We all dream of that perfect, seamless trip: the kind where the boarding process is smooth, the hidden gems are easy to find, and your bank account stays intact. But let’s be honest—travel often involves a little chaos.

Over the years, I’ve learned a few things about what not to do, mostly because I’ve learned them the hard way. If my misadventures can save you a few thousand dollars or a breakdown in the middle of a jungle, then it was all worth it. Here is my “Don’t Do This” list for your next trip.

1. Don’t Trust Google for Support Numbers

I needed to rebook a flight, and instead of logging into my actual airline account, I did what we all do: I Googled the support number. A number popped up, I clicked it, and I felt like I was talking to a professional. I was actually on the phone with a sophisticated third-party scammer. They kept me calm, sounded official, and gathered my info while I sat there, completely unsuspecting.

The moment they pulled $2,000 from my account, the “official” mask slipped. To make matters worse, that was the specific credit card I used for its top-tier travel insurance. By canceling the card to stop the fraud, I lost that coverage for my new tickets, too. It was a double gut-punch.

The Lesson: Never, ever Google a support number. Go directly to the airline’s official website or app. If you have to search, look for the “Contact Us” page on the actual airline domain. And if a “customer service” agent asks for sensitive payment details you weren’t expecting to give? Hang up and verify.

2. Don’t Wing the “Off the Beaten Path” Adventures

I decided on a whim to find a remote cenote in Mexico. No planning, no tour package, just pure “vibe.” I saw a cenote on Apple Maps and turned down what looked like a road, but it quickly narrowed into a dense, suffocating jungle path. Branches screamed against my rental car as they scratched at the paint, and suddenly, there was nowhere left to turn.

I remember the exact moment the dread hit me. The gas light flickered on—my husband glared at me—and I couldn’t even pretend that we were “almost there” anymore because we had zero cell service. I started crying. I panicked. I wasn’t just lost; I was trapped. We were lucky—we eventually found a tiny patch of dirt that allowed for a 50-point turn, and we drove out of there 20 minutes later.

The Lesson: “Off the beaten path” is a great travel goal, but it shouldn’t mean “literally driving into the wilderness without a plan.” Always check your route beforehand, keep an eye on your fuel, and download offline maps. If you can’t see where you’re going, turn around before you’re forced to.

3. Build a “Wallet Ritual” (Or Else)

I was flying home from San Juan to RDU, already struggling with my usual flight anxiety, when I started looking in my bag for my headphones. That’s when I realized—my wallet. It wasn’t there. Then it hit me: I’d left it in the bathroom stall. Inside that wallet was every cent of cash we hadn’t spent, plus the money my husband had handed me for bills back home—about $1,000.

I was sick. The panic was immediate and physical; it felt like the floor was falling out from under me. To make it worse, it was the start of a three-day holiday weekend. I spent the flight home in a spiral of self-loathing, convinced the money was gone forever. When I finally landed I submitted an online lost & found report. When I was finally able to call the airport on Tuesday, I was trembling, but someone had actually turned it in! Every bill was still there. I paid a fee to have it shipped home, and it was the best money I ever spent.

The Lesson: Stop trusting yourself to “just remember.” Now, I have a mandatory “wallet ritual.” Before I leave any space—a bathroom stall, a cafe table, a rental car seat—I do a physical pat-down and look back at the surface where I was sitting. It takes two seconds, but it saves your sanity.

What’s the biggest “oops” moment you’ve had while traveling? Share your story in the comments—we can all learn from each other’s mistakes!