Traveling is a ton of fun. This world has an infinite number of destinations for exploring and experiencing. The chance to encounter a people and culture that differ from your own is intriguing, but it is also possible to plan simpler trips. There are exciting adventures even near your home.
Keep a group journal in your hotel room while traveling. Invest in something as inexpensive as a spiral notebook, and allow the people you are traveling with to write in it during down time. This will provide an interesting read later and will be a nice keepsake from your trip.
When booking a hotel room, don’t be afraid to negotiate. While many hotel clerks aren’t able to move too much on price, there may be other perks they can offer, such as meals or parking. In some cases the desk staff isn’t able to offer discounts or packages unless the guest specifically asks about them.
If you have a laptop, bring an A/V cable with you on your trip. Most hotel rooms come equipped with a television, and many now include free wireless internet as well. By hooking your laptop up to the hotel television with an A/V cable you instantly have access to many more entertainment options, whether streaming a movie from the internet to using the laptop as a DVD player.
To decide if you should buy travel insurance, you need to look at how much the trip is going to cost. At some date in the future, many reservations can’t be canceled without some financial penalty. Looking to see how much is already at risk if you have to cancel is a great way to get an idea of what you might be willing to spend to insure a trip.
If you want to plan a successful trip, you should establish a budget. Think about things such as travel expenses, accommodation, food, and money to visit attractions and pay for gas once on location. If your trip seems a little too expensive, look for cheaper accommodation or wait until you have enough money saved up.
Camping is a popular vacation pastime, but with the extensive equipment it requires it is not a cheap one. Before deciding to invest in all the gear necessary for extended camping travel, it is best to “get your feet wet” by making short day hikes at nearby nature attractions to see if the camping lifestyle really appeals to you.
If you are traveling abroad, it’s a wise idea to sign up with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free government service for citizens of the United States who live in a foreign country or are planning to visit one. Providing STEP with your contact information and some details on your trip allows them to contact you in the event of an emergency and to advise you of travel warnings and alerts.
After deciding where you would like to travel, compare the prices offered by many booking engines online for your hotel rooms and flights directly with the companies themselves. Although many booking engines do offer reduced or eliminated transaction fees, you will often get a better deal if you speak directly with the hotels or airlines. You will also receive better customer service.
To avoid crowds and high prices, you should try to plan your vacation for the off-season of your destination. For example, you should avoid visiting Europe in the summer because during the summer you will face crowds, booked hotels, and tons of tourists. Visit during the off-season for an authentic experience.
If you travel with many electronics pack a power strip. Though hotels have electrical outlets available it is not uncommon for each person to have 2 or 3 items that need to be charged every night. A power strip can keep the cords relegated to one area instead of strewn all over the room.
Plan the things that you are going to pack so you can pack light. You do not have to be without the things that you want to have or that you need. Just try to take the clothing that you can mix and match, so you can have several different outfits, while only taking a limited amount of items with you.
If you have difficulty remembering all of the great meals you had while traveling, use the coasters and napkins at the restaurants to document your experience. Write down what you ate and what you thought of the meal and then take the coaster or napkin with you. It will look great in your travel scrapbook.
Bring back toiletries from the hotels that you stay at while traveling. Things like soap, shampoo and lotion can be some of the best souvenirs of your vacation, and they are completely free. Since your room rate includes the cost of these items, don’t feel bad for taking them home with you. Use them to remember the great time you had while you were away.
If you are traveling with children, bring a pair of dice with you. Your kids are sure to argue about something on your trip. Make the decision fair by allowing the children to roll the dice and attempt to get the highest number. That person can make the final decision regarding the argument.
A great travel tip is to always bring printed directions with you whenever you go on a road trip. GPS devices are great, but they can sometimes go haywire. They might lead you down the wrong road or tell you to take the wrong turn. You can avoid this by consulting your printed directions.
An important tip for those traveling abroad is to take advantage of ATMs instead of utilizing travelers checks. By getting cash in this manner, you will receive better rates, despite the inevitable fees that will accompany any transaction made. Simply by withdrawing larger amounts less often, you will incur fewer fees and realize significant overall savings.
Earth is an immense field of discovery. There are destinations for all kinds of tastes. Regardless of where you want to go, you can always find something that grabs your attention.