Whether you're a traveling novice or a total seasoned pro, we all make mistakes on the road. Chalk them up to learning experiences, yes, but that's not very consoling in the moment, when you're lost in an unfamiliar city without cash or WiFi. And for me, it doesn't matter how many trips I take, I learn something new every single time. So to save you a potential headache on your next great adventure, I'm sharing a list of all the times I screamed "Rookie mistake!" while traveling abroad.
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I thought I hit the jackpot when I booked a ticket from Barcelona to Lisbon for only $39, until I arrived at the airport to find out my carry-on suitcase was far larger than European regulation size. Budget airlines are unforgiving with ancillary fees, and suddenly my cheap ticket cost me well above the $100 mark. Be sure to double check the luggage guidelines beforehand, because if you need to check your bag, it's usually much cheaper to prepay online before you arrive at the airport.
You might think "I'll be able to meet that deadline because my hotel has WiFi," but any seasoned traveler can relate to WiFi issues. Let's say you check into a hostel on a Friday night that had the perk listed, only to find out that the internet is down, and a technician won't be coming until Monday. Or maybe the WiFi is up and running, but it's satellite-based and you can barely get an email to send. My advice? Always prepare yourself for poor connection, and have everything in place to be off the grid for a few days.
This is the only mistake on this list that I didn't personally commit, but it did happen to my mom in Rome. Her husband paid for train tickets in cash, then returned the envelope to his backpack. A seasoned pickpocket spotted the envelope and swiped nearly $500 in Euro without either person noticing. Keep your money in an exceptionally secure place to avoid this happening to you. There are even clever travel accessories that can help.
You might think you need five different pairs of shoes, but trust me, you do not! You will most likely return home from your trip only to realize you didn't need half of the things you brought with you. Save yourself the hassle, and don't lug around all that extra baggage. Try to pack as light as possible.
Sure, you've anticipated restaurants and local markets not accepting credit cards, but remember in certain countries, even hotels will be cash only. To avoid getting stuck with a hefty hotel bill at a resort in the middle of the Thai jungle with no ATMs in sight (oh yeah, it happened!), be sure to find out beforehand how much local currency you need.
Even if you're traveling during an off-peak time, good tours sell out fast, and tickets to the most popular attractions might have wait lists. Go ahead and research which tours are on your must-do list, and book them months in advance.
I get it — you're in a new place and you want to see and do all the things (I've absolutely been there), but be careful not to wear yourself out. Allot a few days of your trip to go into chill mode, and prioritize what activities are the most important.
Technology, as wonderful as it is, is not always reliable. Cell phones die, connections get dropped, and emails get lost. In these situations, nothing can beat good, old-fashioned paper copies of all your itineraries. Print them as a backup and keep them on your body if you can.
I had already left the country a handful of times before I found out that my cell carrier actually offers a complimentary international plan; it just needed to be activated. Every time I struggled to connect to a WiFi source to navigate or check in with loved ones was totally preventable, and I had no idea. Check to see what kind of international plan your carrier provides — it could be totally free or come with a meager fee. Most importantly, you want to avoid being welcomed home with a four-digit cell phone bill.
