What are Top 10 Mistakes "Newbies" make?

get a money belt and use it

It may be that their first best step would be to browse online or at a bookstore the book "Europe Through the Back Door" by Rick Steves. Part 1 of the book helps people decide whether they should take a tour or be their own guide. Being your own guide requires time and effort that not everyone wants to expend.

I don't that everyone would call the following a mistake, but it impacted the enjoyment (or not) some newbie friends of ours had in Rome. The wife of a business associate is a travel agent, so they felt that they had to use her. Thus, their hotel in Rome was not centrally located and outside the pedestrian zone. They said it was noisy, and hard to get anywhere. So I'd suggest that they carefully choose where they want to stay within a city. Other newbie friends, who traveled with us. I debated with myself on how much advice to give them - they're adults, after all. Well, they took WAY too much luggage (a 26" bag, plus two 21" bags, plus day bags for each of them - for 10 days), and were miserable schlepping it around. I'm not a carryon only person, but my 21" bag plus a day bag works just fine for me, and is plenty easy to transport. For your couple, ask the husband what he's nervous about. Have they traveled in the U.S., or not travelled much at all?

If you start by telling the husband about scams/pickpocketing, issues about validating tickets, pane e coperto charges, bad hotels, restaurant ripoffs, and all the other "mistakes" he can make, he won't even take the tour. You don't build someone's confidence by telling them about all the mistakes they can make. You build up confidence by showing them how easy it can be. I'm going to reiterate what Kent said. Get them a copy of "Europe Through the Back Door." That will give them the confidence to travel independently IF that is something they want to do. Once they have that confidence, then share your experiences to help make their trip easier and more enjoyable. Don't even mention the word "mistake." Too much pressure and very negative.

I agree with Frank- don't do TOO much "warning". But do encourage them. I'd "encourage" APPROPRIATE planning. Give yourself plenty of time- don't try to pack too much into your day(s). Allow for travel time and "orientation" time in new locations. Plan nate activites in case of weather/long lines/change of heart, etc. And do encourage them to learn a few words/phrases in the language- please, thank you, do you speak English, bathroom, etc. Tell them to take comfortable shoes and practical clothes (black pants and a nice top- or similar- work for almost any "occasion" a traveler will encounter). And finally, encourage them to pack a traveler's most important asset- open minds and hearts!!!

Trying to do too much and packing extra clothes for the "just in case" scenarios were my two biggest mistakes the first time I went to Italy, along with not taking enough money. Show them RS's packing list, that they don't need all new clothes or lots of travel gadgets. Perhaps if you could help them decide what they want to see, ( ruins? foodie restaurants? fashion houses? art galleries?), the husband would become excited instead of nervous.
Also think you could help them settle, whether it is one or two cities, where they would be comfortable, then help them write an itinerary for each day on their own. You could make sure they take a "vacation from their vacation" as well.

Agree w/ Frank's advice. If the guy is already nervous, additional warnings will make him even more apprehensive. If they are taking a tour (especially a Rick Steves' tour), there will be comfort in having the guide(s) and other travelers. If the wife wants to continue traveling but the husband does not, a compromise might be to take a longer, more comprehensive tour or to take two back-to-back tours. Language barriers seem to intimidate several of my friends' won't-go-to-Europe husbands. Fear of being not in control or looking stupid, I guess. Encouraging him that so many Europeans speak English, along with the ability to point to words in an English translation guide (you don't mention where they are traveling) might help. For my first trip to a non-English country, I used free on-line translation services to print little pocket cheat sheets with emergency phrases, such as "where do we purchase train tickets for blah, blah?", "where is a toilet we may use," "I do not eat fish; chicken please," etc. As it turned out, I only used the one for finding the train ticket counter, and the Rick Steves guide later laughed with me about what terrible translations they were :) But, it comforted me as we left home. Remind them their hotels can arrange daily guides that speak English, and those guides will provide a dual role of getting them to the sites and telling them about what they are seeing. Agree with the posters who mentioned packing light and packing comfortable clothing. Comfy shoes key.

P. S. Almost forgot, suggest they visit only places that enable them to stick with trains, buses, ferries, or taxis. Suggest places that will not require renting a car. Rental cars in strange cities can be frustrating in America, much less in a place where it is hard to understand all traffic signals or where traffic moves at a fast clip (such as Paris). or total panic could set in should an accident happen. Then there is the whole driving on the other side of the street thing in many places. If the guy drives into a permit-only zone and gets a ticket, he might never return to Europe. But, instead of suggesting he is afraid to drive over there, suggest that by taking a train, bus, or even better, the guided tour, both of them can enjoy the scenery instead of having to focus on maps, signs, and traffic :) In all our trips to Europe, we have not rented a car and probably never will.

Lexma, As you said it may not be a mistake but it is very valuable advise IMHO. There is nothing more tiring than being stuck in accomodations that are far removed from the area one travels to see, even if it is only 30 minutes away. It's so easy to spend the day sightseeing, getting a bit tired, desiring to go back to the room to rest up a bit but then have to travel on public transportation for 30 minutes or more to get back to the room and if one wants to return to the city center another 30 minute ride, that's an hour out of the day right there, a few more dollars spent is money well spent. I tried to explain this to a woman who was going to London and found an inexpensive B&B about 30 minutes outside the city center for her and her mother, I don't remember exactly her mothers age but rough guess would be over 60, she didn't understand how tiring riding the Tube in and out of London city center numerous times a day can be. And packing light, no one has ever said "the next time I travel to Europe I'm taking more stuff!"

Be open to all of the new sights, sounds and flavours that you may encounter. Read at home about the areas that you'll be visiting and know what YOU'd like to see - not just what others recommend. Always be prepared to go with the flow. This is not a job, every new day and every new experience of your trip should be enjoyed to the fullest.

Under the circumstances, my advice would be to keep the "addition" to the regular tour limited to just a few stops and only stops easily accessible by train. Teach them to use the Bahn web site for train schedules. Teach them to use guide books and web sites to find accommodations. That's about all that is critical for them to navigate early on. They can figure out the rest as they go. Don't give them a bunch of warnings (unless they plan to rent a car to drive from place to place in any big city, in which case you can feel free to set them strait and insist they learn to use public transport). Aside from this particular situation, my #1 mistake "newbies" make is insisting on traveling from one big city to another and another and another, etc. only seeing the countryside from the windows of the train/bus/plane.

As others have said, careful about focusing on negatives which is what travel board tend to do. Our three biggest mistake (or as we like to call them in education - teaching moments) on our first time was too much luggage, too much planned, and the wrong type of clothing. I would encourage them to watch a number of travel DVDs especially steves and the area they are going. The library is a good source for travel DVDs. Three of your four "tips" would be low on my list. Help them to understand how the train systems work since no one in the US has any perspective on train travel. Help them to understand how easy it is to obtain cash from ATMs. And have money issues well in hand long time before they go.

Use an ATM or debit card to get cash. Bring one or two credit cards for larger purchases. Get the PIN for each credit card to withdraw cash at an ATM IN CASE OF EMERGENCY but NEVER use a credit card to withdraw cash otherwise - the fees will eat them alive. Europe is more of a cash society than the U.S., so they should be prepared to use more cash than perhaps they are used to. A number of hotels charge a fee if the room is paid for by credit card, and no fee if cash is used. Make 2 copies of passports and the front and back of all cards they will bring (credit cards, driver's licenses, etc.). Leave one set of copies at home with family or a friend and put the other set in their luggage (carry-on only). Leave an itinerary with family or friends also. Strongly advise them not to check bags but if they do, print out the itinerary with their contact info, cities visited, names and contact info of hotels, and put this in each checked bag in case it gets lost.

One planning mistake that we often see is underestimating travel times, which then leads to an impossibly busy itinerary. Another error I see frequently (moreso during this time of year) is planning a winter itinerary that would be more suitable for the summer.

If they are making connecting flights allow at least 3 hours between flights. Wear a money belt Have at least two credit/debit cards Allow some 'down time' in the late afternoon before you head out for evening meal etc. We try to get back to our lodgings by 5.00pm and put our feet up for an hour or two. Be aware, not paranoid.

What Tom says. It's worth a 2nd read, this time of year especially.

I very much agree with Jo re going on a walking tour the first day you spend in a new city. I spent my first morning in Berlin by taking a four-hour walking tour of the major points in the city. It was not only interesting, but an invaluable orientation tool in a city as huge as Berlin. Another addition I would suggest is: do not ignore discount airlines! Our itinerary changed at the last minute (planned to spend first half of trip in England, but that didn't work out), and using discount airlines gave us so much more flexibility in finding altenative places to fit into the rest of our existing itinerary. Our flight from Brussels to Budapest was dirt cheap (15 Euros each after all the surcharges) and so convenient!

The first, and most damaging mistake most newbies do is called overambitious scheduling. People realize there is too much to be seen out there, and, while trying to maximize their time (and their dollars), choose to visit to many cities, change too often from hotels, ending up with a vacation which highlight are hours and hours spent mostly on board a train, car, plane. In that regard, I generally suggest: - ideally, stay at least 3 nights each hotel. Except on rare cases, don't ever stay just one night - a side day-trip with less than 4h involved in transportation is usually more effective and pleasant than changing hotels each night - don't count the first and the last day of your trip as useful days scheduled activities. Take time to refresh after an intercontinental flight, and don't put yourself into high stress of having to rush to the airport after a last hurried visit to a museum on your last day - avoid the idea of night-trains as a mean to save time - don't try to replicate, on your own, the logic of tour groups, RS or not, which smooth the path and make tight schedules possible because there is a back-office operation taking you exactly to the right spots, with tickets in hand, reserved hotels with transport already optimized etc. Heretic as it might sound, I STRONGLY advise against RS suggestions on 'how to see 4 villages in a single day'.

Read Andre L's post again and take it to heart.

That's one of the faults I find with the Germany Blue Book. It reads more like a supplement to a guided tour than a guide to the country.

Mistakes? See other current thread, "Packages mailed from Italy."

Not a mistake, but more of a suggestion, but I think people get more out of their trip if they go on a walking tour or bike tour in what-ever city they visit on their first day there. It gets them oriented and makes them feel comfortable in their surroundings. They have a guide that can answer their questions about local events, restaurants and other recommendations. Most cities offer these types of tours for 10-15 euro per person and they can really enhance your trip with all the information that is impossible to include in any guide book or audio guide. Some folks like the Ho-ho buses, but they aren't very in-depth and for the same amount of money or even less, you can have an outstanding, really informative tour. Because most European cities are rather compact, walking or riding a bike on a tour of them is easy. Once you go on one of these types of tours, you will never go back to riding a Ho-Ho bus again. Utilizing this forum or another forum, especially Trip Advisor, can help them get up-to date and informative answers to the questions that they might have about the destinations they are interested in seeing.

Don't pack too much stuff. Believe it or not, you can buy toiletries and other items in Europe. :) It gives you an opportunity to do a little shopping in-country and meet a few locals. If you cannot live without it (i.e., medications), take them on board the plane - never check them! Don't assume everybody speaks English. At the very least, learn some basic greetings and phrases in the local language. Most people will make a genuine effort to engage you if you try to communicate in their tongue. Don't dwell on the negatives, but be cautious. Don't let the possibility of scams, pickpocketing, etc. make you uptight. Take reasonable precautions (i.e. use moneybelts, always keep luggage within sight, etc.) and always be aware of your surroundings. Use the same level of caution that you would in any American city and you should be OK. Take pictures but don't be a slave to your camera. Don't view Europe entirely through a viewfinder. Take in the sights and create memories. I hope your friends have a great trip!

Travel tips for newbies: 1. It is OK to skip things. You may dislike modern art intensely, you are allowed to skip those rooms at a museum. If you just can't take one more cathedral, skip it. Just because everyone does it, does not mean you have to. It is your VACATION. 2. Don't try to photograph everything. Each night in your hotel, look at your digital camera and write down what you took photos of in your travel journal. 3. Of the photos you do take, try to get many of them with your travel buddies in them. Every trip, I always end up wishing I'd taken even more with the group in them and less of the sites. 4. Downtime. One of my best memories is sitting in a bar in Salzburg (torential rains all afternoon) and watching soccer with the locals. Encourage newbies to spend afternoons/evenings with a bottle of wine and just soak it all in.
5. Be flexible. You may have planned on Versailles, but if a nice french couple invites you to lunch in their beautiful rose-covered yard...GO!!! 6. RELAX. The "mistakes" often make for the best stories when you get home. So what if you messed up the language so badly, you may have propositioned the waiter. So, you used the wrong restroom. Most mistakes are minor and amusing. Just go with it.

As a newbie, my biggest mistake was in taking a white blouse for my main outfit. Handwashing turned it to gray. It is possible to pack too little!

Yes, please tell them everything to do, rather than all the things not to do. That is such good advice, and to your credit, in your list, you have done this. In the biz, we call it the Dead Man Rule. If a dead man can do it, then it's not good advice. So, do wear a money belt, read a guidebook or two before going, familiarize yourself with the local transportation, jot down the things you want to do, eat lots of gelato, and have fun.
Also, since it looks like they'll be going on their own after the tour, then lots of his nervousness should have subsided by then.

I think sometimes newbies ask for too much advice.... Many times I feel like they think there is a 'right' way to see Europe. I like to think if its not life-threatening it is all okay.
They need to relax and see what Europe has to offer.

Hello Gretchen. I like your Question. And I like the replies here. I am experienced as a traveller in Italy and several other countries in Europe. (I do not think I am an expert). My first advice to them is Decide what kind of trip you want. What are your priorities for that trip ? What needs to happen when you are in Europe, for you to feel satisfied that you had a good trip ? Do you wish to have pleasant experiences every day when you are in Europe ? That is, do you wish to feel good, physically and emotionally, each day when you are in Europe ?. Or, do you wish to be at several specific places in Europe, and if you accomplish that, you will feel satisfied, whatever your physical and emotional feelings are when you are travelling in Europe ? Some people plan a busy schedule of traveling and sightseeing in Europe. They must be at a train station at a specific time. They must be at an underground train station (METRO) at a spcific time. They allocate a specific amount of time for being in a museum or castle or palace. Other people say : "I do not plan a schedule. When I am in my vacation trip, I do not wish to look at a clock frequently. In Europe, I start walking in a city. I do not know where I am, and I do not care where I am. I become lost. And I like that experience, every time". Some travellers need to bring information of places for eating lunch (names and addresses and telephone numbers of eateries) for each day in Europe. And some vacation travellers do not do that. Each day, they ask a local resident for a recommended place for eating lunch. And some vacation travellers carry food with them. When they feel hungry, they search for a place where they can sit down and eat their food.

#1 Mistake: What Andre says about scheduling too much. Then they freak and have a meltdown when they realize they can't maintain the pace. #2 Mistake: Treating travel as a checklist to be completed and not really understanding or caring why you decided to go someplace for other reasons besides "the guidebook says it's where everyone must go!". Seriously, if you don't like art, don't go to a museum just because it's listed as a main attraction in some guide! #3 Mistake: A lot of newbies listen to so many horror stories from family, friends and on travel boards (like this one) that they go into their trips completely paranoid and thinking every local is out to pickpocket them, slash their day bags, scam them, rip them off, take advantage of them... Some never make it overseas, others stress over the bad tales they heard the entire trip. #4 Mistake: packing too much
#5 Mistake: trying to avoid the local public transit system (see this a lot in big European cities with newbies as many North American newbies are from the suburbs and depend on cars to get everywhere at home so they find transit systems intimidating & confusing).

I always remember this when giving or asking advice for travel: just because someone who knows someone, who heard from someone else that a place/activity was pointless does not mean it actually was pointless. Its your trip do what you want to do!! Also just because you hear on the news something negative about a destination does not mean the entire place is bad. Also if they feel nervous about traveling have them watch you tube. There are lots of videos about airports, sights, and how to travel clips that should help. You have a brain for a reason use it!

I think the worst mistake some make (some more than others, myself included) is worrying too much: worrying about the language barrier, stories about being pick-pocketed, doing the wrong thing, or just looking foolish...My advice, which is sometimes easier said than done, is the advice of Bobby McFerrin - "don't worry be happy!" Yes, some people will try to swipe your purse or will be offended if you use the wrong glass or be disgruntled if you stand in the wrong line, but the vast majority of people are wonderful and will overlook mistakes and be more than willing to help you if you are respectful and make an attempt to use at least some basic polite phrases in their language. I've lost count of all the acts of unexpected kindness I've experienced in my travels.

A couple items that are worth mentioning after seeing some of my students make mistakes overseas. 1) Use ATMs rather than travelers cheques. 2) Call your bank and let them know that you will be traveling. I was in Iceland and had I not told my bank where I was going, they would have frozen my account. 3) Pack light, especially if you plan to fly on Easyjet or Ryanair etc. 4) Watch Rick Steves Travel Skills 3 part show. Still very good information and not terribly outdated. 5) Relax, you are on vacation. Always assume you will return to see sites you missed.
6) If you are worried about your checked bag not making it to your destination, take a picture of your bag to show the airline if they do lose it.

I always take a photocopy of my passport in case the real one gets lost/stolen. Has not ever happened - so far, so good. You can also scan it and email it to yourself to access later if needed. And I take my expired drivers license specifically to use as my ID at bike rental shops, for audio guide rentals, etc. I don't like to give up, even temporarily, something that I would miss later or would cost me money to replace.

Have fun. Don't set your expectations too high and you'll always be happy! Even when you screw up make it an adventure. I would have never seen the seedy outskirts of Lisbon had I not boarded the wrong bus. Don't be too embarrassed to ask someone for assistance. We had a lot of fun in Paris one night sitting in an empty bar trying our (pitiful) french out on the bartender. She thought we were hilarious! Don't call a napkin a napkin - it's a serviette. A napkin is a sanitary pad. Don't be afraid of public transportation. Whether in NYC or Paris - taking the subway (Metro) is the fastest and cheapest way to go. You don't have to have a sit down meal each night. Sometimes a croque mosiuer at a bar is the tastiest (and cheapest) option.

(Continued from my previous reply here, dated 9/27/11). I said my advice for them is for them to decide what kind of trip they want in Europe. I suggest that they be aware that there are alternatives to doing what tourists typically do in Europe. Some travellers (from the U.S.A.) said to me : "When we are on vacation in a country in Europe, I and my wife are not typical tourists. We do not go in a museum or art gallery. We ride, in a train or bus, to a small town, we leave our baggage in a B & B there, we rent bicycles at that town, we ride on the bicycles a maximum distance of 10 miles in one day". (Carrying a map of that geographic area).

Don't push yourself. If you're tired, rest especially if it's hot out. Not much will ruin a trip like being exhausted or sick half way through.

I have travelled in Europe often, and Italy most often. I have witnessed pick pocket attempts, been surrounded by gypseys, gotten lost, and survived it all. Italy is a place filled with warm folks who love to talk to you and help you. I have had old ladies stop their shopping to take me some place when I asked them for directions. Please learn just a few words in Italian. They will love you for it. Plan to buy something there. One of my favorite memories is going shoulder to shoulder with the housewives in Ferrarra, they buyin their evening meal, me just 2 pieces of fresh fruit. Be cautious about advice as to what to see. Would you believe some one told my daughter that David in Florence was skippable!! What a nut? That said, read and decide for yourself. That famous place you missed becomes a good reason to go back.

I like this topic. Here are a couple of thoughts: 1). Read up on how to use public transportation and don't take the last train or bus of the day. My first trip to Europe (in Italy) I missed a train because I didn't teach myself beforehand. Luckily it was a local and a morning train with another following in 40 minutes. 2). Figure out the key things you want to see and whether advance reservations are recommended, when they're closed, whether certain times or days are best to see them, etc. Most guidebooks will ID this for you. 3). Some small hotels do not staff a desk 24/7. Ask to find out when the desk is open to avoid a lock-out if you plan to be out late or have to wait for a check-out if you need to leave early. 4). English is a fairly universal trade language and is widely taught, so communication is usually possible everywhere. However, bring a phrase book and use it to initiate communication. After an initial smile you'll probably get a response in English.

Thanks for all the replies so far! To answer those who were concerned I would actually make my friends NOT want to travel at all, don't worry - I'm a teacher and I'm used to focusing on the positive and ignoring the negative. I will present the information in a way that's useful. Several of you have wonderful points.
As Rob suggested, I would plan on reminding them to check transportation schedules and museum schedules ahead of time. THANK YOU!!!! Any other thoughts?

Always travel with the Philosophy that you will return, don't try to see everything on the first trip out. God willing, you will come back.

1. Too much luggage 2. Not enough pre-trip research; having no idea why you have even chosen to visit a particular place 3. Staying in a place that's too remote from what you want to do/see 4. Expecting everyone else TO SPEAK ENGLISH; complaining that things are not like in the USA. If you feel that way, just stay home. 5. Trying to cram too many sites/places/distances into the limited time you have 6. Not respecting the other country's culture, manners, etc. 7. Not taking the time to at least learn to say "Please" and "Thank you" in your host country's language.
8. Always stay alert. It's much easier to protect your belongings that way.

the two most general (and perhaps most practical) tips i'd give would be 1) when in doubt, use common sense and 2) ask for help if you need it---many people speak english.

I always use the HALF RULE. Take HALF of what you think you should pack. Do HALF of what you think you should do.
This way you can slow down, enjoy, and won't be lugging a bunch of stuff around (never more than one carry on bag and a small backpack).

1. Learn about your destination. Use the time before your trip to learn history, ettiquette, some language, site options, etc. Like everything else in life, the more you put into it, the more you get out. One major mistake newbies make (including myself during my first travels) is showing up having no idea where you want to go or what you want to see. When you get home, you will kick yourself for missing what would have been your top priority site to visit (example, I missed medieval castle on Okinawa because I didn't know it was there until after I left). 2. Plan realistically for travel times. I see many first drafts of itineraries that must have access to a Star Trek transport - they haven't planned time to get from one city to the next or get out of one hotel into the next. 3. Don't plan too much activity per day. Two major sites a day is more than enough. If you find extra time, have some options in your back pocket but don't count on them. 4. Security. Newbies tend to forget about keeping their valuables secure in two ways. First, they don't consider whether bringing certain valuables is a good call. Second, they haven't considered how to keep the valuables they do bring from being lost or stolen (let alone how to replace something that is lost or stolen).

5. Financial backup plan. Everyone should consider what they will do if their bank decides to block their account while they are on the road. Have a backup plan (contact numbers, backup accounts, etc.). 6. Pack light. Even Rick admitted to packing heavy on his recent first cruise. Experienced travelers learned the hard way that carrying too much is a downer. The lighter you pack the happier you will be. 7. Be flexible and have a sense of humor. Nothing grates on vacationers more than a dogged determination to "stay on schedule". I plan ahead , so I know my options, but don't have a set plan. A missed train is just a missed train, not the end of the world (a lost passport is much worse - see Security).

One tip that hasn't been mentioned and is important to me: Arrive at any new location before dark. I learned this on my first trip to Europe in the late 70's. It's confusing enough getting oriented to a new place in the daylight. I know it's not always possible, but arriving before dark makes everything else a lot easier. Another tip is to take a taxi when you need one. We use public transportation and our feet 99% of the time, but sometimes a taxi is the best answer -- like when we arrived in Barcelona after dark because the train we were on was 2 hours late, like when we needed to get to the Lisbon airport at 5:00 in the morning, like when time is more important than money -- you get the idea. If the taxi driver speaks English and is talkative, you can even count the cost as entertainment for your trip budgeting!