We’ve all made a travel mistake or two – it’s part of the process (and can actually lead to a great story, let’s be fair). But some mistakes are avoidable, and some are more costly than others. Here’s a list of common travel mistakes we’ve learned to avoid over the years.
1. Overpacking
It’s easy to get carried away and throw in extra ‘just in case’ items, but overpacking leads to stress and discomfort. We stick to the essentials and try to travel with carry-on luggage only wherever possible (e.g. up to about 3 nights), making it easier to move around and avoid baggage fees. It also means that you can use the whole of a last day – as there’s less need to go back to a hotel to collect baggage before going to the airport.
2. Not Double-Checking Your Passport and Documents
This one’s a no-brainer, but it’s easy to forget. Always check that your passport is valid for at least six months before you travel and that you’ve got any necessary visas or documents sorted. The last thing you want is to get stuck at the border because of something simple you overlooked. This six month thing is key – most countries don’t just look at the formal expiration date.
3. Not Informing Your Bank About Travel Plans
This is less important now for a lot of people. – for example, we’re with Halifax (their Clarity card is great for international travel and has a near-perfect exchange rate, and Revolut also sounds good – NOT financial advice) and they don’t need to be informed.
However, from past experience there’s nothing more frustrating than arriving at your destination and finding your card blocked. If you need to, let your bank know about our travel dates to avoid any security freezes. It only takes a minute on the app, but it saves a lot of hassle.
On a side note, write down your bank’s helpline in your phone. If you lose your wallet or it’s nicked, you can then easily call and cancel (or, block it on the app if supported).
4. Relying Too Much on Technology
While having maps, apps, and translation tools is helpful, we’ve learned not to rely entirely on our phone. Battery life can be unpredictable, and Wi-Fi might not always be available. You can keep a printed copy of important information, like hotel addresses and emergency contacts, just in case – even just taking your hotel’s business card is a good shout so you can simply show it to a taxi driver or local if needed.
5. Underestimating the Time Needed for Airport Transfers
Trying to rush to the airport or squeeze in an activity before your flight can lead to unnecessary stress. We always leave plenty of time for airport transfers, and we factor in potential delays like traffic, security checks, and long queues at the check-in desk. In fact, we tend to leave the last day of a trip as a final “wandering round” day any don’t plan any trips outside of or beyond the city say. Obviously there’s flex here – if your flight back is at 10pm then you have some time to do something in the morning!
6. Ignoring Local Customs and Etiquette
Different places have different rules. What’s acceptable in one country might not be in another. We do a bit of research on local customs before we travel so we’re not caught out – it’s just a way of showing respect to the locals and avoiding any awkward situations.
It varies place to place but some obvious ones are alcohol In predominantly Islamic countries, covering your shoulders in particularly religious settings (e.g. churches etc in lots of Europe) and where there are large Jewish populations, be aware that Saturday is Shabbat (the day of rest) and not a lot will be open / visitable. We actually forgot this on a recent visit to Prague (Prague’s Jewish Quarter is amazing) and had to reschedule our trip a little bit!
7. Forgetting Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is one of those things you think you don’t need – until you do. It’s worth paying for coverage, especially if you’re travelling abroad. Medical emergencies, lost luggage, or flight cancellations are unpredictable, but insurance can make the difference between a ruined trip and a manageable setback.
It’s worth figuring out if you want to pay for individual / specific cover or whether there is a package out there that would work better. Our Halifax Ultimate Reward account is a joint account in both names and for ~£15 a month gives us both worldwide travel insurance, as well as breakdown cover and phone cover (and I think some other random stuff!). The worldwide travel pays for itself on this.
Anything we’ve missed?
Avoiding these common mistakes can save you a lot of stress and ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible. A bit of preparation and thought goes a long way when it comes to stress-free travel.
Anything we’ve missed?
