1st Time Travelers Mistakes Abroad

Whenever you travel you can have a great time or a not so great time, we go through some of the most common mistakes travelers make, and not just first time travelers abroad either! These are mistakes we see travelers make all over the world, so we put them together to help you not make tourist mistakes that could ruin your vacation! From budget tips, to safety, seeing the sights, and organizing your time (and some more things too). So we hope these tourist tips and travel tips can help you from making some of these travel mistakes.
Filmed in Rwanda
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @woltersworld
#travel #budgettravel #travelmistakes
Copyright Mark Wolters 2023
Learn how to plan your travels like we do with our Travel Planning 101 Course: www.brighttrip.com/woltersworld
Grab some Wolters World travel gear www.woltersworld.store
Help Us Keep Make More Honest Travel Videos: / woltersworld
Hey There Fellow Travelers! Thank you for watching our honest travel vlogs from all over this wonderful world. If you would like to get in contact with us please follow us & send us a message via our social media channels below. Also, if you like our travel videos please feel free to share them with other fellow travelers.
You can find us all over the internet:
Travel Advice & Destinations: / woltersworld
Food Travel Videos: / woltersworldeats
Travel Tips: / woltersworldshorts
Business Education: / professorwolters
Tiktok: / woltersworld
Instagram: / woltersworld
Jocelyn's Instagram: / jocelynwoltersworld
Facebook: / woltersworld
Twitter: / woltersworld
Linkedin: / wolters-world-travel-c...

[@Notimp0rtant523]

I watched this video all the way through and was like “huh, I seem to be doing everything right…” but then I remembered it’s because I’ve been watching all of Mark’s videos for years. Currently loving Germany

[@dirkschwartz1689]

Welcome to Germany! I tried to have some sunny days ready for your trip ;)

[@everythingbutthegirlfan762]

Here are mistakes I have made: 1. Go to Beijing and let visa expire. I got fined and deported and had to sleep in a McDonalds. 2. Go to Paris for 6 days, go absolutely insane eating and seeing everything. Don't sleep for 4 days and have a nervous breakdown and have to come home early. 3. In Tibet I slept in on a beautiful day and didn't go hiking, the next day I went hiking, it rained and I didn't see shit. 4. Vietnam. Don't take the 36-42 hour train from Hanoi to Saigon, that was hell! 5. Took Teaching job in Taiwan, didn't get work visa, almost got arrested. 6. If a local person in any country speaks English and is OVERLY nice to you, be suspicious. Some are genuine, but some are not!

[@AstarionWifey]

What’s with you almost getting arrested 😂😂😂 ❤

[@fuchurZero]

The one mistake I made in Shanghai that I will never forget: I got invited to a tea house. That was my most expensive tea ever. Later I found out that this is a very common scam in China - hu. I didnt get scammed in India because I was prepared, but I was very very careless in China

[@everythingbutthegirlfan762]

@@fuchurZero Yup the Tea scam in China is a classic. So is the art scam.

[@fuchurZero]

@@everythingbutthegirlfan762 Good to know - it cost me 300 $ 😖 after my journey I read about it

[@frepponfamily7934]

In the year 2000, we made our first European trip. I planned every minute of the trip. Day one, my wife step off the train and badly twisted her ankle. My extensive plan went out the window. As much as we enjoyed the things we did, we also were sad for the things we had to cut from the trip. Afterwards, we started planning less and enjoying the spontaneous travel. In 2010 we had an last minute opportunity to go back. We booked the tickets one day and flew out the next. We only planned the in and out dates. It was the best trip ever. Without planned expectations, we went with whatever economically made sense. If we didnt see something that trip, it will still be there on our next trip.

[@O.Shawabkeh]

Frankly (and respectfully of course) you need to try both ways. It's ok if you well prepared and planned, then just move with the flow and reach only what you can. That way at least you won't miss too important places which was right behind you. You'd also know if there's a late opening (until 8 pm) for a particular day for one of your favorite museums, which otherwise you wouldn't have had the time to visit it. Also, how many times I heard folks regret their visit to a nice city, which I'd attribute to a lack of planning/research, beside their stay in bad neighbor (for tourists). But again, both ways are really nice, and too much planning is pretty tedious.

[@MarkBH70]

Excellent comment! When I went to Portugal, I explored the small area, watched local TV, ate at different places and slept, AND practiced my Portuguese. That was why I went! When I took a tour of Spain and Portugal, it was only about four days in Portugal, and I was around our bubble of tourists. A lot of English. American-styled hotels. Spaghetti and meatballs. Once! When I went later, I had grilled octopus, real Portuguese meals and pastries!

[@abc2662]

Some mistakes I've seen friends making: 1) not booking all the flights in the same ticket, and facing problems with connection delays and luggage allowance 2) booking very early transportation, which ruins the night before and can be a problem finding ways to get to the station/airport (lots of cities the metro won't run before 6am) 3) using low cost airlines who use farfarfar away airports And one I made Took a romantic train overnight from Rome to Paris, arriving at 6am on a holiday, and our hotel booking only allowed us to check-in at 2pm. The trip was amazing. The morning after, not much.

[@Originalman144]

Some good points. I will say for number 1 -- you don't have to book all on the same ticket if there is plenty of time in between >4 hours is usually ok, 6-8 hours or more is better. Sometimes separate tickets are much cheaper and for multi-country itineraries you often have to book separate tickets. For the romantic trip, the hack here is to book the hotel for the night before and contact the hotel upon booking and then contact them a second time a week in advance to let them know you will be arriving early morning and to hold your room -- they will go ahead and charge your card. But you get to check in at 7am shower and sleep. It works out to be worth it even for overnight US-Europe flights that arrive at 6am or 7am.

[@abc2662]

@@Originalman144 agreed Regarding the tickets, not so long ago Brazilian international travellers were allowed 2 x 32 Kg luggage (by law), but the internal flights in Europe would allow just 1 x 23 Kg. So either they add extra luggage when buying a separate ticket or they would be charged a significant amount to carry their luggage in short flights. Nowadays the allowance is 1 x 23kg or 1 x 32 Kg depending on the air company. If you pay for more, you'll probably have to do it for each separate ticket. Anyway, I'm totally into flying light. 👍🏻

[@daviel1005]

Definitely don't let small stuff stress you out. When I went to Rome I frequently found out after the fact that I could have gotten a cheaper entry ticket. Sometimes it's cheaper to prebook and sometimes it's cheaper to buy at the door and I always seemed to pick the wrong option. It is what is. If you knew everything, you wouldn't be an excited tourist. The same goes for taxis. What do you care if the local taxi driver manages to extract an extra dollar or two from you? Don't even sweat it. Think happy thoughts 😊

[@billymarino4452]

Yeah I feel as a fact of travelling it's inevitable that you will pay a little more for stuff, at least some of the time. I tend to get analysis paralysis whenever I book a flight (am I paying too much, is there a better flight that I didn't discover, etc etc). Do I want to overpay? Of course not. Do I want the cheapest flight I can? Sure. But sometimes, you got to jump in with both feet, or don't. I booked a flight to Paris for about 700 in change (I'm going to fly out of Amsterdam though). I used Google flights and learned that that's a pretty good price for the flight I want; so I took it. I paid a bit more for assigned seats but like you said, it is what it is.

[@michaelz.7140]

once I had a taxi driver anti-scamming me . a taxi ride which normally was 5-7 € was only 3,80€ and he used all the roads that i couldnt recreate even if i wanted.

[@mindy-Jo]

Whilst in Rome I pre-booked Colosseum + Palatine Hill and Vatican Museum for the same day. I should have booked them for separate days as I was under a lot of time pressure and rushed through both attractions and regarding the food, I was doing very well not to be scammed but on the last day, I lowered my guard, chose to eat in a place that looked local and accepted a suggestion from the waiter of a bruschetta as an antipasto which wasn't on the menu, when I asked for the bill....the bruschetta on its own was €45.00!!! My fault for assuming it was going to be anything from €5.00 to €10.00, always ask for the price first if it is not advertised.

[@TiffieC-to4ml]

Another mistake I noticed people make is forgetting to research the tipping policies for the countries they’re visiting. It’s also important to explore the cultural differences so you don’t do or say anything taboo that would annoy the locals. Really enjoy your videos and all your tips!

[@connoro9945]

I dont tip outside of the USA. It's just a scam they picked up from greedy US corporations that is spreading like a disease.

[@josephn1000]

I followed your advice about packing your suitcase and taking half the things out and all I was left with was underwear, shoes and socks for my trip. I got some very funny looks and spent most of my trip in a jail cell. Thanks Wolters World!

[@Tangobutton]

We ate fish n chips and had a pint at a LHR while going from Michigan to Finland (again!) and played 'Spot the American Tourist Bingo!' It included fanny packs, American flag hoo-ha, Euro Disney hoo-ha, boisterousness, etc. Great fun!

[@nomsantuli6023]

😂😂😂

[@Originalman144]

Surely someone also spotted you as a tourist having an overpriced and flavorless fish and chips and a beer in the airport. 🤣

[@lisamarie73100]

You must be a Yooper! I'm from Calumet and will eventually get to the homeland

[@blindpanthervlogs]

Sometimes it is really cool to see how the McDonald’s abroad is different or not in the one you’re used to. When I was in Italy, I ate as much local food as I can but when our meeting point was at a McDonald’s, I really wanted to see in Italian McDonald’s.

[@Originalman144]

Agreed. The McDonalds quality of ingredients in Europe, Middle East, and Asia is also much better than in the US. Some unique items on menu that cater to the taste buds of the local people. I haven't eaten McD's in the US in 5+ years but will occasionally get something while abroad.

[@CharleneCTX]

It's also interesting to eat at other non-local restaurants. For example, what we usually get in the US is Chinese-American food, not Chinese food. When in Italy I went to a Chinese restaurant just to see how it differed. Vietnamese in London was the same as in Houston, though. There's a Mexican restaurant in Bologna, but I haven't tried it yet.

[@blindpanthervlogs]

@@CharleneCTX the thing with Vietnamese food is that it’s relatively new in the western world, especially compared to Chinese food.

[@angechrissy]

I agree! I'm currently in Japan and it was amazing to eat at McDonald's. Here it has more choices of burgers!

[@fernthaisetthawatkul5569]

i eat mcdonald's abroad b/c i can't get the snack wrap in the usa 😭

[@KCBfly25]

Shoes. That one, yes! We just got back from The Netherlands, & most of it was walking. SO much walking & I'm so glad I brought walking shoes & comfy clothes. We averaged 8 mi/day! We used trams & the train too, but as a first time outta the country traveler, it was a little tricky to figure out. I saw so many others trying to walk in fancy shoes on cobblestone streets. Just no. Something we did is NOT plan every single day. We left 3 days to just do whatever we felt like. We accidentally ended up at a graffiti art museum & it was awesome. Planning is good for some events & is required, but it's also good to just chill & wing it! Thanks, WW for your tips!

[@Dan-Hitz]

I made the mistake of not knowing taxi rules in the Philippines. During rush hour, they automatically add 100 pesos to the meter. I got out figuring the guy was trying to rip me off. Of course the front desk wouldn't call me another cab. It took me over an hour to walk to the nearby mall and get a taxi at the que. All that for less than 2 USD. 🤦 Duh... Also, should have figured the exchange rate and payed the extra $2 even if it wasn't a rule.

[@luke211286]

There is an alternative called Grab (Uber-like app-based ride). They aren't perfect and still have lots of improvement to work on, at least you won't get ripped off

[@Dan-Hitz]

@@luke211286 That was before Grab was around. I used Grab in Thailand and they were great.

[@SteveInNEPA1]

As a fellow traveler, former tour company manager, and retired regional director for a multi national hotel chain, I always enjoy and usually fully agree with your recommendations. This video is 100% spot-on. When I was younger, I was sometimes guilty of trying to do too much in too little time. I now refer to that as 'sampling' rather than 'savoring.'' I've learned that really getting to meet people and cultures where they're comfortable truly provides the most memorable experiences... being a bit selfless rather than just taking selfies. We've heard the generalizations... France? Rude. Swiss? Non caring. New Yorkers? Crass. And yet, when we've 'met' and experienced individuals rather than generalizations, they're not 'generally' the stereotypes at all. We've made great friends in France, Switzerland, and New York (and hundreds of other places) because we reached deeper and truly opened ourselves to the individuals... all who were helpful, gracious, and fun in return. Canada next week, and Switzerland next month... love to travel. Thanks Mark.

[@woltersworld]

Thanks Steve. I may use your sampling instead of savoring line, thats a great way to put it. Have fun on your upcoming trips! Travel hug from Lisbon!

[@SteveInNEPA1]

@Wolters World I needed a travel hug today... thanks. I'm also an avid railfan (even taking Amtrak to Niagara Falls next week)... question... your logo is a train... is that a passion for you too?

[@warrenwolf4690]

I pre booked the Anne Frank house and La Sagrada Familia. So glad we did. No reason to be wasting time standing in line😊

[@stevebartley628]

Lots of banks and credit cards say it is no longer required to tell them you are going anroad. But I do it anyway. This week, from the USA, I bought a German train ticket. The transaction was declined. I got an email asking if it was legit. I said yes and it went thru

[@samelmudir]

Banks can see and authenticate translation through their app now.woth my bank you can just leave a note online that you're travelling.

[@Originalman144]

Banks are getting lazy. It was actually better when you told them you were traveling and where and the card worked ---- now if you are going to multiple countries there are often multiple declines on one trip and it's annoying. I was on a date in France with a french chick and my card declined twice -- cell service was a bit slow and I got the security text message to confirm my usage 2-3 mins after the decline (at least it felt like that long). A bit annoying as she tried to pay and it was awkward with the person holding the card machine 🤣

[@goingawayguide]

A lot of credit cards let you do the travel notification on their website - quick and easy and you can input places you're traveling to.

[@malcolm4672]

Biggest mistake people make is NOT watching Wolters World youtube videos.

[@mercedeswilkins9085]

When going on vacation don’t make any plans. Just wake up and see how you feel. If you want to go to the beach go, if you to stay in bed then do that. Worst thing is to come from a planned work scheduled to a planned vacay schedule.

[@j.j.1064]

Great videos. When I went to St Tropez I bought clothes at Giant' (port Grimaud) it was cheaper than paying the checked luggage charge. Also I bought a cycle and used it for 2 weeks and sold it to a tour rep on day 13 the difference was a fraction of the cycle hire charge. AND you get to ride a brand new bike.

[@woltersworld]

Thats cool

[@j.j.1064]

@@woltersworld Thank you I'm all for making money talk. Although most of the time it says goodbye☹️(⁠◠⁠‿⁠◕⁠) I'm also a guitarist and going on a plane with a cherished guitar is Asking for trouble with the baggage "maulers" hence I bought a tiny guitar that I took in my hand luggage to Nice and wore most of my clothes 3 layers to get on the flight. Then I had a guitar to play on the beach. Last day of the journey one of the guys on the beach selling sunglasses and beach towels came along and I swapped the guitar for a beach towel. I still have the towel to this day to remind me. And somewhere in the South of France there's an ex Itinerant Algerian playing his version of "Layla" in a sun soaked beach sipping his pina colada and thinking of the moment that changed his life. Life's good.

[@billymarino4452]

My biggest travel mistake was when I went to London in 2019. I had an atm at my hostel that offered a conversion rate from pounds to dollars, and I accepted it, every single time. I must of lost about 10 percent of my money doing it, it's a huge scam. I recently returned from a trip from Belgium and the Netherlands with my co-worker/friend, and didn't make the same mistake again (I watched Mark's video on this thing when I returned home from England). I showed my friend what I am talking about, and the Atm wanted 80 euros to convert euros to dollars! She was very thankful I told her about this, because she admitted she would have probably fell for it.

[@elzinga87]

80 euros? hahaha yeah right? how much was she taking out? a million?

[@billymarino4452]

About a few hundred. To be fair it was maybe two atms in Amsterdam that had the 80 euro conversion rate but it doesn't change the fact that you'll lose a ton of money if you accept the conversion rate at European atms.@@elzinga87

[@mountainlover830]

Not being vaguely aware of or caring about local etiquette. I was once on a Swiss train where a fellow middle age “hip” American was singing and drumming along with the music he was piping into his earbuds. Another Swiss passenger caught my eye as I glanced at him and I just shrugged, hoping she’d realize not all of us are oblivious.

[@samuelpreciado1336]

I just got back from my 3 week trip to Italy. I followed your advices, thanks Mark. It was amazing, seeing it all was surreal. What I notice and it’s a great tip for all is that sure a lot of public restrooms charges to use the restroom which I encountered in Venice and Florence but look for little chains of places, that sell sandwich in the city, there you can use the restroom for free, at least we did. I asked if we had to buy something and they said no. Sometimes we had no cash after spending it all. Just try instead of looking for public restrooms. We didn’t have to pay for restroom in Rome and Milan. Very friendly locals. Have fun enjoy

[@paulkoza8652]

I might add that some toilets in Italy do not have seats. Be prepared.

[@Originalman144]

Hotels are also great places to use the restroom. They don't know right away if you are staying there and if you walk in and ask where the toilet is, they will usually tell you -- especially at nicer 4 or 5 star / boutique hotels. This is great advice for traveling around the US or major cities in the US as well. I would never use a gas station restroom in the US when I can go to a nice Hilton or a Holiday Inn Express that is going to be very clean. If you have women / children with you this is a must.

[@Nighthawk2211]

The worst is people who don't interact with local people, not eating the local food, not trying the local language, and going where everybody else is going (other tourists).

[@DrVVVinK]

One thing I do is look on google maps, zooming in and out to see what pops out before I go on a trip. That is how I discovered a rock climbing gym I visited while in Vienna. I also love visiting bookstores and record/dvd stores, so I always try to find where those are before I go. They are usually in the local neighborhoods.

[@bluesdoggg]

Traveled to Vegas for the first time in 22 and didn’t check the weather, we were totally unprepared for 40f and raining the whole weekend and we thought we were seasoned travelers 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@RJMincey]

Very good video and very useful tips indeed. I would recommend only that you also encourage tourists to avoid what I call a "checklist approach" to their travels. You touch on this (by implication) when you advise your viewers not to do too much in a short time. And yet you also advise us to do ample research about a place before making our trip. And if the focus of the research is only on "seeing the sights," tourists will be much less likely to absorb the nature of a place and its people, and they will be more likely to fall prey to the pressures of a travel checklist and the self-imposed need to "see it all" - notwithstanding your admonition to the contrary. Travel can be such an enriching experience, but if our focus is on "the sights," we cannot but turn a vacation into a superficial Instagram log (and all the time pressures that go with it), to wit... Eiffel Tower - check. The Seine - check. The Louvre - check. The Arc de Triomphe - check. Granted this is subjective to some degree, but when I first visited Amsterdam, I made a point NOT to research everything. I did some modest reading, but part of the pleasure of my travels is the serendipity it affords. When it comes to cities, I think more in terms of "urban spelunking." After all, in the industrial West, we live such regimented lives in a tyranny to the clock, and the last thing I want to do is to shackle my vacation travels with this same unforgiving orientation to time. Of course there's nothing wrong with seeing the sights. I enjoy this myself. But if by taking a more relaxed approach I happen to miss a few of them, it's completely okay. I don't need to see everything. I'm more likely to experience the richness of a new country by setting down the guide book and meeting the place on its own terms. Besides, in the case of my trip to Amsterdam, I happened by chance upon a cafe and pub that I learned later was featured in one of the guide books anyway. Sure, for some things (such as the Anne Frank House or Van Gogh Museum), one may want to make specific plans ahead of time - as you advise. But the beautiful freedom that comes when time stops and we no longer need worship at the altar of a rigid schedule far exceeds the value of a given tourist sight. My trip to Ecuador is a case in point. An unwavering allegiance to a guide book would have diminished the experience I took from the Ecuadorian culture and people. Still, to each their own. Thanks for your excellent channel and the contributions you make.

[@devbhatia7021]

Just came back from my first solo adventure. Your channel was instrumental. Much love, Mark!

[@Lupiakh]

Great advice, I agree with all of It! Do your research and spend your time and money wisely. Your trip starts when you book, not when you arrive.

[@cijmo]

Reviews and research! We are living in a very fortunate time in which you can look so much up online before you go. Weather! You used to have to go by what it's "usually like this time of year" but now you can look at a 14 day forecast and have a good idea. Yes, weather patterns change but not always. I spent a very hot week in Edinburgh and had only jumpers, full sized socks and jeans because it was September. Don't just go by the star system, read what everyone's problems are and see if it matters to you. One place, the main thing people were complaining about was that the shower heads didn't pivot. Well, that's not a biggie for me because (a) I prefer baths (b) I'm short and fit under it anyway. Another was that the rooms are too far from the bar - not a biggie for me either. Mostly though - don't go on someone else's holiday. If there are a few of you, everyone picks something but advice from people who aren't on YOUR trip "don't bother with..." It's nice to get advice of out of the way things but ... if you have dreamed of London - DO bother with all the things you dream of. You may be disappointed with some, but it's YOUR trip.

[@Kwippy]

The mistake I most often make visiting a new country is that I would hear how nice and friendly the locals are and although this is nearly always true, it doesn't in any way mean that people who come up to you can start a friendly chat isn't going to scam you or want something from you. This is especially true I find in Egypt, Turkey and India. People in these countries are generally very friendly, possibly much more so than in your own country, but the ones who approach you and starts a nice conversation probably want to scam you.

[@rrl4245]

Thanks Mark, as always Great info. A couple more thoughts: The problem with river cruises, is that you only get a small taste, just a half-day, in any given city or town the boat stops at. And, don't get all wrapped up taking photos. The Internet has thousands of them. Too many people spend valuable time staring through their camera lens, instead of just enjoying the sights and sounds around them. (Who are you ever going to show all of your photos to, in any case?)

[@seprishere]

One problem with DCC is waiters might press the yes button for you before you can stop them. I have had that. Even though the card I was using doesn’t charge the usual fees for usage abroad.

[@yaowsers77]

My neighbors were great when we had to go to Milan. Lol my mom's best friend came to check on the house and my neighbor didn't know her. She told me he gave her such a look 😂. My aunt didn't get the same treatment because she looks like us (we're Chinese). 😁. Also a good idea to bring back a little something as a thank you!

[@JimandVal]

Oh we LOVE the smaller towns/cities!!! Sometimes it’s what we prefer!

[@lg4377]

mine is to be mindful of when things are open. like if you have a day in a city and want to shop, but its sunday and everything is closed. or you want to visit a certain museum but its monday and all museums are closed, etc.

[@Zodia195]

2 Major tips (especially traveling abroad): 1. PLEASE be mindful of the local customs and laws. This was emphasized in my Study Abroad class when we were going to Turkey. So I knew before we left that the country was very conservative when it came to what they wore. I didn't wear ANY shorts there (even though we went in mid-May). And we had the opportunity to eat at locals' houses (which shocked me because I don't think I would allow a complete stranger into my home). Whatever food or drink they gave me, I ate it period, with no complaints (food was amazing though, I even liked the coffee and I normally hate the stuff.) 2. I had no control over this when I went to Turkey, but whenever you travel ANYWHERE, be mindful of any major holidays or events. This happened to one location we went to in Turkey. It was a national holiday celebrating the famous poet Rumi and on that specific day we did go to Rumi's burial site and it was SWAMPED! That was a day I did get sick, so it was a miserable day for me personally (I was given breaks the next few days by my professors and guides because we were packing 16 hr days pretty much). So my tip is, if you want to avoid traveling when a major event or Holiday is happening, plan around it. Like a few years ago when I my family went to Disney World, we went during non-Peak seasons and I plan to do the same thing for Universal Orlando whenever Epic Universe opens.

[@paulkoza8652]

Hi Mark. One big mistake is not taking out travel insurance before you leave. This is not only trip cancellation/interruption, but more importantly, medical insurance. This usually must be done within 10 days of booking your trip and it starts from the time you leave your home until you return to it. You can amend the policy to cover lodging and spot tours after you purchase the policy. I really wish you could emphasize the importance of this on one of your videos. Also, it would be helpful about where to turn to if you need medical assistance abroad. I subscribe to the US State Department's notification site so that in case of a strike or major disruption, someone knows where to find me. I also leave a detailed itinerary with a relative and a friend so that I can be reached easily while traveling. This includes the name, address, and phone of the lodging that I have booked.

[@dmahoney4962]

Even better: buy annual travel insurance (if you intend to--or just might--take more than one trip in a year). It is amazing that a year's coverage is available for only a little more than what you pay to cover a two-week or three-week trip.

[@picobello99]

I second the importance of travel insurance. What if you end up in a hospital in a country where you don't speak the language? What if you need expensive treatment? What if you need to be flown back home on a medical flight? What if there's a (natural) disaster while you're there? What if a loved one back home has a serious medical emergency? Off course you don't want to think about it, but you should. Bad things CAN happen. In these situations your travel insurance can really make a difference, not just financially!

[@paulkoza8652]

@@picobello99 I became a devotee of insurance when traveling back from Mexico. On the second flight out of Miami, I sat next to a nurse who was flying back from the US Virgin Islands. He told me about a case where a family was traveling by jeep in the rugged countryside. One of the kids thought he would be cute and jumped out while the jeep was in motion. He suffered extreme head trauma. He was triaged in the VI and medivac'd back to the US. The whole episode cost the family $70K. They had to pay it out of pocket as they did not have medical evacuation insurance. I've never traveled outside of the US since without it.

[@picobello99]

@@paulkoza8652 My aunt works for an (mostly travel) insurance company, so I've heard many stories of what emergencies can happen and how she manages to help those people. She arranged a flight back home for a young man (he was back packing in Australia) just so he could still see his grandmother who was on her death bed. That flight was €10.000+. She said that in such a situation she will get you on that flight, no matter the cost. She's also helped families who got separated during an earthquake + tsunami. And sometimes it's as simple as finding a translator.

[@user-zs6yv8kc9y]

+1 to taking out travel Insurance. I got a bad case of gastro overseas recently & it was the travel insurance who connected me to an English speaking doctor who treated me so I could continue my trip. Well worth the money I paid for the policy.

[@cathyu.1487]

Regarding mail delivery while you're gone: The USPS has a form for temporarily holding mail delivery. Just indicate the start and end hold dates, and they'll pause delivery during that time. I was out of town for two weeks recently and they paused my mail delivery while I was gone, delivering it all on the first business day when I returned from my trip, which was my specified return date. I've used that feature multiple times - it's really nice!

[@davidlynch3542]

I wish I had seen this a few weeks ago. Pre-booking tickets for attractions is a must. We just returned from Ireland and while it was a fantastic trip, we didn’t get to see The Guinness storehouse, the Book of Kells, or New Grange because they all require timed entry tickets that should have been booked far in advance! We did see a lot and do a lot and I really appreciate the advice from this channel!

[@fuchurZero]

Pre-booking tickets don’t make always sense, and if you absolutely want to prebook tickets do it when you are at the city, because you don’t always have an exact plan or things my happen which weren’t planned ( unless you are planning your holidays like a military operation). I’ve been to a lot of places where I had to exchange my prebooked tickets online in paper tickets on site ( doesn’t make a lot of sense, I know) so you have to queue anyway.

[@user-zs6yv8kc9y]

Another lessons learnt re: money, only make cash withdrawls from bank atms on days they are open. I made the mistake of trying to withdraw money from a bank atm on the weekend & it ate my debit card. With no-one around to assist, all I could do was call my bank to reissue a new card while living on a smaller budget for that part of my trip.

[@Keith_Aerotrunk]

Don't ever let little things bother you. Greatest mistake I most notice is not buying travel insurance (+medical insurance) before embarking on a trip. This can help us in case of an emergency, especially after the pandemic issues. Another is not learning the basic language of the country you are visiting. A simple translation of Hi, Hello, Thank you, and Your welcome which makes a great difference when talking to locals.

[@thomasboland6400]

Hey Mark, happy to say that I've committed NONE of these mistakes only because I've followed your channel. Just got back from Greece and all of your advice was spot on. I can see why you married a Greek woman; the people were so welcoming and super friendly. It was Crete and Santorini. Yes, touristy but beautiful. Safe travels my friend.

[@jameshauville8401]

A big one is not going with the flow. I had a riverboat ride cancelled in New Orleans due to a hurricane warning and just found something else to do with my evening before everyone was ordered inside to wait as the storm passed. A bunch of other people swarmed the tour guide to complain - really counter productive and not very friendly either!

[@ChasMusic]

At Jamaica station on the New York Subway after taking AirTrain - going through the turnstile with my suitcase pull handle up. Got caught on the rotating turnstile and I had to struggle to free it.

[@jorgeca8]

The best option for connectivity abroad are eSim cards, that you can buy before the trip, they work in multiple regions, and are pretty cheap. Real game changer to have internet access as soon as the plane lands.

[@timmyhayes1583]

We just spent about 10 days in Tuscany traveling around wine country. One mistake I think people make is going in the height of tourist season. If you can, research to find the "shoulder" season...the time of year that's not quite tourist season but seasonal enough to enjoy the area. There were days that we walked around those small Tuscan villages and had them all to ourselves (except for the locals, of course!). Also, these Wolter's World videos were invaluable planning out our trip!! So many great tidbits and pieces of advise. Plus as a Georgian and a lifelong Georgia Bulldogs fan, it's great to see you guys sporting the "G" and seeing your wife wearing a National Championship UGA shirt!! Go Dawgs!!!! Sic 'em WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!!

[@asavvysimpleguy6433]

Having traveled extensively, I can say with certainlty very excellent tips!

[@mjm4455]

Many years we tried taking a train from Paris (Gare du Nord) to Bremen, Germany. Little did we know only half of the train went to Bremen, the other half where we were split and our half dead ended in Brussels. To make matters worse there was no direct train from Brussels to Bremen. We first had to go to Cologne, Germany then another train to Bremen. Certainly an adventure.

[@addyskarunaratne6543]

Hello Mark. Thanks for your videos - so helpful! I just returned from 10 days in Ireland. Took your advice and we stayed in Kinnitty Castle as our first stop. Loved it but did not know we would need to haul our luggage 3 flights up to our room. So glad I did not overpack!

[@bryantsteury8910]

One of the things I never get is (and you touched on)....who orders stuff to be delivered WHEN THEY KNOW THEYLL BE GONE?! if I know I'll be in Italy for a week, im not ordering anything to the house. Not just for safety but what do I need it for?

[@ryanrigley]

The Fallen Angel statue near the Leaning Tower of Pisa was neat.

[@GZBro]

Thank you for this. I am a very careful person and absolutley not experienced in traveling. I plan on doing more, but so many thinks make me so unsure. Videos like this help so much, because these things are obvious but also not.

[@lissettehurtadoschoel7573]

One common mistake I see tourists make when visiting the Alps/Alpine region of Europe is they underestimate how quickly the weather changes. Sunny…boom…chilly and rainy in the same day. So, dress in layers all year. A local older lady once told me to always look at the mountain top as a temperature predictor: snowy mountain top (cold temperature in lakes) no snow (lakes are warm). Just because it’s sunny, doesn’t mean the water is.

[@Bunyipp66]

When travelling as a group (family or group of friends) I think its really helpful to discuss and agree on what each person wants to do on the trip. Trying to do everything together can work, but sometimes be flexible and let people do things in smaller groups or on their own. When we travelled as a family with young kids my wife and I would often support each other to have a day off from child care to do something they really wanted and swap over etc. Important thing is to communicate and check in with each other 😊

[@morpheuszzz662]

My family did this one day while in Paris. My husband wanted to go to a local gathering place to watch the World Cup. The kids and I weren't interested, so we used that day to go to Euro Disney. Normally, we wouldn't have thought to "waste" a day in Paris by going to Disney, but it worked out great. We felt like we had a vacation within a vacation.

[@monev]

I'm going to fly into New York City to see the sights for the day before going to Disney world the next day followed by Hollywood the day after.

[@domitiennegegou5967]

Do you really think you can cover the U.S from East to West coast in 3 days ? Exhausting.

[@carollewis3912]

I would plan to spend at least 3 days in each place. And you still won't see it all.

[@Hero-and-Hooligan]

The boys always wearing the fire soccer jerseys ❤ 🔥

[@AymanTravelTransport]

The first one I'm 100% guilty of and from experience, I can definitely understand what you're saying. For example, I may get a day or flexi pass that allows me unlimited train travel across a wide area, so I would visit about 3 or 4 cities in a day spending an hour walking around each and taking pictures, maybe chilling out somewhere to enjoy the view while I get a bite to eat, then heading back to the station to get a train to my next destination. It's nice for getting a quick feel of different places (helping me decide which ones I want to visit properly later on) and enjoying the variety of trains I ride on and their routes. However, I found that on daytrips where I focus on a return trip to one city to explore properly for 5 or 6 hours (rather than 1 or 2 hours each for many), I generally have a much better experience with the place and have more breathing room to relax and take in what that city has to offer. On the other hand, if I try to do too much in one day, there's too much tension and rushing about that doesn't allow me to properly enjoy the place as much as I want to, especially when one delay or cancellation (or missing a particular bus/train that I needed to catch because I totally underestimated how much time I needed to explore the city centre) can have a knock-on effect on the entire plan altogether.

[@jeffmorrison2915]

Travel adapters, the unsung heroes of international connectivity. Neglecting them is like embarking on a digital detox, where your cherished electronic devices turn into expensive paperweights. Enjoy that unplugged vacation, my friends.

[@thomaschan6561]

Everything mentioned here is ON POINT.

[@nj472]

We were definitely burned out on our US West Coast round trip. Spending about minimum 6 hours driving daily and maybe 4 hours per park. For 2 weeks. No Ragrets 💅

[@tobiojo6469]

Hey Mark, awesome video and great tips.

[@wncjan]

Most of my travels since 2000 has been to the US even if of course I have visited European countries as well. In the US I have over the years visited large cities like NYC, LA, SF, NOLA, Seattle, Boston and more, but I prefee smaller towns. In 2022 I visited places like Walker, IA, Naubinway, MI, Green River, W Y, Elk City, OK, Gatlinburg, TN (small town, too many tourists), Ferguson and Wilkesboro, NC and more.

[@DrVVVinK]

The great thing about traveling in Europe is the train. Sometimes I'll hop on with a generic distention, a round trip for a low price (this was in the Tuscany region of Italy), but if the train stop in a small village that look cool, I'll get out and explore, knowing that the next train would be at most in an other hour.

[@wncjan]

@@DrVVVinK I never travel by train. It's absolutely boring and if I see something out the window I can't stop to investigate.

[@DrVVVinK]

@@wncjan I 100% disagree. I don't find it boring at all. I love it. I find it relaxing, and enjoy the view. Plus if you book the right train, not the express ones, the pretty much stop at every town.

[@wncjan]

@@DrVVVinK I like to control my travel. If I see something from my car, I can stop and look at it. Not possible from a train. Also just siiting in a train is boring ax I simply can't read or anything while on a train..

[@mmadmic]

About weather, in some countries, such mine, Belgium, take always rain and sun clothes, because it'd change from 35°C (95°F) blue sky and sun to 20° (65°F) and heavy rain in a less than one hour. In Eastern Europe, there are very hot summer and very cold winter, be sure to check the right clothes, such as Croatia, not only sun, it's also snow. They even have Nordic ski in Delnice. Worst, in tropical regions, there are the rain season and/or the hurricane season, be sure to check before and not just think "Tropical countries are always sunny".

[@travelvideos]

My very recent travel mistake: not checking when are national holidays in the destination country, because it can be ether overcrowded or it can be dead quiet. In Europe, some countries close on Sundays. So, have to plan accordingly e.g. arrive on Monday and leave on Saturday.

[@DrVVVinK]

Also a lot of Europeans take the whole month of August off to holiday. Then they travel they usually go to the US, or to a beach town/resort, or camping somewhere along the meditation or Swiss Alps. But the cities, like say Florence, where many Americans may travel to will be empty. The tourist places will be open, of course, but the local restaurants, cafes and shops - the authentic places where the locals go, will be close the entire month, due to Europe more lax vacation polices.

[@travelvideos]

@@DrVVVinK You could try Croatia, Montenegro. Hot in August but everything is pretty much open.

[@slw0599]

Marks videos are excellent 👍 keep up the great work for us travellers

[@shantaeamekia]

I can't believe you said Natchez, MS was cool. 😅 I'm a government contractor and was sent there for work for 3 weeks, and I was ready to jump off a bridge! 😂

[@poesc]

Love the new graphics look

[@MarriedWithPizza]

Great video!!! This one was speaking to me in many ways lol

[@GratefulDeb270]

Thank you! ❤

[@palebubble61plays86]

Awesome video, love the editing and detail put in. Also wanted to say a massive thank you for the amazing videos you have made because they are proving very useful in the planning of the trip me and my mum are doing so thank you so much 😁

[@pongop]

Thank you for these great tips!

[@nathanaelsadgrove]

A big mistake I have made is not researching the public transport system beforehand. I went to Olbia, Italy last year and found that the buses that go south of the city weren't part of the Olbia district bus service (and the whole time we were there we couldn't figure out how that bus system worked) which stoped us visiting some towms we wanted to see. The bus service with in and to the north of the city was very cheap though and we ended up using that a fair bit although the services are quite infrequent so you always need to have your eye on the time.

[@Originalman144]

Keep the place a secret. Rental car is a must there.

[@nathanaelsadgrove]

@@Originalman144 Yeah, we did find that out before hand, unfortunately me and no one I went with had diving licences.

[@user-bl1vg6rd3q]

Hi Mark! I absolutely love your Travel videos! Me and my family love to sit and watch them! Thank you for all the tips. Me and my husband are off to Amsterdam in January for our wedding anniversary!

[@WizardOfOss]

I'm quite the seasoned traveler, yet last week in Tokyo made the mistake of not pre-booking tickets for TeamLab Planets. Thought I would be able to get tickets at the spot, and clearly thought wrong, as those were all sold out....

[@Payim2004]

I love your channel❤❤🎉

[@jess49497]

I loved your video a cordial greeting from Mexico City🇲🇽👍👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@keeptrying5962]

This is SO GOOD, so helpful. You're so good at this stuff, Wolters family, truly gifted. THANK YOU.

[@RubyStar82]

Glad finding you're channel sir, really good advice, especially the learning a few words, they really appreciate this. Also see whats all to do next to the tourist "traps" Really good food for thoughts😊

[@MJalil11]

Rwanda 🇷🇼 🎉❤

[@llwil2003]

Showing up at the wrong airport (Shanghai). Left our hotel so early we were able to take the bus between the international airport and the domestic airport.

[@ganymedes62]

I'll be leaving to the US on June 14th and I've already got the letters for my neighbors ready, including emergency contact information, to let them know as I won't be back until September 7th. A friendly couple I know in the US is planning to travel to Amsterdam in December, so we've already planned a session with them where I'll be giving them some advice. After all, I was born here and I've lived here for 57 years 🙂 I would have volunteered to show them around, but I'll likely be back in the US by the time they get here 🙂

[@agnishom]

Thanks for promoting public transportation

[@Kathleenthefernwayflipper]

Thanks so much. Headed to Prague then down the Danube next month. So excited! We travel a lot and your videos are alway incredibly helpful. Thank you!

[@woltersworld]

Glad i could help!

[@woltersworld]

Have a great trip!

[@yodorob]

I saw St. Louis and its Gateway Arch when I heard the mention of Natchez. The only commonality between the two is that they're on the Mississippi River, that's it.

[@pongop]

Murakoze cyane. Nta kibazo

[@niewieder99]

Yes! I had an embarrassing moment in England last year when my cards were blocked by my bank and I had to ask my ‘I just met them three days prior’ friends to pay for lunch. All because I didn’t tell my bank I was travelling. Won’t make that mistake this year…

[@snowangelnc]

Don't feel bad. I did notify Bank of America exactly when and where I would be in India, and they still blocked my card and left me in the same situation you were in. I contacted them when I got home and told them what happened, and they told me that they sometimes lock the card anyway "just as a precaution."

[@Lili-xq9sn]

​@@snowangelnc dump bank of America.... they took the bailout and steal your money.

[@aqtsei]

A great video! I just came home from a trip to Croatia and Montenegro, and getting ripped off at a restaurant in Kotor still haunts me (prices were higher than advertised). It's just sad how the mind gets focused on one single bad aspect even though I did have a great time for the rest of the trip.

[@sonnyfinch1625]

Mark! you da man! I want to travel a lot and have a family just like you!

[@Originalman144]

Mark is the man. If he hosted a meetup to grab a beer in Chicago or Europe I would go.

[@KenshoQuest]

AGREED! We packed the wrong shoes for our current trip - should have brought rain boots to Japan in the summer! We also made a mistake yesterday that looked quite like your thumbnail photo on this video. It's always an adventure when traveling with kids. 🌺Heidi

[@gumerzambrano]

I mistake I think people make is just eating by the tourist spots. I've had amazing food in small hole in the walls that was where locals ate

[@skylineXpert]

When i went to cabo verde in november 2021 then i got surprised. The souvenir sharks overcharging, it makes the airport the cheapest place and the local guy leading you to a store making you spend there... I am of to thailand and i booked my airport transfers in advance through get your guide app. Some moments are expensive tutor moments where you pay a lot to learn a simple thing...

[@stuartross282]

Agree with food if the restaurant is full of locals you know it’s good

[@kokok3052]

Don’t just drink Starbucks coffee

[@heleneg525]

Hi, Mark. I really enjoy your videos and tips. One question: I'm planning a trip to Paris and would like to try some French foods. However, I am a vegetarian. Any suggestions for this plant-based eater? Thanks. Best to the family.

[@Mark1405Leeds]

A pair of Birkenstock is essential - comfy in most situations! You can walk all day in them! [ + they last forever!]

[@georgiafrye2815]

I agree and Birkis can come in prints and patent leather. I love mine for years and one can even have them resoled. Fashionista blogs say not chic? Closed toe shoes are needed for airports as I have stubbed my toes or had them stepped on and of course and hiking.

[@TMD3453]

Good tips, Mark, especially about scheduling too much. One of my best vacations was to Florida: one day Disney, one day pool, etc. Getting local is good but doing the big sights also. It’s a balance. And every shred of research helps. Happy travels! Thanks!! 🇺🇸🇩🇪🇫🇷

[@leerdamfire]

As someone working in tourism in europe, i see so many Americans trying too pay with dollars. Especially the cruise folks 😂

[@bhiei]

Why is this bad? 🧐exchange rates and such?

[@AstarionWifey]

@@bhiei the more cash you carry The bigger the target you’ll become

[@Amitaylavi]

Trying to walk everywhere during a city visit. that's unrealistic and will make you unable to walk after a short while. remember, you're taking tours, standing in lines, visiting museums. that adds up. take the bus for that 2 km distance

[@hannamariewilson]

Fanny packs are trendy again! (Yes, people are very unaware of their surroundings)

[@LeoFtravels]

Greetings from Boston International Airport

[@woltersworld]

Hey Leo!

[@jimmiejohnsson2272]

I agree to pretty much everything on this list, except for the ”dont expect your card or phone to work where ever you go” - unless your going somewhere exotic, you will be able to pay with your card pretty much anywhere in the world today. And same goes for using your phone, just check that roaming is on. Dont know about the phone costs if your american going to europe, but for europeans the phone costs are not going to be high unless you go out of your way to make it expensive. You can use your phone without worrying.

[@0913749]

I have travel around the world two times. What is said in this video is true for first time travelers. My traveling has always been, get a hotel in city center. Yes, I pay more but most sites, activities and restaurants can be walked if not a short public transport ride. If I like a country, I will go again away from the well-known cities and emerge myself into the country culture. Key is to have a good translator and laugh a lot. Do not take anything said personal. You are the guest to enjoy the experience.