It's no surprise that some of the world's top travel specialists can help travelers make the most of their trips, adding extra value and helping to ease headaches while on the road. But this group of trip-planning experts has knowledge that will help even non-clients -- not just what to do, but what to avoid.
What Not to Do
(01 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN NAPA"Many travelers think the only thing to do in wine country is drink from morning till night," says Liza Graves, a California wine specialist. "There are pick-your-own fruits and vegetable farms that offer a wide variety of seasonal produce, tours, and hands-on experiences; olive groves with tastes of fresh-pressed oils; beekeeping; cheese making; there are even worm farms."
(02 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN HAWAII"Renting a Jeep," says Irene Aroner, an expert in the islands. "There are no opportunities to drive off-road here. A Jeep rental just makes for an uncomfortable and unnecessarily cramped driving experience."
(03 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN SPAIN"When visiting Andalusia most travelers want to stay (sleep) in the cities: Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla," says Virginia Irurita, a travel specialist for Spain. "Sleeping in the small villages is much more fun and travelers will get a better sense of Andalucia: Carmona (pictured here), Ronda, and Ubeda are great places to stay and from there you can visit the big cities as day excursions."
(04 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN GREECE"Trying to visit as many islands as they can," says Christos Stergiou, a Greece expert. "I always advise against this, since not only is it exhausting to do but it's also culturally shallow. Instead of spending quality time on each island and getting to know the location and its locals, visitors who rush from one island to the other only touch the very surface of each destination."
(05 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN SOUTHERN FRANCE"Choosing to vacation on the coastal area during July and August when the beaches are packed," says Anthony Bay, a Provence specialist. "The roads often gridlocked, and the hotel prices at their highest of the year."
(06 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN FRANCE"Going into the Chateau of Versailles in the summer," says Paul Bennett of Context Travel. "The interior is so extremely crowded that even advance ticket holders have to wait in line, only to shuffle from room to room following the masses. It's much nicer to visit the amazing gardens or the Trianon complex where the Marie Antoinette hamlet is. If you absolutely have to go inside the chateau, go at lunch or the end of the day.
(07 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN ST. BARTS"Taking the ferry from St Maarten," says Peg Walsh, a travel specialist for St. Barthélemy. "It can be a very rough crossing and passengers often get sick. Taking the ten-minute commuter flight is the way to go."
(08 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN RUSSIA"They try to wing it when they arrive," says Greg Tepper, a specialist for Russia. "Russian museums are open and closed on different days of the week, and you'll never figure out the system! And you are likely to miss what you really wanted to see unless you make a plan before you arrive to see what you want, timed to when you can get in."
(09 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN FIJI"Many visitors gravitate toward name-brand hotels such as Sheraton and Westin," says Lynette Wilson, a Fiji specialist. "You can get a real Fijian experience at a property away from the commercially built up region."
(10 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN MEXICO"Spending lots of time in the sun drinking lots of alcoholic beverages," says Zachary Rabinor, a Mexico expert. "Dehydration, sun stroke or overexposure—and little sleep—can lower travelers' defenses and open the door for gastrointestinal malaise—that they would probably get in their hometown if they behaved the same way." Pictured here, a cucumber-chili margarita served at Mayakoba resorts.
(11 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN NEPAL"Most people like to rush their trips," says Antonia Neubauer, an expert who spends at least a month in the region every year. "You really can't rush when dealing with altitude. The minimum Everest Base Camp trip ought to be 19 days, including time in Kathmandu. If you rush, you run the risk of getting altitude sickness and having to be helicoptered out and back to Kathmandu."
(12 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN ITALY"Ordering cappuccino after dinner," says Joyce Falcone, an Italy specialist. "No milk in your coffee after dinner: Italians think it's too heavy."
(13 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN BOTSWANA"Overpacking," says Daniel Saperstein of Hippo Creek Safaris. "Since every property has the ability to do your laundry each day, there is no need to bring along 14 changes of clothing for a two-week safari. Five days' worth is plenty, so adding a jacket, scarf, and an extra pair of shoes, you are basically outfitted for the entire trip without having to worry about being 'overweight' for the small aircraft used on many of the internal flights."
(14 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN PERU"They only visit Cusco and Machu Pichhu," says Marisol Mosquera, a Peru expert. "They miss Lake Titicaca, Arequipa in Southern Peru, and the entirety of Northern Peru, with its coastal archeology, beaches, and archeological sites in the cloud forest."
(15 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN INDIA"Many clients think you can see India in a single trip, often trying to include Nepal and Bhutan as well," says Bertie Dyer, a travel specialist for India. "India is unbelievably vast, so doing too much is the number one mistake. We work hard in the planning stages to persuade clients to slow down the pace of the their holiday and focus on a single area of India such as Rajasthan (pictured here, Gadisar Lake) or Madhya Pradesh."
(16 of16)
WHAT NOT TO DO IN CHINA"Only spending one week in China," says Mei Zhang, of WildChina. "I think in order to really experience China—and to properly get over the jet lag—it takes at least ten days. Our most popular trip introduces newcomers to Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, and then has a splash of action in rural Yunnan. We can theoretically do this trip in eight days, but it is much more relaxing to enjoy it over two weeks."
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