24 Common Travel Mistakes to Avoid, According to T+L Travel Advisors

""Being rude to hotel staff. If you're patient and considerate, even during hiccups, the staff will go above and beyond to make the recovery extra special." - Kelly Grumbach, Quintessentially "Booking nonrefundable air fare or hotels. You'd be surprised the number of times I get called to help with a direct booking because the wrong dates or destination were booked." - Carmen Teresa Targa, Condado Travel"

""Exchanging money at airports and hotels. Sometimes there's no way around it, but they charge higher conversion rates plus higher fees. Standard market prices can be found at bank ATMs." - Mo Noubani, The Travel Box International "Booking too late. Destinations are filling up a year (or more) in advance. Hotels, guides, and transport services get booked and prices increase. Once you've decided on a place, contact a travel advisor to start planning." - Niall Causer, Audley Travel"

Many common travel problems arise from small, preventable decisions such as booking nonrefundable fares, exchanging money at airports, and leaving insufficient connection time. Rude behavior toward staff reduces chances of helpful recovery during hiccups. Booking too late or limiting travel to high-season windows increases cost, crowds, and limited availability for hotels, guides, and transport. Exchanging currency at airports or hotels incurs higher conversion rates and fees compared with bank ATMs. For long or complex itineraries, allow longer connection times and consult travel advisors to secure better timing, pricing, and contingency options.

Read at Travel + Leisure