6 Common Travel Mistakes

1. Passports – Will It Be Valid

Some of the fine print that I’ve notice many people miss is the expiration of their passports, or their childrens. First, passports are valid for 10 years for everyone 16 years or older, and only 5 years for those under the age of 16. Second, many countries have a requirement that travelers have a passport that is valid for 6 months past their return date. *While cruises do not require you to have a passport it is heavily recommended. Each port has different identification requirements, so for safety sake always make sure you research your port stops.

2. Honeymooning Outside of the United States and Using Your Married Name

Thankfully I’ve helped catch many of these potentially bad issues. So many newlyweds are excited to have their married name on, well, everything. Expectingly so! How exciting! Sadly, you won’t want to travel using your married name until you have your updated government issued ID and/or passport. For the most part, only minor changes can be made to airline tickets. Ticket transfers are usually available for a few reason: airline monitoring/requirements, and TSA won’t let you through if your ticket information doesn’t match your identification. NOTE: each airline has their own policy regarding name changes.

3. Packing All Perscriptions in a Checked Bag

I cannot stress the importance of keeping your prescriptions with you. Always take a carry on, if only a purse, but make sure you have your perscriptions with you. “In April (2022), U.S. airlines lost, damaged or delayed over 220,000 checked bags. That number is a 135% increase from a year ago, with American Airlines (AAL) – Get Free Report named as the worst offender with over 70,000 incidents” (Bondaernko, V., 2022). With those statistics, you are more likely now than ever to be without your prescriptions or will lose them entirely. If you’re randomly checked with TSA pills do not need to be in their prescription bottles. Medication in liquid form and additional information can be found on TSA’s website.

4. Not Allow Enough Time for Connecting Flights

Flying all day isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea, but certain flights require it. Sadly, to have a good safety net on layovers it I recommend at least a 2.5-3 hour buffer. Airlines typically begin boarding 40-45 minutes before the scheduled takeoff, and there are usually various flight delays with the short staffing — results in added time for either boarding, late departure and/or late arrival. There are a ton of reasons, but ultimately if you only have a 1-hour or less layover you are likely going to miss your connecting flight. It’s much better to have the extra time for not only the unplanned incidentals but also to give yourself some time to use the restroom, get a snack or a meal, or maybe even a drink if you so choose. It may make for a long day but better to be relaxed then stressed.

5. Booking with a Third Party Site (I.e., Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, etc.)

Not only do I help clients get away from 3rd parties but I have had to learn the hard way too. If a booking changes dramatically you are likely able to move around things with ease from the supplier – hotel, rental,transportation, airlines, etc. However, using a 3rd party means you can only handle any issues or concerns with them. If you need to cancel you won’t get a full refund, even if the supplier says differently. Because you book through a 3rd party they will want to retain some kind of commission for their efforts/time. Even if you want to do something as simple as selecting your seats, some airlines won’t allow you to make changes without going through the 3rd party vendor. These vendors are not to be confused with Travel Agents though. TA’s are here for you and to make your plans as stress free as possible. We will forecast potential hiccups, keep up to date and not charge you a fee if you have to move around your flights; assuming there aren’t any policies from the airlines or cruise lines requiring a fee. Sure, they may have lower block rate fees but in my opinion it is never worth the cost of losing what little I may have saved.

6. Not Researching Your Destination

Found the perfect getaway spot? Awesome! Are you planning to go out to eat, do something in nature, or find a local watering hole in the big city? It’s always wise to research your destination. Things to consider in your research:

• How far away is the nearest airport?
• Are meals included with my stay? If not, what are the options nearest to me?
• Will I need a vehicle rental or can I walk, Uber or Lyft where I need to go?
• Is where I’m going in a safe neighborhood?
• Will you have service where you’re going or should you have a map or printed directions?
• Are there any local attractions or things to do, especially if traveling with children? Also, are there things I want to do that require planning ahead with tickets or reservations?
• What will the weather be like? Example: you wouldn’t plan to see a fall color change during the peak winter season.
• If international – what are the customs, tipping expectations, currency exchange rate, etc.

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These are not to say you can’t have spontaneous trips, I love those trips the most. However, for safety reasons it is good to get a quick idea, while on the move, instead of going into something blind, especially if you are going international. As a travel agent I will do a lot of the leg work for you, but these are the most common reoccurring topics I find myself discussing with family, friends and clients.

I hope this helps you in your plans! I’m always available to discuss more or give more depth to any upcoming plans. More than anything I would love to plan your next vacation with you/for you!