14 Huge Mistakes I Made While Trying to Save Money on Travel

I booked a budget flight to London and congratulated myself for saving over $200. But by the time I paid to check a bag, chose a seat, and bought water on board, the savings had vanished. The airport was farther out than I realized, the train into the city was delayed, and I ended up missing a Tube connection that cost me another hour. I arrived hungry, exhausted, and only slightly ahead, if that.

What I wish I’d done: Calculated the true cost of the low fare, including time, transit, and everything the airline would charge me for later.

Avoiding pre-booking might feel like the ultimate vacation flex, until you show up at the Vatican and realize walk-up tickets don’t exist. The line snaked down the block, and after a couple of hours in the sun, we caved and bought last-minute tickets from a reseller at three times the price. The “tour” felt rushed, and instead of being awe-inspiring, the whole thing felt like damage control.

What I wish I’d done: Reserved the official tickets online before leaving home. Spontaneity is great, but some places do book out.

I figured I could handle Tokyo solo. I’d seen the YouTube videos. I had screenshots. How hard could it be? Turns out: very. The subway map was incomprehensible (to me), and I took the wrong train three times trying to find a temple. Add in a language barrier and unclear signage, and I spent more time underground than above ground. A guide would’ve saved me time and made sure I saw the temple.

What I wish I’d done: Joined a guided tour at least for the first day, just to get oriented with the city.

Venice seemed like the kind of place where you should unplug. So I didn’t get a local SIM. I couldn’t fire up Google Maps when we needed it, or access vaporetto updates when routes changed. One missed boat later, we were standing at the wrong dock with no way to re-route in real time. The few euros I saved on a SIM? Not worth the time we lost.

What I wish I’d done: Paid for the SIM. Especially in places where wi-fi isn’t always free, and overpriced restaurants give you the side eye for sharing an appetizer.

When the riad in Marrakesh offered to arrange a guide through the souk, we should’ve said yes. But we wanted to explore on our own, maybe haggle a little. Instead, we spent the afternoon overwhelmed and confused, panic-buying “artisan” souvenirs that were clearly mass-produced. By the time we reached the better stalls deeper in the maze, both our budget and our patience were gone.

What I wish I’d done: Said yes to the guide. It would’ve cost less than what we spent and helped us actually learn something about the place.

That Caribbean cruise deal looked perfect: balcony cabin, unlimited drinks, daily excursions. The catch? It was non-refundable. When I had to cancel, there was no credit, no rebooking, just a chunk of money gone and a lingering monthly reminder on my credit card.

What I wish I’d done: Paid a little more for a flexible fare. It would’ve cost less than canceling the whole trip with nothing to show for it.

I thought I was being savvy paying in U.S. dollars at a Paris boutique. It just felt easier at the time until I checked my statement. Dynamic currency conversion had quietly marked up the total with a terrible exchange rate. Even with a no-foreign-transaction-fee card, I still lost out.

What I wish I’d done: Always pay in local currency. That “helpful” USD option isn’t for your benefit.

I’d been to Bali more times than I could count without incident, so I figured travel insurance was optional. Of course, that was the trip I got sideswiped by a scooter. Nothing major, just a few deep cuts, but the private clinic bill cost more than the policy would have.

What I wish I’d done: Just bought the insurance. Call it Bali karma.

The standard room in New York looked fine online. But when we arrived, we found it located directly next to the elevator. It clanged, groaned, and rumbled every few minutes, all night. The window faced a brick wall, the queen bed was closer to a full, and we slept terribly the entire trip.

What I wish I’d done: Spent more for a better room. Sleep is worth the upgrade.

I booked us a $69-a-night hotel in Las Vegas without noticing the $45 daily resort fee until checkout–rookie mistake. No one used the gym, the “complimentary” newspaper was a throwaway, and the Wi-Fi barely worked. Add taxes, and it ended up costing more than a mid-range chain. What’s that saying about the house always winning? Bingo.

What I wish I’d done: Read the fine print, especially when a deal looks too good to be true.

We thought we’d save money by skipping the rather pricey hotel breakfast in Tromsø. Instead, we found ourselves surrounded by tourist spots with overpriced food and bitter coffee. By day three, we were paying a small fortune for convenience store hot dogs just to function.

What I wish I’d done: Booked accommodation with a decent breakfast. Hotel buffets exist for a reason, especially when all you want is coffee before 9 a.m.

For a short trip to Key West, I figured we didn’t need a hotel with a complimentary shuttle, especially since we had a car. What I didn’t factor in? Expensive parking, limited spots, and surge-priced ride shares. In the end, we’d spent more than if we had stayed at the nicer hotel with a free hourly shuttle.

What I wish I’d done: Factored in transportation costs when comparing hotel prices. Cheaper doesn’t mean much if you forget the costs of getting around.

The Canary Islands sounded like a bargain beach escape, but when we arrived, it rained for two days straight, half the restaurants were closed, and the streets emptied by 6 p.m. We rerouted just to salvage the trip. That meant new tickets, lost deposits, and a forfeited rental. So much for saving money.

What I wish I’d done: Researched the season and destination better and had a rainy day plan.

To avoid baggage fees, I skipped packing a coat for a spring trip to Shanghai. Bad call. It was colder and windier than expected. By day three, I’d bought a jacket, warmer shoes, and eventually a second bag to carry it all home. So much for saving on luggage.

What I wish I’d done: Packed one “just in case” layer. It would’ve saved money and space on the credit card.