Avoid These Travel Mistakes

The last thing you want to experience is a common,avoidable travel mistake on a trip that started off great via a careful reviewof cheap traveldeals, including cheapairplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, discount travel packages, and cheap vacation packages.

The following are common travel mistakes that you need notsuffer, according to CNN:

• Overpacking. A recent survey found that two thirds oftravelers often return from a trip with at least six unworn outfits. Figure out how to wear almost everything youpack at least twice.

• Notbuying something valued when first seen. Travelers often miss out on deals thinking they can come back to thatshop later or find a cheaper, better version somewhere else. When you find something you like (and canafford) just purchase it.

• Notreviewing your phone plan prior to overseas travel. International roaming as well as texting canbe needlessly obscenely expensive if appropriate changes are not made to a planprior to departure.

• Reservinghotels near city center. Such claimsare open to vast interpretation. You do not want to waste travel time and spendlots of money traveling to your desired destinations.

• Takinga shuttle to travel to your destination. Shuttles often save a few bucks, but most peoples time is worth farmore than what is saved by a shuttle ride.

• Notadequately tightening travel size liquid caps carried in luggage.

• Believingyou know the perfect time to purchase a ticket. Various studies have come back with dramatically different results as towhen to purchase airfare. Tickets shouldbe purchased when they appear to be a good deal.

• Tryingto negotiate too hard to get a bargain. There is no advantage in alienating the locals.

• Notchanging money at the airport. You donot want to arrive in the city with no local currency and spend valuable timelooking for an acceptable place to change money. The convenience factor makes it worthchanging at least a nominal amount of cash at the airport.

• Underestimatingthe challenges of Heathrow airport. Itssize and time consuming queues harry many a traveler. Arriving less than two hours before scheduleddeparture for an international flight is risky, but sometimes even longerdelays are experienced before arriving at gates.

• Buyingcheap flip flops. The last thing youwant to deal with is a blown out toe strap.

• Avoidingstreet food. You are missing out if youavoid all the local food. Long linesusually mean that the food is fine.

• Buyingsouvenirs of any size the beginning of a three month trip unless you plan tomail them home.

• Beingtoo dependent on guidebooks. Ideallyjust follow one or two suggestions per day from a guide.

• Notpurchasing a full insurance policy. Ifyou end up needing the travel insurance you purchased, you will want the fullcoverage or you will find that many of your emergency expenses are not covered.

• Beingpreoccupied with taking pictures. Instead enjoy the spontaneity and visceral experience of travel.

• Notunderstanding visa and/or passport requirements prior to departure. Some countries require passports to be validfor three months after a travelers planned return date before entry isallowed.

• Tryingto take in Berlin in a single weekend. Berlin is larger than New York City with endless places to see, eat,drink, and shop.

• Gettingcash via a credit card. Credit cardcompanies charge a transaction fee of up to 15 percent for using a card to getcash. Other bank fees often also applyand exchange rates tend to be terrible.

• Notprinting out your reservation. Thisbecomes a huge problem if your electronic device does not work with the localnetwork when you arrive.