Traveling is a great way to discover new places, food, and culture. Besides that, we also become aware of so many things we never knew existed. Although a well-planned itinerary can make your travel memorable, there are some mistakes that can ruin your vacation. Some of these mistakes can cost you money. So, whether you’re going on a business trip or a family vacation, here are some travel mistakes you can avoid.

Overpacking
Overpacking is the primary travel mistake to avoid. Interestingly, it is also one of the most common mistakes made especially by first time travelers. Packing too many clothes is just going make your luggage heavy and difficult to carry around. So, pack smart when it comes to clothing. For instance, a pair of jeans can be worn more than once.

Not buying travel insurance
Failing to buy travel insurance is yet another travel mistake one should avoid. A travel insurance not only covers for medical expenses in case of unforeseen events, but it can also cover for misplaced baggage. Some travel insurance providers also cover cancellation fees if you must unexpectedly cancel your travel plans.

Tightly scheduled layovers
Most travelers book multi-stop flights as they are affordable. While booking multi-stop flights can help you save money, a tightly scheduled layover can be a risky affair due to the unpredictability of flight conditions. If one flight gets delayed due to bad weather, you may end up missing the connecting flight if there is insufficient boarding time. Travel experts suggest keeping a window of at least three hours to avoid hectic travel.

Planning too many activities
The purpose of traveling is to relax and unwind. However, some people plan too many sight-seeing and other activities in a single journey. This limits the opportunity to discover unknown places like scenic hiking trails or local cuisines that may not be a part of a traditional itinerary. Soak up the best of what each destination has to offer, and keep some of those conventional tourist activities for another trip.

Opting for skip-the-line tours can save you from waiting in long queues for tickets at tourist spots as the private guide has access to these tickets.

Overlooking your cellphone plan
It is yet another travel mistake to avoid. Overlooking your cellphone plan before traveling to the destination can get your cellphone bill running if it does not have a roaming plan. Make sure to turn off mobile data as the network carrier may levy roaming charges, which might further inflate your bill. Make use of wi-fi at your hotel and cafes in your area to upload photos or to access information for your destination.

Finally, don’t forget skip-the-line tickets. If you are interested in a tour in Rome, where you can visit the Vatican Colosseum or the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, we recommend buying skip-the-line tickets online. Skip-the-line tickets can also be purchased for tours to the Louvre Museum or the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. These tickets help avoid long queues at the tourist attraction, which will save time and let you cover more destinations.

Top travel cards
Earn rewards on your next vacation with Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Card, and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards. With the best travel cards to earn miles, you can get rewards in the range of 1x to 5x, enjoy up to 6.50% cashback, and one-time bonus of 75,000 miles!

If you are looking to cash in on all those miles accumulated over the years, then Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, United Club Infinite Card, and Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit cards rank among the top picks.