in your checked in luggage (the one that actually goes in the airplane). If you're going somewhere with a pool, put a swimsuit, cover up, sunglasses, sunblock, etc that you would immediately need while everything else can go in your checked on luggage. And if you have tanning oil or sunblock in your luggage, just go and get it out before hotel staff take it to your room. Also, invest in luggage locks. They keep unwanted items from finding their way in. Lock your luggage while it's waiting in the lobby to be taken to your room. Take off the locks before you get to the airport for the local TSA agents
-Pro tip: Don't exceed the max limit on weight. You'll pay at least $100+ for overweight fees. Not only that, you also don't need a full bottle of shampoo for a week stay somewhere. Travel size bottles work great for a week. True story: every time I've gone on vacation with my family, and we get to the airport, we ALWAYS see people with gym bags jam packed TO THE MAX with crap they think they need. There is this rack at the local airport, Cincinnati/Greater Kentucky International Airport, aka CVG, before you get to the specific airline check in counters, that will check if you are going to be paying overweight fees for luggage or carry-ons. If either item does not fit, you'll be paying. Luckily, I've never had that issue and neither has my family. Don't do this: don't force items to fit in there. You're still going to pay overweight fees. I saw a family from Lexington (they said it quite a few times) try and force their luggage to fit in that rack. Oh, the satisfaction I felt from an Englishman named Paul working behind the counter at Allegiant Airlines, the one my family flies through to go to the Dominican Republic/Mexico, coming out from behind the counter to tell them about their luggage issues. Me and my family were in hysterics at 4:00 am watching this-PRICELESS! They wanted to argue and finally, I had to put my two cents in and they finally fixed the issue
-True story: my stepdad forgot this one time when we were going to Mexico. He forgot to put his tanning oil in his checked in luggage and got attention from TSA about it. They kindly allowed him to get it and put it in his luggage. They didn't yell at him for it, just let him know for next time
3. Don't look like a tourist
-This is good advice. When going to a foreign country, if you look like a typical tourist, you're going to be the apple of some pickpocket's eye. Tone down the appearance so that you look like you blend in
-Best bet to go with: Dress like you normally would. Use your inside voice. USE MANNERS!! In areas that tend to be poorer, leave the valuables at home
-Pro tip: Download an offline version of Google Maps so that you can reacquaint yourself with where you are while looking as though you're texting even if you have no normal service
4. Just ignoring the foreign charges on your bank card
-Investigate any foreign fees your bank will issue. Most if not all banks will have something like "international currency conversion" or something like that if you use your card on a foreign site (trust me, I get this on my bank statement every time I renew my Iron Maiden Fan Club membership) or in a foreign country. Some credit cards, like Capital One, don't charge fees to be used in foreign countries. Use these when reserving hotels and shopping abroad. ATM fees add up extremely quickly like most ATMs at home. Most foreign ATMs add a $5 fee to use them plus percentage of the money withdrawn and any charges by the local bank. Prior to travelling abroad, contact your local bank to see if they have partnerships with banks in the country you're travelling to. So that you don't get charged a fee for using the local ATMs. Also, let your local bank know you're going out of the country, to where and for how long. So that the fraud department does not start sending up red flags on your card because they see unusual activity in a foreign country (sorry, this comes from my mom working in fraud. She had calls all the time from people using their card internationally. Prior to their vacations, they would call her and her coworkers to let them know they were flying internationally, to where and for how long)
-Best bet to go with: Withdrawal as much money as you feel comfortable carrying from the ATM
-Pro tip: Get cash back at the grocery store
5. Buying foreign currency at the airport
-Nothing says cool souvenir more than having foreign currency. Some people collect it in a jar to see all the awesome places they've been to (my stepdad does this. He has a jar with Australian dollars, French francs from Martinique, Tahiti, while me and my sister have money from the Dominican Republic and pesos from Mexico in a small jar). However you're travelling through the city of your choice, you're going to need some local cash on hand. In countries where the US Dollar or British Pound Note are worth more than the local currency, cabbies will take home currency, but it comes with a fee. Just know that, despite whatever discount rate or bargain you manage to get out of the kiosks at the airport, you're really not getting a good deal
-Best bet to go with: Order local currency from your local bank or hit up a local bank once you reach your destination. Banks are great places for this. They have special areas with foreign currency. All you do is take the amount you're taking with you, take up to the counter and tell them you are wishing to transfer this money into local currency. They'll gladly get it sorted out for you
-Pro tip: Don't order too much. If you don't spend it all, the bank is going to get a nice little cut when you return and try to exchange it back for home currency. And, in case you haven't travelled in a while, hardly anyone uses traveler's checks anymore
6. No visas prior to travelling
-A lot of countries require a special visa prior to travelling. This is legal proof that you can enter their country in addition to a passport. Countries like Russia require at least 15 days (three weeks) for a RUSH visa. Many countries have different rates for multiple entries (if you take a day trip to a neighboring country). Keep this in mind and do your research when buying plane tickets. Travel insurance doesn't cover failing to obtain a visa when refunding travel
-Best bet to go with: Read up on a country's visa policy prior to travel
-Pro tip: If you're close to the date and still need a visa, pay the rush fee. It might hurt your wallet, but at least it'll hurt less when it arrives than the hurt waiting for you when the agency/embassy doesn't mail back your passport in time to leave. Also, if the country you are travelling to requires a special visa, get it way ahead of time. Do not wait until the last moment. This will have your wallet mad at you in no time
7. Leaving a power converter at home
-Most countries have different voltages. And in that case, you're going to need a converter, especially if you plan on using electronics. The converter is safe because, in the case of a power outage or surge, your electronics will be safe and they can be safely charged. You don't want to take your phone to somewhere like England and think the voltage is safe to use for US electronics and then suddenly have your phone either not charge or blow up because of the voltage difference
-Best bet to go with: Get a universal charger. They sell them in the travel section of any store. They even have multiple holes on them, listing what country they are for
-Pro tip: Invest in one with USB ports to charge more than one device at a time
8. Forgetting to turn off the data roaming on your phone
-Something that cell providers don't tell you, because they want all the money they can get their greedy little hands on, is that if you get a call while roaming internationally, and send the person to voicemail, thinking you won't be charged: YOU'RE WRONG! Every minute spent sending messages gets billed as international roaming. T-Mobile is one of the only cell providers who provide free international roaming while other cell providers charge internationally
-Best bet to go with: Call your cell provider and ask them about international roaming
-Pro tip: Get your SIM-based phone unlocked before travelling and pick up a local SIM card when you arrive
9. Not printing your tickets
-Sure, you can pull them up on your phone. But where is the fun in having a paper copy to put in a photo album or scrapbook? So that when you get old and can't remember stuff, you can look at those travel tickets and know all the fabulous places you went. Print out your tickets because if your phone dies, you have no tickets. Paper tickets eliminate a lot of issue.
-Best bet to go with: Print them when you buy them. Put them in your suitcase. That way, you can't forget them
-Pro tip: When travelling, keep your tickets with your passport.
10. Booking a stay in a bad neighborhood
-You're not expected to know which neighborhoods are good and bad. There are no ways of telling you that you're about to enter the most gang-infested neighborhood of the city. Los Angeles is like that. There is no way that you should be expected to know that you are going from a nice neighborhood to a horribly gang-infested neighborhood. Read other people's travel stories and reviews. Read about where they stayed and if they liked it. Chances are high that if there is a massive amount of hotels in the area, it's touristy and relatively safe. Also, invest in travel books that describe where to go, where to stay, where to eat, attractions and more all based on your budget.
-Best bet to go with: Close to the airport? Don't be there
-Pro tip: Look up bars and clubs matching your interests and book a room as close to there as possible
11. Not knowing local laws/fines
-It's almost common sense to know the local laws. Every country has different laws and fines. It's a good idea to do research, so that you avoid breaking the law or getting hit with fines. What might be acceptable in one country can mean life in prison or death sentence in another. Research the local do's and don'ts.
-Best bet to go with: If your mom has serious doubts, check first. It's always good and safe to be sure
-Pro tip: Travel websites indicate which countries' police are allowed to do negotiation. In tricky situations, bribes work. Keep a little bribe money on hand
12. When booking, not paying attention to airline change fees
-There are massive pros and cons to booking on discount airlines and booking parts of your travel on different carriers. If you're solid set with your travel plans, and don't expect delays/changes/interruptions, there's a good reason to buy the two one way tickets. If you need to make any sort of changes, you're looking at at least $200 in domestic fees and sometimes up to $300 in international fees to make changes to your ticket. If your fare was $300 each way, your entire fare is gone if you need to make changes
-Best bet to go with: If it's economical for you, a one way ticket would be best. Sometimes, you will have layovers, especially on long journeys, to places like China, Tahiti, London, etc. A one way ticket would be best so you can have the freedom to leave when and from where you want
-Pro tip: Be flexible with your city of departure and you can get a cheaper return and a night in a city you have otherwise overlooked
13. Not paying exit fees
-Almost every country charges some sort of exit fee. Keep cash on hand and do research to see if the country you plan on visiting has exit fees
-Best bet to go with: Research ahead of time and include exit fee money in your budget
-Pro tip: A wad of emergency cash secretly hidden on you will put you at ease in case of emergencies
14. Not knowing the conversion rate
-This is a common thing. If you are coming from one country and going to another, it's important to know the conversion rate.
-Best bet to go with: Do some research. Either on the internet, go to the local bank's foreign currency desk or, better yet, if you have someone you know who is of the culture of the country you're planning on visiting, ask them for tips on currency conversion. They'll be able to answer questions and not make you feel stupid like the people at the bank may
-Pro tip: Pay attention to the amount of money you receive when you exchange money and you'll get a rough estimate of conversion
15. Forgetting to bring a lock to a hostel
-Don't leave valuables in your luggage, especially if you are staying at a hostel. It's literally a room full of strangers. You can't expect them to abide by "I won't steal yours if you don't steal mine". Invest in a lock and carry the keys at all times. While hostels are good for some people, they may not be good for others. Simply invest in a hotel room so that you don't have to worry so much. But then again, even the hotel staff will steal from you if you leave things out
-Best bet to go with: Lock your stuff EVERY time. Going out to the pool? Lock it up!!
-Pro tip: Get a combination lock. No worry of losing the key
16. Forgetting the essential meds and toiletries
-Going to a foreign country often invokes the need to take medicine in case of stomach issues, etc. Make a checklist of everything you'll need and go over the list several times, checking off items that you have and leaving ones blank that you don't. Go over the list several times before your trip to make sure you have EVERYTHING you'll need. If need certain meds and toiletries, most hotels have little stores that sell those items
-Best bet to go with: Bring whatever pills/vitamins you need in a seven day pill container like older people use. It might make you look like an older person, but it will contain all the essentials you need every day, even if they are all just vitamins and supplements
-Pro tip: Buy local if need be
17. Renting a car when it's not needed
-Why rent a car when God gave you two legs or there's the public transportation system? If a city has a bus, taxi or even subway to get to destinations, use it! If you can walk to your destination, do it! It's a lot cheaper to do so than renting a car. With car rentals, you have to have GPS, a parking spot and you need to know how to drive, in case you have to drive on the "wrong" side of the road and you need to know local driving laws. Not only that, you also have to maintain safety of the car i.e. the car getting stolen. If it's stolen, you're stuck with the charges of either trying to find it or buying a new car.
-Best bet to go with: Use the public transportation system as much as possible. It's cheaper, it'll get you to your destinations just as easily as a car would and it provides the opportunity to meet new people. If there is a destination you just absolutely NEED to see that can only be reached by car, rent a car for just the one day
-Pro tip: Carpools are going to be your wingman. If you can carpool with others, that'll be great, especially if the driver knows the laws and where to go
18. Using a paper map to navigate a city
-Nothing says "tourist" more than using a paper map. You may as well have a large, invisible sign over your head screaming TOURIST. This also makes you an attractive item for robbers and pickpockets.
-Best bet to go with: Ask the locals. This always works because not only will you get the right heading to your destination, you might even make a new friend in the process
-Pro tip: If you're lost in an area that seems sketchy or suspicious, walk with purpose in a single direction. This will make it seem like you know where you're going. Once out of the danger zone, find a business, such as a cafe, bookstore, etc., and reorient your internal GPS to find where you are
19. Assuming traffic in one country is like your own country's traffic
-First of all, every country has different levels of traffic, especially if you're heading into the downtown areas of major cities. What might take one or two hours on the highway in one country might more than that in another. Certain cities, like Hanoi, Saigon in Vietnam will be bustling with not only cars, trucks, buses, but rickshaws (man powered carts with two wheels in back and operated by a single carrier) and even scooters or motorcycles. And in cities in India, where the population can rise into the millions, don't even think about certain time frames for traffic. Cities there have TONS AND TONS of traffic because you have not only cars, trucks, vans, buses, but you also have scooters, motorcycles, motorized open air taxis and tuk tuks (local form of taxis)
-Best bet to go with: Ask the locals how long it will take to reach your destination. Not only will they be flattered you're asking them, but you'll get real time advice. Just don't roll your eyes and scoff at the amount of time it would take. They have no problem being patient
-Pro tip: For anything over 400 miles, fly. There are plenty of discount airlines to save you tons of hassle
20. Packing clothes you don't want ruined/lost/stolen
-Wearing clothes on vacation is radically different than wearing clothes at home. Avoid taking clothing you don't want ruined/lost/stolen. Things like your high end gymshoes, fancy dresses and dress clothes, favorite hats, will find themselves in danger if caution is not taken. Take the nice clothing on vacation only if you're going to an a la carte restaurant, which requires nice dressing
-Best bet to go with: Take clothes decent enough for photos, but not bad enough that people think you're homeless. Also, take clothing that, if they get lost, doesn't present much of a problem
-Pro tip: Hit the clearance rack at Old Navy. Clearance rack ANYWHERE is where you should be heading. You can get tons of clothes for super cheap! It doesn't matter if it's for every day clothes or even clothes for work. HIT THE CLEARANCE RACK!!
21. Not knowing the "all inclusive" parts of your trip
-"All inclusive" means everything is paid for. The only money you need to bring is for souvenirs and tips. It's important to know what is included in your "all inclusive" trip. Keep in mind that what's free at home may not be free at your destination. Read the fine print
-Best bet to go with: When in doubt, double check everything. It's better to make the receptionist laugh at your slight error in judgement than get hit with a bill because you wanted extra things
-Pro tip: If something is listed as truly all-inclusive, go haywire! Afternoon massage? You bet
22. Tipping/overtipping
-It's nice to tip people. It shows them you respect them and it ensures you get service before the other people at the bar get theirs. When the bartender sees you tipping them, you get your drink, ice cold, before the other barflies get their drink. But there is a catch. There is such a thing as overtipping. Americans are often the only ones who tip. Some countries are often unused to doing this. For example, in the UK, they don't tip at bars, unless it's an American chain of restaurants like TGI Fridays or at restaurants that include a service charge. And in China, tipping is considered offensive. If you're in doubt, ask a local
-Best bet to go with: If it's something you think was well done, tip the person
-Pro tip: Tip the bartender on every other drink. You don't want to tip them on every drink. That's a quick way to blow through a week's worth of tip money in a very short time. True story: every time I've gone to Mexico/Dominican Republic, I always take $20 in singles. I tip the bartender every so many drinks so that I have enough for all week.
23. Paper maps
-Paper maps are good, but in-car GPS is usually better. Infrastructure is constantly evolving, like technology, and GPS units usually update with them. Plus, GPS allows you to take time to relax, notice the sights and more
-Best bet to go with: Pay the extra money to get an in-car GPS unit from TomTom, Garmin or another company. Those are usually pretty reliable. Make sure your rental car has a GPS or call your cell phone provider about international coverage
-Pro tip: Don't completely stop using paper maps. It might scream TOURIST when using them out in public, but it makes for a great souvenir.
24. Your cell phone being your only camera
-It's almost considered mock worthy to some people when they see people using actual cameras. People will often mock those using regular cameras and think "they can use their phone". Digital cameras work just as well as your iPhone does. Plus, digital cameras are often smaller and with each passing day, they are getting more advanced, with higher resolution imaging available
-Best bet to go with: Bring a camera with you. Heavy duty photographer-quality cameras are good for outdoors-y stuff while digital cameras have you covered everywhere else
-Pro tip: Bigger is not always better. Instant cameras are low tech, but simple to use. If you're taking pictures around a water source, invest in a digital waterproof camera. It might be a wee bit pricy, but it's worth all the risk if it gets knocked into the pool because some bozo knocks it in after too many drinks
25. Ignorant of the legal drinking age
-A lot of countries allow people to start drinking between 16-18 years of age. In Mexico, the legal drinking age is 18. Prior to visiting the country of your choice, look up what the legal drinking age is.
-Best bet to go with: If you're of legal age, carry your passport. Bartenders suspicious of one's age are only convinced of one's age by legal documentation
-Pro tip: If you're still underage, get creative. Walk up to the bar with purpose, know what you want and act mature. The bartender won't question it. If the bartender calls you out on your age, you'll be drinking virgin drinks. Just hope that the hotel you're going to doesn't issue colored bracelets based on age. Otherwise, you're in trouble!
-True story. The first time me and my sister went to Mexico, my sister was only 19, which means she was still illegal to drink in the US, whose required drinking age is 21. But then again, my sister drank at home while shooting pool because my parents knew she wasn't going anywhere. We got about halfway to Mexico, over international waters and my mom told my sister, who was sitting next to her, "You can drink legally in Mexico. The drinking age is 18." The look that came across my sister's face at 10:00 am was PRICELESS! She was suddenly anxious to get to the resort. As soon as we arrived at the airport, went to the hotel and checked in, she could have beaten land speed records with the speed she ran to the room. We all changed into our swimsuits and headed down to the in-pool bar. She did this confident walk up to the bar and ordered a beer. No one questioned her as the bartender handed her an icy cold beer. It's also because she had a yellow bracelet indicating she was over 21. The hotel we stayed at, The Barcelo, in Cancun issues yellow bracelets for over 21 people and black bracelets for minors. She ordered a beer and took a drink and said "Oh yes, this is going to be a goooooooooooood vacation!" The look on her face, knowing she was drinking at 19 in Mexico was hilarious!
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