7 ways people ruin their own vacations — and what a travel planner would do differently

Not every vacation is going to be perfect, but you can avoid some common catastrophes.
As a travel planner, I’ve learned that if the pricing sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Overplanning can leave you stressed, but not doing any research is going to make you waste time.

As a certified travel agent with MEI Travel, I help people avoid major catastrophes on their vacations.

Here are a few signs you might be heading toward issues while traveling — and what to do to avoid them.

If your spreadsheet is multiple scrolls long, you probably overplanned

Some people want to cram everything into a seven-day trip, but overplanning your vacation doesn’t give you much room to experience the destination.

Going to Italy and seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Alps, the Vatican, the Amalfi Coast, and Venice in one trip isn’t realistic. You’d spend half your time on trains, not in gorgeous towns.

Instead, set realistic expectations from the start and make a narrowed-down checklist for any must-dos.

Booking with a timeshare company can lead to regrets

colorful beach umbrellas and lounge chairs lined up on a beach in front of condo buildings — You often have to attend sales pitches during the “free” vacations offered by timeshare companies.

There are reputable timeshare companies that allow you to gain partial ownership of a vacation property, don’t get me wrong. But there are also a lot that end up being disappointing.

If you entered a contest at your local fair and got a call that you won the big prize — don’t fall for it. They may offer everyone a “free” vacation, but it comes with strings.

For example, you have no idea what their properties really look like, and you usually have to sit through another sales pitch about joining the timeshare program when you arrive.

Who wants to spend their vacation being hassled by salespeople?

If your accommodations look nothing like the pictures, it should give you pause

During a business trip to France, my travel companion booked an Airbnb for us, and it was a bit of a nightmare. It was located above a butcher shop, only had one tiny room with a cot, and looked nothing like the photos.

Needless to say, even though we were jetlagged and exhausted, we walked out and found the nearest big-chain hotel.

Even when you put in valuable research time, you can still get duped by hotels and rental properties that find ways to hide bad reviews and photos.

If you opt for something cheap on Facebook Marketplace or Groupon, you might just end up spending more time and money trying to find somewhere else to stay.

If your delays last days instead of hours, you probably should’ve paid more

woman with an orange backpack and a blue suitcase carryon standing facing an airport departures board — Sometimes it’s worth it to book with a more reputable airline.

Most vacations begin when you arrive at your destination. So it’s not off to a great start if you’re unexpectedly spending days to get somewhere.

It’s not uncommon for flights to be canceled or cars to break down. But when you go with the cheapest airline or car-rental company, you sometimes get what you pay for.

If anything is worth a bit of a splurge, I think it’s reliable transportation.

Don’t get caught off guard by hidden fees

Hidden fees are probably one of the most irritating vacation surprises travelers run into.

To avoid them, research the added costs associated with the hotel you’re staying at, the activities you’re doing, and the transportation you’re taking before you leave.

Most hotels have extras, like parking or resort fees, listed under amenities on their sites. And if you’re flying, make sure you’re aware of any baggage fees.

If you didn’t do any research, you’re going to waste your vacation time

people walking toward the pyramid entrance to the lourve museum in paris france — Looking up when certain tourist attractions, like the Louvre, are open is helpful.

I mentioned avoiding overplanning, but you can also underplan.

Do some research before a trip. If you don’t, you’ll likely end up wasting time doing it during your vacation.

Without a little planning, you might not know that Paris’ Louvre museum is closed on Tuesdays, or that you must have your shoulders covered to go into some European churches.

Don’t fall for too-good-to-be-true pricing

Third-party travel sites are always trying to tell you they have the best price around.

But when you cut out the middleman, you often don’t have as much control over your reservations — and things can easily go sideways.

I recommend taking the time to research the supplier or booking engine you’re using. Then decide if it’s worth it to pay a little more for peace of mind.

You can’t avoid every bump in the road when you travel, but you can get out of your own way.