Learn about the most common mistakes made by first-time international travelers – and how you can avoid them.

1. Becoming an Expert Traveler
Avoiding Common Mistakes of First-Time
International Travelers

2. Introduction
There are certain things in life, like travel, that you just get better at with
experience. And, unfortunately, sometimes we have to make the mistake
before we can learn from it. If it’s your first time traveling internationally, we’d
like to help you get ahead of that learning curve – and avoid common
mistakes that could cost you time and money.

3. Passport Rules & Regulations
Common Mistake No. 1: Not checking your destination country’s
passport rules.
Every country has it’s own set of rules and regulations when it comes to passports,
which sometimes fluctuates based upon the country in which you hold your
citizenship. For example, U.S. citizens traveling to Costa Rica must have a passport
that is valid for 90 days after their arrival, even if their trip is less than 90 days in
duration.
Before booking your flight:
– Check an official, government-sponsored website, such as www.travel.state.gov
for U.S. citizens, to find out what the rules are for passports from country to
country.

4. Being Late
Common Mistake No. 2: Missing your departure flight
While first-time international travelers will spend months planning their trip, some don’t
account for traffic, crowded parking garages, long lines at the ticket counter, and other
inevitable frustrations that are just a part of the traveling process.
Compensate for unexpected losses of time by:
– Looking up the driving time from your house to the airport and planning your route.
– Arriving to the airport two hours early.
– Checking in early online and printing your boarding passes at home, if permissible
based on the airline’s rules.
– Packing everything at your front door the night before. (To avoid theft, do not pack
your belongings in your car overnight.)

5. Overweight Baggage
Common Mistake No. 3: Overweight Baggage
Many airlines charge a fee for passengers to check their bags. Depending on the carrier,
this can often be around $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second. However, these
prices are based on weight restrictions, often at or near 50 pounds per bag. While that
may seem like a lot, it’s surprising how much clothes, shoes and toiletries can weigh
when packing for a two-week trip. Passengers whose baggage does exceed weight limits
are subject to additional charges.
Cut your costs by:
• Pack only a carry-on bag. Be aware of your airline’s carry-on size restrictions though,
which typically say not to exceed 22 inches long by 14 inches wide by 9 inches tall.
• Pack clothing items that you can wear multiple times throughout your trip.

6. Overpaying for Everything
Common Mistake No. 4: Not researching the conversation rates
Many first-time international travelers make the cardinal mistake of not checking
conversion rates from their local currency to the currency of their destination country.
This is not only important to ensure a proper exchange at exchange rate counters, but it
is also important even after that exchange occurs. For example, if you buy a soda from
a street vendor in Rome who charged you €20, you just paid around $25.65 USD.
But if you bought the same soda in Mexico for 20 pesos, that is a fair deal at around
$1.53 USD.
Know the conversion rates before you go by looking it up on a reputable website, such as
CNNMoney.

7. Language Barriers
Common Mistake No. 5: Not learning essential phrases in the country’s
official language.
While many travelers visit countries where the locals speak a different native language
than their own, it is important to at least learn several of the most important, commonly
used phrases to make your trip a little easier.
Some of these phrases include:
• How much does this cost?
• Where is the [enter your hotel name here]?
• Where is a good restaurant?
• Where is the bathroom?
• Yes, no, please and thank you.

8. Trip Insurance
Common Mistake No. 6: Foregoing Travel Insurance
RoamRight's International Trip Insurance helps protect money spent on non-refundable
investments such as airfare, rental fees, tour package costs, and cruise bookings. So if
you plan a trip and have to cancel last minute or cut the trip short, international travel
insurance can help cover the cost of associated expenses. Even more importantly, it can
also provide you with much-needed medical insurance coverage, in case you
unexpectedly become ill or injured while traveling abroad.

9. The Adventure Doesn’t Stop Here.
Find the travel insurance coverage you need with RoamRight.
RoamRight’s travel insurance professionals have more than 60 years of experience in
helping travelers around the world get the coverage they need. We are committed to
providing our clients with:
• High quality coverage – Comprehensive coverage to protect travelers and their financial
investments on their trips.
• Competitively-priced products – Customized programs for large groups or single travelers. You
get only the coverage you need at a price you can afford.
• Excellent customer service – RoamRight’s website makes it easier than ever to learn about and
purchase travel insurance. You can also chat directly with a customer service representative on
the website, or call RoamRight toll-free at 1-877-687-7170.
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RoamRight be your passport to peace of mind.