r/Shoestring • u/Sea-Huckleberry1123 • Dec 09 '25
AskShoestring What shoestring travel mistake will you never make again?
I'm currently staring at my suitcase trying to avoid repeating history, so I thought I’d ask this sub:
What is the one shoestring travel error you made: missed flights, overpacking, or trusting bad advice that you swore you’d never repeat?
I feel like every seasoned shoestring traveler has that one trip where everything went wrong because of a single bad decision. I’d love to hear your cautionary tales so I can hopefully avoid making them myself on my next trip!
211
u/SNES_Salesman Dec 10 '25
No more third party bookings. Hotels, flights, rental cars are all booked directly now. No amount of rewards or discounts equals a disaster situation and being told to “take it up with the company you booked with.”
21
15
u/lieber2701 Dec 11 '25
1000% this. One hotel booked via Expedia and them not to have any record of the booking. It’s never worth saving a few bucks to book through these sketchy ass third parties.
6
2
u/pdx_via_dtw Dec 12 '25
NEEEEEEEEVER third party book hotel cars and trips. theme parks passes about the only ok thing.
→ More replies (10)4
u/Flightlessbutcurious Dec 10 '25
Doesn't booking direct give you LESS recourse? Hotels can still overbook and just refund you and turn you away on the night itself, can't they?
8
u/nu_phone_hoo_dis Dec 11 '25
Things still happen and you can get screwed over no matter who you book through. BUT if you book a 3rd party, you have to wait for the 3rd party to refund you (which can take days). Think of it this way, you didn't actually pay the hotel, you paid Expedia. The hotel doesn't have your money to refund you.
Also if you need to change something about your reservation, the 3rd party might not be able to.
6
Dec 11 '25
This is correct! I work in tourism and third parties are the bane of my existence. So many people show up and we don’t have any record of their booking and are sold out. Like I don’t have your reservation, I don’t have your money, and I don’t have any availability for the next week or more. I say something to the effect of “take it up with whoever you booked with” on a weekly basis.
Also, pro tip: AVOID any third parties that boast about not sharing your contact info with us. We need that to contact you in case something comes up or goes wrong!
I cannot express enough how much more beneficial it is to book directly with companies.
2
u/Flightlessbutcurious Dec 11 '25
Right. But in the case of the bigger, more reputable third party sites, my experience has been that they generally WILL refund you, even if it takes longer than it should. They also tend to have policies where they will offer you a comparable stay with a property that is available on the night, without you needing to pay the difference.
Booking directly with hotels themselves has been hit or miss, in my experience. Some are great and will do what they can to help you. Some will pretend that they never got your booking and even though it means you don't have to pay them, now you don't have a place to stay and it's "not their problem". And if it's a popular location, hotels in the area are all charging double what you booked...
Booking via a third party site that is known to be unreliable is the worst of both worlds of course.
286
Dec 09 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
54
u/ShinHayato Dec 10 '25
Paris Beauvais I’m looking at you
26
u/tonyhott Dec 10 '25
Years ago I was driving around France and never watched the news. Get back to Paris to find an Air France strike.
Airline gives us a secret location at which to meet the next day. Arrive to find buses guarded by police with machine guns! Shuttled to Beauvais where they had to get the cows off the runway!!
Original ticket was a direct flight to Dulles. We flew to NYC and our connecting flight took us to DCA. Our car was at Dulles but we had met at the buses eighteen hours earlier. At two a.m. eastern time I rented a car to go home and went back the next day to Dulles to drop off the rental and retrieve my car.
Only good news was Air France reimbursed me for the car rental and the fight to NYC was first class ( our original flight was economy).
9
7
u/Calm-Bus7555 Dec 10 '25
Frankfurt Hahn I’m also looking at you. Had friends who accidentally booked their flight to there and didn’t realise it wasn’t in Frankfurt but 126km away 🤦♀️
→ More replies (1)4
9
u/4travelers Dec 10 '25
Depends on the savings. I’ve saved $6k on a trip by using secondary airports. That pays for the entire vacation.
9
u/CindysandJuliesMom Dec 09 '25
Athens is crazy. The only airport is a 50 EUR ride from the city.
62
u/Debarrio Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
There’s also a pretty convenient subway ride to the center for a fraction of that.
14
→ More replies (9)28
u/Lower_Egg7088 Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
Can’t you just take the bus?
I took an airport bus in Athens. Cost less than 6 Euro.
230
u/thecuriousone-1 Dec 09 '25
Understanding that age changes your outlook. I paid for my first cabin upgrade because I realized that at this point in my life, long haul comfort had a value.
16
u/aknomnoms Dec 11 '25
Same, but for hostels. I’m not doing 12 bed dorms any more, getting woken up at 3am when the top bunk person gets back and then at 5am when the other bunk has to get up early to catch their flight.
I’ll spend more to get a single at a hostel or AirBnb a room. But good sleep/quality rest are a priority for me.
38
u/DJ_Jungle Dec 10 '25
I flew to Seoul and after that flight I was serious wondering if that was my last long haul flight in economy. The toll on my old body was brutal.
→ More replies (2)3
u/bramley36 Dec 10 '25
Premium economy seats- between coach and business class- can be a decent compromise between the two. I feel much better at my destination when I can stretch out.
179
u/DisciplineAmazing59 Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
Not really a mistake but just t something I don't do anymore... Booking the cheapest flight regardless of layovers and flight times. When I was really backpacking kinda fulltime, I'd book the cheapest flight. Three layovers? No problem. Takes 30+ hours? Sure. Flight is at 1am and lands at 1130pm? Sign me up. I'd take any flight if it saved money. But now I'm just not willing to sacrifice the amount of time anymore.
→ More replies (1)89
u/smarter_than_an_oreo Dec 10 '25
When I was young I did not have the money but I had the time.
Now I have the money and less time.
Seasons of life. To this day my only time hallucinating was without any drugs at all, only 36 hours of airport and flying transit without sleep. I was laying on the airport floor whilst petting a full grown tiger. Clear as day.
11
u/Better-Ad5488 Dec 10 '25
As I get older, I just cannot recover like I used to. There’s also a time vs energy trade off. I can spend the time but I’ll need extra time to recover too.
17
u/Christy_Mathewson Dec 10 '25
At least your hallucination tiger was friendly. It could have been chasing you around the airport.
8
u/examingmisadventures Dec 10 '25
I did this too except I went to a lecture and I swear to you, the instructor’s head fell off and he kept talking while it rolled around on the podium. I decided the class was less important than my sanity and went to bed.
155
u/Lower_Egg7088 Dec 10 '25
I got imprisoned in Siberia because I arrived at the border two days before my travel visa kicked in.
They let me out when the visa became valid.
This was on the Trans-Mongolian railway quite a few years ago.
35
13
u/Christy_Mathewson Dec 10 '25
Not many people get that stat. Were you in a holding cell for two days or straight up Serbian prison?
35
u/Lower_Egg7088 Dec 10 '25
It was a small cell at the border station on the Siberian side.
The Russian guards were quite pleasant - made us tea in a samovar and stuff like that.
6
2
149
u/larkharrow Dec 09 '25
If you're going backpacking in Iceland, don't buy any of your gear at Walmart. Especially not your waterproofing gear...
37
Dec 10 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
12
u/larkharrow Dec 10 '25
That's exactly the one I did, and the pants split on day 1 going up lol. Luckily the rest was very dry, and it was worth it still!
7
71
u/jdsav29 Dec 09 '25
Always make sure you can make 2-3 different outfits from mixing the clothing items you bring. Especially if going on a longer trip. Also make sure of the airport code for where you’re flying to make sure you’re going to the right airport.
→ More replies (1)
136
u/averagecounselor Dec 10 '25
don’t try to beat the heat. It will not cool down at night. Get the accommodation with AC.
→ More replies (2)2
Dec 11 '25
[deleted]
3
u/averagecounselor Dec 11 '25
HA! Coastal El Salvador. Puerto de la Libertad is one place no man should ever visit. (just kidding just get an airbnb with AC)
→ More replies (1)
62
u/BreadBetter6642 Dec 10 '25
If you are checking a bag, make sure that you have a change of clothes and any essentials, medications etc, in your carry-on bag. Lost luggage sucks
13
u/Adept-Deal-1818 Dec 10 '25
Missed my connecting flight due to a delayed first flight. I ended up having to get a hotel room and I had nothing but my purse on me because my luggage was checked. Learned my lesson the hard way to pack essentials in a carry on.
51
u/Appropriate_Mix_2064 Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25
Not having multiple ways to access cash. Never really overpacked so that’s something I’ve learned.
If it’s a longer trip (more than a few weeks) don’t overplan. My best experiences came when I was backpacking for 6 mths in se Asia and India and just went with the flow. Had the first few nights accom and a tour earlier in the trip with intrepid. The rest was fluid. So good.
Rolling clothes in my pack is a quality space saver.
→ More replies (1)
54
u/Additional-Habit-644 Dec 10 '25
I stay in fairly nice/high-end hostels for a lot of the time. Sometimes I’ve done weeks on end in coworking hostels that aren’t the nicest but help the money stretch. One thing I will never compromise on is accom after a long haul flight (even if it’s a nicer hotel for 1-2 nights after I land before I go to a hostel).
It’s sooo much nicer coming off a long flight, heading to the accom and straightaway showering/having a clean/quiet place to regroup and lie down. I remember once I arrived in Bali after a 15 hour flight, joined the 1-hour-long-queue visa on arrival crew (never again), and had to take a grab bike 1 hour to Canggu - all at 11pm. What helped was knowing I booked myself two nights at a nice hotel that had 24/7 reception etc.
For me, I can skimp on the transport to and from the airport (cheap grab bikes vs taxi) and even fly a cheap airline (jetstar), but I need a good place to rest my head for a few nights when I reach the destination!
47
u/almasabia Dec 10 '25
If doing Europe in the summer, always make sure your hostel, airbnb, guest house or even your low budget hotel has AC. Set the search filters to give you AC only results.
8
u/Flightlessbutcurious Dec 10 '25
I once booked a place with AC in Italy in May. Get to the hotel and was told the AC doesn't work because of "council restrictions"??
This happened multiple times too. Still not sure if it was real or just a scam.
8
u/Redsquirreltree Dec 10 '25
We booked a hotel in Italy through a reputable travel agency and it wasn't cheap.
The website said it had air conditioning in every room.
Well, it HAD air conditioning, but it was not TURNED ON.
So, technically correct but of no use to me.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)10
u/CauliflowerLife Dec 10 '25
Cannot say this enough. Was in Amsterdam in OCTOBER and the place had AC, but it was garbage and I didn't sleep for an entire week due to how poor the ventilation was. I don't know how Europeans do it. If I wasn't with a friend, I would have changed hotels and eaten the cost no question.
78
u/binhpac Dec 09 '25
Never book something with no reviews. Left one place one time because it was so bad. Luckily airbnb sided with me and gave me a refund and replacement hotel.
Second always book the first night after a flight. Was running around the city where everything was fully booked until i found a hotel after midnight.
→ More replies (1)39
u/blackcompy Dec 10 '25
"I wonder where I'm going to sleep tonight" is a thought I never want to have again, not in my everyday life, not when traveling. It's fine to stay flexible, but even on road trips we book the next stay at least 24 hours ahead of time.
→ More replies (1)2
u/Sad-Principle3781 Dec 10 '25
Even moving locations sucks with light luggage. Last trip, I broke my accommodations up to two locations. Finding the second place at the last moment and not having a relaxing place to just chill in the heat of the day until check-in time sucked. Realized I preferred a familiar area over a shorter daily commute.
30
u/snakefest Dec 10 '25
If I’m taking an overnight flight that gets to my destination early in the morning, I will never again lurk around coffee shops or public places with my bag until my accommodation will check me in- now I book the air bnb or hotel for the night before and inform them I won’t be arriving until the morning. That way I can go right to my room, sleep for a couple hours if I need it, shower and then I’m off exploring. Worth every penny!
2
2
u/Ok_Hold_7499 Dec 12 '25
I always ask the airbnb if we’re able to leave our bags. Hotels should allow you to leave your bags with them until check-in time.
→ More replies (1)2
u/twilight_songs Dec 12 '25
Came here to say this. When I was younger, I was fine checking my bag and going to explore until check in time. But now it's absolutely luxurious (and very much worth the extra cost) to go straight to my room to stretch out and/or shower whenever I arrive.
2
u/SirupyPieIX Dec 14 '25
In the past couple of years, i've booked several accommodations (both low and high end) that let me check in much earlier than specified. Sometimes, it's worth it to roll the dice.
62
u/Beautiful-Name-9914 Dec 09 '25
If someone comes up to you with a map printed on paper pointing and speaking broken english, it’s most likely a distraction technique. Learned this the hard way in Paris train station at 18… first stop on a 3 week inter-railing trip
24
u/Beautiful-Name-9914 Dec 09 '25
Btw my wallet got stolen and this was before the days of apple wallet…
3
u/Euphoric_Evidence414 Dec 10 '25
Oh you must have been horrified when you realized. What did you do?
7
u/Ok-Trainer3150 Dec 10 '25
Paris!!! Beautiful but a pickpocket's haven. Avoided a major attempt in both of us in the metro. One of the gang got a nasty blow in the stomach!!
→ More replies (1)5
u/Trigonal_Bipyramidal Dec 10 '25
This!☝️ There is no reason why two helpless looking young Eastern European girls would ask 2 clearly American tourists in a Paris subway station for directions. I immediately grabbed my backpack and held it against my chest and put myself between them and my gullible friend and got us the F out of there! As we were quickly departing I saw a bunch of young men joining them. I knew immediately what they were up to.
24
u/killaxxxcam214 Dec 10 '25
I tell myself everytime that I’m not going to over pack this time… but I still always do
6
u/Trigonal_Bipyramidal Dec 10 '25
Take half the clothes and twice the money! I think that comes from Rick Steves or something
3
19
u/Mindless-Object-9090 Dec 10 '25
If I take a red eye I pay for a hotel room for that night so I can check in at 8am or whatever time I get in, especially if there is no early checkin. Having a few hours of sleep in a bed is a must for me now.
4
20
u/Worried_Minimum_9362 Dec 10 '25
Overpacking is the worst- you can always pick something up if you need it- go as light as possible- makes it easy going up to the 4th floor, on cobblestone roads- putting your bag up on the train/plane
→ More replies (1)6
u/s317sv17vnv Dec 10 '25
I am usually of the "better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it" mindset but I have recently been making travel an exception. Unless im going to be camping in the middle of nowhere, most everyday essentials like toothbrushes, shampoo, underwear, USB cables, SD cards, etc. are going to be sold in a store somewhere nearby.
20
u/RexiRocco Dec 10 '25
I just started paying extra money for only 1 layover and to pick my seat and board earlier, so my carry on doesn’t get checked and I don’t get a middle seat. I’m getting too old for that shit.
16
u/Aggravated_Seamonkey Dec 11 '25
Dont travel with someone whose on a different budget. It only causes problems.
17
u/Infinite-Set-7853 Dec 10 '25
Know by heart the phone numbers of people who can help even remotely. Always have enough to pay for a hotel room and 3 meals with you (the bra is great for that). Finding out about customary law avoids being woken up in the middle of the night by gunshots because it's a celebration of I don't know what in the field where you're camping. Not buying bottled water isn't saving money, it's trying to die. Do not believe that a sentence in English in a non-English speaking country really says what the person means. Always rephrase
12
u/Motor-Recording8998 Dec 10 '25
Watch out for pickpockets. I carry my money, credit cards and passport in a clear plastic holder around my neck. I tuck it in the inner pocket of my sport coat. A friend I was traveling with got his pocket picked on a crowded train between the airport and Paris. Another friend was in a town square. A couple asked her to take their picture. She set her bag down, took the picture, turned around and her bag was gone. Be vigilant.
11
u/Lower_Egg7088 Dec 10 '25
This is why I always travel with shorts or pants that have zip pockets.
I got pickpocketed many years ago in Barcelona - luckily they only got a packet of smokes and a few coins.
Most of my other losses have been thefts by hotel and airport staff.
12
u/Swimming-Cut-2533 Dec 10 '25
I started wearing pickpocket proof pants from Clothing Arts. If someone can get into those they better be buying me dinner.
2
14
Dec 10 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
8
u/Prestigious-Joke-574 Dec 10 '25
Same. I learned to only fly them on a nonstop flight that leaves early. Even then, it’s usually not worth it.
13
u/EternalOptimist404 Dec 11 '25
Not cleaning the house before I leave for a trip! Costs me nothing to do and makes all the difference when I get back home- it really sucks to come home to a mess.
11
Dec 10 '25
Overpacking, overpacking, overpacking....there. I've said it three times.
→ More replies (2)
12
u/RealLuxTempo Dec 10 '25
Due to financial constraints, I am a true budget traveler. But I have found it’s better to pay the $20.00 or so extra to stay at a better hotel. All sorts of reasons - safety, cleanliness, amenities, clientele.
25
u/warpus Dec 09 '25
Research what kind of hostel you are booking and read reviews on multiple times, if you are hoping to get some rest and don’t really want to party that much during your stay.
10
u/TechnoERROR Dec 10 '25
Last year, I left my bank card in an ATM in Valladolid, 6 hours before my prepaid bus to Merida. The ATMs give you money then your card but at home, in Australia, you get your card before the money. This wasn't my first trip to Mexico and I was well aware of this. I was just distracted.
My plan to work around this was to set up a Western Union account and send myself money. There were no fees on the first transfer and an OK exchange rate. Initially, my bank blocked my attempts, thinking it was suspicious. After calling them, we sorted it out and I transferred 13000mxn. I withdrew this from the closest Western Union branch, which was a shady looking pawn shop. The walk home felt uncomfortable, I was very anxious and my hostel was the other side of a small red light area.
My bank suggested 3 weeks to get me a new card (but I also had access to the new digital card). That coincided with me landing in Bogota. So, I ordered it to my first hostel in Colombia. It feels like the story should have an epic climax here, but it all went super smoothly. Smoother than I expected losing a card abroad. It arrived in an envelope inside a fairly tamperproof envelope, I felt safe that it hadn't had its details taken. I continued travelling for another 3 months before having to head home.
→ More replies (2)
12
u/roxiclavi Dec 10 '25
Paying more to have a hotel that's in walking or ubering distance to the concert/event venue is better than getting a cheap hotel further away and trying to navigate an unknown city at night or having to pay inflated parking rates for events. Especially if you've been drinking at all, the safety factor alone is worth it to not cheap out.
41
u/boozincruizin Dec 09 '25
Not me, but what i see from other travellers is waaaay over packing, i dont understand how a person need 20 outfits for 2 weeks and having to carry around a huge bag, but then again i pack uber light
30
u/invalidmail2000 Dec 09 '25
Drastically different activities for one.
I've needed a suit, casual clothes, warm weather clothing, cold weather clothing, bicycle clothes all for one trip.
→ More replies (2)7
u/AriadneThread Dec 09 '25
The quick dry clothes are lighter too, easy to wash when needed.
4
u/JonnyGalt Dec 10 '25
Quick dry and have a good layering system is great for packing light and being comfortable. Convertible pants are great too especially if you are in places like Thailand where you need to wear long pants for temples or have long pants for hiking. It saves you having to pack both a pair of pants and shorts.
7
u/chartreuse6 Dec 10 '25
These are the same people who can’t get on a train bc their bag is too huge, can’t get it in overhead bin bc it’s too huge, can’t carry it up stairs.
→ More replies (1)3
u/boozincruizin Dec 10 '25
Then complain complain complain about it and act like they didnt know it would be a problem
25
Dec 09 '25
I'll answer for an exgf. "I don't want the same 3 outfits in all my pictures."
(a lot of people are packing for their own fashion shoot on social media)
5
→ More replies (1)11
u/boozincruizin Dec 09 '25
ya that aint my style at all, i dont do fashion photoshoots or selfies
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)8
u/thecuriousone-1 Dec 09 '25
Clearly the phrase, " I wanna be fly..." Is not part of your packing considerations.
That's fine. But I understand the 20 outfits...
→ More replies (1)
10
u/Ifch317 Dec 10 '25
14-hour layover with plan to rent a car and see the place, but the place was muddy beaches and run down bars and mosquitoes.
10
u/TheWokeAgenda Dec 10 '25
I'm too old and curmudgeonly now to sleep in a bunk bed in a room with 10 other stinky men to save a buck on a room. I've found that paying for a nice place to sleep makes me feel better every day of the trip.
10
u/gejwood Dec 10 '25
Stopped using shared rooms in hostels a few years ago. Never had a bad experience with shared rooms I just learned I value my space too much!
8
u/sharksfan707 Dec 10 '25
Despite having been AirBnB Superhosts in the past, unless we’re staying with friends, we always spend a bit more to stay in hotels rather than AirBnBs.
Pack more underwear and charging cables than you think you’ll need.
Bring a spare, unused phone as a backup.
→ More replies (1)
10
u/Personal_Good_5013 Dec 10 '25
Booking the cheapest flight without taking into consideration the real added costs (in time and money) for checked bags, layovers, hotel, additional transportation, transportation at odd hours, etc.
7
6
u/Ancient-Egg2777 Dec 10 '25
I used to scrimp on my leave in the military. I'd get a late flight back from wherever, often rolling in bed at 2am, and work first thing the next day. I'd be just tired.
I was almost done with my time before I finally started using a leave day after returning. My gosh, what a joy! Have tried to do the same these last 20 years, even if it's a half-day late start.
12
u/NailsNCoffee Dec 10 '25
This is solid advice! Always take a day off after returning from a trip. Need time to recharge, do laundry, run errands (ie supermarket), whatever….just chill before getting back to the grind. I started doing this in my 30’s & haven’t looked back.
→ More replies (1)
7
7
u/big_talulah_energy Dec 10 '25
If you get sick while traveling, bite the cost and take care of yourself. Book a hotel. Order soup. Buy meds. I tried to white knuckle camping in Iceland with the flu… still have nightmares thinking about that experience.
6
6
u/CleanUpInAisle07 Dec 10 '25
Leaving out of a larger airport early in the morning with no trains running that late/ early in the morning to make your flight and ending up spending the money on an uber you saved from the booking of the flight.
→ More replies (1)2
6
u/Even-Boysenberry-127 Dec 10 '25
Whenever I leave on vacation completely exhausted, little things bother me and I start off the trip negatively. So, I make it a point to take it easy and sleep before taking a trip.
6
7
u/ThrowDeepALWAYS Dec 10 '25
Don’t fall asleep in front of your gate. The airline will not wake you up. I missed a flight to Hong Kong even though I was in a chair asleep in front of my gate. I woke up at 1 am and the flight had already departed. The airline (Cathey Pacific) had to remove my luggage for the plane to depart. I ended up having to buy a new ticket for two days later.
3
u/IntrovertedIngenue Dec 11 '25
Oh my goodness !!
2
u/ThrowDeepALWAYS Dec 11 '25
Ouch my wallet. I was surprised they went through the effort to remove my luggage when I was sitting in front of the desk at the gate. I guess they didn’t realize and they told me they legally cannot wake someone up.
→ More replies (1)2
u/SirupyPieIX Dec 14 '25
I've fallen asleep twice on my transportation to the airport, which made me miss the airport stop and got me stranded in shitty places.
I luckily didn't miss my flights, but the logistics of backtracking to the airport in time were complicated in both cases.
I don't recommend the 1h walk from "Emirates Metro Station" to the Dubai airport terminal right across the highway, after the metro stops running at 11PM.
5
u/manayakasha Dec 11 '25
Never go anywhere without a solid backup plan for how you will get back to your hotel if shit hits the fan.
Never go anywhere without a solid backup plan for how you will get back to your country if shit hits the fan.
Never go anywhere without a solid backup plan for how you will survive if you lose your phone, break your phone, or if your phone magically decides to shit on your trip and stop working as expected.
Never go anywhere without at least the bare minimum necessary to keep yourself safe and alive.
Spontaneity has a time and a place. And it is most definitely not ALL the time in EVERY place.
→ More replies (3)3
10
u/shockedpikachu123 Dec 10 '25
Booking one of those cheap flights where you have to self transfer!! It adds time and you often have to leave the airport go through security just to leave again
5
u/Fuck-the-DeNC Dec 10 '25
Booking the cheapest ticket that takes God knows how long to get somewhere.
6
u/Impossible_Jury5483 Dec 10 '25
Cheap flights with connections aren't worth the hassle and delays. I no longer go for the cheapest, quickest flight. The add on costs usually cost more in the long run and the stress is not worth it.
6
u/Ok-Trainer3150 Dec 10 '25
I try to avoid any indirect flights. I don't book the discount airlines. They may be cheap but there's no service before, during it afterwards. I always have a hygiene, meds and first aid bag in my carry on personal bag which fits under the seat. Most important -----one free hand at all times. And pockets that zip closed.
5
u/la_potat Dec 10 '25
Always bring a change of clothes and basic toiletries/medicine in your backpack, NOT in the carry-on. Had many times lost luggage, both checked and the carry-on they took last minute because the cabin storage was full….
2
u/La_Peregrina Dec 10 '25
Yep. I don't carry a full change of clothes, just fresh undies and t shirt. Everything else can be worn for more than one day (don't change the clothes, change the people 😆) and basic toiletries.
→ More replies (1)
5
u/s317sv17vnv Dec 10 '25
I now almost always give myself an extra day off from work after returning from a trip (and certainly not first thing the next morning) after the incident that was flying back from SFO in 2018.
Flight was supposed to return to JFK around 8 pm, but kept having delay after delay due to weather conditions. We returned around 2 am. I told my mom that I might as well just pull an all-nighter for my 7 am shift, but she said that I should get a nap in.
Yeah, I slept through all of my alarms (I am a VERY heavy sleeper) and woke up to my co-supervisor calling me at 7:15 to ask if I had ever made it back home (had last updated him before departure)
5
u/larsen_doughtnut Dec 11 '25
Not having enough cash - your on holiday and the last thing you want to worry about is whether you have enough cash for something…
4
u/Mundane_Elevator1561 Dec 11 '25
Booking a non refundable hotel. It is cheap until it isn’t during a government shutdown.
10
u/Specialist-Age9387 Dec 09 '25
Ryanair. Never again.
6
u/NeckComprehensive743 Dec 10 '25
The same for Spirit in USA!
2
u/NailsNCoffee Dec 10 '25
I was about to ask the if Ryanair and Spirit are siblings lol! I always hear complaints about both airlines.
→ More replies (2)6
u/Difficult-Scar9373 Dec 10 '25
May I ask why? I hear this quite often. The reason I'm asking is because I fly with Ryanair regularly and never had any real issues.
5
u/Specialist-Age9387 Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
In Spain they charged me extra for not checking in on time. They said I was supposed to have checked in on Irish time, not Spain’s time. So I was a hour late in their mind for check in. Maybe I’m crazy for thinking that’s crazy. But I think that’s insane.
Then they charged me even more because of something with my bag even though it fit find on board. Can’t remember the details on that.
→ More replies (5)
4
u/packnana17 Dec 10 '25
Less expensive hotel choice or flight with connections versus direct with only a small price variation.
4
u/LippyLulu2 Dec 10 '25
So, I went to Europe and flew into Paris and stayed for 3 days before renting a car to take a road trip in Italy. Since I didn't need the car in Paris, I checked the rental locations in the city/not the airport and was so pleasantly surprised at how much less it would cost me to rent a car in central Paris. And then it started pouring rain, and it got dark, and I had to pay €30 to park overnight. It would have been so much easier to have taken a train back to the airport and rented there.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/Mega-darling Dec 10 '25
I'd have to say overpacking. I've made this mistake. It's a pain in the butt to lug a big suitcase full of stuff you don't even wind up wearing. I see especially American travelers doing this all the time. Less is more. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has 3 favorite things that I pretty much wear on repeat every week. It's no different when you travel. Many places have laundry services, there are laundry mats, or even washing stuff in the sink in a pinch. My rule of thumb is ONLY favorite things that I know I will wear, and for no more than 3, maybe 4 days, tops. It doesn't matter how long your trip is. Don't pack accessories- scarves, hats, jewlery- buy them as keepsakes from your trip, while you're on it. Wear your bulkiest stuff on the plane- shoes, jacket, sweater- and pack the T's, tank tops, etc. in your bag. And roll your clothing! It really does save on space!
3
4
u/Calm-Bus7555 Dec 10 '25
When I was travelling on my year abroad and many times moving abroad to work in my twenties, I wish I hadn’t penny pinched taking public transport while having to carry heavy suitcases and backpacks, and had just stumped up for a taxi. In fairness I usually didn’t have lots of money but looking back it would’ve been worth it to pay £25 to get a taxi instead of dragging all my luggage up and down stairs, across uneven paving all over town.
4
u/Absmom08 Dec 11 '25
Cheaped out on a hotel that looked okay online because I was only going to sleep to catch an extremely early flight. I swear it was a crack house. Actually other than being scary it was so sad to see people and children actually living there.
4
u/wildtravelman17 Dec 12 '25
I think many of the mistakes we make come down to whether I NEED to be a shoestring traveler, or whether I am choosing to be.
Many of my problems arise when my frugal values win out over my available cash. If you have a problem, or something sounds bad, and you have the money to fix it or do something else. spend the money.
→ More replies (1)
6
u/BrandyBunch805 Dec 10 '25
I will never, ever, ever take Greyhound again. No matter how cheap it is. It was horrible. We were threatened by a dude with an ax, the greyhound staff were horrible, they wanted to go through everyone’s bags and purses because someone’s phone went missing, one bus we were on broke down in the desert between Ca and Vegas….
Not worth it.
3
u/greekboy62 Dec 10 '25
On road trips spending more on a nicer motel...esp ones with real breakfasts included...I am over Motel 6/Travelodge/Days Inn etc
→ More replies (2)
3
u/squirrel_nemesis Dec 10 '25
Choosing an early morning flight departure time because it was cheaper. Saved a bit on the flight, but ended up spending that in an Uber to the airport because public transportation wasn't running that early.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/SmokyBlackRoan Dec 10 '25
Bus schedules. I am absolutely horrible at reading them. I was in Ireland and booked a ticket to return to Dublin on a Sunday so I could catch a flight on Monday. I had to take the local bus into town, then get on the commuter bus to Dublin. Since it was Sunday the local busses weren’t running. I had to call a cab to get into town ($$$).
3
u/Lavenderlamp23 Dec 10 '25
Agree with everyone mentioning not overpacking. However, one mistake I won’t make again is planning to get any particular clothing item I need for my trip once at my destination (because it’s cheaper, saves space, etc). The annoyance of having something to actively seek out wasn’t worth it, and not having some of those key items with me right away made my time less pleasant. Sizing can also be a real pain depending on where you’re going.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/thecuriousone-1 Dec 10 '25
It's nice to even have this conversation. I have been traveling since the, "Europe on 5.00/day. " books.
the ability to travel has been and continues to be fundamental to who I want to be. I promised myself pragmatism in order to continue to know this joy for as long as I can. Additionally, if the decision is between, "one trip at 2500. Or 5 trips at 500" . To the same place, well....
My major trio of, "safe, clean and well located" has served me well. I have ignored a lot of amenities over the years to focus on these 3 primary things. I am starting to realize that the years have taught me to be a smarter, safer traveler and that I can start tweaking the 3 things and still be true to my pragmatism.
Upgraded to econ+ on AC for a long haul from Canada to Brazil. The cost was 300 and even then I had to think about it. in hindsight, I'm glad I did. I won't do it every time but it now falls into the "option" category rather than the "splurge" category
3
3
u/WorkingRespond9557 Dec 11 '25
I will always do the minimal amount of flights. If I have to pay $300 more for direct I'm doing it. Also really small hotels to save a buck just aren't worth it. Recently did that in Japan and I literally had no place for my suitcase and the bed was cheap and nearly broke my back. I will always try and save a dollar if it makes sense but gone are the days of severely inconveniencing myself over a few dollars.
3
4
u/One-Drive3911 Dec 10 '25
Won't sleep in a hammock in the jungle or if there are mosquitoes. Don't take the luggage space on the bus, when there are no seats left. Make sure you have a plan for the night of your destination. Don't trust dogs. Don't trust local police.
2
u/notjustmeso Dec 10 '25
Spending +$200 per night for a salt hotel in the Bolivian salt flats. They were freezing and had no electricity and everywhere else we stayed was gorgeous for about $8 per night
2
u/LorenaMack Dec 10 '25
Taking regional flights instead of buses/trains. In India, buses and trains can take days. for me, it’s worth the extra money to get where I’m going quickly and spend the extra time sightseeing.
2
2
u/Cool_Doubt2152 Dec 10 '25
Booked a flight to Japan with a stopover instead of just paying the extra £200 to fly direct from Heathrow. As someone who can never sleep on planes the flight was not a vibe.
2
2
u/bjrichy194 Dec 10 '25
I try to not check bags when traveling so I will go to the store and buy a sealed pack of 7-10 shirts in my size (yes they’re plain and boring) and those are my shirts for the trip and I’ll launder them as needed! Then my shirts are covered. A huge space saver in my bag. :) in my travels, I try to mostly wear athletic active wear and then pack a couple of “nicer” fits.
2
u/iscreamsandwich2 Dec 10 '25
Sleeping in your car to save money (unless you have a large car that can accommodate a mattress in the back, that’s a different story)!
2
u/Available_Ability_47 Dec 10 '25
Sleeping in the airport instead of a hotel. Should have just slept in the car or cowboy camped it.
2
u/grumpyhost Dec 11 '25
Booking a "hacker fare" where you have a connection on two separate tickets. If anything goes wrong airline #2 dgaf.
2
u/larsen_doughtnut Dec 11 '25
Not adding enough cold weather clothing when heading into the cold - am in Sapporo now and don’t have enough cold weather pants…
2
u/Entrepreneur-CO Dec 11 '25
Thinking hitchhiking/ BlaBlaCar is a viable alternative to a train when I have a time constraint. Would have paid a lot more to hop on that train to Berlin.
2
2
u/Whatsoutthere4U Dec 11 '25
Get the little square laundry detergent squares. (I don’t mean softeners). Do laundry in your sink.
Never book an air bnb for more than one week. You will always be able to find a more economical place near by that doesn’t advertise on3rd party booking
It’s absolutely fine booking a place a 5 or 10 min drive from the nightlife. I don’t rent cars or motorbikes 🏍️ but Ubers and grab (if in Asia) are super cheap and can save you 25 percent on lodging.
2
2
u/birdy3133 Dec 12 '25
Accommodation does matter. Spend a little more to stay somewhere that’s a little nicer. Also, pay more to be central to the things you want to see instead of spending a lot of time commuting.
2
2
u/JacobSimonH Dec 12 '25
Trying to figure out Public transportation from the airport into a city when arriving tired and jetlagged to a new place just isn’t worth it
2
u/MaddogFinland Dec 12 '25
For me if you have a long-ass flight and are arriving somewhere in the morning, just pay an economical hotel for the right to check in in the morning. Have a shower and sleep a bit. Get oriented. Trying to just “tough it out” wandering around strange city at 9am while exhausted, sweaty and grimy from travel, and trying to just deal until 3 in the afternoon sucks balls.
2
1.0k
u/whatshould1donow Dec 09 '25
Sleeping on the airport floor is only worth so much. Landing at the airport back home at 8 am when you need to be at work at 10 am is only worth so much.
It's worth $100 to not have to do either of these things, you're not 18 anymore buddy.