Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first time going on a big adventure, we are all prone to making mistakes that can hamper an otherwise amazing trip. The good news is that these mistakes are easily avoidable with good planning and foresight. 

Here are three of the biggest mistakes people make when traveling, along with advice for how to avoid them. 

1. Overpacking

It’s understandable to want to be prepared for every possible scenario that might pop up on your trip, but you’ll feel so much lighter (literally and metaphorically) when you avoid the high baggage fees at the airport and don’t have to haul around excessively heavy luggage. Not to mention that you’re bound to do some shopping, so leave room for the goodies you’ll want to bring home with you.

Our advice: Pack basic tops and bottoms that you can mix and match to create different outfits, and remember that you can always do laundry on the road. 

2. Only visiting famous tourist areas 

It’s okay to visit popular tourist attractions, but don’t make this the center of your trip or you’ll miss out on some of the area’s true culture and must-sees. Many famous tourist areas are nothing more than money traps and time-sucks — do you really want to spend a whole day of your vacation waiting in a crowded line for a five-minute look at something that’s probably over-hyped anyway?

Our advice: Do as the locals do. A great way to experience an area as a local is by renting an actual home for your visit instead of staying in a hotel. You’ll be staying in a more residential area, and your host can share their favorite restaurants, attractions and events that are actually worthwhile. 

3. Not informing your bank and credit card company of your travel plans

To protect you from identity theft, banks will flag any transactions you make in unfamiliar locations and then freeze your cards. This is a great precaution on their part…unless you’re traveling and need your money. Nothing ruins a fun time like having your card declined due to your own silly negligence.

Our advice: Every bank is different, but there’s likely a place on their website where you can log in and notify them of your travel plans. Remember, in addition to your destination and the length of your trip, be sure to also enter any states you’ll be traveling through on the way there.

And there you have it! These tips are so simple, but they’ll save you a lot of time and hassle. 

What are your go-to travel tricks for a better vacation?

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