No matter whether you are planning on visiting Mexico or Moldova, there is a lot to consider when it comes to organizing the perfect holiday. Most people spend a full year saving for their vacation and selecting their preferred destination. It is an incredibly exciting time for anyone, getting the opportunity to explore a different part of the world and relax for a week or two without any worries. However, the last thing you want is for your dream trip to turn into a nightmare because you have forgotten something or handled part of the booking process incorrectly. With that being said, read on to discover some of the most common mistakes you need to avoid when planning a holiday.

Booking too many things to do

While it is a good idea to book a few activities in advance because this will enable you to save money ad ensure you do not miss out on the things you really want to do, you need to be mindful of booking too much. This is something a lot of people regret. They plan out every day of their holiday before they arrive and they leave no room for flexibility. You need to allow for the fact that when you arrive at your destination, there are likely to be things you want to do that you had not planned for. You also need to leave some time for relaxation too. After all, that is what holidays are supposed to be about!

Exchanging money at the airport

If you want to ensure you have as much money as possible for your vacation, the worst thing you can do is exchange your dollars at the airport. If you do this, you are going to pay way over the odds. The rates provided at the airport are always worse than anywhere else because they know that you have got no option to use their service. After all, it is not like you can leave the departure lounge and start shopping around for a better deal. This is why it is wise to change your currency beforehand. You can even set up an alert system at most websites today, which means you will receive an email whenever the exchange rate reaches your desired level so that you can secure the best deal and get the most for your money.

Underestimating the cost

While we are on the subject of money, another mistake that a lot of people make is underestimating the costs that are associated with their holiday. You need to remember that you are not only going to have to spend money on the hotel, flights, and whatever spending money you need. You are also going to need to organize transport to and from the airport and the hotel, for example. Moreover, some countries charge you a fee for entering and exiting, so this is another factor to take into account. It is also a good idea to do a bit of researching about tipping before you go as well to find out whether it is customary to tip and, if so, how much by.

Not having the correct visa and supporting documents

Depending on where in the world you are visiting; it is likely that you are going to need a visa. Not only will you need to secure a visa, but often you will need to bring supporting documents with you, just in case border control decide to do some checks. This includes hotel bookings for visa approval, and other documents that will prove your intentions when visiting the country in question. Your holiday can quickly turn into a nightmare if you do not have everything you need, so make sure you check this out beforehand.

Not taking out travel insurance or choosing the wrong plan

Not taking out travel insurance is a big mistake that could ruin your holiday. What if you arrive at your destination to discover that your suitcase has been lost? Without any cover, you will be faced with replacing everything that was in the suitcase out of your own pocket. Not only this, but if you suffer a illness or injury while abroad, you probably won’t be able to access the public healthcare system and so you could find yourself facing a monumental medical bill, especially if you have needed to be airlifted to a different hospital. This highlights why paying for travel insurance is an absolute necessity. Not only this, but you need to make sure you take out the right policy. For example, if you are planning on going on a skiing vacation, you need to choose a policy that covers skiing. Most insurance plans will require cover for any type of sports like this to be purchased as an extra, so do keep this in mind. Furthermore, while most policies claim to be ‘worldwide’ plans, they do not actually cover all countries. Therefore, you need to check the list of countries covered before you hand over your cash.

Luggage Mistakes

Last but not least, it would not be right to talk about going on holiday without mentioning the various different mistakes people make concerning their luggage. Where to begin? Well, forgetting important items is one of the problems people make, for example, not packing adapter plugs or purchasing them at the airport. Is there anything worse than arriving at your hotel only to discover you can’t charge your phone or style your hair? Another mistake people make is packing too many things and going over the allotted weight allowance. All airlines have different case allowances, so you need to check this out beforehand. If your case is over the limit, one of two things will happen. You will either need to hand over a large sum of money to pay for extra weight allowance, or you will be asked to remove some items from your suitcase! Moreover, if you do decide to pay for an extra suitcase in advance, check to find out whether this means you get an extra weight allowance. A lot of airlines allow you to buy an extra suitcase, but all this means is you now have two bags to split your weight allowance between. In a lot of instances, you actually need to buy the extra kilos on top of this too.

So there you have it: some of the most common mistakes people make when they are booking and organizing a dream holiday. If you can avoid the errors that have been discussed above, you can ensure that your holiday goes as smoothly as possible and that nothing gets in the way of you enjoying an amazing experience. No matter where you are going, have a great time! What type of Common Travel Mistakes have you had happen before? Which are the most important to you to avoid? Let us know in the comments below!

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