Flying out from Dubai? 7 travel mistakes to avoid— from bad layovers to jam-packed itineraries

Some mistakes are life lessons. For instance, when my husband I and made the mistake of booking a flight to Lisbon, that had only a 1.5 hour layover. At Turkey. And…our flight to Turkey was delayed by 1.5 hours.

You can imagine my joy, when I fell asleep after boarding, and found that were still on the runway.

So, cue missed flights, running across the Istanbul airport, booking another flight and realising we would have to spend the night in Turkey, because no flights to Lisbon available that day.

Lesson learned. Always, always make sure you have more than 3 hours of layover, even if you absolutely hate twiddling your thumbs at an airport. 

So before you pack those compression socks and boarding pass, here are 6 common travel blunders—and how to dodge them. Trust us, this guide is based on brutal experience. 

You booked that ‘great deal’.. only to realize it includes a 12-hour layover in an airport with one café and no Wi-Fi. Or worse, you tried to cut it too close with a 45-minute connection and spent the next hour sprinting in socks through security.

Avoid it: Aim for a 3–4 hour layover for international flights. Enough time to breathe, not enough to spiral. And always research the airport—some are dreamy, others are survival zones.

No SIM card. No saved maps. No clue what the local currency even looks like. Wing it too hard and you will waste your first day just trying to function.

Avoid it: Download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me), grab a local eSIM before arrival, and save your hotel address in the local language. 

Three jackets, six books, two pairs of boots, for a beach trip. Overpacking is every rookie’s rite of passage, until you're dragging a 30kg suitcase up four flights of stairs.

Avoid it: Stick to a colour palette. Think: 3 tops, 3 bottoms, 1 jacket. Mix, match, repeat. 

It said sunny. You packed sundresses and slip-ons. But that 'sunny' day in Seoul ended in monsoon. Goodbye cute outfit, hello soggy regret.

Avoid it: Always check weather trends, not just forecasts. And bring a compact umbrella or light waterproof layer, no matter what.

That gorgeous cobblestone street just destroyed your heels. Now you’re sightseeing with blisters and a limp. 

Avoid it: Break in your shoes before the trip. Pack one comfy, ugly-but-trusty pair and thank yourself later.

You planned 7 museums, 3 cafés, and a mountaintop sunset. Reality? You’re exhausted, hangry, and don’t remember a single painting you saw.

Avoid it: Schedule ‘buffer’ time. Pick a top 1–2 experiences per day. The best memories are usually the ones you don’t plan for.

You flew 8,000 km to see the Louvre... and it’s sold out. Or worse: closed on Tuesdays.

Avoid it: Do a tiny bit of planning. Book big-ticket items early (especially during high season) and always check local holidays or closure days.