Traveling is a popular hobby with huge benefits, from learning about other cultures to creating memories that last a lifetime. Whether you visit the next city over or fly to far-flung continents, though, traveling can be a lot more enjoyable if you keep a few things in mind. Read on for some tips to enhance your travel experiences.
When traveling in another country, be sure to clean your hands and under your fingernails often. Try not to touch your face, especially your eyes and mouth ,to prevent any bacteria or germs from getting in. This is especially important if you’re visiting a less developed country to avoid getting sick.
Be sure a friend or family member has access to your itinerary while you are traveling. This makes it possible for someone to be familiar with your location all the time. Also, make sure to keep in constant contact with that person to ensure safety. They will not be as concerned if you check in on predetermined basis.
Planning your travel in advance is always good advice to follow. Make sure to plan your trip at least a month or a few weeks in advance to ensure you have enough time to make changes. Planning ahead leaves more room for error and gives you more time to get the best deals on travel packages.
Are you traveling with your pet? Make sure their immunizations are up to date and you have the papers proving it! Also, don’t forget the essentials like food, water, leash and bedding. Tucking in a favorite toy or two always helps ease the boredom and helps keep them quite when you really don’t want them disturbing the occupants in the next room.
Use other’s experiences to plan your vacation. By utilizing online review sites, as well as friends and family’s experiences, you can avoid making mistakes that have been made by others. Online review sites can help you choose the best hotel, restaurant, attraction and often contain many other useful tidbits to make your vacation the best it can be.
Bring your own adapters, unless you want to buy over-priced ones. Many foreign countries have differently shaped and sized outlets. Buying adapters while you are still at home is much more cost-effective. Businesses in these countries have learned to take advantage of travelers who forget that the plugs are quite different from back home.
When traveling long distances by airplane, make sure to get up and walk around every hour or two to stretch your legs. Staying seated for too long can lead to medical issues such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), so take a stroll up and down the aisle every once in a while.
To make a long airport layover fly by in a flash, see if you can purchase a day pass for one of the airport’s exclusive lounges. These lounges are meant for the airlines’ best customers, but with a day pass, you will be able to relax in style with free food and drinks, as well as, clean bathrooms, while you wait for your flight.
Traveling by bus is an economical alternative to flying, but you should be aware of luggage requirements before packing for your trip. Find out the weight and size limits of luggage imposed by your chosen bus company, in addition to the number of bags you can take. If you are bringing skis, snowboards or other bulky equipment, make sure you comply with the company’s policies. Be prepared to move your own luggage if transferring buses, as most bus companies do not provide this service.
Before spending hundreds of dollars on a plane or train ticket, consider traveling by bus. Especially for regional trips, you may find the bus is a very economical alternative that adds very little to your travel time in comparison. Often times bus tickets are thirty dollars or less, giving you more money in your pocket to spend.
A simple way to save a bit of money on lodging at the beach is to take a room that is not a beach view room. If you are after the romance or have a strong desire to watch the ocean from your room or balcony, then opt for the beach view. However, if you are not as particular, you can put a few dollars in your pocket by taking a room not so in demand.
Do not forget to take a camera with you. Find one that is very slim and lightweight so you can take it with you anywhere during your trip. A simple point and shoot camera is all that you really need to capture all of the memories you will make during your vacation.
When traveling by air, always make a mental note of where your closest exit row is located. Count the number of rows you must walk in order to reach it. In the event of an emergency you will avoid some of the chaos if you know where you’re going and can get there easily in a dimly lit environment.
Give the appearance of confidence when you are out and about at your travel destination. If you look lost and confused, you are likely to be targeted by criminals or scam artists. You will look like an easy target if you appear as though you do not know where you are going.
Try to look into getting a suitcase alarm for your personal belongings. This way, if anyone tries to steal your luggage or bags when you are not looking, an alarm with go off, alerting you of the potential theft. These alarms are not expensive and are easy to find.
If you plan to take several trips throughout the year, consider getting an annual policy. It will cover the same things that a onetime policy will cover, but it is going to save you some money throughout the year. An annual policy will save you time and money versus taking out multiple policies.
Now you’re ready to hit the road, board the plane, hitch a ride or get on that train to whatever destination it is that tugs at your heartstrings. Using these smart travel tips and a hearty dose of common sense, your future trips will all have a great chance at being dream vacations.
