If you travel a lot, you’ve probably made at least a few travel mistakes, learning some lessons the hard way which can mean financial losses and headaches or simply missed opportunities. Even the most experienced travelers can make a mistake, but learning about some of the most common ahead of time can help you avoid them so that you can enjoy a fun vacation with fewer bumps along the way.
Using the Airport Currency Exchange
While getting currency for your destination at an airport’s currency exchange facility when you arrive is convenient, it’s the worst possible way to do it as you’ll pay the highest exchange rates. Whether money is tight because you just purchased property among Vancouver real estate, or you’ve got plenty to spare, no one should pay more than they have to. Most airports have plenty of ATMs, which will give you a much better rate. If your bank doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, that’s even better. Be sure and call yours before you go to find out about any fees and let them know you’ll be traveling so that the transaction isn’t declined for potential fraud.
Being Too Cheap When Buying Airfare
While we all want a good deal, sometimes that cheap airfare isn’t the best value. Some airlines advertise extremely low prices only to tack on fees for just about everything afterward. That means not only baggage fees and fees for upgraded seats, but fees to reserve any seat, even in economy. Complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks used to be included on just about any flight, but now many low-cost carriers are charging for those too.
The other problem with that cheap airfare may be customer service which can turn a minor inconvenience into a nightmare, say when that flight is delayed, causing you to miss your connection which was the last flight going out that day. It’s just not worth the savings in most cases to book a seat on a bad airline – Consumer Reports’ readers gave low marks in every category to Frontier and Spirit Airlines, in its latest survey, for example, ranking them among the worst with American, United, and Allegiant not far behind.
Forgetting to Check Passport Validity In Time
It’s important to check the expiration date on your passport as soon as you book your trip if not sooner. Many countries will deny you entry if there aren’t at least six months left before it expires. And, another problem that frequent travelers may encounter is running out of blank pages for passport stamps. As it’s no longer possible to have additional pages added, you’ll need to renew with plenty of time to do so before your departure date. Otherwise, you’ll face some hefty fees to expedite.
Packing Too Much
It’s easy to pack too much with the worry that you won’t have the right outfit for every possible occasion, but you’ll probably end up lugging around that heavy suitcase, exhausted only to realize that you’ll never wear it all. Then there’s the anxiety that comes at the airport baggage scale, wondering if you’ve accidentally exceeded the weight limit. There are few places in the world where you won’t find laundry facilities, take advantage of them, or bring along a trial size box of detergent and hand wash a few things. Many Airbnb and other vacation rentals even come with a washer/dryer.
Trying to See and Do It All
You won’t truly enjoy your trip if you try to do too much. A jam-packed itinerary means you won’t have time to discover those hidden treasures, and you’re likely to feel more stressed than relaxed. Be sure to allow plenty of time to immerse yourself in the destination for the best experience.