It’s hard to overstate how many details go into taking a trip abroad – and how being unprepared sets you up for stress and disappointment. We’ve noticed a lot of folks stuck in the same travel pitfalls – but luckily, we’ve got the experience and wisdom to help you get around these issues and set yourself up for a peaceful, enjoyable trip.

Our Reservation Specialist, Ashley, spends lots of time working one-on-one with Groups planning a trip abroad. We sat down with her to talk about some of the most common travel mistakes she sees – and how to avoid them! When you’re with Team TravelBash, you’re in good hands.

What are some of the most common mistakes you've seen our group clients make?

1) I would say #1, not purchasing travel insurance. Life happens and sometimes guests need to cancel last minute. Without travel insurance, your travel investment will not be protected, and you will be out thousands of dollars.

2) The second thing we deal with most is guests not reading the emails we send out with important travel info and entry requirements. We want our guests to be over-prepared for their travels so we send them tons of information before they take off and its imperative that they read through as information constantly changes.

3) PASSPORTS!!! You will not guess how many people we get whose passports have expired. We send updates months before their trip and they neglect to check them then they panic when they notice their passport has expired.

How can people avoid making these mistakes?

Travel insurance is not required, but highly recommended to protect your travel investment. We send all guests information on travel insurance, so they can read it over and decide if it’s something they should add. Given the recent pandemic, insurance is more important than ever before.

Always, always, always check your passports before you book an international trip. Currently there are major delays with getting passports back in a timely manner. Very often, we see people waiting too long to renew and their passports do not come back in time for their travels. You can also give us your passport information that we will enter into our PCI-compliant CRM and it will automatically send you an email 6 months before your passport is going to expire and the email also gives you steps on how to renew your passport.

What advice would you give someone looking to plan a trip?

Planning group travel can be very stressful and time-consuming. It’s best to use someone like TravelBash because we take care of every detail for you.

Not only are we a full-service travel agency but we offer concierge services outside of planning your entire trip, We use our expertise and partnerships with industry partners to make sure our clients are getting the best of the best.

Any must-have items people should pack with them?

I’m kind of a diva when it comes to traveling, but I always bring good sunscreen, sunglasses, and a good book to read on the plane and by the pool when relaxing. I typically only bring a carry-on, so investing in a good carry-on roller and duffle to maximize your packing space is a must. I also highly recommend packing cubes.

Any travel advice for people leaving during busy travel seasons? Airport-related, etc.?

Airports can be insanely crowded and stressful when traveling during busy seasons. We always recommend arriving at the airport 2-3 hours early for international travel, especially if you are flying out of a busy international airport like Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, etc. Also, if you check bags, make sure you pack a swimsuit, toiletries, and a change of clothes in your carry-on in case the airline misplaces your luggage.

If these tips brought you some much-needed planning relief, think of the peace of mind you’d get by working with us! If you’re considering planning a luxury trip overseas, hit the button below to get in touch with us!

Courtnie is the founder & CEO of TravelBash. After years as an ambitious fundraiser, she took her passion for travel full-time. She has lived all over the U.S. and abroad and after planning her own destination wedding, she decided to help other couples plan their big day abroad too. She has written “Passport to Paradise: The Complete Destination Wedding Guide,” a top seller on Amazon. She has also been featured in Travel + Leisure, Destination I Do and The Washington Post. As a certified travel advisor, expert event planner and natural connector, she uses her powers to create VIP travel experiences.