Travel mistakes happen – even to the most seasoned traveler, but you can avoid many by planning ahead. Travel Maestro compiled a list of 9 travel mistakes that can make a big impact on your trip and tips on how you can avoid them and upgrade your overall travel experience.

1) Planning an Overambitious Itinerary – Anyone who thinks visiting 17 countries in 12 days is a good idea is in for a rude awakening. You’ll see so much so fast, you won’t even be able to identify the photos afterward. You’ll be constantly exhausted and still feel like you missed something important. Travel Maestro tip: Plan the pace of your trip so that you enjoy the must-see sights, but also build in some additional unscheduled time (see #5) so you can engage with local culture and really get to know the destination.

2) Overpacking – At home you may wear different outfits for work, exercise, relaxing and nightlife, but when you’re living out of a suitcase for a week or more, you just don’t need four outfits a day. A smaller, lighter bag will make you more agile and avoid the airlines’ exorbitant overweight charges. TM tip: Plan to wear most items twice. Pack everything in a coordinated color scheme so you can mix and match pieces for different combinations. Choose no-wrinkle, quick-dry fabrics that you can rinse out if necessary. Bonus tip: Limit yourself to three pairs of shoes, two if you can.

3) Not Purchasing Travel Insurance – A last minute cancellation, a hospitalization while traveling, or even worse, a medical emergency that requires evacuation can be very expensive. We highly recommend travel insurance that covers these and many other situations. TM tip: Cancel for any reason insurance is also available and must be purchased within two weeks of making the initial reservations.

4) Sacrificing Location for Price – Often you will find that hotels away from the city center are less expensive, but beware of the amount of time and money that you’ll spend transporting back and forth. The monetary difference may be negligible in the end, but the value of being in the cultural center of your destination makes a significant impact on your experience. TM tip: Your professional travel advisor can help you find the right balance of location and price.

5) Sticking To the Tourist Path – Read the guidebook and pick a couple places that you want to see, but take time to get off the beaten path and explore on your own to get the true local flavor. Restaurants and shops right on the main square or near a major attraction are often overpriced. TM tip: Strike up a conversation with a local and ask his favorite restaurant or bar. You’re likely to learn much more than a place to eat.

6) Tempting pickpockets – Don’t wear flashy jewelry, count out wads of currency in public or lay your fancy camera on the seat beside you. You’re just asking for a pickpocket to relieve you of your possessions. TM tip: Don’t carry all your cash, credit cards, and passport in one place. Only carry what you need and stash the rest in multiple safe hiding places.

7) Not Turning Off Phone Data – If you spend a week in Europe posting your photos to Facebook, Googling points of interest and Trip Advisoring restaurants without Wi-Fi, you’re going to get a serious shock when the next cell bill comes in. It can be hundreds, even thousands of dollars for roaming charges. Instead, disable your mobile data and only use mobile apps and the internet when you’re connected to Wi-Fi. TM tip: For using your cell phone abroad, purchase a temporary phone plan before you leave, or buy a local sim card at your destination.

8) Not Advising Your Credit Card Company – Unless you routinely make purchases internationally, your credit card company will likely red flag your card and deny any charges that are outside your regular spending pattern. Be sure to give them a heads up before you leave to avoid any authorization delays. TM tip: Use a credit card that doesn’t charge currency exchange fees or other surcharges on overseas transactions. There are plenty in the market.

9) Not Using a Professional Travel Agent – We encourage travelers to educate themselves about travel options and participate in planning their trips, but to go it alone and not take advantage of the knowledge and resources of a professional travel agent is like leaving money on the table. TM tip: All the benefits of using a travel agent won’t fit in this space, luckily we have a separate post on Why Use a Travel Agent.

Collectively, Covington Travel’s vacation advisors have traveled across the seven continents and most of the world’s countries. We’ve been there and done that around the globe, so when you are planning a trip, be sure to contact Covington Travel for more insider tips on making your vacation free of common travel mistakes.