Hey Reader!

This email lands in your inbox every Tuesday. It's all about travel insights, personal stories, and lessons from my adventures exploring over 90 countries thus far. Whether it inspires, entertains, or enlightens, let's celebrate the beauty and diversity of this amazing world we share, from a travel perspective! 🌍✨

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Most people think expensive trips happen because flights are costly.

But honestly, a lot of travel money disappears through small decisions people barely notice.

And I know this because… I’ve personally made every single one of these mistakes one or more times! 🤭

So if you’ve ever felt frustrated after overspending on a trip, you’re definitely not alone.

Here are a few of the biggest travel mistakes that quietly drain your money:

1. Waiting Too Long to Plan

Last-minute travel almost always costs more.

Flights rise. Good hotels disappear. Tour options shrink.

And suddenly you’re choosing from whatever is left instead of what’s best.

That was me in Manila, Philippines. I took too long to book a spot on a day tour that promised to be a great adventure. It got sold out so I had to contend with a much pricier arranged-on-the-spot city tour.

Avoiding the dilly-dallying and committing to plans a few weeks earlier can save you $$$.

2. Choosing the Cheapest Option Without Looking Deeper

That “cheapest” flight with 3 layovers?
The hotel far from everything?
The low-cost booking with hidden baggage fees?

Sometimes cheap becomes expensive once you add transport, stress, exhaustion, and extra costs along the way.

This is exactly what happened to me in Seoul, South Korea. I booked an airbnb relatively far out of the city to make some savings and went on to spend a lot more on uber rides to and from the city!

Value matters more than the lowest number.

3. Overpacking

This one surprises people.

Overpacking can lead to:

• Extra baggage fees
• Taxi costs instead of public transport
• Shopping for forgotten essentials because your bag became disorganized
• Physical exhaustion from dragging too much around

Remember what happened to me in Seoul? Yeah, I used an uber on arrival because I had too much luggage! Enough said... lots of 'school fees' paid to learn on the go!

The lighter and smarter you pack, the easier and cheaper your trip often becomes.

4. Ignoring the Weather Forecast

This one can become unexpectedly expensive.

A lot of travellers assume:
“It can’t be that cold.”
Or
“I’ll manage with what I packed.”

Then suddenly you’re buying emergency jackets, shoes, umbrellas, swimwear, or layers at tourist prices.

Yup, me too... my first trip to Johannesburg to attend a short course turned out disastrous because I didn't look up the weather beforehand. We landed in June and it was my first experience encountering 'weather shock' because of the low winter temperatures.

With what little cash I had, I bought one expensive overcoat. Then I wore most of the light clothes I'd brought in layers (it was THAT cold for me) every day of the training. And each morning I'd switch what was the top layer to look 'changed'. It made me look much fatter but who cares... it worked!! 🤣🤣🤣

A quick weather check before packing can save both money and stress.

Travel doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

But avoiding a few costly mistakes can make your trips far smoother, more enjoyable, and far less stressful financially.

And if this email made you think, “Yep… I’ve definitely done that before,” I’d genuinely love to hear your story.

Hit reply and tell me: What’s one travel mistake that ended up costing you money, stress, or both?

And if you are planning a trip and want to avoid these mistakes, book a free check in chat with me so we can explore your travel plans and how I could help (here): https://tinyurl.com/check-in-chat-with-Mkay

Next week, I’ll share a few more common travel mistakes people make including one that causes many travellers to overspend before they even leave home.

Happy Travels!

Your Travel Coach,

Maria Kamau (aka Mkay)

Travel Enthusiast | Bodacious Adventurer |Travel Writer

I help women over 40 travel confidently, affordably and on their own terms, without relying on tour agents or on others to realise their dreams.

PS: If you are planning to Travel and could use some support, here are a few ways I can help you:

✅Book a check in chat so we can explore your travel plans and how I could help: https://tinyurl.com/check-in-chat-with-Mkay [FREE]

✅✅Work with me to get the support you need for a specific upcoming trip you are planning https://tinyurl.com/travel-support-options [Low Cost, High Value]

✅✅✅Work with me 1-on-1 for 4 or more sessions to equip you with the skills of travelling as a lifestyle and watch your travel dreams come true! https://tinyurl.com/travel-support-options [Affordable and Transformative]

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