Family Holiday Mistakes to Avoid: Credit Card Scams, Food Bugs, Hotel Charges & Cancelled Flights

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Travelling the world with your kids is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.

New cultures. New foods. Sunrises you’ll never forget. The kind of core memories that come up years later at the dinner table. But family travel also comes with a quiet weight of responsibility.

You’re not just chasing adventure anymore — you’re thinking about safety, health, money, logistics… and that constant little voice asking, “What if something goes wrong?” Because sometimes, it does.

Over the years — from India to Greece, Thailand to Jordan — we’ve had our fair share of mishaps. Nothing catastrophic. But enough small scams, illnesses, disputes and delays to build a mental list of: “Never again… and here’s what we’ll do differently next time.”

These are the biggest family travel mistakes we’ve made — and the simple systems that now make every trip calmer, safer and far less stressful.

1. When My Credit Card Was Cloned (Without Leaving My Hand)

A few days after we got home from India, I opened my banking app and felt that immediate sinking feeling.

Charges I didn’t recognise.
Small at first. Then more.

The confusing part? My card had never left my sight. I’m overly cautious when travelling — I never hand it over. But somewhere along the way, it had still been skimmed. Likely during one of those “machine failed, let me try again” moments that felt harmless at the time. Thankfully the bank refunded everything, but cancelling cards and resetting payments with a young family was a headache we didn’t need.

That trip completely changed how we handle money abroad. Now we travel with small daily spending cards (Monzo/Revolut), keep limited funds loaded, use credit cards only for big purchases for protection, carry backup cash, and lock most money away in the hotel safe.

It’s not paranoia — it’s peace of mind.

👉 Read the full details of what happened and how to avoid it: Credit Card Safety Abroad: How Mine Was Cloned Without Leaving My Sight (And How We Protect Our Money Now)

2. The Sugar Cane Juice That Wiped Out Three Days of Our Trip

India’s food is incredible. Truly unforgettable. But one spontaneous decision cost us three full days. My husband grabbed a fresh sugar cane juice from a roadside stall. It looked authentic and harmless. Within 24 hours, he was completely wiped out — sickness, dehydration, stuck in bed.

And when you’re travelling with kids, someone being ill isn’t just inconvenient. It derails everything. Plans cancelled. Extra stress. One parent suddenly doing everything. Luckily I always travel with electrolytes, rehydration salts and medication, which probably saved the trip.

Since then, we follow one simple rule:

• If it’s raw, unpasteurised, or sitting in the sun — we skip it.

• Busy restaurants. Freshly cooked food. Bottled drinks. Always.

• Because no street drink is worth missing the Taj Mahal.

👉 Read the full details of what happened and how to avoid it: Food Safety in India: The Sugar Cane Juice That Took My Husband Out for Three Days

3. The Hotel That Tried to Charge Us €360 for a TV We Didn’t Break

This one still makes my blood boil. We were leaving a hotel in Greece when reception refused to give us our luggage back. They claimed we had broken the TV. A €360 charge. Conveniently discovered right before our transfer bus arrived. They wouldn’t show us proof. Wouldn’t let us check the room. Even suggested our three-year-old had done it — despite us barely turning the TV on all week. After 45 minutes of arguing with an exhausted child in tow, we paid under pressure just to leave.

Later, after multiple emails, we got half refunded — a quiet admission they knew it wasn’t our fault. That day we learned: document everything. Now we photograph rooms when we arrive. Quick video. Appliances. Walls. Any damage.

It takes two minutes and protects you from hours of stress.

👉 Read the full details – including the same of the hotel - and how to avoid it: Hotel Scams to Watch For: The €360 TV Damage We Didn’t Cause

4. The Cancelled Flight That Could Have Left Us Stranded

Flying home from Thailand should have been simple. Instead, our return leg was cancelled. The airport was chaos — long lines, crying kids, stressed parents everywhere. Most people queued and accepted the airline’s automatic rebooking: a flight ten hours later. But with a tired child, that felt awful.

So instead of waiting, we opened our phones and searched alternatives ourselves. We found three seats on a different airline, leaving earlier, flying direct to Heathrow, avoiding an extra connection. We walked to the desk and simply said, “Can you put us on this instead?” And they did. Hotel. Meals. New flight. All covered. Many people don’t realise airlines are legally required (under UK/EU passenger rights rules) to reroute you and provide care during cancellations.

Even better? We later claimed compensation and received €600 per person — nearly £1,500 for our family. Most people never claim because they assume they can’t.

👉 Read all about what happened and your rights if you ever find yourself with a cancelled flight: Cancelled Flights: Know Your Rights and Take Control Immediately

5. Why Cheap Tours in Jordan Nearly Backfired

Wadi Rum looks magical — vast desert, red sand, dramatic rock formations. The moment we arrived, drivers surrounded us offering “cheap tours.” It was tempting. But travelling with a young child changes how you think. Out there, miles from anywhere, cheap isn’t reassuring. So we stuck with reputable platforms and proper reviews.

And thank goodness we did — because our pre-booked desert “camp” still turned into chaos. Hidden charges. Pressure to buy extra tours. No signal. Nowhere to stay. We ended up cancelling, scrambling to find WiFi in a restaurant, withdrawing cash, and rebooking last minute.

The new place wasn’t luxury — no WiFi, no air con — but it was safe, honest, and that quiet night under the stars became one of our favourite memories.

The lesson? Reviews matter more than price. Always.

👉 Read more about what happened here: Booking Local Tours & Hotels Abroad: Why Reviews Matter More Than Price

Final Thoughts: Travel Smart, Not Scared

If this all sounds stressful, it’s not meant to. Because here’s the thing — none of these moments ruined our trips. They taught us. And now we travel calmer, not more cautious.

A few small systems make all the difference:

• Split money and use protected cards

• Pack basic medical supplies

• Photograph hotel rooms

• Check reviews carefull

• Know your flight right

• Always have a backup plan

Preparation doesn’t take away adventure. It gives you the confidence to enjoy it. Because when you’re travelling with kids, the goal isn’t perfection. It’s peace of mind. And from there? That’s where the best memories happen. Travel Safe!