Planning a big international trip involves a lot of moving parts—there are so many discussions to make, and it’s all too easy to let things fall through the cracks. If you’re thinking about designing your own overseas journey, be sure to avoid the mistakes below; they’re some of the biggest pitfalls I’ve seen travelers face when they plan an international escape:

Trying to fit in too many destinations on a single trip.

I often see travelers making this mistake if they’ve never been to a country or region before. They have no idea when they’ll be back (or if they’ll be back)—so they are tempted to fit in as much as possible. Plus, there’s a long plane trip involved, and so they want to maximize their vacation value and make the most of it. Think: trying to visit New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji on a single trip. Or—doing seven countries in 11 days on a European rendezvous (I might be speaking from experience on that one). 

This always backfires—because when you try to fit too much in, you end up not seeing much at all … since so much of your vacation is spent in transit. Sure, the scenery might look nice from the window of a train or plane, but you’re missing out on truly engaging with a single destination. 

The Fix: Think through your priorities for this trip—what’s most important for you to experience? What will leave you disappointed if you didn’t see it this time around? If you really fall in love with the region, you can make a plan to return to check off what’s left on your list.

Not paying attention to entry requirements.

Did you know that you now need an “Electronic Travel Authorization” to visit the UK? Or that daytrippers to Venice must now pay an access fee? Entry requirements (sometimes put in place in response to overtourism) are more complicated than ever—and that’s even thinking beyond standard requirements like having a passport, or medical-related travel prep like getting certain vaccines before visiting certain regions.

It’s a lot to keep track of, and it’s certainly not standardized across countries. If you miss a key requirement, you could be denied entry (not a great way to start a vacation!) … or be on the hook for a large fee. 

The Fix: I think this is where having an expert in your corner really comes in handy, because—depending on the destination—there could be a lot of requirements to keep track of, and you just don’t know what you don’t know. I always share resources with my clients that review what they need to do to prepare for a trip (though it’s still their responsibility to actually review them!).

Booking a stay outside the city center.

This could be tempting for a few different reasons: staying outside of the city you’re visiting could give you accommodations with more space, more peace and quiet, and—most likely—a lower rate.

But what you’re gaining in savings, you’re losing in time. Travelers often underestimate how long it will take to get into the city from accommodations outside the center (especially if they’re unfamiliar with using public transportation). The last thing you want is for a two-hour walking tour to turn into an all-day event … because it takes hours just to get into town! Not to mention, if the city itself is the main draw, you’re losing out on the cultural experience of being in the center of it all. There’s nothing like waking up, grabbing a pastry at the corner bakery, and strolling through cobblestone streets before the city fully wakes up—and the rest of the tourists arrive for the day. 

The Fix: Carefully consider the location of your accommodations, because it’s one of the factors that will make the BIGGEST difference to your whole trip experience. I spend a lot of time working with my clients to pinpoint a stay that’s a great fit, and a great location, for what they want to see and do.

Want to avoid these mistakes—and elevate your experience from beginning to end—on your next international journey?

Get in touch to start planning your next journey; simply fill out my brief trip inquiry form to start.