Traveling requires a multitude of decisions. Planning can be as fun as the trip itself. This piece offers lots of great ideas for making your travel plans wisely and without a great deal of stress.
If you are in another country, get money from the ATM. You can lose money if you do otherwise. This can save you a substantial amount of money over time.
Have pertinent information on your person at all times. Include embassy contact information. If you find yourself in trouble as you travel, this should be the first place to contact. The staff and personnel there can assist you with potential trouble.
Window Seat
Choose an aisle seat on the plane. While a window seat will give you a nice view, it can also lead to some problems. It’s trickier to get up and use the bathroom or get to your baggage when you’re sitting in a window seat. Aisle seats are also more comfortable.
Prior to making any reservations, do your homework. Find reviews online about the places you want to go. Try asking people you know that have traveled there. When you do thorough research you can make good plans and avoid unpleasant surprises.
Traveling by motorcycle can often be the best way to experience road trips. Motorcycles offer a fun way to enjoy a scenic ride without using a ton of gas. This can be fun to experience the wind in your hair.
Try melting hotel ice to make coffee the next morning using filtered water. The tap water might not be that tasty, so try filling an ice bucket and letting it melt overnight. The next morning you should be ready to brew your coffee with better tasting water.
Rush Hour
Make sure that you do not travel during rush hour. If it’s not possible to avoid rush hour, stop for a restaurant break during rush hour. This can be the time to grab a bite to eat or let the kids out to burn some energy.
If you’re about to embark on a long road trip with your children, pack one or two cookie sheets. They can be used to make flat surfaces for playing cards or a surface for coloring books. They also work great in tandem with bright magnetic numbers and letters.
Any time you plan to travel, ask the hotel if they’ll give you the same rate as given to ‘locals’. Some hotels offer a local rate on their rooms to decrease unoccupied rooms. If someone you know lives in the city you’re traveling to, see if they can call and find out if there are any special offers available. This method can save you a lot of money.
Pack a few small candles for your hotel stay. Choose scented candles that will make your room have a nice aroma. Depending on the scent of the candle, it could help you to fall asleep more quickly. There are many candles on the market that are small and travel sized.
When you take a cruise, chat with other guests during meals. Most ships seat you at large tables that include guests with whom you are not acquainted. Enjoy yourself and speak to everyone you meet. You’ll be seeing them every day, and you may learn a few things about the ship in the process.
If your travel time is a long one, make sure to get up at least once an hour to stretch your legs, even if it means taking an unnecessary trip to the bathroom. If you remain seated for long periods of time, you may experience muscle soreness or increase your risk of forming blood clots.
If you wear corrective lenses, pack an extra pair of eyeglasses when traveling. This is so you have another pair, should your other ones break. Put them in your suitcase, so that if your bag was stolen, you still have them.
When you travel, it is a smart idea to tuck a tag inside of your suitcases with your address, name and telephone number. If your luggage happens to get lost and there are no external tags, you will have ones inside. It’s a simple precaution that could save your luggage.
If traveling on a budget, consider the bus. You’ll save a lot on baggage fees. The baggage allowance on a bus is far higher than it would be on an airline, and the fees for excess weight are comparatively small. One of the many benefits of choosing bus travel that can come in handy is that you can use them for shipping large parcels, in addition to your typical baggage.
Make sure that you understand the carry-on policy. Many airlines let you bring a carry-on and a laptop bag or handbag. Take advantage of that policy and ensure you have everything you may need with you at all times.
Contact lens cases are great for transporting lotion and gel. They are portable, leak-proof and can hold a week’s worth of lotion. Just grab some at the drug store.
When you start packing for the trip, try to keep the clothes pile at a minimal height. It is quite easy to pack a week’s worth of clothing for traveling. Choose clothing that has multipurpose abilities and items that can be mix-and-matched easily. If you are going to be away longer than a single week, don’t take more clothing; just plan to wash clothes.
To avoid issues when flying with gifts, never wrap your presents. TSA is sure to be suspicious of your gift and take the wrapping right off. Take wrapping paper with you, or buy some when you reach your destination instead.
Be conscious of safety when you travel. Find out where the undesirable neighborhoods are so you can avoid them. Just like anyplace else, some neighborhoods are good or bad, and they are place you need to watch out for pickpockets and muggers.
Planning your trip can be fun and will prepare you for your vacation. Apply the ideas from this piece to ensure that you relish the entire process.