Visiting a new place is an exciting experience but can be quite nerve-wracking, even for seasoned travelers. Read these travel tips prior to going on a trip to help make your trip more pleasurable.
Make notes of all the details of your trip. This includes the information of the place you are staying and who is going with you. If you get into any trouble while abroad, this is the first place you need to contact. This will be handy should you have difficulties.
If traveling by air, it is important to think ahead of time. It can take much more time then expected to get to airports in major cities because of traffic. Have your bags packed well in advance. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for your flight. Not making your flight will cost you time and money.
If you have any food allergies, you will want to be particularly careful when traveling abroad. If you have had severe reactions to certain foods, learn all the foreign words for those foods. You can use this fluency to inform people of your allergies, and, if needed, describe them to medical personnel.
Digital Camera
When you plan a trip, taking a digital camera that fits your trip is a good idea. For example, if you will be spending a lot of time outdoors, you probably don’t want a camera that has a rechargeable battery. In any case, take a digital camera that is quick to turn on and focus so you won’t miss the shot you want.
When visiting a foreign country, use caution when taking a taxi. Be certain that the taxi is a real taxi before you enter the car. Anyone can fool you with a taxi sign.
Tip the bell boy and housekeeper when staying in a nice place. Tipping the bellhop around $1 per bag and the housekeeping staff around $2 to $5 per day is certainly not excessive. If you treat the staff well, then they will treat you well.
Rush Hour
Don’t drive during rush hour. If you are unable to plan a trip that avoids rush hour, use this time to take a break. Perhaps you can let your kids blow off some steam while you grab a bite to eat.
Sleeping medication can help you get through a rough flight. It is often hard to get much rest on airplanes, given the cramped seating, machine noise and people milling about. Take a sleep aid to help yourself get through a long flight much simpler. Importantly, wait on taking the pill until the flight has taken off; this keeps you mentally aware in case there are delays or changes in the schedule.
Bring an extra passport picture when you take a trip abroad. It can take quite awhile to replace a passport if it is lost. You can make the process go more quickly by having an extra passport photo available. Remember to bring pertinent documentation that may be needed in moving things along.
If you sleep lightly, pack earplugs. Many times the walls in your hotel are very thin. You can ignore the noise and sleep better with earplugs.
When taking a plane, have your child sit in the window seat, if you can. Either you or other responsible adult should be between the child and aisle. Children tend to be naturally curious, and reaching out when a cart is being pushed through the aisle could lead to injury. Plus, it makes it more difficult for them to run around in the aisles if you are blocking their access to the aisle.
Lost Luggage
If you are traveling with someone or in a large group, it is smart to split up everyone’s belongings in each of the bags. This helps give you a little insurance when it comes to lost luggage experiences. If one of the bags gets lost or stolen, many of the items will still be located in other bags. To better protect against any lost luggage, each person should carry another change of clothing in a carry-on bag.
Whenever you plan to hike, be it on a camping or other trip, make absolutely certain that you carry area maps with you. You’ll need a compass to make sense of the maps, but a GPS would be the ultimate safety tool.
If you’re traveling to another country, take some local currency. Some countries have difficulty changing currency past business hours. Plan ahead by finding a bank that can exchange money prior to getting on a plane headed abroad. This will save you time when you get to your destination.
A/V cables can connect your computer to a television in a hotel room. You can take advantage of various streaming movies rather than pay for expensive rentals directly from the hotel.
See what visas you need if you travel abroad to various countries. There are different types of visas, and some countries are very strict about who they let in. Use that country’s embassy website, or ask a travel agent about your location.
Travel Dates
When your trip is not locked into certain dates, make adjustments to your travel dates if you can gain a better deal. Consider the various rates available for several days or even weeks around the time you wish to travel. Having some room to breath in your travel dates will allow you more money to enjoy the experiences that are available in your destination point.
You will be sure you find a new way of planning your next trip. You will find that if you follow these tips it will be the best vacation you have ever had.