Twelve International Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them

By Dirk Ebener - September 17, 2025

“Every traveler makes mistakes—but the real adventure begins when you turn those slip-ups into stories worth remembering.”

Travel has always been a big part of my life. My first trips were in Germany, where taking a train to another city sparked my curiosity about other cultures. At sixteen, I left Europe for the first time, heading to Asia and Northern Africa with just a backpack and a love for adventure.

Those early trips showed me that travel is exciting and full of surprises—great meals, late-night train rides, and sometimes, expensive mistakes.

Over the years, I’ve set foot in more than sixty countries, and every journey has been shaped not just by the beauty of the destinations but also by the challenges. I’ve learned that the most valuable travel lessons often come from mishaps, such as missed trains, confusing visa requirements, language misunderstandings, or even ordering the wrong meal.

These experiences have changed how I prepare for trips, stay flexible, and handle surprises. I’ve missed flights but also found the best airport ramen I’ve ever had. I’ve been stuck in small towns and ended up sharing wine and laughter with locals I never would have met otherwise.

Food is often the bridge that turns mistakes into stories. A wrong turn might lead me to a family-run restaurant I would never have found. An overbooked hotel might prompt me to choose a homestay, where breakfast becomes a feast of local traditions and customs. Travel mistakes, with the right mindset, don’t ruin a trip—they enrich it.

That’s why I want to share twelve common mistakes travelers make, and more importantly, how to solve them when you’re caught in the moment. Enjoy reading "Twelve International Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them."

1. Forgetting About Visa or Entry Requirements

It’s easy to buy a ticket and think your passport is all you need. Many travelers only discover at the airport that they need a visa, proof of their next flight, or even vaccination papers.

Solution: Always check your destination’s entry requirements at least a few weeks in advance. If you’re already at the airport and stuck, head straight to your airline counter—they may help you apply for an emergency eVisa or rebook your flight for later the same day. While waiting, take it as a chance to explore airport dining: I once discovered a delicious pho stand in Singapore during a visa delay.

2. Overpacking and Carrying Too Much

Dragging several suitcases through bumpy streets or busy train stations is one of the quickest ways to turn excitement into frustration.

Solution: Pack less than you think you need. If you’ve already packed too much, consider sending things home or donating what you don’t need. I once found myself in Florence carrying a huge suitcase up four flights of stairs. After that, I started mailing souvenirs home instead of carrying them with me. Plus, traveling with less makes it much easier to stop at food markets—you’ll always have your hands free for fresh bread or local snacks.

3. Not Learning Key Phrases in the Local Language

It’s a mistake to think English will work everywhere. Even simple tasks, such as ordering food or asking for directions, can become stressful.

Solution: Learn at least ten essential phrases—“please,” “thank you,” “where is,” “I would like,” and “how much” go a long way. If you’re already in the situation, use translation apps or draw pictures on paper. Once in Istanbul, I couldn’t explain what dish I wanted, so I sketched a fish and pointed—the chef laughed, and ten minutes later, I had one of the best grilled fish dinners of my life.

4. Ignoring Jet Lag and Sleep

Arriving in a new country and forcing yourself to explore without resting often leads to being tired, grumpy, and missing out on things.

Solution: Plan your first meal wisely. Instead of a heavy dinner, opt for something light yet local—like a bowl of noodle soup in Asia or a mezze platter in the Mediterranean. Food helps you adjust to local rhythms. If you’re already overtired, give yourself permission to nap. I once overslept in Tokyo and missed a temple tour, but waking up refreshed led me to a late-night sushi bar that became a highlight of my trip.

5. Forgetting Travel Insurance

It seems unnecessary until you really need it. Lost bags, medical issues, or missed flights can end up costing a significant amount.

Solution: If you forgot to buy insurance before leaving, many companies allow you to purchase it even after your trip has begun. If you’re already in a sticky situation, lean on your credit card’s travel protection (often overlooked). When I lost a bag in Morocco, my insurance covered replacement clothes—but more importantly, I ended up buying traditional attire from a local souk, which became both practical and a treasured memory.

6. Mismanaging Money Abroad

Using only one card, carrying too much cash, or not knowing the exchange rate can leave you vulnerable to being stuck or paying too much.

Solution: Always carry at least two cards from different banks. If you’re already stuck, find a trusted hotel concierge or a major restaurant—they can help arrange secure payment or direct you to a safe ATM. When my card was once eaten by an ATM in Buenos Aires, I paid for my meal by offering to wash dishes. Instead, the restaurant owner accepted my US dollars at a fair rate, and we shared empanadas while waiting for my bank to call back.

7. Relying Only on Technology

Phones run out of battery, apps stop working, and Wi-Fi can be gone just when you need it most.

Solution: Always keep a paper backup of your accommodation address, key contacts, and a simple map. If you’re already lost without Wi-Fi, ask locals in cafes or convenience stores—they usually know enough to point you in the right direction. In Kyoto, when my phone died, a shopkeeper walked me ten blocks to my guesthouse, and in return, I joined her family for tea the next day.

8. Eating Only at Tourist Spots

It’s tempting to eat at restaurants near big sights, but you’ll often get food that costs too much and isn’t memorable.

Solution: Walk a few streets away from tourist hubs and look for where locals eat. If you’re already seated at a tourist trap, make the best of it: order just a drink or appetizer, then move on to a hidden gem. In Rome, leaving a pricey piazza café led me to a tiny trattoria down a side alley—where the homemade pasta was both cheaper and unforgettable.

9. Misjudging Transportation

Missing trains, not understanding how tickets work, or taking the wrong bus can waste hours.

Solution: Buy tickets in advance when possible, and always double-check platform numbers. If you’re already stranded, stay calm—transport mishaps often lead to unexpected discoveries. I once boarded the wrong train in Bavaria and ended up in a village where a bakery was serving still-warm pretzels. That wrong turn became one of the sweetest mistakes of my travels.

10. Not Staying Flexible

The biggest mistake travelers make is holding on too tightly to their plans. Flights get canceled, weather changes, and local festivals can close off whole streets.

Solution: Leave room for spontaneity. If your plans are already disrupted, pivot to food—it’s the most universal way to experience culture. When a storm canceled my ferry to Santorini, I stayed in Athens and spent the evening in a taverna, where locals danced and poured ouzo into tiny glasses for everyone. What could have been a disappointment turned into a night of celebration.

11. Not Keeping an Electronic Copy of Important Documents

Losing your passport, ID, or travel documents without copies can turn a minor problem into a major one.

Solution: Scan or photograph all critical documents—such as your passport, visas, travel insurance, and tickets—and store them securely in cloud storage or email them to yourself. If you’re already in this situation, visit your country’s embassy or consulate with any digital copies you have—it can speed up the replacement process. On one trip, I left my passport in a hotel safe and only realized it at the airport. Thankfully, having a scanned copy on my phone helped ease the embassy process and saved hours.

12. Forgetting International Time Zones When Planning

It’s easy to forget that time zones change flight times, train schedules, and even restaurant bookings. Missing a flight because you thought “12:00” was your local time, not the new time zone, is a common mistake.

Solution: Set your devices to local time as soon as you land. Double-check every ticket for “departure” versus “arrival” times, especially for overnight journeys. If you’re already caught in a time-zone mix-up, call your airline or train operator immediately—they often rebook at a reduced fee if you explain. I once got confused about the time zones between Spain and Portugal and missed my train,

but it gave me an unexpected chance to enjoy a seaside lunch of grilled sardines in Lisbon before catching the next one.

Final Thoughts: Turning Mistakes into Memories

International travel mistakes will happen. No matter how carefully you plan, you’ll forget something, miss something, or make a mistake. But here’s the truth: mistakes often become the best stories. A delayed flight might lead you to the best airport food you’ve ever tasted. A missed train might help you find a bakery that changes how you think about bread. A language mistake might turn into an evening of laughter with strangers.

When you face these challenges, stop, take a breath, and remember: travel is not about being perfect, it’s about how you see things. Food, kindness, and being flexible will help you more than any guidebook. So the next time you are lost, hungry, or unsure, go with the mistake—it might become the best part of your trip.

Dirk Ebener is the founder and creator behind the Food Blogger Journey website, drawing on over 40 years of international travel across more than 60 countries. His global adventures have deepened his understanding of regional cuisines, local customs, and the powerful connection between food and culture. From bustling street markets in Asia to quiet vineyard dinners in Europe, Dirk captures authentic culinary experiences through immersive storytelling. Through Food Blogger Journey, he invites readers to explore the world one dish at a time.

© 2025 Food Blogger Journey. All rights reserved. The experiences, opinions, and photos this blog shares are based on personal travel and culinary exploration. Reproduction or distribution of content without written permission is prohibited.

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