How often have you heard travel disaster stories that made you grateful that it wasn't you?
Does the thought of making a complete mess of your international travel scare you?
Like anything in life, avoiding things going wrong means, you must make sure you are planning carefully and know what to expect when it comes time to make your trip.
Whether for work or pleasure, having the best experience is paramount, and avoiding significant mistakes will help you get on your way with ease.
Read on to learn about some of the more common travel mistakes people make and how you can avoid them.
1. Not Checking Your Passport
It should be obvious that if you travel internationally, you should have an in-date passport.
Seasoned travellers will know how to check the rules regarding where they are going and how long their passport needs to be in date.
You also need to ensure that if you don't have a passport, you don't book anything until your application has been approved and you have your document in hand.
This will remove any stress about it not arriving in time for your departure date.
Always check you have enough time on your passport to cover your trip.
Some countries have no limits, and your passport simply needs to be in date upon your return flight; others require you to have three or six months left on your passport after your return flight.
Check your passport, then check the country's requirements.
2. Booking Connections Too Close Together
When booking connecting flights or transport, the last thing you want to do is book them too close together.
Even a 20-minute delay can ruin all of your plans.
Allow yourself plenty of time to get easily from one mode of transport to another, especially if you need to go through passport control or baggage, as this can take time, especially at busier times of the year.
If you do not make your connecting flight, your luggage will still be loaded, but you might not be.
So avoid booking close connection times and look for the next reasonable option to prevent you from becoming stranded and missing the connection.
3. Not Informing Your Bank
You should always inform your bank if you will use your card outside the country.
Many banks have anti-fraud measures that will be triggered if you use your card in a destination they don't expect you to be in or even a different state if you are travelling domestically.
While this is a good thing, it can be frustrating if you need to use your card abroad and you can't.
Whether you plan on going on a big shopping trip or you are paying for luggage storage san diego, your bank needs to know.
4. Know Your Time Zones
This can be something that catches many people out, even travelling domestically, as the US has six time zones.
Time zones can impact any reservations you make and can make things tricky if you have not planned properly.
Travelling to Europe, for example, from the US might land you in one of seven time zones, which can be wildly different from the time zone you set off from.
Know your arrival dates and times and check if this time corresponds with local or US time to help you plan your activities or check-in times for that day.
5. Incorrect Visas
You are expected to know what visa you need for the country you are visiting and that it covers what you need to be doing.
Countries like Brazil, Australia, China, and India all require Americans to have a visa, which must be obtained before departure from the US.
You should do this well in advance as some visas can take around a month or longer to arrive, and if you don't have the correct visa, you won't be allowed entry upon arrival.
6. Sticking To The Tourist Trails
Some destinations are designed in a way that is appealing to tourists, and as such, this is the only part of the destination they visit. Both in the US or further afield.
Only seeing the tourist-centric parts of your destination means that not only will you possibly be paying inflated prices, but you will be paying out on everything else the area has to offer.
Do your research, find out what else there is to see and do and where the locals tend to eat, and indulge in the culture and activity of where you visit for a more authentic experience.
7. Overbooking Yourself
If you are focused on racing from one activity to the next, or you have your days fully booked up with plans, then you will only put extra pressure on yourself to do everything on your list instead of enjoying everything there is on offer.
Book to do what you want and allow for downtime and longer periods to make your way from one place to another.
If you are only focused on getting from X to Y to Z, then you will have missed everything else going on.
Relax the schedule, enjoy the trip, and allow for unplanned adventures.
8. Not Having Travel Insurance
Not every country's healthcare system works like the UK or the US, nor do their laws translate to other countries allowing you the same entitlement as you would at home.
Not buying travel insurance means you must foot the bill should you require any emergency medical treatment or if things were to go wrong, such as the trip being canceled altogether, missing flights or connection, lost luggage, etc.
These issues can severely impact your vacation and put a massive dent in your bank account.
Don't be that person who books a trip without travel insurance.
For the few extra bucks it costs, take the hit and make sure you have a policy in place that covers the duration of your trip and everything you need it to.
Making mistakes when it comes to travel can really ruin the experience.
Make sure to do your due diligence before you set off or even book anything, and you have everything you need in place and confirmed to ensure all details and arrangements are correct and as you need them to be.
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