Whether you're an accomplished old-timer of overseas travel or a bright-eyed newbie traveling on your first trip out of your home town, ensure you don't fall for these top 9 mistakes you should never make while travelling abroad.

Taking the Passport where ever you travel during vacation

When doing the sightseeing in a foreign country, it's never a good action to go anywhere without identification and proof of your right to be there, just in case. But that doesn't mean you should carry your original passport with you everywhere you travel. Losing your passport or getting it misplaced or stolen, is not a disaster moment (your country's consulate can assist you get another one), is still a stressor and waste of precious vacation time. Instead, prefer to carry the photocopies of the important pages from your passport with you, and place your passport safely in your hotel room's safe deposit box.

Hitch hiking can be risky

It's not weird to feel a little gutsier than usual when on vacation in an exotic locale. But before you feel the need to stick out your thumb to catch a lift while backpacking through the wilderness, always think twice as you’re casting caution to the winds. It’s considered unsafe to hitchhike in your home country, let alone in a foreign country where you will be an easy target due to being a foreign tourist with some or no local ties and little knowledge of the regional geography or customs. This particularly applies if you're travelling solo.

Engaging in needless arguments with locals - notably in Bars!

As the saying goes: when in Rome, do as the Romans do. When travelling to another country, be sensitive to certain topics or opinions that can turn out to be controversial or provocative in the host country, and always refrain from engaging with locals in arguments. If you’re at a bar where people have been drinking, it’s a situation to be cautious with as any sensitive argument can turn into a brawl very quickly. Law enforcement at the host country may not work as the way you’re used to in your home country. It’s recommended to stay affirmative and pay respect local customs and taboos, and hold your tongue when it's prudent to do so.

Forgetting to buy Travel Insurance

If you’ve plans to engage in potentially dangerous sports activities like skiing or scuba diving and the level of risk is higher than normal, make sure you buy travel insurance when travelling overseas to avoid asking your friends and family to pitch in to help cover some unforeseen medical expense. The medical expenses in foreign countries can turn out to be very outrageous and you shouldn’t procrastinate in buying appropriate travel insurance policy. The burden of medical expenses in certain situations can turn out to be unworkable and you’ll need support in case of no travel insurance. 

Flaunting your valuables in public places

If you think, this tip just applies to millionaires, you are mistaken buddy. In plenty of third-world countries that double as popular holiday destinations, you're more well-off than the majority of the host population. Travellers are considered relatively easy targets by local pickpockets in many countries to make easy money, so it's a good insight to try not to endure any more than you already do by being conservative with your appearance and wealth. Practically, this could look like not wearing excessively gaudy or expensive jewelry and avoiding from making apparent how much cash you're carrying in your wallet.

Overlooking your Vaccinations before travel

Visitors should always make sure they're properly vaccinated for any disease that may be native to your destination country when travelling overseas. They can easily find out which vaccinations are recommended for your travel or vacation destination on Government websites such as the Center for Disease Control or as per advisory from the local physician. Depending on the medical insurance plan, vaccinations can be a little bit expensive given the relatively low risks of contracting a disease, especially for a short-term trip. But visitors will repent in case going ahead and biting the bullet if they find themselves somewhere malaria or yellow fever is having a resurgence.

Another regard is if you are planning to buy travel insurance, insurers often require that visitors should take the necessary reasonable precautions before and during their travel to avoid taking on unnecessary risk. If visitors are advised to get vaccinated before travelling somewhere and don't, an insurer could justifiably find them negligent should they actually get infected and refuse to pay out for the claim made by them.

Sipping the tap water

The tap water may be safe to drink in your host country, but assuming it's safe in other places in the world is a great way to spend your entire vacation recovering from food poisoning in the hotel room. Keep in mind that the reason locals can safely drink the local tap water without experiencing any issues does not necessarily mean there are no risks associated for the visitors. As a foreigner, you may not have the same tolerance to, for example, bacteria in the local water that locals may be immune to.

Having food or at prominent tourist sites

For the best experience in tasting the local cuisine where you're travelling, keep clear of going to restaurants at or near major tourist traps. These petty restaurants, designed to grab and accommodate a large number of tourists who may not want to stray off the beaten path in an unfamiliar place, tend to be overpriced. Not even that, they hardly feature the best cooked local cuisine your host country has to offer. Do research before your trip to find out where the locals relish to eat for the most authentic dishes, even if it requires taking the well-trodden tourist footpaths to find. As an added benefit, visitors will enjoy eating away from the crowds!

Use Credit Cards instead of Cash Overseas

Moreover, rookie travellers may not be aware of the great rewards they can earn for spending money abroad with your credit card. With a credit card tailored towards rewarding overseas spend such as the co-branded Visa Card, you can earn as much 3 air miles for every S$1 spent overseas, which is one of the highest mile for overseas spend on the market. Not even that, credit cards often give travelers much better exchange rates than banks or money changers. Avoid the shadily currency exchange rates offered at the airport terminal entirely and just use the credit card for the best benefit for your money. Further information and other great alternatives that help you get the most out of your travel, check out the list of the best credit cards for avid travellers.