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Common travel mistakes that can ruin your trip and how to avoid them
These common travel mistakes can cost you time, money, and peace of mind. Here’s how to avoid them and travel smarter!
Have you ever missed a flight, got lost trying to find the hotel, or misplaced your passport?
These common travel mistakes can happen to anyone and have nothing to do with bad luck. It all comes down to travel experience, or rather, lack of it.
From packing for the wrong season to booking accommodation in the worst part of town, these errors are hiccups, not disasters. They are both incredibly common and completely fixable.
As a frequent traveler who has thoroughly lived and learned, I’m sharing the most common travel mistakes travelers keep making, and exactly how to avoid them next time.
Common travel mistakes: An overview
Here’s an overview of the most common travel mistakes to avoid during each part of your trip:
| Travel stage | Most common mistakes | Potential problems |
|---|---|---|
| Before booking | Skipping the fine print | Extra fees, bad layovers |
| Before departure | Overpacking, forgetting essentials, not checking entry requirements | Airport stress, additional baggage fees, denied entry |
| At the airport | Tight connections | Missed flights |
| On arrival | No mobile data | Can’t navigate or book transport to the hotel |
| During the trip | Overplanning, not researching transport options | Burnout, stress, high travel costs |
1. Booking flights without checking the fine print
This is something I see many inexperienced travelers do, and honestly, it’s not your fault. Airlines hide restrictions in the small print, so it looks like you’re getting a great deal until you check in online and realize you have to pay extra to sit with your travel buddy.
Nowadays, there are many economy-class fares. The cheapest fare is usually non-refundable and has restrictions on things like baggage allowance.
If you’re flying long-haul and taking a layover flight, you should also pay close attention to the time you have between flights.
For example, if your second flight departs less than 1 hour after your first flight arrives, you may not have enough time to reach the gate. If that first flight gets delayed, you might miss the connecting flight.
Alternatively, some airport-change layovers can be extremely long, and you definitely don’t want to be hanging around for 12 hours at the airport.
How to avoid:
- Check the rules on canceling or changing your flight, size/weight restrictions on your luggage, and any additional fees, such as seat assignment.
- Choose flights with a layover of 1.5 to 4 hours. This gives you enough time to change gates and adds a buffer for delays.
2. Overpacking or packing the wrong things
Many travelers panic-pack, bringing unnecessary items “just in case.” While this may seem harmless, it can result in your luggage exceeding the weight limit and requiring an additional baggage fee.
On the other end of the spectrum is underpacking, where you forget essentials like bank cards or medications.
Another common packing mistake is putting things in your carry-on that you can’t bring past security. This can mean throwing away expensive perfumes or your favorite makeup products!
How to avoid:
- Plan your outfits for each day rather than just packing random clothing.
- Use a travel packing list to avoid leaving essentials behind.
- Keep your essentials in your carry-on bag in case your checked luggage goes missing.
- Check the sizes of all liquids and put anything 100ml or over in your checked luggage.
- Research what food you can bring on a plane to avoid having your bag pulled aside at security.
3. Not checking entry requirements early enough
Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months upon entry, even for short visits. So, if your passport expires within the next 6 months, you could be denied boarding, ending your trip before it’s even begun!
Aside from passport validity, check entry requirements for your destination. Many people assume they don’t need a visa, only to arrive at the airport and find out otherwise.
How to avoid:
- Check your passport expiry date before booking your trip.
- Consult official government sources to understand visa requirements. Don’t rely on outdated blog posts.
- Research other current entry requirements, such as health forms and digital arrival forms, that you need to complete before traveling.
4. Planning every minute or not planning at all
One of the most common travel mistakes people make is not researching their destination. They arrive not knowing what to do and spend hours each day trying to make a plan.
The result? They end up missing out on the best of what the place has to offer.
This doesn’t mean you have to arrive with a carefully curated itinerary that accounts for every minute of your trip. In fact, over-scheduling is just as bad as not planning anything. If you try to cram too much in, your holiday will feel more stressful than relaxing, which defeats the purpose.
How to avoid:
- Plan 1–2 priorities for each day, so you have a loose idea of what to do.
- Include plenty of time for rest and spontaneity. For example, plan a short activity in the morning, then leave the rest of the day free.
- Avoid pre-booking all tours and activities before your trip. Only pre-book the things that often sell out.
5. Ignoring local transportation realities
When you’re planning what to do and see, don’t forget to research how you will get to these attractions.
Getting taxis everywhere can quickly become costly, especially if attractions are very far from where you’re staying. In addition, while ride-hailing can be a more affordable alternative to taxis, these apps don’t work everywhere.
How to avoid:
- Use Google Maps to understand the distance from your hotel to attractions, along with possible travel options.
- Download offline maps for exploring on foot.
- Ask the staff at your hotel for help. They can book taxis on your behalf, share bus timetables, or arrange low-cost shuttle services.
6. Underestimating travel costs on the ground
Poor transport planning and underestimating travel costs are common travel mistakes that often go hand in hand.
Taxi scams can mean you get charged inflated fares, while unexpected fees like tolls can quickly add up.
Another common mistake is assuming you can pay for taxis and public transport with your card. In some countries, taxis and buses don’t have card readers and only accept cash.
How to avoid:
- If taxi scams are common in your destination, consider pre-booking an airport transfer. Alternatively, research whether ride-hailing apps operate from the airport and, if so, where the pickup point is.
- Exchange a small amount of currency before your trip so you don’t arrive at your destination without cash.
7. Not backing up important documents
Lost phones and stolen bags are among the most stressful and unfortunate situations that can happen on vacation. Unfortunately, these experiences are not always avoidable, as pickpockets are rife in many cities worldwide. But you can prepare for the worst by backing up your important documents.
How to avoid:
- Back up everything on your phone to the cloud before your trip. That way, if you lose your phone, you don’t lose all your photos, contacts, and app data.
- Email copies of your passport and ID to yourself.
- Keep your passport in the safe in your hotel room, and carry a physical photocopy around with you.
- Put an additional debit/credit card in your checked luggage, and keep it in your hotel safe. That way, if your wallet gets stolen, you still have a way to access your money.
8. Relying on airport or hotel Wi-Fi while traveling
Another of the most common travel mistakes to avoid is not planning how you’ll stay connected during your trip. Many people assume they can rely on airport Wi-Fi to book a taxi to their hotel, but airport Wi-Fi is slow, unstable, and cuts out as soon as you walk out the door.
To navigate maps, check where your ride is, and make travel plans on the go, getting a travel eSIM is the way to go.
With Holafly, you can get an eSIM before departure, then activate it upon landing and have data before you’ve even disembarked the plane.
Holafly works with local network carriers to deliver a fast, reliable internet connection in over 160 destinations worldwide. Browse the Holalfy eSIM shop here to avoid this common travel mistake!
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Hey, I’m Mika! I’m an SEO specialist with 7+ years of experience and a passion for travel info that actually helps you explore smarter. I write travel guides and tips backed by SEO insights so you can spend less time searching and more time adventuring.
