Made any travel mistakes lately?

[mardy]

Travelled to Dallas on December 4th last year. 27 degrees, sun shining, such good weather for this time of year, such a shame I am only here for a couple of days I thought to myself.
Then the ice storm struck! Temperature dropped to -1 in a matter of hours and turned the road network into a giant skating rink.
So there I was stuck in the hotel, playing flight cancellation bingo for five days, trying to find any flight out of there and pondering how I was going to get to the airport without skidding into a ditch!

My travel mistake? Looking at the weather forecast the day before and thinking "how bad could it be?".

 

[Mal]

Slept in an additional 90 mins later than planned on Saturday. Cue massive rush to get to airport on time, (cab to Paddington, then Heathrow express). Would have preferred the drunk buses (I normally use 2 night buses and they are always interesting as they are taking the drunks home and giving the homeless somewhere to rest. Always fruitful for stories haha. And the bus is free for me, which is a big plus.)

 

[Bazzi]

That has happened to most us. In fact it still happens from time to time.

Got ripped off in 1990 in ATH as I got off the flight. I was going to bus station. Took another couple in taxi, drove around half of Athens and dropped them off along the way. Charged them and continued to overcharge me. Fare should have been 2,500-3,000 drachma and the fare in the end was 5,000 drachma which was ~AUD50 at the time. I knew what was going on and told him I should really call the police but I wanted him out of my sight and paid him the rip off fare.

First mistake - in 1980, as very naive 20 year old on my first trip to LA I took a taxi from the airport to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. I had no idea that the 90 minute ride included the scenic route through suburbs of LAX that I have yet to see again on return trips to LA! Taxi fare US $75 - ouch! Second mistake - chose to stay at the Hollywood Roosevelt given its location and history - big, big, mistake - I had no idea that Hollywood Blvd in those days was a drug and prostitute strip and the Hollywood Roosevelt was a doss house for all those working the streets during their off hours. I stayed 2 days, slept with the light on and the room door barricaded. While waiting for the airport bus outside the hotel for the return trip to the airport, a taxi driver stopped and offered to take me for $15 - said, "yeah, sure" and recounted my inward taxi experience and he was mortified, asked whether I took the driver's licence details, made a report etc - which I hadn't. Anyway, I accepted his offer, the fare was $15, and my faith in mankind was restored.

The much older and wiser me now does extensive research as to different transport options when arriving in a new city.

 

[ellen10]

My first solo travels as a 19 y/o travelling from London to LA. Many years ago.
On the flight I was seated next to an American man who was travelling after 6 months working in the Middle East, we chatted throughout of the flight, he was very interested in Australia as he may have been posted there. We talked about LA and places to see.

I had intended to catch a taxi from the airport to my accommodation (not realising how far away it was). Our plane was due to land at 10pm. He said "my wife and father-in-law will be picking me up at the airport and we can give you a lift". Which was very nice.

After going through customs I met up with him again and we walked out to meet his wife. Well his wife was 8 months pregnant (which he omitted to tell me). You should have seen the look on her face when he introduced me and said he had offered me a lift, which was out of their way (not that I knew at the time) and to top it all off, in the car ride he offered that they would take me out to the beach one day, to which his wife replied "you haven't taken me to the beach in 2 years". It was a very loong trip to my accommodation! I felt very awkward.
They gave me their address and phone numbers to call then on one of my free days.

Needless to say I did not call them and sent them a nice pressie from Australia, when I returned home, and thanked them for their kind generosity.

Since then I have become a much better planner for my travels and study up on how to get to and from airports very independently!

 

[drron]

A lot of memories coming back with some of these stories.
First trip to the US with our son in 1983-he was 9 but very tall for his age.We had a deal that for an extra $7 you got car hire and 7 nights in a Travelodge.Well we had a night in the Travelodge on Sunset-named because of the action that begins then.After unpacking I took my son across the street to buy some bottled water.Waiting to cross 2 tall,young African American ladies stood beside us dressed in the shortest leather skirts I had seen,thigh high boots and said-"are you boys looking for some fun?"My son asked-"what do they mean dad?"I made some lame comment like they were just asking us if we were having a good time.
Later on that night we learnt that the Travelodge doesn't have good quality bedding.The springs squeak.....all night.Left about 0500.
At least better than the Travelodge Brookline,Boston.Drug deals at the next table at brekkie.

First visit to Seoul mid 80s.The TA wanted ~ $150 for transfers both ways to our hotel.I was smart and knew we could get it cheaper.Taxi to the hotel only cost$14.Returning to the airport we used the hotel's free shuttle.

 

[Hubbins]

I once made a error but i was mistaken

 

[OATEK]

I once made a error but i was mistaken

Made me look up at the little sign on my bookshelf: "I wish I was wrong sometimes"

 

[Rugby]

I realised yesterday when checking a booking from CHC-SYD in a couple of weeks that my brain had seen 06:30 as 6:30pm when I booked it a month ago. So I had to pay up to change to the afternoon EK flight, but better then finding out on the day. Damn you AM/PM

 

[RTWtraveler]

Just booked an RTW from SYD, when I forgot to book the cheap CBR SYD CBR legs that are included with the RTW tkt. Even with the "extra" fees involved with changing tickets, the cost was cheaper than if I had booked them seperatly.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I realised yesterday when checking a booking from CHC-SYD in a couple of weeks that my brain had seen 06:30 as 6:30pm when I booked it a month ago. So I had to pay up to change to the afternoon EK flight, but better then finding out on the day. Damn you AM/PM

Hey easy to do. I've got a 00.05 shortly I need to think about that. It ain't a Thursday it's a Wednesday night !!

 

[Pushka]

Hey easy to do. I've got a 00.05 shortly I need to think about that. It ain't a Thursday it's a Wednesday night !!

I had the same thing with a flight HK to Paris. Departs at 00.05 Weds which is really Tuesday for planning.
I booked accommodation departing on the Weds instead of the Tuesday.

This issue is very frequently seen in Bali where all flights leave around midnight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I had the same thing with a flight HK to Paris. Departs at 00.05 Weds which is really Tuesday for planning.
I booked accommodation departing on the Weds instead of the Tuesday.

This issue is very frequently seen in Bali where all flights leave around midnight.

That's probably a good thing especially if hotels have check-out at midday (or even at 4pm). My preference is always to book hotels for the night before for any ETA at a hotel prior to 9am and departure for the airport after 6pm (unless there is something like a 4pm check-out)

 

[Pushka]

I was able to change. We are staying in a Club room at LHP and they will let us use the club, spa, gym etc until we leave at say 9pm. Their service is fantastic. I'm a member of the 1865 club but I think they accommodate anyone who stays in a Club room exceptionally well.

 

[Blackadder]

Missing the deadline in SJU for checked bags, and in the process stuffing up my Yupp run on AA.

 

[RAM]

Always ask questions rather than assume.

After reading all the horror stories about 'taxis' from the Air Asia KL LCC terminal to the main terminal I decided we would catch the bus across. Cheap price and we had 4 hour gap to kill. Made the mistake of coming out of the 'secure' arrivals area to the non-air-con sauna. Hotter inside the terminal at 3.30am than outside - but only just. Went and checked out the bus stop. Fun to find which one.

No timetable anywhere to be seen. So went and asked some coach drivers - they thought first one was 5.30am. Went to a money change place (virtually directly across but in terminal via narrow smelly alley) figuring that many would change their money - told 6.30am. Went for a walk and found a 'tour organiser' (selling tours of KL etc) told 6am.

All this time I'd seen the unofficial 'taxis' or mini-vans pulling in and dropping off locals. They outnumbered official taxis 4 or 5 to 1.

So after nearly an hour of assimilating I left the rest of the family and walked the 100 metres back to the main drop-off point and watched for a few minutes. Sure some of the unofficials were true ventures into the unknown but most were clean and quite new (ALL HAD AIRCON). So their drivers shut the doors very quickly as soon as last passenger out, then opened rear to get bags out rapidly (no breakables please).

Then an 8 seater pulled up and a chap in his late 50s got out, immaculately presented, not a crease on his clothes etc. Not rushing etc. When all done he checked inside and picked up a dropped sweet wrapper, walked over to a bin and put it in.

So I went up to him as he came back and asked how much for 5 to the main terminal? Quoted half the cost of the bus. Drove me the distance to the bus stop, loaded us up and we luxuriated in the ice-cold air con for all-too short a time. Dropped us outside a ramp crossing on the drop-off ranks, pointed to a small side door and said that's the best way up to departures and use the lift to level X.

Asked for the amount quoted - so I gave him double as it was sure much better than the sometime to be leaving bus ride and that was the best service we'd had in years.

If you can help it - never wait outside the secure area of the LCC. Get to the main terminal ASAP, and 'unofficials' are not all bad.

Biggest Mistake - Telling our three teens how bad 'unofficials' were as we walked out of the LCC.

 

[Awesom Andy]

If you can help it - never wait outside the secure area of the LCC. Get to the main terminal ASAP, and 'unofficials' are not all bad.

KLIA2 is now in operation, so you'll never have to worry about the LCCT anymore.

 

[Bolthead]

I had the same thing with a flight HK to Paris. Departs at 00.05 Weds which is really Tuesday for planning.
I booked accommodation departing on the Weds instead of the Tuesday.

This issue is very frequently seen in Bali where all flights leave around midnight.

Same problem at Raratonga.... VA arrives and leaves soon after midnight and booking accommodation can be a bit confusing.

 

[Mal]

Last weekend I had an oh horrible hundred hour flight, which dictates me waking up around 3am. Well, I didn't wake up. Wrote the trip off and got a partial refund from BA.

I do these frequently and often fear I will miss them. I did have a close call a few weeks before where I woke up later than planned and had to catch cab and hex (roughly £45)

 

[Glider_]

Not too long ago as a complete newbie to purchase and redemption of points, on my very first LifeMiles booking I spell MrGlider's name wrong. Just omitted one letter, which probably wouldn't have been a problem. But it had me in a panic because it was my first attempt and I was convinced Murphy's law would mean MrGlider being left behind at the airport check-in counter.

Correcting the one omitted letter sent me directly into the pits of LifeMiles callcentre hell. It took over a week, multiple emails and 4 hours on the phone to rectify. Talk about a baptism of fire!

In hindsight it wasn't that big a deal, certainly nothing like some of the other oopsies in this thread. But remember the first time you made a cheeky points booking, back when it seemed daring and you were dubious about whether they'd even let you on the plane? It was like that, and I'd stuffed it with an attack of the dumb. I wanted to throw up.

 

[amaroo]

Turned up at a LHR car rental counter to collect our pre-booked car. Doing the paperwork I realised I'd left my licence at home after purging the wallet off all redundant items

Sorry Sir, we can't release the vehicle without sighting your licence. After several minutes of pleading and promises that said Lic would be faxed when OZ woke up - I'd given up that we would be given the vehicle. The agent went to phone his supervisor in one last attempt of gaining approval and we started to plan heading back to the terminal and flying to Spain in lieu of the two week driving trip around the UK.

Agent returned with a smile and the car was ours.......always thought the mistake was getting the car rather than flying to Spain!

Took another 18 years to visit Spain where it was confirmed that getting the car was a mistake.