The 7 Worst Travel Mistakes I Made As A Newbie Traveler & How You Can Avoid Them!

Are Newbie Traveler Mistakes Inevitable?

From overspending to rookie booking face plants, what I wish I’d known before stepping foot on that damn plane!

It all started with a $9.99 flight from Poland to France. Sounds like a steal, right? 

Except that the airport wasn’t in Paris, it was in a field somewhere closer to Belgium, I had to sell a kidney to afford the train ride into the actual city, and my “budget” airline ever so kindly informed me my backpack was too large, which cost me an extra $75.

And just like that, my “cheap” flight had turned into an overpriced headache before I even set foot on French soil.

That was just the beginning.

If you’re new to the “traveling lifestyle”, I hope you realize by now that mistakes aren’t just possible, they’re inevitable.

I’ve booked accommodations without realizing they had no heat in the dead of a Ukrainian winter, grossly underestimated how much uphill walking is required in Tbilisi (seriously, no one warns you about that).

Once I even had to mime “food poisoning” to a very confused pharmacist in Spain after trusting some highly questionable seafood on the Camino de Santiago.

We all have those “rookie traveler” moments.

But the good news?

You can learn from mine.

From reckless spending to missed flights, here are the seven biggest mistakes I made as a “newbie traveler” and how you can avoid them.

1. Thinking Budget Airlines Always Save Money

I thought I had cracked the budget travel code when I found a flight from Warsaw to Paris for a glorious $9.99.

I was already imagining myself sipping an overpriced café crème under the Eiffel Tower, feeling smug about my financial genius.

That was until I realized my flight wasn’t actually to Paris. It was to an airport somewhere in a field in Belgium.

Then came the baggage fees. 

My perfectly normal backpack was suddenly classified as oversized.

$75 surcharge! 

The ticket agent gave me that “rookie traveler” look, the one that says, too bad, you should have read the fine print, sir.

Then, to make matters worse, the one train into the city cost another $60!

Final price? 

A whopping $145! 

I could have flown direct with a normal airline and saved myself the humiliation of sprinting across the tarmac to board a plane that looked like it had survived the Cold War.

Lesson Learned: Cheap flights aren’t always cheap. Budget airlines lure you in with rock-bottom prices, then nickel and dime you into oblivion.

Avoid My Mistake: Always check the baggage policies (especially the fine print), research exactly where the airport is located (if it says “near” a city, it’s probably in another country), and add up the total cost before booking.

2. Overpacking Like I Was Moving There

I once arrived in Tbilisi with a suitcase so overstuffed that I needed a small army to help me carry it up one of the city’s never-ending staircases.

Five flights up, dripping in sweat, and seriously reconsidering my life choices, I realized something: I had packed for an entirely different climate.

While I was prepared for what I thought was a mild fall, reality hit me hard, Tbilisi was still in full summer mode.

Half my wardrobe was useless, and I was lugging around things I didn’t even need (looking at you, bulky hiking boots that never left the suitcase).

The irony? I ended up wearing the same five things on rotation anyway.

Lesson Learned: Over-packing is a one-way ticket to regret.

It makes travel miserable, adds unnecessary costs (luggage fees = highway robbery), and ensures you spend half your trip rummaging for something at the bottom of your suitcase.

Avoid My Mistake: Stick to a carry-on for trips under two weeks.

Pack versatile clothing, check the actual weather forecast, and remember, you’re not starring in a fashion show, you’re traveling.

3. Booking the Cheapest Accommodation Without Research

My super budget-friendly Airbnb in Athens seemed perfect.

The listing described it as “cozy” and “full of character.” 

Turns out, cozy meant a shoebox with no windows, and full of character referred to the family of ants living rent-free in the bathroom.

I also didn’t realize that while the price was fantastic, the location was not.

Every night, I was greeted by a chorus of passerbys who seemed to be engaged in some kind of late night revelry.

If you’ve ever tried to sleep through your neighbors weekend at “Bernie’s parties”, you know what I’m talking about.

Lesson Learned: The cheapest accommodation is rarely the best deal if it’s in a bad location or comes with surprise roommates (human or otherwise).

Avoid My Mistake: Read reviews thoroughly, especially the most recent ones.

Research the neighborhood before booking (if “lively” is mentioned more than once, prepare for sleepless nights).

Prioritize safety and comfort over saving a few bucks.

4. Ignoring Travel Insurance…  Until I Needed It

There’s nothing quite like discovering you need travel insurance when it’s already too late. My moment came in Thailand when I heroically decided to try street food from a vendor whose kitchen setup consisted of a single flame and a very suspicious-looking cooler.

Within hours, I was violently regretting that decision.

$500 in medical bills later, for what turned out to be the worst case of seafood poisoning of my life, I realized I had likely been overcharged in my desperate state.

To make matters worse, I later discovered that with travel insurance, the whole ordeal would have cost me just $50.

Lesson Learned: Travel insurance isn’t just for extreme cases like breaking a leg while BASE jumping. It covers medical emergencies, lost luggage, and last-minute trip cancellations.

Avoid My Mistake: Always get travel insurance. It’s cheaper than a single hospital visit, and trust me ,  peace of mind is worth way more than what you’ll pay for it.

5. Underestimating Currency Exchange Rates & ATM Fees

The first time I withdrew money in Mexico, I felt like a king.

I held stacks of pesos in my hands, thinking I had unlocked some secret to instant wealth.

Then I checked my bank account.

Turns out, airport ATMs are the devil.

Not only had I withdrawn at the worst possible rate, but my bank also charged a “foreign transaction fee” AND a withdrawal fee!

Basically, I had just gifted the bank $30 in fees for the privilege of accessing my own money.

Lesson Learned: Currency exchange is a game, and if you’re not paying attention, you will lose.

Avoid My Mistake: Never exchange money at the airport.

Use a no-fee travel card and withdraw larger sums at a time from a reputable bank’s ATM to minimize transaction fees.

6. Trying to See Everything in One Trip

On my first “grand European adventure”, I had the genius idea of cramming five cities into ten days. Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Milan, and Athens.

I was convinced I’d be living my best travel life.

Instead, I spent most of the trip running literally.

Between catching flights, trains, and buses, I barely had time to actually enjoy anything.

By the time I made it to Athens, I was running on fumes and fully regretting my overambitious itinerary.

Lesson Learned: More places does not mean a better trip. Trying to see everything means you’ll remember nothing.

Avoid My Mistake: Slow down. Focus on fewer destinations and give yourself time to immerse yourself in the experience.

You’ll actually enjoy your trip instead of just collecting passport stamps like a chaotic scavenger hunt.

7. Not Learning Basic Local Phrases

Tbilisi. First week. No Wi-Fi. I had exactly zero Georgian language skills and an urgent need to find a grocery store.

Instead, I spent 30 minutes playing charades with a very patient elderly woman at a market, trying to act out “vegetables”.

Another time in France, I confidently ordered “pain” at a bakery… without realizing that in my terrible pronunciation, I had basically just asked for suffering.

Lesson Learned: Knowing even a few key phrases can make a huge difference.

Avoid My Mistake: Before traveling anywhere, learn 10 essential words and phrases: Hello, thank you, please, where is/are, excuse me, bathroom, help, how much, etc.

Even if you butcher the pronunciation, people will appreciate the effort.

What I Wish I Knew Sooner About Travel Mistakes

Travel mistakes are inevitable, like realizing too late your budget airline lands two countries away or that “cozy” Airbnb actually means no windows and an aggressive colony of ants.

The good news? You can skip the suffering.

Learn from mine, and spend more time exploring and less time battling ATM fees or miming “help” to a pharmacist.

Now, what’s the worst travel mistake you’ve made? 

• Overpacked?
• Got stranded?
• Booked the wrong date?