This Memorial Day weekend is shaping up to possibly be the busiest holiday travel weekend ever, with travel projections indicating that airports will be packed. Thursday saw the fourth busiest travel day ever, with just under 3 million passengers screened by the TSA (up from last Memorial Day), and the roads will be even busier.
This week, I had the pleasure of discussing these trends and tips on how to maximize summer deals on The View and Good Morning America. With so many of you traveling, I figured I’d share my tips on avoiding mistakes that can be very costly.
Mistake No. 1: Not avoiding dynamic currency conversion
One of the biggest travel scams in my mind is dynamic currency conversion — when traveling internationally, always choose to pay in the local currency (and use a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card). This ensures your credit card issuer will do the currency conversion for you at the most favorable exchange rate. Even ATMs can be misleading overseas. If you choose U.S. dollars at the point of sale or cash withdrawal, you are letting that merchant do the conversion for you, and there really isn’t any way to know what that fee would be.
Mistake No. 2: Not checking your passport expiration date
Many countries have a six-month validity rule for travelers. You don’t want to show up in a foreign country and be denied entry or denied boarding at the airport in the first place. This and other passport mistakes could really ruin your vacation.
Mistake No. 3: Packing a portable battery in your checked luggage
OK, even The Points Guy has made this mistake … I was in a rush to pack in Thailand recently and accidentally left a power bank in my checked suitcase — oops! Always be sure to carry any batteries in your carry-on bag, as many airlines have cracked down on this to minimize risk.
Mistake No. 4: Not doing your research
I recommend preparing as much as possible before traveling to a new destination — read up on local customs and culture to be sure not to offend the locals. Safety is key also — make sure you know how you plan to get from the airport to your hotel to avoid taxi scams. And when out sightseeing, don’t let yourself get distracted by one of these common tourist scams in Europe.
If you happen to be cruising, watch out for port scams as well — you don’t want to make a $10,000 mistake if you can avoid it.
A little preparation can go a long way to ensuring you have a relaxing vacation, and you can rest easy knowing what mistakes to avoid.
Safe travels, everyone! I will be relaxing at home this weekend and enjoying every minute of it.
BK
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