If you’ve got a trip coming up, then you’ve come to the right place. Preparing for a trip can be one of the most stressful things you do. But below we have some advice for stressed out trip goers that can help things run much smoother and not leave you needing a vacation from your vacation.
Make sure that your cell phone plan is on a national calling set up before you leave town. If you are normally on a regional or local plan, switching to a national plan, even just for the short time you will be gone, can keep you from getting charged for roaming or long distance.
To receive the best service when traveling, tip generously at the beginning of the trip. If the bellboy or steward knows that you tip well, they will be more likely to tend to your needs. Especially on cruises, you’ll receive more personal attention and better service from the staff if you’re seen as generous.
If you need to use the bathroom during a long flight, please make sure to put your shoes on when entering the restroom. You never know what kind of germs can be on the floor of the plane, especially near the commode. When you return to your seat, feel free to kick your shoes off.
As you plan your vacation, don’t be shy about using your frequent flyer miles for a wide variety of traveling perks. Stockpiling your miles isn’t a good idea, because no one knows if they will be worth anything in the future. Go ahead and trade them in for a free flight or anything else that would make your traveling experience a little easier.
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.
Take out appropriate travel insurance before you leave for your vacation. Travel insurance is important as it can cover any medical help, hospital treatment or alternative transport you may need while you are away. Without travel insurance, if you take ill or have an accident, you could end up with a very large bill for medical treatment.
Join a travel forum before you go anywhere. Select the destination that you are going and join a forum related to the area or service you are using. These people have plenty of experience in their travels and will give you helpful advice on where to go, eat and stay.
When traveling by car in the winter it is important to make frequent rest stops. Driving in the winter is more tiring than driving in the summer. You will want to make time to stop to stretch your legs. Taking a few minutes from driving will make a great amount of difference in improving your alertness behind the wheel.
When you are traveling overseas, try searching for souvenirs in unusual places. It has become increasingly difficult to find souvenirs that were made at the place you are visiting. Try looking in supermarkets, stationery shops and hardware stores. You will find things that people in the area actually use and the packaging will be unique to your destination.
Use the internet to plan your trip. You can research thousands of destinations online to find the right place for your vacation. Using the internet, you can find information on just about any destination you can think of. You will not have the problem of finding too little information, rather, you may have the problem of information overload.
Don’t fold your clothes when you pack – roll them. Rolling your clothes into tight cylinders is much more space efficient when packing a suitcase. You will be able to fit more items in your suitcase, which is very important now that airlines charge hefty fees for each bag checked.
Alcohol consumption should be kept to a minimum while you are traveling. It is fine to have a few drinks yet if you get drunk while waiting for a plane, train or bus you may be targeted by people looking to take advantage of the situation. Always be aware of your surroundings and staying sober will help you do this.
If you have medical conditions or if you want to be on the safe side during your trips, consult with foreign consulates to get a list that contains local physicians that speak and understand English. Your hotel’s concierge can also recommend doctors, including the one that they may use.
Brush your teeth with bottled water when traveling in areas with questionable water. Drinking the water is not the only risk when traveling in certain developing nations. Many people assume that as long as they do not swallow the water, they are safe. In reality bacteria in water can enter your body even if you only use it to rinse your mouth when brushing.
A great travel tip that’s often overlooked is to pack toilet paper with you when you’re going on a road trip. You never know how far the next rest stop will be or if someone in your group needs to use the bathroom right away. It never hurts to be prepared.
A great travel tip is to book your hotel room on the first floor if the hotel you’re staying at charges for wi-fi. Generally, on the first floor you might pick up different signals you can connect to. If you’re on a higher floor you aren’t likely to pick up any signals.
Travel is not always expensive especially if you know how to do it right. By purchasing bread and cold cuts at a supermarket you can make yourself sandwiches for during the days lunch. Also there are many very nice hostels which have prices that are much better than any hotel you can find.
Hopefully at least some of these tips will be helpful for you on your upcoming vacation. While each tip may not work for every person and every vacation, you should now be armed with some extra knowledge to make things run a lot smoother and help you avoid any problems.
