8 Travel Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Vacation, Experts Say
Get ahead of these issues before they become bigger problems.
As a travel journalist, I take over 10 trips a year for work, whether that’s to Disney World or London. One could say I’m a professional traveler, and even with that title, I’ve made my fair share of travel mistakes, from not leaving enough time to get to the airport to forgetting medications. Sometimes mistakes happen, and that’s OK—the important thing is to learn from them and avoid repeating issues.
There’s an art to traveling, but unpredictable factors can also impede your trips. It was just last month that I had an unexpectedly canceled flight after a trip to California, and I had to rebook and stay an extra night. This was something I hadn’t planned for, and that took quite some time to sort out. Sometimes it’s hard to predict how your experience will be, so preparing for certain contingencies is helpful.
Ahead, I spoke with fellow travel experts about travel mistakes that can ruin your trip. Spoiler alert: Just because your passport isn’t expired doesn’t mean it’s valid.
Assuming your passport is valid because it hasn’t expired
While that sounds accurate, it’s not quite correct. "Countries want three to six months' validity on your passport," says Darley Newman, host of Travels with Darley and author of the upcoming Revolutionary Road Trip. "This means the day you enter the country, let's say May 1, your passport needs to be valid for several months after, even if you are returning to the United States on May 10."
Avoid issues by checking your passport's expiration date in advance. "Get it renewed within nine months of it expiring to ensure you're all ready to go," she adds.
RELATED: Best Passport Holders, According to Travel Enthusiasts
Relying too much on restaurant reviews
Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Google Reviews have their place when trying to find places to eat on vacation, but Samantha Brown, travel expert and two-time Emmy Award-winning host of Places to Love, says people who don't ask locals for recommendations are missing out.
"Always ask the locals, like a night desk clerk at the hotel, as they probably know the best places in town," she says. "The people who have left the review you may have nothing in common with, but people who you are sharing the same space with now you have common ground."
Oftentimes, locals are more than happy to share their hidden gems and favorite dining spots that aren't overrun with tourists.
Skipping breaks
It’s natural to want to pack as much as you can into your itinerary, especially when so much time and money have been spent getting to your destination. But Brown says that overplanning can be detrimental, especially on long-haul trips.
"I’ve found that no matter how old you are, how much travel you’ve done, we all get cranky at around 3 pm," she says. "Instead of pushing people to be productive for the next four hours, schedule a break. Maybe it’s a nap back at the hotel or just some quiet time reading, so by dinner time everyone is refreshed and ready to have a nice time."
Forgetting about your co-travelers
If you're thinking about going on a girls' trip or taking a family vacation, then you'll want to make sure everyone is compatible, especially if you have to share a room.
"Incompatible sleeping habits, like lights on versus complete darkness, snore versus light sleeper and grooming habits, like time spent hogging the bathroom, can ruin a vacation," says Newman. "Unspoken expectations can also cause hurt feelings or tension, like if someone is expecting to do everything together versus have more personal space."
You should have an open conversation about vacation goals and expectations with your travel party before embarking on any trip. This can help sort out any problems ahead of time rather than on vacation.
Overpacking
Doing this can be more stressful than it's worth. "Especially for cruises where stateroom space is limited, overly large or too many suitcases can make your stateroom feel cramped and even smaller," Newman says.
In many destinations, you can get what you really need there. Newman recommends bringing mix-and-match clothing items that do not wrinkle in basic colors like black, navy blue, white, and beige. "The only items one would need that are fresh and clean every day are underwear and socks," she says. "Try packing a few days ahead of your travel and then edit down by taking out your 'what if' items over the next few days."
RELATED: Best Packing Cubes for Travel
Cutting it close at the airport
You might think an hour is enough time to be at the airport before your flight, but Brown says you'll want to add a buffer.
"I hate to be an alarmist, but I usually factor in for something to go wrong at every pain point: traffic to the airport, long lines to check a bag, long security lines, especially during busy holidays and summer travel crunch season," Brown says. "If it normally takes you 40 minutes to get to the airport, you should bank in one hour. If you think it’s going to be 15 minutes to check your bag, make it half an hour. Buffering in enough extra time takes away all the stress."
Two to three hours early is the sweet spot.
Packing medications carelessly
You might assume it will be easy to find a pharmacy with over-the-counter medication for common illnesses like colds and stomach issues, but that may not always be the case, especially in remote areas.
If possible, pack an OTC medicine kit with pills instead of liquid forms, Newman suggests. They take up less space and avoid TSA liquid restrictions.
Make sure you pack extra of any prescription medication you take, and keep it in your backpack or purse rather than your checked bag. This will help if you drop a pill or need to extend your trip.
Ignoring TSA guidelines
You don't want to get stopped by TSA at the airport for a bag check, especially if you're running late.
"This can ruin your vacation before it begins," says Newman. "Do your homework and know what you can and cannot bring in your carry-on, like liquids over 3.4 ounces or alcoholic beverages containing more than 70% ABV."
This also applies to airline policies on carry-on items. Many airlines allow one carry-on bag and one personal item, such as a fanny pack, handbag, or tote.
Go to the TSA website and the relevant airline website before your trip to find the guidelines and prohibited items or size list.
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