Traveling should be something to look forward to, shouldn’t it? Of course it should. The problem is, that many of us have had so many stressful trips in the past that a lot of the fun has gone out of it. But what if you could avoid much of the stress associated with traveling? You can; take a look at these suggestions.
If you are traveling light and planning to wash laundry as you go, use your daily shower as an opportunity to wash your underwear and even your lightweight shirt. It only takes a few moments and prevents you from building up a pile of laundry that needs to be washed all at once.
When you travel to visit friends or family, be a courteous guest and do not assume they will make all your sightseeing plans for you. Many people assume they are there to be entertained, which is of course an incorrect assumption and generates bad feeling. Instead, do your homework ahead of time, let your hosts know what you’re planning to do, invite but don’t oblige them to accompany you, and spend your time together in good will, knowing you are being a gracious guest.
A great way to get some sleep on an airplane is by bringing an eye mask. Even when you close your eyes, you can still see the different colors and shapes in front of you. With an eye mask, that will allow it to be completely blacked out, allowing much better chance of sleep.
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.
Driving far in a car means consistently changing radio stations for ones that a clear. To solve this, make CDs or tapes with all of the group’s favorite songs so you can jam happily without distracting yourself by trying to find a clear station while driving. This also allows for you guys to listen to music non-stop rather then sit and wait for commercials to end.
When you get to your location, check with the locals for things to do. Locals will know all the best places to go for recreation or for food. This can help you avoid going to less than thrilling places or places that are going to be extremely crowded.
A general mistake that many travelers make on vacation is doing too much. Vacations are about relaxing and getting away from the rush of the everyday world. Planning events that encompass most hours of the day will leave you feeling rushed, stressed and tired while on your trip. Stop and relax for a couple of hours everyday to decompress.
When packing your bags for a trip on an airplane, always remember 3-1-1. Regulations now limit the amount of liquids and gels passengers can have in their carry on luggage. When you take your bag through security, they will make sure you only have your travel-size toiletries which are less than three ounces and fit into a one quart zip top bag and only one bag per passenger.
Read several reliable travel forums. These forums have come a long way in recent years and can be quite informative about the potential destinations on your list. Take some time to read many of the posts on the site to find out what to expect when you get to your travel destination.
Take earplugs for flights and hotel stays. With the right level of noise blocking you can eliminate the volume that accompanies airplane travel. Also sleeping in hotels in an unfamiliar location can be hit or miss as far as the outside noise level. These earplugs can be the difference in a good night’s sleep or a grouchy morning.
Protect yourself from potentially catastrophic loss of personal documentation by making photocopies of all of your passports and identification. Anything can happen in the course of an excursion far from home. Place a copy of these things in your carry-on bags as well as your checked luggage. This way you have a few options should something go awry.
Look at items carefully when packing for an international flight. Things like hair spray bottles that have a picture of a flame to show that they are flammable are not allowed. So try to find ones that are not, and save yourself the hassle and embarrassment when you are at the airport.
When traveling aboard, make sure your passport is not expired. In the chaos of preparing for a trip, you may not realize your passport has expired. You can renew your passport by mail as far in advance as one year before it is set to expire and up to two years after it has already expired.
Planning is one of the most important aspects that you will need to consider when you are traveling. Make sure that you always arrive at least an hour and a half before your flight so that you have ample time to get yourself situated. This will help to give you peace of mind.
Don’t forget to look into Bed and Breakfasts. People often skip the local B & B’s when planning a trip in favor of a hotel based on the belief that B & B’s are more expensive. On the contrary, many can be as affordable as a hotel, and most offer more extras such as meals and free wireless internet.
Consider using night trains and night buses. By using these forms of public transport, you can save money on accommodation and catch up on some sleep while you travel to your destination. If you chose economy class, make sure you take an inflatable pillow and blanket on board with you.
Alright, not every trip is for fun and recreation, and not all of the tips that are mentioned in this article will apply to your plans. Nevertheless, if you make a note to try out some of the aforementioned suggestions, you can be well on your way to having more pleasant traveling experiences, whether your trip is for business, family or pleasure.