Traveling is one of the great joys of many people. There is something about going new places, meeting new people and experiencing different cultures, that can broaden your horizons in a way other things can’t. Travel does not have to be expensive nor do you always need to go to exotic places, it just has to be to someplace where you are exposed to different experiences. This article can help you to embrace travel as an important part of life.
If you are worried about safety, carry a fake wallet. If you are traveling through a rough area, take precautions and carry a spare wallet with a few token dollars in it. In the off chance you do get accosted, you can hand over the fake wallet and your real valuables will remain safe.
Pack lightly when traveling. People always tend to pack much more than is necessary, and end up using only about half of what they take. Choose a few items that you can wear multiple times, and try to coordinate everything. If you forget to pack a particular item, you will probably be able to find something appropriate at your destination.
Packing light is key to making your travels as easy and free of stress as possible. Bring one carry on bag that includes everything you need, not necessarily everything you want. If traveling to cold weather, bring smaller clothes to create layers rather than big, space-consuming coats and sweaters. Your smart packing will pay off when you are happily carrying one bag around on vacation instead of lugging around multiple bags.
Study up on the area you are going to and take precautions to protect yourself from crime. Some tourist areas have especially high theft rates. It is very important to know about these things before you go. There are often simple precautions you can take to make yourself less of a target.
The airport is often the most stressful part of the travel experience. Travelers and airline employees alike are tense, worried and feel alone. The frequent traveler keeps these facts in mind and makes allowances for the stressful surroundings. Remember that everyone in an airport shares a common goal: To get to their destination safely and as quickly as practically possible.
If you’re worried about travelling alone, especially if you’re a female, you should consider taking some self-defense classes before you go. This way you can learn basic ways to get away from a mugger or rapist in the event that you need to. Most areas have a few schools that teach self-defense at reasonable rates.
When staying at a high-end domestic hotel, bring along your own A/V cable for your laptop. Most hotel rooms at nicer hotels offer free in-room WiFi and a large HDTV, but will then charge a premium for in-room movies. Having your own A/V cable gives you access to your own selection of downloaded movies or an online account.
Give the travel itinerary of your trip to a relative. Thus, there is always someone who knows where you are supposed to be. Check with that person regularly to maintain communication. If they are aware of your location and communicate with you often, your family and friends will not worry.
If you’re going on a cruise, make sure you pack a power strip with you. Most rooms aboard cruise ships will only have one (maybe two) power outlets. If you have multiple devices that will need to be plugged, in you’ll be glad you brought a power strip instead of fighting over outlets.
Pay special attention to the holidays of the countries you are traveling to. Different countries celebrate different holidays, and if you do not know when these are, you can give yourself a headache. Many restaurants and businesses will close on holidays, so look them up before you travel to save yourself the trouble.
Jet lag typically occurs if travel includes crossing time zones. You can’t avoid it completely, but you can try sleeping more in the days prior to your flight to help lessen any of the expected effects. Also, you should try to sleep during your flight as much as possible.
Set up an account on a “cloud” site and upload scans of important documentation that you may need on your trip. Loss and theft occur quite often during travel in-country as well as abroad. By having documentation stored in a “cloud” location you can easily access them from anywhere you have Internet access.
Renting a car for that trip? Try renting the smallest model of car you find. You can always upgrade when you are at the counter at a smaller amount, than if you do it in advance. They also get rented out quicker than the luxury models, which could mean that you might be able to get a free upgrade regardless.
Make sure that you bring an actual map on your car trip. Don’t just rely on a talking GPS navigational system. Sometimes these make mistakes and a mistake could cost you a lot of time that could be used for enjoying your trip. Always bring a physical map to double-check your navigational system.
If you are not traveling overseas, do not disregard the option of traveling by bus or train. Bus and train tickets are usually cheaper than flight tickets and can often provide excellent accommodations. If you are not traveling too far, they can also be a faster means of transportation because you do not have to deal with airport hassles such as security, and frequent flight delays.
A savvy travel tip everyone can use is to seek out restaurants that are popular with local residents, rather than selecting eateries that cater to tourists. By dining where the natives dine, you will gain greater cultural exposure, eat better food, and have a far more authentic experience than a tourist trap restaurant could ever offer.
As expressed in the article’s beginning, travel exposes you to many different people, experiences and ways of living. It doesn’t just mean going to exotic places, it can simply be meandering across America, taking in all of the different sights of everyday people. This article seeks to awaken the desire to travel in you.
