The travel advice experts say you should never ignore

• Travelers are increasingly skeptical of advice from experts due to past negative experiences and perceived conflicts of interest.
• A healthy dose of skepticism is recommended for online travel advice, which can be influenced by tourism engines and undisclosed affiliate deals.
• Travelers should trust their instincts but not ignore official advice regarding safety, visa requirements, or local etiquette.

When Sharon von Wolffersdorff booked a flight from Seattle to Rome, she considered ignoring the experts' advice.

The experts – in her case, her airline and airport – assured her that she could make a connecting flight in Frankfurt within an hour. But she was skeptical.

"I experienced a nerve-wracking transfer in Paris a few years ago," said von Wolffersdorff, a retired Spanish teacher from Seattle. "We didn't want to do that again."

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She's one of many travelers who are questioning recommendations from the pros. Travelers have always been contrarians, but never like this. And their timing, just before a summer marked by uncertainty, couldn't be worse.

"We’re in an age where skepticism is the default setting," said psychologist Frank Niles. "So when a professional says, 'Don’t go there' or 'Do it this way,' some travelers instinctively do the opposite."

So, why are travelers being more skeptical? When should you be contrarian – and when shouldn't you? And what is the biggest mistake the skeptics are making when they travel?

Whose advice are travelers ignoring?

There's a reason travelers are distrustful: The experts are getting it wrong too often.

"I'm always disappointed when I listen to travel experts," said Stephanie Ward, a marketing executive from Dallas. "They give you the tourist experience, which is usually subpar and more expensive."

Who's on the "ignore" list?

• Travel agents who care more about collecting commissions than helping a customer.
• Travel influencers who are getting paid by a destination or hotel to say positive things.
• Travel bloggers who endorse points-earning credit cards and then take a generous kickback from the credit card company while offering misleading advice. 

Travelers say they're done listening to the nonsense they've been fed.

"The decision to not take advice comes from being burned in the past," explained Alex Beene, a frequent traveler in Nashville who works for the state government. "I've listened to glowing feedback on hotels that were costly, only to discover when I got there it didn't feel worth the hefty price I was paying."

When should you be a skeptic?

A little skepticism is always healthy. (Except for this column, of course. Every word I write is completely true.) 

One big mistake travelers make is assuming everything online is worth knowing.

"The top things that come up to do in a foreign city on Google are all part of a tourism engine," said Aaron Nichols, a research specialist in Longmont, Colorado, who spent years traveling around the world. "There (are) a lot of people who have invested a lot of time in making sure that your attention is directed to those things."

You'll even want to put on your contrarian hat when you find information that seems helpful. 

Just because it's the first search result or the source declares itself an "expert" or "thought leader" doesn't make it true. Dig deeper. Your expert source might be manipulating the search engine results or enriching themselves from poorly disclosed affiliate arrangements, so it's probably best to look elsewhere for people you trust.

And you'll want to listen to yourself when your instincts set off warning flares. "Trust your instinct," said Ron Podmore, a teacher from Seattle who travels extensively. If something is making you nervous, chances are there's a good reason behind it. Doing the opposite of what your instincts tell you may put you in danger. This step is especially important when you're planning a trip. When you hear a little voice in your head that says, "I don't like it," you should listen.

When should you not be a skeptic?

While there are times that healthy skepticism is essential, there are absolutely times when you should listen to the right experts.

When it comes to safety. Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, a security membership organization, said you don't want to be a contrarian when it comes to your personal safety. Listen to the pros. Heed the advice of the U.S. State Department. Yet too many travelers are doing the opposite. His latest survey of travelers shows 85% of travelers are concerned about geopolitical instability. "Yet they're proceeding with their plans despite the risks," he said. That might not end well.

If it's time-tested or official advice. If your destination has visa requirements or official safety warnings, don't ignore them. "You risk serious trouble," said Liam Perkins, a marketing executive from Los Angeles who travels frequently. His pet peeve: Contrarians who ignore etiquette advice and end up doing something offensive. Don't dismiss those tips; you'll just end up embarrassing yourself.

In other words, there are some occasions when you don't want to ignore the expert advice. So when should you be skeptical?

Travelers should be cautiously skeptical

Ignoring professional advice isn't necessarily a bad trend. It's only bad when you take it too far.

Cai Glushak, the chief medical officer for AXA Partners US, sees all kinds of travelers who contract serious diseases and traumatic injuries in risky locations. "These circumstances were easily avoidable by following government advisories," he adds.

At the same time, hundreds of thousands of travelers would have been better served if they'd ignored the advice promoted by internet search engines and points bloggers last summer and chosen a destination that was off the beaten path or less expensive. Or choose a different flight with a longer layover.

That's what von Wolffersdorff, the Spanish teacher, is doing. 

"We're definitely looking for a longer connection," she said.

She's right. A few years ago, I had a flight from Lisbon to Doha through Frankfurt. I was worried about the 1 ½ hour connection time, but my airline told me I'd be fine. My flight arrived on time, but I spent almost 45 minutes waiting in an immigration line. I arrived at my gate just as they were closing the door to the flight, and I had to wait for the next one.

So, as you start planning your holiday trip, the best expert advice is to be cautiously skeptical. I've shown you how to find the good advice, but the rest is up to you.

Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He foundedElliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishesElliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and theElliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you canreach him here or email him at [email protected].