This collection of advice on traveling safer and smarter is a great starting place for new travelers to start planning a trip of their own. The following advice will make it easier for anyone to plan a successful trip to any destination.
When traveling by air, you need to plan ahead. Since major airports are usually in big cities, getting there might take forever when you get caught in heavy traffic congestion. Pack your suitcase the night before. Ensure that everything is planned out and packed before your trip. You do not want to miss your flight.
To stay on budget when planning your trip, plan it with plenty of time. Despite the different ways you can spend your money on your travels, many share one feature: the earlier you buy them, the cheaper they are. Also, you can enjoy the experience with your friends or family.
Always carry an updated color photo of your child with you. This will come in handy if they are ever lost. Losing a child in a foreign place can be very stressful and scary. Unfortunately, it can happen. Being able to show a photo might make a critical difference in the time it takes to locate your child should he or she get lost.
Build in some flexibility about where you go when planning a vacation. Travel to places outside your norm. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend, broadening your options when it comes to the location can be beneficial.
If you have to buy a camera for your trip, think carefully before you buy. Rechargeable batteries won’t work on a camping trip, for example. You will probably prefer a camera able to be engaged at a moment’s notice in order to catch all of the great shots.
When you travel, pack lightly and just bring the essentials. The less you pack along, the less likely you will lose valuable items or have them stolen. Do not take too many shoes, because they are bulky and unwieldy.
You want to be very careful when catching a taxi in another country when traveling. Do not hop in if you get a bad feeling. Anyone can put a sign that says “taxi” on a vehicle; you have no way of knowing who the person is or where you might end up.
Do not hope that an airline will make you as comfortable as necessary on a flight. If you feel like it, bring sleeping items like a pillow or headphones. Also, consider bringing your own snacks to guarantee you will have something to eat that you like.
Try to purchase tickets to amusement parks in advance so that you could print them out. There is a small fee associated with purchasing tickets online; however, the time saved at the ticket booth will make it worth the cost. If the park uses a timed entry system, you won’t need to wait in line to enter, either.
Check the services that are available, beforehand. Charter airlines may be more affordable for you.
When you get to your hotel, give the alarm a try. The alarm clock may be set to go off in the dead of the night or at the crack of dawn either due to the last guest’s plans or as a prank. If you want to ensure a relaxing start to your vacation, make sure the alarm is off, or at least, set to when you would like to awaken.
Workout at the gym the day before you take your flight. Long flights are found to be hard to sit through. Having to remain seated in one position that long can give you cramps in your back and legs. Taking the time to workout before you fly will reduce or even eliminate those cramps.
When traveling by air you should wear comfortable shoes which can be slipped off easily. Understand that your shoes must be removed during security checks. They should always be comfortable. There is a bit of walking at the airport, but also a lot of sitting, so they don’t need to have a great deal of support. Sandals of flip-flops are great when traveling by air.
When traveling by air, do not count on the airline to provide for your needs, even on a long flight. Be sure to bring a blanket, headphones or pillow if you think you’ll need them. Don’t forget to pack a few snacks to make sure you have some food that you enjoy during the flight.
Make sure that your insurance covers you on vacation. For example, there may already be coverage for cancelled flights which you paid for with your credit card. Before setting of on your trip, it is important to research everything.
When making coffee in a hotel room, you should use melted hotel ice. Rather than using tap water, which can taste bad, fill up the ice bucket and let it melt overnight. When you get up the next day, you will have great-tasting water for your brew.
Service Stations
Research before booking anything. Read online reviews of places that you want to visit. Talk to people who have visited there before. Research will ensure you don’t end up in over your head.
When going on road trips you should plan to stop to have your vehicle services along the way. You will find that service areas are few and far between, especially when on long road trips. Plan your route and while doing so look for viable service stations that can handle maintenance on your vehicle. Keep the number for those service stations with you as you travel.
If you are not a deep sleeper, you may want some earplugs. Many times the walls in your hotel are very thin. A good pair of earplugs (or multiple pairs of disposable earplugs) can block out the extra noise and allow you to get a good night’s sleep.
Take an early flight. There is less of a chance that it will be delayed. When an early flight is delayed, it makes future flights delayed, too. This should reduce your chances for a delay.
A good safety tip for a hotel stay is to bring along a door stopper. Some areas just aren’t that safe. If the hotel room door does not have a chain or deadbolt, use the doorstop by wedging it under the door and leaving it there while you sleep.
Be sure to bring plenty of bottled water when traveling out of the country. You can contract a variety of illnesses by drinking the unpurified water of other countries. Remember to use bottled water even when doing small things like wetting your tooth brush. This is one subtle way that tap water can make you sick.
Some travel sites offer a useful E-tracking option. You will get updates on the most cost-efficient options to travel. You will receive email alerts if the flight that you have booked or shown interest in has dropped the price and is available at a cheaper rate.
Bring a pillow and small blanket wherever you’re going. No matter how you travel, they can make you more comfortable. Sometimes, you may get a free one from the airline. To carry your own, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing it is clean.
Stores tend to overcharge for these items, and the space saved is minimal, so save the money. A different way to save space is to fold your clothes more efficiently. This can give you the extra space you need for other things.
Now you have the knowledge to travel and have fun. All of this advice was put together with the aim of helping people travel smartly and safely.