I’m a Travel Agent: 4 Costly Mistakes People Make on Their Summer Vacations

PeopleImages / Getty Images

Table of Contents

Toggle

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates’ editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services – our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

Summer vacations should be a time to unwind, not break your budget. 

However, travel agents said many travelers make the same mistakes every year — from booking at the wrong time to not buying travel insurance. These slip-ups can lead to non-refundable expenses, less money for fun activities and high out-of-pocket expenses. 

GOBankingRates asked season travel pros to share the four costly mistakes people make on their summer vacations.

Traveling During Peak Season

Hitting popular destinations during the summer is one of the costliest mistakes people make.

“I think most people think that the best time to travel and plan a summer vacation is when everyone else is also off from school,” said Steve Griswold, co-owner of Pixie Vacations. “That’s the complete opposite of how you should plan a vacation. You really need to go when everyone else is not traveling to avoid the crowds and also to get some great deals.” 

Waiting Until the Last Minute 

Tamara Lidbom, owner of the Anytime Travel Agency, said travelers who wait until the last minute to book summer travel will pay more for fewer options. 

“You don’t have time to wait for options if you’re waiting until the last minute. The best deals are found when you have the opportunity to price-shop. Last-minute bookings kill that opportunity,” Lidbom said.

“You might get lucky with a late deal,” Lidbom explained. “But you likely would have gotten a better one if you had taken the time to wait and research the booking market.”

In addition, planning gives travelers an opportunity to budget travel payments so they can enjoy their vacation without feeling cash-strapped. 

“Planning when you want to book activities and spacing when you pay for them is a great way to book every fun activity you enjoy while easing upfront financial costs,” Lidbom added. “Book parts of the journey at different times before the trip. Book the flight and hotel in January, then book the spa day in March.” 

Chasing the Cheapest Fare 

Many people make the mistake of booking the cheapest price they see without realizing that it might have hidden costs. 

“Cheaper rates up front are not always cheaper,” Lidbom said. “You need to read the fine print of anything you book because that fine print might have hidden costs or that cheaper rate will give you something you don’t want.”

For example, Griswold, who is an authorized Disney vacation planner, said people often book hotels that offer $99 off a Disney World property without checking the fees. 

“The person is not taking into consideration that there are parking fees, hotel fees, shuttle per person fees, etcetera. When you add up all of the hidden costs, you could have stayed at a Disney World Value Resort close to everything for the same price or less,” Griswold said.

“But people get caught in the trap of seeing a low price without realizing that the shuttle only runs a few times a day or that the resort is really far away from everything else,” Griswold explained.

Not Buying Travel Insurance 

Travel insurance can cover trip cancellations, medical emergencies, lost baggage and delays — but coverage varies widely by plan. 

“It helps with lost bags, flight cancellations and injuries or health issues if you need to see a doctor overseas,” Lidbom said. “You could be forced to pay for an expensive medical procedure out of pocket because you didn’t have travel insurance.”

For summer travelers, a comprehensive policy with strong medical and weather-related protections is often worth the extra cost, especially for international or high-risk destinations.

“I never travel out of the country without travel insurance and nobody else should either,” Lidbom added. “Talk to anyone who needed it but didn’t have it and they will say the same thing.”