There's no faster way to become embittered with the locals than going toe-to-toe with hungry shopkeepers. Do you really need to whittle 50 cents off that embroidered handbag?
Chiseling out a bargain —
There's no faster way to become embittered with the locals than going toe-to-toe with hungry shopkeepers. Do you really need to whittle 50 cents off that embroidered handbag?
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
The Armenian peasant jacket or Metallica nesting dolls you didn't buy? Not having them will haunt the rest of your life. When you see something you like, just buy it.
Not buying something you like, right now —
The Armenian peasant jacket or Metallica nesting dolls you didn't buy? Not having them will haunt the rest of your life. When you see something you like, just buy it.
courtesy Frances Cha
"Near city center" is like a Bible verse -- open to vast interpretation. When the money you saved on your "near city center" hotel is wasted on 30-minute commutes and outrageous taxi fare, you've committed a cardinal travel sin.
Trusting "city center" descriptions —
"Near city center" is like a Bible verse -- open to vast interpretation. When the money you saved on your "near city center" hotel is wasted on 30-minute commutes and outrageous taxi fare, you've committed a cardinal travel sin.
google maps
Making a travel plan using only your guidebook is like making a plan to stand in line for a week. Pull no more than a suggestion or two a day from a guide that thousands are carrying. So where's that Kafka statue, again?
Over-reliance on guidebooks —
Making a travel plan using only your guidebook is like making a plan to stand in line for a week. Pull no more than a suggestion or two a day from a guide that thousands are carrying. So where's that Kafka statue, again?
MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images
A survey says two-thirds of travelers return from trips with six unworn outfits. Figure on two wears for (almost) everything.
Overpacking —
A survey says two-thirds of travelers return from trips with six unworn outfits. Figure on two wears for (almost) everything.
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
Trial-size shampoo bottles are handy -- until they burst open in-flight, spreading glycerol soap snot all over your bag.
Loose shampoo caps —
Trial-size shampoo bottles are handy -- until they burst open in-flight, spreading glycerol soap snot all over your bag.
Diana Chan/CNN
Nobody back home wants to scroll through your 9,000 lame images.
Obsessive photography —
Nobody back home wants to scroll through your 9,000 lame images.
Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images
Arriving less than two hours before any Heathrow flight is risky. Imagine walking across a football stadium and you get an idea of the Andean trek from the Heathrow Express station to the lifts that will transport you merely to the start of your Oz-like journey through Terminal 1.
Underestimating Heathrow hell —
Arriving less than two hours before any Heathrow flight is risky. Imagine walking across a football stadium and you get an idea of the Andean trek from the Heathrow Express station to the lifts that will transport you merely to the start of your Oz-like journey through Terminal 1.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
You can hit a foreign city like a cashless bumpkin or, for a few extra bucks, arrive with some local coin. Convenience factor makes it worth accepting a slightly higher rate and changing a small amount of cash at the airport.
Not changing money at the airport —
You can hit a foreign city like a cashless bumpkin or, for a few extra bucks, arrive with some local coin. Convenience factor makes it worth accepting a slightly higher rate and changing a small amount of cash at the airport.
NABIL ISMAIL/AFP/Getty Images
You think, "I'll wear 'em for a week, why buy the good ones?" The answer comes when you blow out a toe strap and shred your foot a mile into a hike across the local lava beds.
Cheap flip-flops —
You think, "I'll wear 'em for a week, why buy the good ones?" The answer comes when you blow out a toe strap and shred your foot a mile into a hike across the local lava beds.
CNN
A week of texts from St. Lucia shouldn't cost more than open-heart surgery. But it happens all the time to travelers who fail to check their phone plans before departure.
International phone plan ignorance —
A week of texts from St. Lucia shouldn't cost more than open-heart surgery. But it happens all the time to travelers who fail to check their phone plans before departure.
Paul Robinso, creative commons
CheapAir.com says the lowest fares are available 49 days before a flight. Kayak says it's 21 days before domestic flights and 34 days before international ones. Texas A&M researchers simply say Saturdays and Sundays are best. The golden rule to cheap fares? There's no golden rule.
Trying beat air fare pricing schemes —
CheapAir.com says the lowest fares are available 49 days before a flight. Kayak says it's 21 days before domestic flights and 34 days before international ones. Texas A&M researchers simply say Saturdays and Sundays are best. The golden rule to cheap fares? There's no golden rule.
Wait on the curb for a ride in a van and risk being the last one dropped off on a nine-hotel run, all to save a few bucks? Your time is worth more than that.
Taking the airport shuttle —
Wait on the curb for a ride in a van and risk being the last one dropped off on a nine-hotel run, all to save a few bucks? Your time is worth more than that.
Denis Bocquet, creative commons
No one wants to get sick on vacation, but why travel all the way to Thailand or Mexico and not eat the local grub? If locals are in line, consider the place vetted -- you're going to be fine.
Avoiding local food —
No one wants to get sick on vacation, but why travel all the way to Thailand or Mexico and not eat the local grub? If locals are in line, consider the place vetted -- you're going to be fine.
Drn/Stringer/Getty Images
If you end up needing the travel insurance you purchased, you're going to want the full coverage.
Buying the partial insurance policy —
If you end up needing the travel insurance you purchased, you're going to want the full coverage.
CNN
Even if you do love your drum circle buds, there are some balls and chains you really don't want to lug around.
Ill-advised drum purchase —
Even if you do love your drum circle buds, there are some balls and chains you really don't want to lug around.
CNN
Carnival Rio! It's a nightmare come true when you get turned away at the ticket counter on departure day because you didn't realize Brazil requires you to secure a visa before travel.
Visa ignorance —
Carnival Rio! It's a nightmare come true when you get turned away at the ticket counter on departure day because you didn't realize Brazil requires you to secure a visa before travel.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
This is the fastest way of paying through the nose for the privilege of paying through the nose.
Using credit card to get cash —
This is the fastest way of paying through the nose for the privilege of paying through the nose.
VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images
At 344 square miles, Berlin is larger than New York City and, as the first-time visitor quickly learns, has just as many places to see, eat, drink, shop and get lost.
Tackling Berlin in a weekend —
At 344 square miles, Berlin is larger than New York City and, as the first-time visitor quickly learns, has just as many places to see, eat, drink, shop and get lost.
Adam Berry/Getty Images
They're already on your phone, why bother with hard copies of your hotel name and address? Because your phone and electronics might not work with the local network as soon as you land.
Not printing reservation details —
They're already on your phone, why bother with hard copies of your hotel name and address? Because your phone and electronics might not work with the local network as soon as you land.
CNN