Preparing for a vacation abroad is very exciting and it takes more time and effort than domestic retreats, but no matter how well you plan there are always things that will go wrong. I’m hoping this article will give you some insight on some of the most common mistakes people make when traveling and how you can avoid them.



Overpacking

One of the biggest travel mistakes you can make when traveling far from home is to overpack for the trip. Veteran travelers tend to pack only what they will need and use. While it’s tempting to bring as much of home with you as possible, this makes your luggage more difficult to transport and will result in check baggage and over-weight luggage fees. 



Leaving a Little Extra Time Between Flights

Leaving extra time between connecting flights is essential due to the fact that flight conditions have always been very unpredictable. If your flight is arriving late and you haven’t left enough time in between you can miss your connecting flight and airlines WIL NOT wait for late passengers. We recommend leaving at least 2 hours between flights to allow for delays.



Not Purchasing Travel Insurance

We all know bad things can happen when you travel. The State Information Technology Agency estimates that more than 22 million bags are mishandled each year. In addition, Flight Stats reports that more than 300,000 flights are cancelled and over 6 million are delayed each year. These stats do not include trip cancellations, medical emergencies and trip disruptions that happen to thousands of travelers each year. Travel Insurance will help cover financial loss on such things as loss of passport or personal belongings, delays, lost baggage, trip cancellations and more.



Check Visa Requirements

We recommend checking the lists of VISA requirements for different countries. Being denied entry to a foreign country is very time consuming and could possibly end your trip. Some countries have stringent VISA requirements which could take weeks if not months to get approved.



Notify Your Bank

One of the most overlooked things to do before leaving on a foreign vacation is to notify your bank in advance of your travel plans. With fraud at an all-time high, if your banking institution starts seeing foreign transactions, they may just put a temporary hold on your account. Inform them ahead of time of your plans and where you will be traveling, and you can avoid this holiday spoiling mistake.

Over Ambitious Itinerary

Another mistake people make when traveling is trying to pack too many activities in one trip. Unless you have unlimited time on your hands, having an overly ambitious itinerary will just leave you worn out and stressed. Your opportunities will be limited and the hassle of constantly running will have you worn out and stressed. Relax, take your time, and enjoy what each location has to offer. You won’t be able to see it all, but you will return home more relaxed and rejuvenated.

Check Your Cell Phone Plan

Before leaving on a foreign vacation, it is important to know exactly what your cell phone plan will cover. Every carrier will have its own policies regarding international travel which may include special prepaid international plans or buying a local SIM card once you arrive at your destination. Check with your carrier on this to avoid the unexpected cost of massive roaming fees.



Exchanging Local Currency

When traveling to a foreign destination you will need to find local currency upon arrival to pay for taxis, public transportation, local vendors, etc. You will find numerous exchange areas in every international airport or, if you already have an idea of how much local money you will need, you can change enough at your local bank in advance. You can always acquire more local currency when you arrive but keep in mind that not all foreign ATM’s will accept your bank card.



Back up Important Documents

We recommend printing out copies of your documents such as ID’s, passports, VISA information, etc. This can save you from major problems should any of your travel documents become lost. The process of obtaining new travel documents can sometimes be lengthy and a mistake of this magnitude can ruin your trip. We recommend leaving one set of copies with a trusted friend at home as well as bringing the originals and one set of copies with you on your trip. You can even store the documents in the cloud for easier access when abroad.

I hope this list of ‘travel mistakes to avoid’ will help you steer clear of any problems while vacationing abroad. If there is anything you think I might have missed, you can drop us an e-mail HERE or comment below. We’d love to hear from you!