While travel can be a rewarding, fun experience, it can also be dangerous and daunting! If you’re planning a trip and aren’t sure what to expect, read on to find out what everyone should know before setting off on a trip, whether it be for vacation or another reason.
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.
When planning to travel to a country that uses a very different language or even alphabet than your own, it’s a good idea to get precise, up to date information about exactly how to travel to hotel bookings or sites of interest ahead of time. Often, maps or travel guides won’t go into the amount of detail necessary, so make sure to have a custom map which shows everything you’ll need.
For international travel, checking the foreign power supplies that will be available is vital. Most modern travelers rely on having their personal electronics available wherever they go. Charging up these gadgets can present a challenge because electrical connections are not standardized around the world. A bit of research beforehand will teach the savvy traveler what sort of power adapters to buy and what preparations to make.
If your travel budget is somewhat elastic, consider splurging in ways you normally wouldn’t. Pamper yourself a little. An uncharacteristically lavish expenditure can form the memorable core of your vacation. It is simply a fact that some of the finest services, most exciting experiences and most memorable sights cost a good bit of money. On a vacation, indulge yourself by taking advantage of some of them.
When traveling with a baby, be sure to make a list of the necessary items that you use at home a few days before your trip. Since traveling with a baby is a new travel experience, it is very easy to forget about things you take for granted at home. By working on the list early, you will be able to keep note of everything that you use.
When traveling, never take an item from someone to transport it for them. No matter their situation or how nice they may seem, this is almost always a trap to convince an unwary tourist to transport drugs or other contraband into secure areas. Even “gifts” can fall into this category.
Use a price watcher. A lot of websites allow you to specify your destinations and will monitor prices for you. If your hotel price or airfare drops by a certain amount, as you decide, the site alerts you with an email about the change. The alerts eliminate the need for you to constantly follow up on the prices.
Tip your concierge! Whether it be on a cruise or at a hotel, your concierge will be your go-to guy for reservations, directions and almost everything else! Many concierges have admitted that if someone is willing to tip them well, they will go out of their way to make sure those great tippers, have a fantastic time.
Use vacuum bags to pack more into your carry-on luggage. Trying to fit everything you’ll need for your trip into a carry-on-sized bag can be challenging. To maximize the space, try using travel vacuum bags for your clothes. You insert your clothes, zip the bag, and roll it to remove the air. Just be sure to unpack as soon as you arrive at your destination so that your clothes have time to return to their normal shape.
Before you travel out of the country, make sure your immunizations are all up to date. There’s no way to know whether your fellow travelers are all current on their shots, or what diseases they might unknowingly be carrying. Keeping yourself vaccinated will help protect you from any diseases you may encounter.
It is a good idea to double-check your car insurance if you plan to rent a car when you travel. Rental car agents will try and sell you additional insurance, but they don’t care if you actually need it or not. Auto insurance policies usually include at least some third party liability coverage. Look carefully at the policy so you know what is, and is not, covered.
Adjust to a new time zone faster by spending time in the sun. When you arrive at your destination, try to get plenty of sun exposure on your first and second days. This will help “set” your circadian rhythm to be in line with the local time zone and help you get over jet lag faster.
When you arrive at your hotel, especially if you have children, check for fire exit routes. Take a couple of minutes with your children to walk the route with them as a mock fire drill and help them prepare in the case of an emergency. They will be understanding of this since they do this in school on a regular basis.
Bring your own snacks to eat during a flight. Sure the airline will offer you some snacks and refreshments but they will likely charge you and arm and a leg for them. If you bring your own you know you will like what you have and you will not get overcharged for it.
When traveling, always keep a few snacks in your bag. Airline food can be expensive. Having to stop for snacks when you’re in the car can take time. A few small granola bars or crackers won’t take up much space and can save you both time and money.
Traveling, as you now know, is a complicated task that requires careful planning and plenty of precautions. Now that you’ve read what needs to be done to ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible, you’re ready to get on with planning your trip. Remember to be safe and always prepared!