Wouldn’t it be nice to get away from everything? If you said yes, you need a vacation. Read these tips about traveling and plan a stress-free vacation. If you know exactly what to do, you should be able to have everything planned out ahead of time and have a lot of fun.
Being careful about purchases while traveling will help you through customs. Remember anything you buy on your trip must pass through customs when you return home so exercise caution when you see street vendors abroad or other sellers who may be offering counterfeit or unsafe souvenirs you will have to surrender later.
When traveling by car to a port prior to cruising, search for lodgings where you can park at no cost and make reservations for the night before departure. You can check with staff at the hotel for unpublished parking deals.
A door stopper is an important thing to bring with you when resting in a hotel. Occasionally, particularly when you travel in countries that are less developed, it’s important to stay in a hotel room that has more security. Put a doorstop in your door to prevent it from being opened.
Limit the amount of luggage you take on your trip to a carry-on bag. Luggage has a nasty habit of getting lost in airports. Even if it does not get lost, you often spend an annoying amount of time waiting for it to show up on the luggage carrousel. Limiting the luggage you take to a single carry-on bag will eliminate this problem entirely.
Planning your travel in advance is always good advice to follow. Make sure to plan your trip at least a month or a few weeks in advance to ensure you have enough time to make changes. Planning ahead leaves more room for error and gives you more time to get the best deals on travel packages.
Use soft-sided carry on luggage, instead of a hard-sided case. When trying to cram your luggage into the overhead bin, soft-sided cases will have more give and be more easily stowed. There is no chance that a hard-sided case that is too big will ever fit. It will have to be gate checked and you won’t be able to access it until you deplane.
Mix things up a bit and travel to somewhere you haven’t been before. You want to go to as many diverse and interesting places while you can on this planet. You might even consider traveling internationally. If you decide you want to travel internationally make sure you get your passport and funds ready, as well as look into the currency exchange rates for different countries.
Whether you are traveling within your own country or going overseas, it is a good idea to follow some basic safety precautions to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of crime. Wearing expensive clothes and jewelry can set you up as a prime target for theft. Carry credit cards or traveler’s checks instead of large amounts of cash. Keep an eye on your luggage, and do not allow strangers to leave packages with you under any circumstances, even momentarily.
Traveling by bus is an economical alternative to flying, but you should be aware of luggage requirements before packing for your trip. Find out the weight and size limits of luggage imposed by your chosen bus company, in addition to the number of bags you can take. If you are bringing skis, snowboards or other bulky equipment, make sure you comply with the company’s policies. Be prepared to move your own luggage if transferring buses, as most bus companies do not provide this service.
Buy American souvenirs to barter overseas. Stop at a local dollar store and pick up small souvenirs like postcards, t-shirts, and tiny replicas of famous landmarks. Foreigners love these trinkets, and they will go out of their way to get them. Bring them along and use them to get a souvenir that you have always wanted.
Make all your travel arrangements yourself, without the assistance of company employees. Book your flights online because many airlines will charge an extra fee when you talk with one of their workers to secure your travel plans. Check your bags online because doing it at the airport could also subject you to extra fees. Be as self-sufficient as possible to save money.
If you are traveling by cruise ship, make your arrangements as close to the time of your trip as possible. Although the cruise industry used to advertise that you could only get exceptional savings if you booked in advance, things have changed and last-minute deals are usually better than advanced reservations. There is even a web site that shows cruises with up to 75% savings if you book at the last minute.
Jet lag can cause problems during long flights. To help prepare for this try to get a few extra hours sleep before leaving on your trip. Additionally, sleep during the flight as much as possible.
When you are traveling, you can do a few things to save money at home. First of all, turn the air conditioner off or just down. Next, turn off the sprinklers. It will also help to put your lights on timers. And last, but not least, unplug your major appliances.
Give your kids something to do when traveling by car by allowing them to carry portable video games and books along for the trip. These things can not only occupy them, but they can make the trip a lot less stressful for everyone. This also makes the driving time pass quicker.
Planning your vacation should be fairly easy if you follow these tips. You should be able to find good deals and not forget anything. Planning is great, but remember that your trip should be about fun and adventure too. Make sure your trip remains a fun experience that you will remember.