Top mistakes you want to avoid when traveling

Traveling can be a wonderful way to relax and escape our daily routine. It allows us to discover new destinations, indulge in unfamiliar cuisines, and immerse ourselves in different cultures. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or venturing out for the first time, it’s important to steer clear of some top mistakes when planning your trip. In this post, I will write about some of the mistakes from my personal experience and from stories that I heard from my family and friends.

Forgot to check the passport expiration

It is important to check the expiration date of your passport before planning a trip. Although it may seem obvious, one of my friends once booked a quick vacation only to discover that their passport had already expired. Luckily, they were able to arrange for an express passport renewal.

Forgot to check that you have a valid visa

A visa is just as important as your passport. It is important to check the expiration date of your existing visas before traveling. If you are visiting a new country, research the visa requirements beforehand. Gathering for visa application requirements and processing the visa may take some time.

Not packing essentials in cabin luggage

I used to travel with only a small backpack and avoid bringing any cabin luggage whenever possible. However, I learned the hard way that it’s useful to carry at least one set of clothes and some essentials with me. During a trip, my luggage was delayed and I was left with insufficient clothes to wear. Since then, I’ve started packing essentials in my cabin luggage, especially for long-haul flights.

Forgot to inform the bank

When you are planning to travel overseas, it is crucial to activate the overseas ATM withdrawal function on your bank account. I always bring some cash with me when I travel, but enabling this function allows you to withdraw money from ATMs in foreign countries without any issues. Additionally, it is advisable to inform your bank about your travel plans beforehand. This will help them keep track of your transactions and prevent fraudulent activities on your account. By doing so, you can ensure that your financial transactions during the trip are smooth and hassle-free.

Booked tight connecting flights

Always allow sufficient time between connecting flights. This is a lesson I learned from my personal experience when I booked a flight from Hong Kong to Albury, Australia. As a first-time traveler on connecting flights, I chose a flight with only 1.5 hours of transit in Sydney, thinking it was perfect because I wouldn’t have to wait long at the airport.

However, on the day of my flight, there was a typhoon approaching Hong Kong, and Typhoon Signal number 8 was hoisted. Although my flight was not canceled, it got delayed for a while. Long story short, I managed to make it to my connecting flight, but it was very rushed because I had to go through immigration, and customs, and claim my baggage. I then had to take a bus to go to the domestic terminal.

I thought everything worked out fine. Unfortunately, while I was waiting for my luggage in Albury, I was approached by airline staff who informed me that my luggage didn’t make it to the flight and was left behind in Sydney.

Therefore, please do not make the same mistake as I did. Always allow enough time for your connecting flights, especially when there are potential weather or other unforeseeable issues that may cause delays.

Forgot to bring travel adapters

Before your flight, check the plug and socket type of the country. Sometimes, I packed everything and brought all the chargers of my devices, only to find out I left my travel adapters. There are a lot of universal travel adapters now, pack them in your luggage as soon as you start packing, that way you won’t forget it and you will always be fully charged throughout your trip.

Overpacking

Packing unnecessary items will only make your luggage bulky and unorganized. Bring enough clothes for your trip and enough to keep you warm if you are going to a cold place. Overpacking leaves little space for your shopping, it makes things difficult to find, and carrying heavy luggage is the last thing you want when traveling.

Forgot to check the weather

It’s a good idea to check the weather before you go on a trip, as it will give you an idea of what to pack. Weather can be unpredictable, so it’s also a good idea to check for any changes in the weather a few days before your trip. This will help you know what to expect and allow you to repack accordingly if necessary.

Forgot to consider the time difference

When booking flights to places with a time difference, it’s important to be extra careful. I once got excited about a great deal I found and booked it right away. However, I later realized that I had booked the wrong date because I hadn’t taken the time difference into account. This mistake ended up being very costly, as I had to call customer service and pay a penalty to rebook my flight.

Forgot to bring the credit card used for booking tickets

Some booking platforms require you to bring the credit card you used to book your tickets. Although I had read about this requirement in the booking terms, I forgot to bring my card. Luckily, after an hour of explaining the situation to the staff, we were able to get our tickets. To avoid this situation, it’s a good idea to add a reminder to your checklist or Google Calendar to ensure you bring the right credit card with you.

Not planning in advance

It’s important to be aware of irregular opening hours for shops, museums, malls, and markets when planning your trip. Checking ahead can save you time and hassle. For instance, Paddy’s Market in Australia is open from Wednesday to Sunday.

If you’re taking a day trip that requires train tickets, book them in advance to avoid any issues. When I went on a trip with friends to Hualien from Taipei, we neglected to book our return train trip because we weren’t sure when we would finish. This resulted in us having to stand the whole way back.

Accidentally turn on data roaming and incur charges

If you’re planning to travel abroad, you may want to consider looking into affordable data plans to avoid excessive charges for data roaming. Data roaming is the use of your mobile data connection while you’re outside your service provider’s coverage area. This service can be extremely expensive, and it’s important to be aware of the charges you may incur before you travel. Inadvertently turning on data roaming while you’re abroad could result in a surprise bill, which you definitely want to avoid. Therefore, it’s always better to check with your service provider and inquire about the available data plans before you depart, so that you can stay connected without worrying about unexpected expenses.

I use Airalo eSim to avoid roaming charges. It offers data plans for over 200 countries/regions.

Try Airalo Now

Forgot to purchase travel insurance

It is not uncommon for people to skip purchasing travel insurance before embarking on a trip. However, it is important to note that having travel insurance can provide a great deal of peace of mind. For instance, I have heard stories of individuals who chose not to get insurance and were injured while riding a roller coaster. Such incidents can result in costly medical bills, not to mention the stress and anxiety that comes with navigating unexpected situations in unfamiliar places.

To avoid such unnecessary risks, it is wise to consider purchasing travel insurance before embarking on any trip. From my personal experience, travel insurance helped me purchase essentials when my luggage got delayed.

Conclusion

With the travel tips above, I hope it will help save you time and money during your trip planning process. By following these tips, you can avoid some of the most common mistakes made by travelers. Whether booking your flights, train trips and accommodations in advance, packing efficiently, or researching your destination thoroughly, taking these steps can result in a smoother and more enjoyable travel experience. With these tips and a bit of preparation, you can make the most of your travels and create wonderful memories.

If you are planning a trip to Asia, check out my other blog posts here: