22 Common Travel Mistakes & How to Avoid Them (from a Frequent Traveler + Travel Creator)

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One of my favorite things to do in my spare time — of which I unfortunately don’t have much — is to check out different travel subreddits. I was recently doing that, and came up with a brilliant blog post idea.

I thought, “How about I write about some of the most common yet preventable travel mistakes and share some easy solutions along with a few personal stories?”

That’s exactly what I’m doing today! I’m excited to write this post, so let’s get straight into it.

THIS POST IS ALL ABOUT TRAVEL MISTAKES.

TRAVEL MISTAKES TO AVOID

MISTAKE #1: OVERSTUFFING YOUR ITINERARY

This is undeniably one of the most common mistakes travelers make when planning a trip — and to an extent, I get it. I mean, if you’re visiting a new destination for a relatively short period of time, it theoretically makes sense that you’re trying to stuff as much as you can into your itinerary.

But the problem with this is that you don’t leave enough time for travel or rest. Or you might end up spending more time at a stop than you planned.

I found myself making this mistake a lot on my earlier trips. I’d get so excited and basically reach a flow state of adding all kinds of activities & restaurants to my itinerary. Then, when I was actually on the trip, I kept canceling and postponing things because I was exhausted (Kiara, I apologize!).

THE SOLUTION: Plan one anchor activity, along with several other activities in the area. Think of an anchor activity as the main experience of the day. Like something you’d be disappointed about missing.

Then, look for a few other activities within a 30-minute walk or so from the main one. I also highly suggest including some intentional down time in your itinerary, even if it’s just an hour or two. Don’t worry — you’re not wasting time by doing this! It’s totally fine to take a break from sightseeing so you can reload your energy. Plus, intentionally skipping things just makes your next visit something to look forward to!

MISTAKE #2: PACKING TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH

Overpacking is definitely common, but so is under-packing. You don’t want to do either of these because you end up having either too much or not enough stuff.

THE SOLUTION: I’ve found what works like a charm every time is following a packing list, like this one I created. By doing this, you’re packing exactly what you need — nothing more, nothing less, without forgetting anything.

MISTAKE #3: PLANNING THINGS BY ACTIVITY TYPE

There are three main ways to organize things when creating an itinerary: by activity type, by geographical area, and simply winging it.

If you’ve checked out any of my travel itineraries, then you already know which method I prefer. Before we get to that, though, I wanted to point out that a lot of travelers plan things by activity type.

I could understand why they like to do this, but if you want to avoid spending unnecessary extra or zigzagging across the city, I’d opt for a different method.

THE SOLUTION: Instead of planning things by activity type, try planning things by geographical area. For example, try grouping Magnificent Mile and Oak Street Beach rather than an architecture river cruise and a visit to the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago. This often makes it so much easier to figure out what you’re going to do each day of your trip. Plus, you’re not wasting time or money by planning inefficiently.

MISTAKE #4: THINKING EVERY TOURIST ATTRACTION OR POPULAR DESTINATION IS OVERRATED

I hate when someone actively tries to avoid tourist attractions just because they think they’re overrated or overpriced. How would you know if it’s overrated if you didn’t even try it yourself?

My thing is, you’re a tourist.

It’s okay to explore some of the less popular things and areas (and I actually encourage that you do), but at the end of the day, you’re visiting this place, not living there.

So it’ll never fully make sense to me why some travelers have this superiority complex when it comes to visiting tourist attractions.

THE SOLUTION: Stop thinking that every tourist attraction or destination isn’t worth it just because it’s popular. If you want to go, then go! You’re not any better or worse than someone by going, so stop limiting yourself and do what the heck you want!

MISTAKE #5: NOT PLANNING ANYTHING IN ADVANCE FOR POPULAR DESTINATIONS

Tons of destinations such as Tokyo, Paris and Rome have recently seen massive surges in visitors. So it’s not wise to just show up and hope for the best, even if that’s what your heart desires.

THE SOLUTION: You absolutely HAVE to book certain attractions like Summit One Vanderbilt and the Colosseum in advance. And I’m talking months in advance (depending on when you’re visiting), not just a few days. Try booking refundable tickets if you’re worried your travel plans will change.

MISTAKE #6: NOT RESEARCHING A DESTINATION BEFORE VISITING

This is, hands down, one of the most consequential mistakes you can make when planning a trip. There are several things you need to research, including cultural norms, prices, entry requirements, acceptable clothing, tourist scams, safety information and diversity.

If you don’t do enough research, you risk wasting time or money — both of which I’m preeeetty sure you don’t want to pour down the drain.

THE SOLUTION: Spend the necessary time that it takes to research a destination. I know it can feel tedious or boring at times, but like I said, you can save yourself SO MUCH hassle by doing so. If it feels like too much of a task, I suggest breaking it down by day.

Spend one day researching cultural norms, one day researching diversity, and so on and so forth. I have a guide coming soon where I talk about my exact process for researching a destination, so be on the lookout for that.

MISTAKE #7: USING ONLY ONE RESOURCE TO PLAN A TRIP

With the sheer number of resources out there nowadays, you’d be making a big mistake only using one to plan your trip.

I wanted to specifically talk about using social media for travel planning. So many people use TikToks to craft their itineraries these days (especially for restaurants and coffee shops).

And while TikTok is a great resource, there’s, in my opinion, far too many people who visit once and all of a sudden act as if they’re an expert in a particular destination.

No matter how much research you did, there’s nothing as good or trustworthy as advice rooted in personal, first-hand experience. That’s actually why I try not to write about a destination unless I’ve visited multiple times or had a relatively lengthy first visit.

THE SOLUTION: Start using more resources. Some of my favorites include Atlas Obscura, Reddit, Facebook, local magazines, tourism boards and travel creators with YouTube channels + blogs. I soon have a guide coming where I share my favorite travel blogs, so stay tuned for that! Until then, read my guide about my favorite travel-planning resources and apps.

MISTAKE #8: DOING OR EATING SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE IT’S POPULAR

This is the very reason that I refrain from using phrases like “must-see,” “must-do” and “you have to come here.” I recognize and understand that not every experience or food is for everyone.

Sure, the Louvre is a must-visit for art lovers, but if you don’t care for art or museums, then maybe it isn’t the place for you.

And sure, deep-dish pizza is a certified tourist staple in Chicago (Chicagoans actually like tavern-style pizza, FYI), but if you don’t like the sound of it, then you’re free to pass.

I, for a more personal example, don’t care for skiing, so I wouldn’t be too quick to plan a winter trip to Aspen. It just wouldn’t make sense because I already know I wouldn’t enjoy it based on my personal interests.

THE SOLUTION: Don’t think that JUST because a certain food or experience is popular, you have to see what it’s all about. As long as you prioritize what you enjoy, that’s all that matters!

MISTAKE #9: HAVING INSANELY HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR A DESTINATION

This is something that I sometimes fall victim to. I get so excited about visiting a destination and watch so many videos that when I finally get there, it almost feels like I already went on my trip.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to be excited, but try not to get to the point where the destination doesn’t live up to the hype. That is, the hype you created and actively fueled, by the way — not hype from anyone else.

THE SOLUTION: Have more realistic expectations… it’s that simple!

MISTAKE #10: NOT SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY

If you’re unaware, I am a massive advocate for responsible & ethical travel. I believe that if I’m financially, logistically and physically fortunate enough to visit these amazing destinations, the least I could do is leave a positive impact on their economies, environments and communities.

One of the best, most effective ways to do that is by supporting the local economy — whether you’re visiting an ultra-popular destination like Paris or a slightly less popular one like Morocco.

THE SOLUTION: Supporting the local economy can look like several different things, but I love to eat and shop locally. I’m actually considering doing a “where to shop” guide for each destination — starting with Seattle — I cover on my blog, highlighting various independent shops worth checking out. Whatever you can do to keep money and resources in the local community, please do it! I’m not necessarily saying that every meal needs to be local, but you’ll definitely want to prioritize these kinds of things.

For example, instead of getting your morning coffee from Starbucks, go on Google Maps or ask a local for some independent coffee shops in the area. Not only are you supporting local businesses, but quite frankly, the coffee is likely to taste way better. Yes, prices might be slightly higher, but you have to keep the bigger picture in mind.

MISTAKE #11: TRYING TO FIT TOO MANY DESTINATIONS INTO ONE TRIP

I particularly see this a lot with Europe travel and, once again, I totally see why people do it. It’s much easier to visit several places in Europe than it is here in the United States.

But what often happens is travelers don’t take into account travel time or energy levels. So by the time they’ve reached their second country, they’re beyond exhausted and need, what I like to call, a “vacation from their vacation.”

THE SOLUTION: Be more strategic with the number of destinations you visit. If you’re traveling for ten days, then you’d probably want to visit no more than two countries. If you’re only traveling for five days, your best bet is to stick to one country. Are you picking up what I’m putting down?

MISTAKE #12: USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO PLAN YOUR TRIP

Another thing you’ll quickly learn about me (as both a travel creator and a frequent traveler) is that I’m strongly opposed to using AI for any travel-related activity, whether it’s looking for restaurants or creating an itinerary.

Why? Because artificial intelligence — like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini — doesn’t know you that well. A computer doesn’t know what kind of food you like, how long you’re willing to spend at the airport during a layover, whether you’re a museum person, or a ton of other things that define your travel persona.

I promise that practically anything you’re asking AI to do for you, you can do it yourself. Sure, it may take more time and effort, but it’s 100% worth it because you know far more about yourself than a computer does.

THE SOLUTION: Stick to the traditional way of planning a trip, which is to either do it entirely on your own or work with a travel specialist. Your itinerary will be much more personalized, being that actual, umm, humans are involved. It’s quite easy to understand, isn’t it?

MISTAKE #13: NOT UNDERSTANDING TOURIST SEASONS

If you didn’t know, virtually every destination has distinct tourist seasons: peak, shoulder and low/off season.

Peak season is basically the destination’s most popular and crowded season. For most destinations, this is summer because students are out of school and the weather is good.

Shoulder season, my favorite time to travel, is what I like to call the goldilocks season. It’s usually fall and spring for most destinations. The weather can be annoyingly unpredictable, but prices are typically lower and crowds are often much more tame & bearable.

Low/off season is a destination’s least popular season. As you might guess, it’s usually winter because it’s cold and there aren’t as many outdoor activities to enjoy. But it can be a good time to visit if you’re traveling on a budget or can’t stand thick crowds.

My point in saying all of this is that some travelers either don’t know about these seasons or, for whatever reason, ignore them in totality. The problem is that you can’t correctly plan a trip if you don’t acknowledge these tourist seasons.

THE SOLUTION: Any time you’re planning a trip, do some quick research to figure out when a destination’s peak, shoulder and low seasons are. This way, you’ll have a much better expectation of what you’ll be paying, crowds, lines, and other important things.

MISTAKE #14: NOT BEING ADAPTABLE

Look… all kinds of things happen when you’re traveling — flights get delayed, restaurants close early, and crowds show up out of nowhere. And when something happens, you might get upset.

But all that does is make the situation worse. If you’re going to become a more frequent or seasoned traveler, you NEED to be adaptable. Realize and accept that things happen, and have a plan for when they do.

THE SOLUTION: Be prepared and accept that things will come up. There’s a fairly low chance that your trip will go EXACTLY as planned, so you need to keep any and all changes in mind. Basically, you want to expect the unexpected.

MISTAKE #15: ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE

Yes, arriving at the airport too early is very much a thing. I’ve even seen some people online share about how they arrived at the airport before they even opened.

Arriving too early isn’t necessarily a huge problem, but you’ll just be lallygagging around until it’s time to start boarding. And I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound very fun.

On the flip side, arriving too late is definitely more of an issue to be concerned about. As expensive as flights can get these days, there’s no way I’d even think about leaving my house any later than 2.5 hours before my scheduled departure time.

Sure, you can get rebooked on a different itinerary, but why put yourself through that when you could’ve easily avoided it?

THE SOLUTION: Stick to the standard two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights unless there’s something major causing significant delays, in which case you’ll want to arrive a bit earlier. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get to the airport, accounting for traffic. I suggest downloading the free MyTSA app and checking wait times for lines before heading to the airport.

MISTAKE #16: ASSUMING TSA RULES ARE UNIVERSAL ACROSS EVERY AIRPORT

I see why you’d assume this and, frankly, you’re correct. Unfortunately, though, TSA rules are not universal across every airport.

At some airports or in specific scenarios, you might still have to remove your shoes or remove your liquids. At other times, you might be able to place your carry-on directly on the conveyor belt rather than put it in a bin.

THE SOLUTION: Everything sort of depends on the day, so I suggest keeping an open mind & remaining patient and polite.

MISTAKE #17: NOT SIGNING UP FOR FLIGHT UPDATES

I didn’t realize or understand how important this was until my trip to Washington DC and Boston in April 2026.

My gate changed, I kid you not, about four times before I even got through security. Imagine I didn’t check my phone and went to the wrong gate! That wouldn’t have ended well.

As I write this, I leave for my three-day trip to Seattle tomorrow. I just got my boarding pass a few hours ago, yet my departure & arrival gates have already changed three times. And I definitely wouldn’t be surprised if they changed a few more times before I finally board the plane.

THE SOLUTION: Be sure to sign up for flight updates (text messages and push notifications) from your airline. I also suggest using an app like Flighty for more detailed (and often earlier) updates.

MISTAKE #18: FORMING A NEGATIVE, UNBIASED OPINION ON A DESTINATION BASED ON A FEW BAD EXPERIENCES

Oh my goodness. Please don’t be one of those people who does this. It seriously ticks me off, and I hope you can understand why.

It’s quite unfair to base your negative opinion on a destination if you only read a few horror stories. Their experience doesn’t define that destination.

If you owned a bakery, how would you feel if one person had a bad experience and determined your bakery was horrible? It wouldn’t feel too great, would it?

THE SOLUTION: Conduct more research and, uh, consider actually visiting a destination before forming a solid opinion!

MISTAKE #19: BOOKING FLIGHTS TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE

If you book flights too early (typically more than three months before departure), prices will be crazy high. That also happens to be the case if you book too late (usually anything less than a month before departure).

THE SOLUTION: Book about 1-3 months before departure for domestic travel and 3-5 months before international travel. I’ve found these to be the sweet spots!

MISTAKE #20: PLANNING YOUR BUDGET AROUND YOUR TRIP

If you just have it like that, then that’s great. But over here, we’re intentional with our spending.

Some travelers make the mistake of planning their trip and THEN creating a budget afterward. The problem with this is that you basically go crazy with everything and realize your trip is unaffordable.

THE SOLUTION: Plan your trip around your budget instead. This means that you need to establish your budget BEFORE booking anything. For example, set a budget of $400 for flights, $900 for accommodations, $200 for activities and tours, and $350 for daily spending. Do NOT absentmindedly book a ton of stuff then try to figure out how you’re going to come up with the money for it all.

MISTAKE #21: WAITING UNTIL YOU RETIRE TO TRAVEL

I get that you may have more money or freedom then, but you definitely won’t be able to move the same way that you can when you’re in your twenties or thirties.

I think my generation is doing a great job of unsubscribing from the old idea that you should wait until you retire or get old to travel.

THE SOLUTION: Travel now. Travel young. Travel broke. You don’t want to regret waiting until you’re 50 years old and can’t move as quickly or freely.

MISTAKE #22: WAITING UNTIL YOU’RE “READY” TO START SOLO TRAVELING

To end this post on a very on-brand note, I want you to avoid making the mistake of waiting until you’re “ready” to start solo traveling.

You may not like the idea of doing things on your own, but you don’t truly know how you’ll feel until you finally get out there and travel independently!

If you’re new to the concept of traveling alone, read my guide here where I give my best advice on getting started.

THE SOLUTION: Remember that “ready” is a decision, not a feeling. Do it scared! Accept that you don’t know much about it and just do it. My blog is an amazing resource for all things solo travel, so keep on searching around the website for advice. Of course, if there’s a topic I haven’t covered enough or at all, feel free to reach out and ask me about it! I’m always open to answering direct requests.

FINAL THOUGHTS: TRAVEL MISTAKES

In this post, I shared some of the most common travel mistakes and how to avoid them. I always aim to help you become a better traveler, and I think this guide did a great job of doing that!

Now, friend, it’s your turn. I’m opening the floor for you to start a conversation in the comments. Here are some discussion topics:

• What’s one travel mistake you used to make all the time? How did you finally recognize and fix it?
• Did you learn anything from this guide? If so, share it in the comments!

I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you feel more comfortable chatting with me directly, shoot me a DM on Instagram or email me at demarcus@thesolosolstice.com.

ABOUT DEMARCUS

DeMarcus is a Midwest-based travel content creator and the founder of the solo travel blog, The Solo Solstice. He began his solo travel journey in December 2025 and since has been creating practical, in-depth travel guides for a like-minded community of first-time solo adventurers.

Visit the About Page to learn more about DeMarcus, and visit the Ethical & Responsible Tourism Page to learn more about his efforts to promote responsible tourism.