This simple paperwork mistake is derailing trips in 2026

Christopher Elliott, Special to USA TODAY

Tue, December 16, 2025 at 10:02 a.m. UTC

One of the newest mistakes travelers make is also one of the oldest: forgetting their paperwork.

It happened to Katharine Nohr when she tried to fly to New Zealand. Nohr, an attorney from Honolulu, was so used to traveling to Europe that she assumed she didn't need a visa to enter New Zealand.

But she did.

"I couldn't check in for my flight," she said. "The agent waved me away rudely and said I had to get a visa online."

Check out Elliott Confidential, the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

Travelers are making all kinds of new mistakes. These include failing to do research or worse, outsourcing it to an AI, and not giving themselves enough time to make a flight connection. But one mistake towers above all of them – and I'll tell you about it in a moment.

Why travel insurance is becoming a must-have for 2026 trips

Why visas are an old problem – and a new problem

Visas are a constant problem because the requirements keep changing.

I remember booking a flight to Australia a few years ago when the country didn't have a visa requirement. But before I left, the requirement changed, and when I arrived at the airport, my airline wouldn't let me check in. Fortunately, there's an Australian ETA smartphone app that lets you apply for the necessary permission online, and you can get your approval within minutes.

Nohr wasn't so lucky. She tried to secure a visa but couldn't get it in time. Her flight left without her – an expensive lesson.

"Now I always check for visa requirements online," she said.

That's good, because next year, even the EU will require a little paperwork for visitors. After repeated delays, the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, authorization will go into effect. It's a pre-entry requirement that is scheduled to go into effect at the end of 2026.

Other new mistakes travelers will make in 2026

Here's a short list of the errors travelers will be making next year – and how to avoid them.

◾Failing to research your destination: It's an easier mistake to make than you might think. Say you're traveling to a place in Canada or Mexico that you've been to many times. It would be easy to say, "I know this place – no need to do any research." But times change, and especially in 2026, you can't make any assumptions. "Always research the destination thoroughly, including local customs, laws, and cultural norms," advised Frank Harrison, regional security director for the Americas at World Travel Protection.

◾Letting an AI plan your trip: This is a growing problem, according to Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance. He says travelers are using ChatGPT or Gemini to generate itineraries that turn out to be riddled with hallucinations and errors. "These tools don't always know if a local spot is closed," he said. "We'll get calls from people who missed the connection because it wasn't physically possible to pull off in time." The fix? If you use an AI, make sure you verify the details. Otherwise, you might miss an attraction – or a flight connection.

◾Not giving yourself enough time: As travelers try to cram more activities into less time, their schedules can become too ambitious, which can potentially waste time and money. "For example, flying on the same day of the cruise can result in missing the port departure," said Elad Schaffer, CEO of Faye Travel Insurance. Rather than waiting until the last minute to book activities, such as dinner reservations or spa appointments, his advice is to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time, especially if you're taking a cruise.

◾Packing your sense of skepticism: A lot of travelers are stumbling into their next destination, oblivious to what awaits them, experts say. And the problem is getting worse. Susan Sherren, founder of luxury travel agency Couture Trips, says it's more important than ever to bring critical thinking skills to your next trip. "For example, airlines are using algorithms and AI to pair connecting flights," she said. "Don't always accept the suggested pairing without leaving at least two hours for some connecting flights, especially if you are connecting to an international flight." She says these flights usually board at least an hour before departure. The same thing extends to anything people will tell you when you're on vacation. Just because you see a five-star rating on a hotel doesn't mean it's great. Verify everything.

◾Waiting too long to book your trip: One of the worst new mistakes that travelers make is waiting too long to book their vacation. After the pandemic, there were plenty of last-minute deals available. But those days are over, some experts say.

Take your average ski vacation. "People wait until the ski season gets going to plan their trip, and buy their lift tickets at the window on the day they want to ski," says Sarah Beatty, a spokeswoman for Colorado Ski Country USA, a trade group that represents the Colorado ski industry. "The ski industry is just like any other travel industry: the more you plan ahead, the more flexibility you have to find a better deal on lift tickets, lodging, and lessons."

So if you're reading this now and you want to go skiing this winter, you'll find the best deals in Argentina and Chile in July – during the Southern Hemisphere winter.

The biggest mistake: Not traveling at all

The experts are right, but there's one more mistake – and it may be the biggest mistake of all. It's letting all the travel worries keep you home. Truth is, you can skip the research, wait until the last minute to plan your trip, hire Mr. ChatGPT as your travel agent, and accept everything at face value – but taking the trip is still better than not taking it.

I know because I've been to some places this year that I didn't care for. I wasn't a fan of chaotic Bangkok, and there were parts of Australia's Red Center that missed the mark. Also, I don't like Tokyo's always-crowded subways. But I wouldn't give up any of those experiences.

All the chaos and uncertainty of this year might leave you tempted to avoid any travel in 2026, too. Don't give in to it. After all, a misadventure is still an adventure.

Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.