10 International Travel Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
- kendillard
- 4 hours ago
- 7 min read
Traveling internationally is a big milestone. As exciting as it can be, it is also a harsh learning experience for beginner travelers. Small missteps like booking a hotel on the other side of town, misunderstanding visa rules, packing too much, and others can mess up your international trip.
But, lucky for you, we are here to guide you through common mistakes newbie travelers make on their first trip abroad. Since we have been there ourselves, we will share tips from our trips to help you plan a stress-free journey and focus on making lasting memories.
Overpacking or bringing the wrong stuff
When traveling abroad it is normal to fear the unknown and, in the process, end up packing way too much stuff. We’ve been there before, overestimating what we need and underestimating how easily we can access laundry services and places where we could buy other essentials.
As an international traveler, you can easily turn your trip into a burdensome slog without a proper packing checklist. Strike out as many items from it as you can and only leave essentials like versatile outfits, your travel documents, and other must-have essentials.
Traveling light lets you get through airports and train stations faster. Should you need to travel to multiple locations in each country, packing only the essentials gives you more flexibility and saves you money in checked-bag fees.
Booking accommodation in the wrong area
Booking accommodation in the wrong part of town can derail your plans the most. To start with, you find yourself staying far away from the sites you want to see and will have to spend more just to travel locally in another country.
The costs involved in making up for this inconvenience, as well as the time you’ll lose just commuting, will make the experience a very forgettable one. Savvy travelers avoid this by researching all available accommodations and their distances from the areas they want to visit. Doing this comparison helps you budget better and find a place to stay that fits your itinerary.
We use Hotels.com to search around specific areas of a city or near the train station for easy access. We also earn One Key Cash to accumulate free rooms on later trips. If you do book via this Hotels.com link we get a small commission - and no additional cost to you.
Not checking the passport and visa rules early enough
Your first international trip can turn into an immigration nightmare simply because you failed to double-check your travel documents. Some destinations around the world require your passport to be valid for a certain amount of time (e.g., three or six months) before you can enter the country. Others have varied requirements, like a specific number of blank pages and so on.
Combine this with uninformed assumptions about visa validity and other missteps like missed flights due to late arrival, and the possibility of your trip being ruined because of a rookie mistake increases. The good news is you can avoid these problems and have the best trip ever by reading through the passport and visa rules and understanding them ahead of your planned travel.
If you have a destination in mind, reach out! We can provide you with up-to-date information through our travel partners at no cost.
Forgetting about phone connectivity needs
In today’s world, staying connected is expected of everyone. It is also easier than ever and makes navigating your car or walking to that restaurant so much easier. That is even more crucial for a person visiting a new country for the first time. Yes, you will find free Wi-Fi in most hotels, but even with that, you might want a phone that works everywhere you go..
For many US based carriers, you can add a world traveler plan to your existing phone for around $10 per day. There are also local sim cards or e-sims you can purchase in your destination country. For someone who’s going on such an adventure for the first time, it is important to research phone plans in the destination country and their compatibility with your service provider. Finding one that is compatible allows you to just fund your account and buy your roaming plan with ease. This way, you can keep your family and loved ones updated about your trip while on the go.
We have found a personal wi-fi device via GLocalme. We purchased a base unit and wherever we go in the world, purchase a data plan. We have no affiliation with the company and have used their product in Switzerland, Ecuador, Argentina, and more to carry our own wifi with us anywhere.
Ignoring local money and credit card fees
Most people are used to pulling out a credit card for the ease of purchase. But when you travel internationally, you’re suddenly exposed to new currencies, unfamiliar payment systems, and — if you’re not careful — surprise fees that quietly add up.
In addition to different exchange rates, travelers often face foreign transaction fees on credit cards, ATM withdrawal fees, and unfavorable rates at airport currency exchange counters. Some credit cards advertise great rewards but quietly tack on foreign transaction fees. Others may offer no foreign transaction fees but still give you the option to be charged in U.S. dollars instead of the local currency — a process called dynamic currency conversion — which often comes with a poor exchange rate. As a general rule, when paying with a credit card abroad, choose to be charged in the local currency, not U.S. dollars, to avoid hidden markups.
ATM withdrawals are usually one of the most cost-effective ways to obtain local cash, especially if you use a bank card that reimburses international ATM fees. However, watch for fees from your bank or the ATM operator.
Currency exchanges can be found in most cities and airports around the world, but comparing rates and understanding the fee structure will save you money over the course of a trip.
Fitting into the local system — while minimizing unnecessary banking fees — is one of the small habits that separates a smooth international traveler from a frustrated one.
Underestimating jet lag and travel fatigue
It’s easy to think you will get to your destination and right away start exploring. That is the idea before you board the plane. However, the reality is different. International travel is long and takes a toll on you. Factor in the time zone change and climate change, and for most people, the day they get to their destinations, the body demands rest and recovery.
Planning your itinerary such that there is a break in between the start of your exploration and travel helps you stay healthier and have the energy to get around and explore.
Of course figure out what works best for you. Lately we have been using the day of arrival as a free day to explore without set times. We also started putting in an hour or more at the airport on arrival to refresh, grab a coffee and snack. We use that time to review how the trains work, ensure our Wi-Fi is working, and double check train and hotel reservations - this lowers the stress of landing and running off into a new city.
Skipping travel insurance
As an aspiring world sojourner, the best way you can prepare for emergencies and unknowns is by buying travel insurance. It is easy to assume that since you have health insurance, it will cover everything. The reality is that it is not always the case. Then there is flight cancellation or other factors out of your control.
With travel insurance, you are guaranteed that should there be a need for emergency evacuation, an inconveniencing trip cancellation, or loss, there will be some help or compensation available to restore your peace of mind.
We do not regularly buy travel insurance - will just deal with whatever comes. We have however used Global Rescue for trip and evacuation insurance for certain locations. Check out Global Rescue and if you decide to purchase via our dedicated link, we receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Not making digital copies of your documents
Alongside the hard copies of your travel documents, it is a safe bet to always have the documents scanned and stored digitally. Newbie travelers who fail to do this expose themselves to varied inconveniences like deportations and a lack of a way to recover the physical documents if they are lost or damaged.
As part of your travel checklist, set some time to scan all the documents you’ll need and make them accessible on your device when you travel.
Trying to do too much
This may be a case of "do what we say, not what we do" since we are well known for packing every day full of activities. However, even if you are traveling to the smallest country in the world, there’s only so much you can do in the time you’ll be there. Even seasoned travelers fall trap to thinking they can fit an entire country into a short trip.
Often, they will pack their schedule full with activities to do and places to visit with no rest or recovery time in between. As a result, newbies easily get burnt out during their journeys because of wanting to do everything. The best advice is to narrow down on places you will visit and fully immerse yourself in the experiences. You can also pick one or two must do places or activities and then ask locals for other advice.
Enjoy your key experiences, do not always feel like it is a race.
Not researching transportation early
As we wrap up, let’s talk about another mistake international travelers make that can be avoided. Not researching transportation early. Whether that is taxis, ride-sharing apps in the destination city, or public transport, knowing how they work can help make your trip more enjoyable.
I suggest starting by looking at the ride-sharing apps available in the country you are visiting. These services help you know which familiar service you can use to get around. Even more importantly, you can estimate what it will cost you to get from one point to another during the trip. A good practice is to also confirm your flight time to avoid missing a flight and any further inconveniences thereafter.
Our favorite go-to website and app is Rome2Rio. We love their detailed options showing times and stops so we can track ourselves along a route in an unfamiliar country.
Travel lighter, travel smarter
Traveling is by far one of the most fulfilling life experiences. And traveling abroad is a different ball game. You need to prepare for the journey while learning about the destination, people’s culture, and avoiding the ten first-timer mistakes I’ve highlighted above.
By being aware of the inconvenience caused by these mistakes, you can proactively avoid them to plan your trip better and make it a lifetime memory.
What did we miss? Drop us a comment with your favorite international travel tip.
If you want to see how your documents can be lost, read more about Global Rescue, and other favorite tools we use, check out these other posts.
Travel With Peace of Mind - Global Rescue
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