How to Avoid Six Common Travel Mistakes

Overpacking can slow you down and limit mobility. Photo by Keith Williamson on flickr.

Sometimes even experienced travelers make simple mistakes that can get a trip off to a very bad start, or even ruin it altogether.

The folks at by Grand European Travel — which specializes in guided vacations and river cruises in Europe and around the world — have developed a helpful infographic that identifies six common travel mistakes that it would be wise to review before setting  off on your next foreign trip.

I’m not immune to making some of these mistakes (sometimes it’s easier to dish out advice than follow it).

My rookie mistakes have included not properly insuring my trip, not packing light, and not notifying my banking institutions that they can soon expect to see charges appearing from places like St. Lucia, Hungary, or the Falkland Islands.

I’m pretty anal about keeping my passport up to date, though I have travel writer friends who’ve gotten to the airport only to be sent away because they have less than six months before their passport expires.

Trying the local cuisine and interacting with the locals are givens for me on any trip, though I know there are many travelers — especially first-timers — who are fearful of such things.

Don’t be — they’re often the most memorable parts of any foreign trip.

Here, then, is Grand European Travel’s handy guide to avoiding six common travel mistakes:

Presented by Grand European Travel