The travel industry is on a continuous increase so there’s no surprise that more and more myths surface when it comes to going on holiday somewhere outside of your country – some true, some false. We’ve found the 10 most common travel myths and tried to debunk them in the article that follows.

10. The X-rays at the airport will ruin your film – Not many people use photo cameras with photo films, but for those who actually do know that this is actually true. Running multiple times through a high-radiation environment can expose the film and potentially destroy information on it. You can avoid this situation by asking for hand inspection. Also, avoid carrying the film in your luggage, which is even more exposed to radiation.

9. All-inclusive trips means no extra cost – Don’t bet on it! All-inclusive trips no longer mean accommodations and food. Prepare to pay a fee for unlimited soda or one for adding wine or champagne to your meal. Take into account that the food server might not go well with your stomach or that you might want to try other places as well. Once you’ve arrived at your destination, don’t put your wallet away yet!

8. The damage done to your rental is covered by auto insurance. — This is a facility often advertised by credit card companies. Basically, credit card companies cover your expenses, provided you use their product to rent a car. This is true in most cases, but it all depends on the limits of your policy. If the damage is extensive, you might not be saved by insurance and asked to pay the rest of the costs.

7. Stars better then diamonds, when it comes to hotel ratings – These ratings represent a rough estimate on the quality of hotels, each system being based on a different criteria. The US has two main rating systems AAA and Mobil that can’t really be translated into diamonds and stars. Some hotel websites allow customers to rate the hotels themselves. So when choosing a hotel, look beyond the ratings, check multiple sources and rate it yourself.

6. Using a cell-phone during a flight interferes with the transmission– Cell phones can interfere with the navigation systems of some airplanes, that is why flight attendants ask passengers to turn them off before taking off. While new planes such as Airbuses and Boeing 787s are not affected by these interferences, the variety of phones out there makes it impossible to be 100% sure these won’t tamper with the navigation systems. Until then, it’s best to turn off your mobile, just to be on the safe side.

5. Change all your money to foreign currency before you leave. — If we’re talking about something other than Euros or US dollars, major banks will charge you an unfavorable exchange rate and add a transaction fee, to top it all off. Depending on the destination, you are also exposed to theft. To insure nothing goes wrong on your trip, carry a combination of travelers checks, ATM cards and credits cards.

4. You save money by booking at the last minute. – While this myth might have been a fact in the past, now getting your ticket at the last minute no longer is a great idea. The Internet has started being used on a much larger scale, which leads to a transparency in pricing. Now you can book your ticket online in seconds, choose your desired seat and even get a discount for booking in advance.

3. Traveling by train inside Europe is cheaper. — Many of us are still fascinated by trains, by the sights and by the people you get to meet. But if you’re on a fixed schedule and don’t have much time to spare, go with air travel. Choose from one of the many low-cost European airlines that now offer cheaper flights than intra-European train travel.

2. There are plenty of bargains at airport duty-free shops. — Think twice before you stock up on liquor, perfume or chocolate. Duty-free shops in airports are so profitable either because people think they make a bargain or travelers want to unload some foreign currency. According to the Duty-Free Price Guide (http://www.thedutyfreepriceguide.com/), prices vary widely, but you can find cheaper things in New York or Prague for example, rather than in the duty-free shops you come across. Never assume something is cheaper just because it’s found in a duty-free shop!

1. Package offers are a great deal! - Before deciding from the holiday packages travel agencies offered you, take some time and do the math, gather all the taxes and fees and see for yourself. Take a closer look at the package and see what you get exactly. See if the hotel is in a bad neighborhood or if there are any packages you don’t really want. Making the bookings yourself is often a wiser choice!

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