Travel is an exciting part of life that many people look forward to but it can cause a few hassles if you’re not aware of the tricks and tips passed down by seasoned travelers. There are several mistakes that almost everyone makes, which often leads you to pay more money than you have to or face other inconveniences that no amount of money can fix once it’s too late.

The good news is many of these classic mistakes are easily avoided. Keep reading to find out what everyone does wrong when booking a vacation and how to not be that person.

10 Booking At Expensive Times

Booking tickets and accommodation at more expensive times is one of the biggest mistakes that travelers make when booking their vacation. There are certain times where it will always be more expensive to travel, and if you can avoid them, you should.

Simply do your research to find out when the cheapest time to travel is. When it comes to flying, it is always more expensive to fly after 8 a.m. and on the weekends. Opting for early morning and weekday flights can save you a lot of money.

9 Forgetting To Renew Passports And Organize Visas

There is a lot to think about when booking a vacation. In the midst of trying to plan accommodation, transport, and tours, you might be too overwhelmed to remember to organize important travel documents such as passports and visas.

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Always remember to make sure your passport is up to date and apply for any visas you might need before traveling. Mistakes like this can ruin your entire trip so you don’t want to be caught out. Passports and visas can sometimes take longer than you think to arrive, so plan them well in advance.

8 Thinking They Don’t Have To Take Out Insurance

According to Traveller, this is one of the biggest mistakes that too many people make when booking vacations. No matter what kind of trip you’re going on, it’s always a good idea to take out insurance. This is the best way to prevent major costs if you go through some kind of mishap while you’re away.

Even minor problems can be expensive if you don’t have insurance. It’s worth forking out a little extra on a good policy and knowing you’re covered if you happen to get into an accident or you lose one of your bags.

7 Choosing Accommodation In Inconvenient Locations

A lot of people think only of price when it comes to booking accommodation. Because of this, they make the mistake of choosing the cheapest hotel that has reasonable amenities, even if it’s in a completely unknown and inconvenient part of town.

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As a rule of thumb, always consider the position of the accommodation before deciding to stay there. While it might be cheaper than staying somewhere central, you’ll probably end up spending a lot of money on transport when you could have walked if you’d stayed somewhere else.

6 Booking Every Single Thing Ahead Of Time

Some travelers like to be more spontaneous than others. Exactly how much you plan in advance comes down to the type of person you are but generally, it’s a mistake to book every single thing ahead of time. This takes away all your flexibility.

To get the best of both worlds, book in things like accommodation, flights, and other pillars that shape your overall trip. But leave the little things, like dining and activities, open to plan along the way. This way, you won’t be locked into an overly strict itinerary.

5 Not Reading Reviews Of Accommodation And Tours

With the rise of the internet, it’s now easier than ever to get an exact idea of where you’ll be staying and what you’ll be doing on your vacation before you get there. Not reading reviews from other impartial travelers of accommodation and tours is a mistake because you’re not making use of such a helpful resource.

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Simply scroll through the reviews before you book things and weigh up the average. Be sure to read the reviews, rather than just counting the stars. People might rate something poorly for reasons that you wouldn’t and vice versa.

4 Cramming Too Much Into The Itinerary

It’s tempting to stuff a million things into your vacation itinerary, especially if you’ve been waiting forever to visit a certain destination. But the more you travel, the more you’ll realize that cramming too much into your schedule ruins the quality of the trip. When you have to rush around everywhere and only get a short amount of time to enjoy landmarks and points of interest, it’s a lot less fun.

You’re better off choosing a few things that you really want to do and see and planning enough time to visit all of them so you’re not rushed.

3 Failing To Tell Your Bank That You’re Leaving The Country

It only takes a few minutes, but letting your bank know that you’re going abroad can make all the difference to your vacation. If you go overseas without letting them know and they detect your bank cards being used in a foreign country, there’s a good chance they’ll lock your account and cancel your cards. Very annoying when you’re on vacation and need to access your money!

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To avoid this, simply alert your bank that you’re leaving the country. Often, this can be done through an online form that will save you a lot of hassle down the road.

2 Not Realizing There Are Hidden Costs

One place where many travelers get caught paying more money than they need to is with hidden costs. This often happens with budget airlines, who advertise a cheap price but hide the fact that you need to pay extra to check in your luggage.

Always read the fine print and always research everything thoroughly before you part with your money. Sometimes the cheap option doesn’t end up being the cheap option after all, because of hidden costs, so you want to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting for your money.

1 Booking At The Last Minute

Life can’t always be planned. Every now and then, you’ll have to book a trip at the last minute. But in general, booking too late leaves you open to very steep costs. The same goes for booking too early, as airlines often start with the most conservative prices.

When you can avoid it, it’s best to book at a time that’s not too early and not too late. You can now download apps that will track flights and tell you when the best time to book your tickets is.

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