We have made many travel mistakes over the years (and thus help our clients avoid them). The one that my boys to this day do not let me live down is booking the wrong date for one of the hotels for the drive to embark on a cruise. It is ironic as I am always double and triple checking dates and itineraries for client vacations. But for my own trip I rushed the reservation and when we got to the hotel at midnight there was no reservation and no room at the inn! Luckily we did not have to sleep in the car but found another hotel close by our scheduled stop.
Below are some mistakes you want to make sure you avoid on your next vacation:
Handing your most indispensable possessions to a stranger. You never know when you might be forced to gate-check your hand luggage. Place your jewelry, iPad, camera, house and car keys, medication, and anything else you can’t live without in a thin pack or pouch inside your carry-on so that, if you must surrender your carry-on to a flight attendant at the last minute because the overhead bins are full, you can remove the smaller bag and keep an eye on it beneath the seat in front of you.
Getting ripped off by your credit card. Not long ago the only way to escape a three percent foreign-transaction fee was a Capital One card, but Chase now has many travel-rewards credit cards that waive the surcharge on overseas transactions; many offer great additional travel perks (such as double points for dining or free checked baggage). The American Express Platinum Card, too, now waives foreign-transaction charges.
Being scared away from a fascinating destination. Don’t rule out a trip based solely on a U.S. State Department Travel Alert or Travel Warning. They are often influenced by politics and are written not just for travelers but for diplomatic officers and dual nationals who end up in places and situations that everyday tourists do not. Many security experts say that State Department Travel Warnings should be taken with a grain of salt. Sometimes a place really is too risky to visit, which is why in addition to checking the State Department’s advice (travel.state.gov), you can get a second opinion from the United Kingdom (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice), Canada (travel.gc.ca), and Australia (smartraveller.gov.au).
Paying airline ticket-change fees. Don’t forget that there are ways around the painfully punitive $200 change fees levied by American, Delta, and United. JetBlue and Virgin America charge only $100, and Southwest charges no change fees at all. American now offers a Choice Essential Fare option: For an extra $68, you avoid any change fee and you also get one checked bag and Group 1 Boarding.
Failing to visit the one place on your cruise itinerary that was your top priority. Many people choose a cruise for that one port of call they’ve always dreamed of seeing. Then, thanks to bad weather, rough seas, a labor strike, a safety threat, or some other unforeseen reason, the cruise line cancels the port call—with no possibility of a rain check. If your life’s dream is to see the Colosseum or the Acropolis, book a cruise that starts or ends in Rome or Athens, rather than stopping there mid-cruise.
Getting stuck paying for rental-car damages you didn’t cause. It’s just not enough to have a credit card that provides collision-damage coverage and to check your car at pickup for scratches or dents. Be sure to photograph any preexisting damage (outside and inside the car), with a time/date stamp, and get a written record of the state of the car at pickup. Only return the car when the office is open, and request a written record that you returned a damage-free car.
Assuming your passport is valid until it expires. You checked the expiration date on your passport to make sure it precedes the date of your flight home, but you forgot that certain countries require that passports be valid for six months past the date of your flight home, and 26 European nations require that passports be valid for three months past.
Making sure everyone knows you’re a tourist. Nothing marks you as an American more than your brand-new white sneakers. Comfy footwear is a must, but the goal is to blend in, so pack beloved broken-in shoes and buy new ones upon your return (to break in for the next trip). Similarly, pack old clothes that you’re ready to throw out; leave them behind at your destination to make room in your bag for clothing you buy locally—which helps you blend in and makes for good souvenirs.
Happy Cruising!
Excerpts from Conde Nast Traveler
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