Random Rookie Travel Mistakes and How to Avoid Them (25 items)

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  (#19) Packing Clothes You Don't Want to Be Ruined/Lost

  Vacation living is not at-home living (unless, of course, you routinely wear a backpack for eight hours at a time and find your way into random water sources fully clothed), so shy away from taking anything on vacation whose loss would prove gut-wrenching. Things like your most expensive shoes, fanciest dresses, and favorite hats will invariably find themselves torn, stained, mud-covered and even lost, so leave that sh*t at home!

  BEST BET: Take clothes that are still fit for photos, but could be abandoned without any sense of loss.

  PRO TIP: Hit the sale rack at Old Navy before you go and get some tanks, tees, and other wardrobe basics to which you don't have any attachment.
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  (#10) Booking a Stay in the Wrong Neighborhood

  Being new to the town you're about to enter, you're not expected to know where the best neighborhoods are, but that doesn't mean you have to go into your trip blind. Read about where other people stayed and if they liked it. Chances are, if there is a glut of hotels in the area, it will be touristy, but nominally safer.

  BEST BET: If it's close to the airport, you don't want to be there.

  PRO TIP: Look up bars and clubs that match your interests and book a room as close to that area as possible.
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  (#22) Tipping/Overtipping

  Americans are so used to tipping basically EVERYONE that the instinct to do so when traveling outside of the US is pretty overwhelming. Fact is, tipping is confusing at the best of times outside of the States. In the UK, for example, they don't tip at bars (unless it's an American chain like TGI Friday's) or restaurants (unless they include a service charge, which means they probably want you to tip) and the like. In China, tipping is considered offensive. It's best to ask a local when you arrive.

  BEST BET: If it's something you think was well done, tip.

  PRO TIP: Be the stupid guy who doesn't know any better. People think tourists are jerks anyway.
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  (#8) Not Paying Attention to the Airline's Change Fees When Booking

  There are big pros and cons with regards to booking on discount airlines and booking legs of a journey on different carriers. If you're solid with your trip plan and don't expect any delays/changes/interruptions, there's a really good reason to buy the two one-way fares that bring your ticket cost down by $100. However, if you need to make any changes (ANY changes), you're looking at a $200 domestic and sometimes up to $300 international fee to make amendments to your ticket. If your fare was only $300 each way on two airlines, you could be out your entire fare if you need to make a change.

  BEST BET: On a longer journey where you want the freedom to leave when and from where you want, consider a one-way ticket in if it's an economical choice.

  PRO TIP: Be flexible about your departure city and you may get a cheaper return and a night or two in a city you hadn't planned to see.
  
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  (#3) Leaving Your Power Converter at Home

  This is just the worst, period. Imagine arriving at an international airport with a dead phone or laptop and having no idea where you're going. True, there are many airports that now have stations to plug in via USB connection, but once you get to your lodging, you're going to want one of these without the hassle of finding a store that sells them for any amount less than your first-born child.

  BEST BET: Invest in a universal charger and keep it with your travel gear.

  PRO TIP: Get one with USB connectors so you can charge more than one device at a time.
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  (#25) Paper Maps

  Driving across a foreign country? Paper maps might make for a good backup, but there's no substitute for an in-car GPS. Rapid development of infrastructure often introduces new routes and eliminates old ones. Plus, letting the GPS direct you allows you and your copilot more time to play 20 Questions or sing '90s tunes.

  BEST BET: Cough up the extra few bucks for a GPS with your rental car, or pay for international cell service before you leave home. 

  PRO TIP: Don't swear off old-fashioned maps altogether. It might be unwise to rely on them, but collecting them makes for great souvenir or scrapbook material.

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