What is the biggest travel mistake you've ever made? Tips for others? This is the online bank account I use to save $$ on ATM and forex fees: bit.ly/transferwisebank
Not budgeting properly for any unexpected expenses. For example, in 2016 my then husband and i went to Puerto Rico for vacation. We took $1k cash and debit card because we have poor credit so for rental car the car rental agency accept debit but when upon arrival to get the rental for some reason they didn't accept at all my debit card. So we ended up paying in cash twice as much the cost of rental. That expense blew off half of my budget.
Don't feel no way my love will do that as well even while I do maternity of living I've done stupid mistakes myself ..the point is you're learning from it..
Overpacking. Also packing normal sized toiletries instead of travel sized. Downsize, downsize. Limit your shoes. Also using crappy luggage with broken wheels. I remember the days when suitcases didn't have wheels! Get good luggage!
@@capncmbk you are speaking my language I'm like that too I am minimalist alternatively .. which allows me to be debt-free you on the right track keep it small keep it simple exactly my point.
I love traveling by myself. I don't have to worry if the other person wants or doesn't want to do something. I can go where I want, make changes on the fly, stay in hostels, just live in the moment.
Staying too far away from the city centre. Whatever you save on accommodations will probably be eaten up in terms of transportation costs, time, and inconvenience. We’ve always been happier when we stay within easy walking distance of the main attractions in an arty neighbourhood with lots of shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Great tip, Kaeleen! There's definitely an art and a science to choosing the right accommodation that's far enough to save money but close enough to amenities and conveniences.
I'm traveling on a motorcycle and my mistake is being too enthusiastic of how many miles to cover for a day. Always want to cover as much as possible, but last 2 hours becomes work not pleasure. Yes, travel alone is priceless :)
After traveling the world since 1970 here are a couple of tips. The nearest airport to your destination is not always the cheapest. For example if you want to fly from Sofia to Tbilisi Georgia you will pay 5 times the price then if you fly from Budapest on Wizz air to the secondary city kutaisi Georgia. Also when checking into a busy airport with a long line of cars in front of you go to the arrival terminal and then walk upstairs. Thirdly never pay any fees to pull out money at any ATM, in any currency, in any country by getting an account with Charles Schwab bank. They will 100% refund you any charges, I know I've done it over and over in many countries. I usually only take carry on but this Winter I will be skiing in Northeastern Europe where I will then drop off my Winter clothing as I fly to South Africa and then return to the North and pick up my Winter clothing. Many hotels will keep your luggage for you.
Terrific points. We went to Egypt in May (off season). Only 4 Other people in the Pyramids! We were completely alone in the Tombs! We always book through the airlines directly and not a consolidator. Internationally, if something happens with flights, they often fix it before we even know, or we have priority. Otherwise, they’ll tell you to deal with your travel agent. Also, don’t stand at the airport in, say, Marrakesh, and complain that “I’m an American! You can do this to me!” (Yes, true story). Respect the local behavior. Be humble. Know at least a few key words…please, thank you, etc. Use them first and often.
The perks of off-season! Glad you enjoyed your trip to Egypt. Great points too on booking with the airlines and being humble, respecting the local culture. I agree on knowing key words in local dialect too. Thanks for sharing and watching RV! 😊
Damn amazing as per usual - the frequent flyer miles programs I´d never looked into for. Never even thought of it - thanks a mil. Working on trying to get myself into a new profession whilst living in Spain at the moment. My documentation was painful enough to get here (the TIE), lucky enough I made a gf from Colombia who became a resident here so... Even so... Afterwards, yep, will check that out. Cheers again.
Biggest travel mistake? From a long list, #1 biggest has to be NOT SPENDING ENOUGHT TIME IN THE PLACES WE VISIT. Invariably, my second time visiting a country or region we will plant ourselves in one location and really get to know it. One month is about the minimum to begin to really know a place. You'll feel the subtle change when you have been there long enough - maybe the bartender or barrista who waits on you recognizes you and knows what you drink. Maybe a neighbor who was aloof the first couple of weeks will strike up a conversation, or even ask you over for a glass of wine in the evening. Then you start to learn about a place, the people, and yourself.
Points and Miles are great for upgrades and lounge access, but you can also accumulate enough of these alt currencies to fund business class travel and stays in premium hotel rooms. Another advanced technique to avoid ATM fees and foreign transaction fees is to open a Schwab brokerage account, which gives you access to a Schwab checking account, where such fees are reimbursed. One mistake to avoid is not planning for your mobile service while traveling. Make sure your current plan will give you data, tel and text in your destination, or plan to get a local SIM card upon arrival.
@@monkeytime9851 , of course you can. But what about the boots or helmets, gloves, masks, goggles? If you ski 3-5 times a year it doesn't make sense to invest in new skis and just simply rent at the resort. However when someone skis for a week or two then it's a different story
My biggest mistake (regret) sadly was during one of my top bucket list travels. I booked only half a day for a safari tour at Kruger N.P. South Africa. It was beautiful, but the animals didn't get the memo I was going to be there for only one day in the morning lol. They slept in.. Advice: give yourself enough time. Also, I used to never do guided tours, but have learned in recent years that booking a good guide could be key in maxing out your experience. Another suggestion is researching if you're traveling to a country during a holiday or special time. It can go either way: amazing or really mess up your travel plans. Awesome video and topic Kristin. Very helpful
Surprised no one (so far) mentioned adaptors for electronic equipment! Almost a 100-percent necessity when traveling abroad. Might be worth a video just on this topic (assuming one doesn’t exist already). Even w/universal adaptors, I still have six types from my worldwide travels including the huge UK adaptor for my electronics. Also, while many electronics (e.g., laptops, cell phone and tablet) have a built in converter, some electronics (e.g., shavers and hand-held game consoles) do not. It’s always best to check before packing. Just my $0.02 when traveling w/little ones. 😀
Don't wait too long to "hit the road". I'm 80 in 2 weeks and will be going away to Mexico soon and then Portugal. Stay loose/keep the good vibes flowing. Bring joy with you everywhere. Good/great work Kristin. Get going while you're young. Mucho Amo. Michael.
Glad we are fellow solo travelers! Good point on the taxi mafia. If you don’t know any drivers in the destination then I recommend checking out the local ridesharing apps which are usually the cheapest compared to Uber as well. There is usually one in every country
Kristin, SOLO-TRAVEL .....Throughout My Life....Since Age 16 (Even With Private Boarding School Education, Which Is Very Structured) & Post Graduate Education & An Academic Career....All Life Commitments That Might Limit One’s Lifestyle.....SOLO-TRAVEL Has Been One Of The Greatest Experiences Of My Life. As Much As I Love & Enjoy Family & Friends, I Absolutely LOVE Being Alone & Doing My Own Thing While Travelling. My One Mistake Is Always Overpacking!🤦🏼♀️ Great Video. TY🌹
Glad to know you loved solo-traveling Aimee! It really is an amazing experience to solo-travel. I have a video interview about being a Minimalist Digital Nomad ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nBlYXCc8fEA.html, you might want to check that out too :D Thanks for watching!
You didn't get a private tour in Norway just because of timing. A solo attractive woman is going to get royal treatment when traveling. Men get to hold the luggage and get suspicion and distrust everywhere we go.
I think he gave me the tour because he was a private collector who was highly interested in WW2 and sharing about it. Other people trickled in and joined us. You should check out the video!
I'm a pretty experienced traveler and try no to overpack. On the other hand, I'm traveling overseas this year and I am bound to make a few mistakes because of the cray things going on.
Wear special travel pants and vest with lots of hidden pockets, zippers, and buttons. Prevents stuff from falling out when seated and virtually makes pickpocketing impossible.
Dress like your grandmother. Sadly, most men didn't get the memo that just because she wearing short shorts or spaghetti straps camis is not an invitation to sexually harass you!
OMG I just spent a month in Berlin, and I got KILLED on ATM banking and fees related to withdrawing money. Uggh ! Now I know better. I will use your link to sign up for Wise.
I agree with you about joining airline and hotel chain memberships, but I'd like to add that it's important to realize that these memberships are designed to benefit the company and not the consumer. Sure, if you're going to book that flight or hotel anyway, take the points they give you and put them to good use, but don't fall into the trap of always booking with a particular company just to get the fleeting thrill that comes with a free upgrade from a well-chosen seat in economy to the absolutely worst seat in premium economy, or the exclusivity of lounge access. You may end up spending hundreds of extra dollars for something that is worth a lot less. Anyway, based on my experience with recent travel, the last place you want to be in an airport these days is in a crowded, stuffy lounge with a bunch of travellers flying in from all over the place and hovering with their masks off over the free buffet. Unless you really travel a lot, or your oh-so-generous employer is paying for it (and few employers nowadays fit into that category), it's often better to explore your options and take the savings upfront than to count on benefitting from points later.
My biggest travel mistake is lugging around my suitcase and having to pay $75 every time I check a bag. Also, buying a flight from a third party vendor. Buy directly from the airline to avoid check in fees!
Hey Kristin. Great video. My two biggest mistakes were missing a flight and travelling with another couple who almost made me miss another flight. I have a general rule of thumb, I aim to get to the airport 3-4 hours early, this gives me a buffer zone, should there be a traffic problem on the way there. Also It takes away any stress. I can relax, eat slowly and read my Kindle. Oh my other biggest mistake, is leaving items on the aeroplane, because I took a red eye flight to save money, when I landed, I was so disoriented due to lack of sleep that I left my brand new reading glasses. Never once have I ever been able to get my items back. This has happened 4 times with various other items, like clothes and books. I use to be in such a hurry to get off the plane as I was always so excited like a little kid, so now I take my time when I alight the aircraft.
Thank you Dan! Glad you enjoyed the video. I agree, it is a good idea to get to the airport ahead of time so that you could relax stress free. Forgetting valuable items is the worst! I try to check everything before getting off the plane. I guess we've learned a lot from our experiences now, thanks for sharing Dan. 😊
Another awesome video, Kristin! As far as travel planning is concerned, we generally book our transportation and accommodations in detail. However, we usually plan 1-3 major things max for the week, depending on weather, peak times, and availably. We wing it for everything else. We don't load up our schedule since there's so much to see/do locally!
HI Kristin . . . Allen again, heading to Costa Rica this weekend, alone. Another really helpful video. LOL on #1 "Take out half the stuff you are going to bring." Muchas gracias.
Love this, thank you. Travel insurance is beyond essential. Over 'researching' is definitely recommended, by me. The internet is an amazing wealth of info for tourists. Obviously over planning, typically trying to do more than two tourist things, in one day, is never, ever, a good idea. You'll be stressed by trying to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, whilst using local transport, to even pretend to enjoy yourself.
Love to Travel Solo . not pre arranging a quiet Hotel for arrival . If I`m sleep deprived , stressed , hungry ; the World looks unfriendly and confusing . a couple days to re-group makes a Big difference .
On the Insurance point, perhaps you can discuss at some point the coverage provided by a number of credit cards. I am under the impression that a bank credit card states that they cover flights as well as some auto insurances. I recognize this is credit card dependent but what is your experience? I tend to plan for flight, first hotel and last hotel. Then perhaps a couple spots along the way. Be prepared for serendipity and places you want to stay longer (or shorter). I don't go on organized bus tours because I don't want to be tied to a fixed itinerary. Why would I plan one myself that way? Some activities are also weather dependent (like seeing the Matterhorn in Zermatt). Best to go on a good weather day and provide flexibility in your travels for fickle Swiss weather.
Number 11 - cheap air fares - I am permanently scared with my experience with Spirit Airlines trying to take a flight from San Francisco to LA. They charge you if you breathe or blink your eyes. Something I almost never do, though should, is pre-check the day before your flight. Spirit charged me for not pre-checking. I am an expert at being a happy medium planner. Maybe it comes from my project management experience. Do you research. Make a list. Then relax and ignore the list at your leisure.
Hi Kristin! Thanks for your insightful list of key travel mistakes to avoid! While I calculatedly or strategically avoid most of these key mistakes, I still remain an occasional culprit of a few, even when I know better. I am still working on the avoidance of over-packing, but my habits here are improving.
Excellent as always, Kristin! When I travelled around France/Italy/Spain I definitely overpacked. And actually bought a bigger suitcase while in Italy. If I did that trip all over again I would skip my large suitcase. My next trip (Mexico) I expect to be more long term and being a filmmaker and photographer, will likely pack a lot (equipment) , but it will still be slightly smaller than my original Euro trip. Would you still recomend the Oxygen debit card? I got one on your recommendation, but am wondering if I should have done Wise instead now. I also have Chime.
Thank you! Ha ha I have definitely upgraded my suitcase in the past during a trip. And I can relate to traveling with a lot of equipment. I still recommend oxygen for US citizens and independent contractors and freelancers especially but I recommend Wise, too, because it’s good for a broader range of people (citizens of any country without a SSN). I have both wise and oxygen!
@@TravelingwithKristin - Haha! I figured you must relate in regards to luggage and gear. And was hoping for the duo banking recommendation! Really appreciate it, Kristin :) Thank you!
I am BoyVoy Member & One Travel & Airlines that flagship if the country I am about to travel. 🌍👍 Really! No insurance? Perhaps as a parent I always have travel insurance.
As usual my love great great information to learn thanks for sharing it as usual and keep on rockin the Free World and as usual live life on your terms Hellyeah..🙄🙄🙄
Just found your RU-vid channel, exactly what I was looking for and I subscribed. I have a question what do you think are the best airline companies to travel with?
Hi Miss Maria! That's awesome, I'm glad you liked the video. Thank you for subscribing 🙌For me it would be Delta because they have the best on time rating and customer service.
great video. Good content. Video idea: I'm a financial nerd. I'd like to hear about the overseas costs with credit cards and Wise's fees or lack thereof. Also you said you get tons of points. If you don't use credit cards how do you get your points?? Is it best to use cards or cash?
Hi Damon, glad you liked the video. Good question. I might be able to answer them in my live-streams or another video so stay tuned. Thanks for watching the video! 😊
I like your QVC audition at 1:57. I hope you get the job. Tip? Pack for the weather & download/upload to cloud/ print out(!) Important documents. I never overplan- my itinerary wouldn't allow it.
Once in Amsterdam @ a boutique Hotel, 🏨 I charged my phone, but they failed to tell me they had power outages or brown outs. So, the next morning the surge burnt 🥵 out my iPhone. I never got a discount on room & they wanted to blame me for not charging my charger instead. Plus they only credited the phone in my room but w/out a phone who remembers the numbers? Glad I informed my family day b4 I made it safely or they would’ve been stressing out. Thank God, my friend visiting her Expat son, remembered Hotel 🏨 I was staying at & called b/c I was answering my phone. I explained to her what happened so we meet up to have dinner. If not I would’ve been very sad w/no phone especially had the airline changed schedule. Now I know, but that was the worst & I’ve traveled 🧳 1/2 the world 🌎 & never had that happen b4. First time for everything! Lol 😂
Oh no, sorry to hear about your experience, Olive. Thank God your friend was visiting. Thanks for sharing! Indeed, there's a first time for everything 😊
Some things I agree, especially overpacking. Usage of debit card also doesn't make a lot of sense since your bank usually has it's own exchange rate that is usually a bit higher than the current one plus they charge you "transaction fee". In my experience the best thing is to find "no foreign transaction fee" credit card and use it anywhere you can. Nowadays in most developed countries you can pay with your cc. On the other hand : - food in the american airports improved dramatically over the last decade. You can get your typical healthy green salad with grilled chicken or seared tuna. The days of stale burgers and hot dogs are long gone. You can get your freshly squeezed OJ, some soup, freshly baked pastries etc etc. It's not cheap , but definitely less expensive than getting access to the airlines lounges. In addition most people don't have a lot of time prior to departure. You get to the airport 2 hours in advance that is usually enough time to go through the security, check your baggage and get a bottle of water before you embark. I would rather have a bag of almonds or some Trail Mix than go for a meal whether at the lounge or restaurant. - high season is a high season for a reason. That means the restaurants and attractions are open, sometimes longer than usual, weather is usually better etc etc. Even in Europe it's not that hot over the summer ( it all depends on your destination ) especially if you're in Alps, Scandinavia or Scotland. Those are the places you would rather visit during the summer times when it's not cold and rainy. The rest is common sense that you gain with experience. Bottom line : travel and travel often!
Hello, Hj. Thank you for sharing all of your insights and handy tips! It's an excellent idea to have a bag of almonds or some Trail Mix, as you mentioned. Yes, the weather is normally nicer during high season, and more places are open longer than usual, but with the current pandemic, I imagine some of those spots will be closed or open with certain limits. Even so, if you travel frequently enough, you will eventually learn and get new experiences!
On a tour trip to Australia, I had a girlfriend who wanted to go to the zoos and hold the Koalas. 2 or 3 zoos, she paid like $60 each to hold them. I never did because of the cost. We were on a flight that was delayed into Adelaide and arrived at our hotel about 30 minutes before the zoo closed ... called ... too late to hold her 3rd Panda. Well, she was just so dissappointed and depressed she cried herself to sleep at 5pm lamenting that this was a collossal fup of a once (or 3) chance of a lifetime. There was no consoling her. She went to bed. I left to see the downtown, and found a bar still stuck in the 70's playing my type of music (amazing how they are 30 years behind us!). I came back at about 11pm, she was still crying! WTF? Like, how may times do you have to hold a frick'n Koala? She ruined that night. However, she may have just been tired and need the sleep. It is stressfull traveling sometimes. You don't have to see everything. In Mexico, I skipped the Chichen Itza pyramid tour to scuba the cenotes "caverns" .. I was more interested in the best SCUBA dive of my life. However, I would have traded that for a sweaty bus ride with a special cute girl I met. Maybe I made the wrong decision.
oh wow that was an adventure. True, it can be stressful at times, and things don't always go as planned, but I hope she was able to see and experience other things as well. Mexico has a lot of amazing reefs, and I'm pleased you had a good time there! We'll never know if she's thinking the same thing. 😀
Hi Kristen! Question….with all of your travels and places you have lived, besides flip-flops or running/tennis shoes, what have been your most comfortable shoes to wear that you would recommend? Long wearing travel shoes that are stylish. Any type of flat shoes or brand you would recommend? I’m a girl, btw. Thank you so much. There are many types, but some break down quicker than others. I’m always looking for a shoe that is a comfortable flat that can be versatile and work for shorts, jeans, skirts, sun dresses, etc.
My biggest mistake. Not going at all. Regarding over packing, much of my travel has been self contained but credit card cycle touring. You quickly learn how to pack lean.
A couple years ago a woman asked me why I was traveling with so much stuff! Simple. I wan't "traveling". I wa relocating and that was everything I owned in the world. It's difficult to throw away a suitcase of things when you only own two or three and your next place may have completely different climate, social activities, .... A tricky one. :)
Great ideas! My biggest mistake used to be overpacking. My last month long trip we limited ourselves to 2 carry-ons - only! That was great. I don't consider myself as an overplanner. I do book flights and hotels months early, as well as sites where I'll need tickets. But, I also plan lots of down time so we can adjust when stuff happens. (Useful when bus lines in Paris were down due to protests and Belmondo's funeral.) I don't know why I didn't subscribe to you before, but I did today! Keep up the great videos!
Yeah I think it’s best to under pack. Something I like doing is buying new clothes in new places. Have you been to Vietnam and had clothes made for you there? And you can get things appropriate for the climate and they are souvenirs of the trip
If you're going on a long overseas trip, you can overpack and then shed clothes and items to the countries you visit. For example, on one of my trips, I took used clothes that were about done. On my trip, after using the used clothes for a while, I donated the clothes. Also, I ended up donating the suitcase that contained the used clothes. So, during my trip, my suitcases and clothes were reduced.
I adore doing my own thing. But I do have a fantastic traveling experience with my best friend.also eat different things it is usually a great meal. Yes ,traveling lite and especially easy. My favorite.
These are some great tips! I've gotten much better at packing light (I never like checking bags), but the biggest mistake I make (which I need to get better at) is eating at the airport. Another mistake I tend to make which I'm working to improve on is that I plan too much each day, and I need to embrace slow travel. Sometimes I just need to put away my vlogging camera and just be in the moment! Great video, Kristin!
Glad you enjoyed, Scott! I'm getting a lot of ideas from everyone in the comments, too. We have all made mistakes but that's life ;) I admire your packing skills! I still succumb to airport food sometimes but I usually regret it. I am also a recovering over-planner who used to pack too much into each day. Work in progress! Definitely a balance between filming and being in the moment, too.
Biggest mistake was not buying tickets ahead of time for the Dogue Palace in Venice. Once there the line to buy was crazy long. That same trip I also planned too little. I intended it to be a relaxed, return visit. But with no plan of what we *could* do, I felt aimless. I heartily agree on the solo travel. I went to Nice, France solo and had such a great time. I booked a walking tour and met another solo travelers. Like you said, successfully negotiating the bus and trams solo made me feel like a champion!
I feel your pain, Heather! There’s definitely a balance with the planning. So glad to hear about your solo trip to France, though. That sounds really fun! I love Nice 🥐🇫🇷
hey Kristin, love your videos! lots of great info! I have question about covid-19 vaccines.I am Canadian and I think I am fully vaccinated , I got 2 different does of mRNA vaccine, do you know if I can travel internationally as fully vaccinated ? Especially to Europe, would they recognized that as fully vaccinated? Thank you so much!
Hi there, yes there are many places you can travel to! Here is more inf on travel to Europe: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0OktGTthpqg.html
solo travel ... do you know there are countries where you can be robbed in the midst of the day, like Brasil ? Also, there are dangerous parts of Islamic countries where you can be killed because you are not Muslim, like Algeria, Tunisia, and the east part of Turkey. In Russia, they know to stop and rob trucks on the international trade ruts. So be careful out there. Take someone with you on the travel.
Hi, Kristin. Great video! More than 100 mistakes can be made. And to be "fatal". I'm Bulgarian (Sofia), but for 5 years, by accident, I became a Digital Nomad. I'm in England now and I plan to be in Ireland next year. I see that you often mention my country - She is very beautiful and with very fast internet. Unfortunately, she is (no longer) Safe and Secure - It is becoming easier to be a victim of fraud or crime. I want to ask you - How do you manage not to travel alone? How do you deal with loneliness? Don't you want to have a family - a husband and a child? Can you make a video specifically on "point 5" - Never solo traveling? Here is a short comment on all the mistakes in the video: 013 "Hotel" Rewards - laziness is one of the 7 deadly sins. 012 Car Rental Perks - Everything that is close to the airport, train stations, bus nightclubs is at a surcharge. 011 Booking the cheapest flight - this is at the expense of luggage. 010 Traveling at peak times - this is part of the methods of profit and is used in all types of business. 009 Planning too - too much or not enough - this is a skill that is acquired when you start thinking "out of the box", ie. outside the comfort zone. 008 Traveling without insurance - Putting your safety and security first means thinking maturely and responsibly. 007 Not using the airline app - the Digital Revolution made it possible to have a "digital passport" and a "digital history". This makes it harder for them to steal your identity. 006 Eating food bought from the airport - there is no possibility to have healthy food. In addition, there are many restrictions and very few companies can sell food there - therefore it is at least 2 times more expensive. 005 Never solo traveling - we humans don't realize that someone bathed us the first time. And that someone will bathe us one last time. 004 Crowds and lines - Scammers love the crowd 003 Banking and ATM mistakes - Many banks can block payment and must be notified in advance. 002 Do not eat from local "shops" - there is often no quality control of the goods and there is a great danger of food poisoning 001 Repackaging - it is necessary to live "minimalist".
Great info as always. Beware of the phony travel insuance policies you are offered while booking flights. Ive been scammed by one . May want to check wirh your home owners insurance company instead.
