Travel Mistakes You Might Be Making Without Even Realizing It

18. Not Backing Up Important Documents Digitally

Physical copies of your passport, travel insurance, and boarding passes are useful—but what happens if your bag gets stolen, you drop your phone, or your hotel burns down (hey, it’s happened)? In an age of digital everything, failing to back up your essential travel documents is a risk you don’t need to take. A few minutes of prep before you leave can save hours of headaches—and possibly your whole trip. Scan or photograph your passport, visas, vaccination records, insurance cards, prescription medications, tickets, hotel bookings, and emergency contacts. Store them in multiple places: your email, a cloud-based drive like Google Drive or Dropbox, and even an encrypted app like 1Password. Bonus points if you bring a physical copy in a separate part of your luggage. If something goes missing, you’ll have proof of identity to help with embassy visits, replacement passports, or police reports. And having your itinerary and medical info backed up can make emergency assistance quicker and easier. Pro tip: Take photos of your checked luggage and any high-value items you're bringing. If you need to file a lost bag or insurance claim, visual evidence helps immensely. Digital backups don’t take up space, but they offer serious peace of mind.