In the world of traveling, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced travelers alike. There are many websites, guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This article contains some of the best tips for helping a new traveler become a smart traveler.
When away from home, don’t use a public computer to access sensitive information. There could easily be a keylogger installed that is capturing information about your life, then being used for someone else’s gain.
When planning a trip, don’t count on a single booking website to show you the lowest fares. Compare prices across a variety of sites, including meta-searchers if you can find them. Also check with the airline and hotel directly, as they may actually be able to offer you a better rate than the website.
If you’re purchasing souvenirs as gifts while traveling, be creative. You can use a local newspaper as gift wrap to give it a special touch. This works especially well if the newspaper is in a foreign language or has photographs. Other low-cost souvenir gifts, include matchbooks, coasters and clean napkins.
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.
Use rubber bands when packing. Many people already roll their clothes when packing their luggage for a trip. It saves a ton of space. To save even more space, wrap a rubber band around these rolled clothes. It will allow you to pack more into the same space and ensure that they do not unroll during the trip.
Try packing with reusable compression bags to save space when packing. If you travel often, reusable compression bags might be a smart investment. You can find them in most retailers that have a housewares section. They are usually sold for storage use, but work very well in relation to packing luggage.
To avoid high exchange rates in foreign countries, stop at an ATM for your bank when you disembark from your flight. Large banks get much better exchange rates than an individual, so pulling money out once you get there is a hassle-free and inexpensive way to get the currency you need.
If a hotel charges for internet access, ask for a room on a lower floor. Sometimes you will get lucky and be able to snag wireless capabilities from nearby cafes or lobbies. The bottom floor is the best to be able to do this, but it is not unheard of to be able to reach it from the second floor.
If you are traveling to a foreign country and are not fluent in the language, make sure you can always arrive safely back at your lodging by carrying its name, phone number and address with you. Use a piece of hotel stationery or a business card or matchbook labeled with the appropriate information, or write it on a piece of paper. If you get lost, simply show the information to a taxi driver, and, before you know it, you’ll be back at home base.
Nothing can dampen a vacation like poor service. Tipping is an important part of service expectations and knowing the customary standards at your destination are important. Research will allow you to appear knowledgeable and generous when dealing with service providers and increase your overall enjoyment. Be frugal but not stingy.
If your schedule allows it, leave yourself one day after your vacation before going back to work. You never know what kind of surprises you will encounter when you get back home. Plus it will also allow you to transition into reality and your daily grind a little bit easier.
Try locating airlines that are not popular. Many smaller airlines do exist and many are great, cheaper alternatives to the larger more popular airlines. Many of these exist for international, but you can find some domestically as well. Try getting on a flight that stops at your destination, but goes a little further too.
Pick up a few newspapers while you are traveling overseas. A newspaper makes a great souvenir. If you are able to read the language, it will remind you of what was happening in that locale on the days you were there. If you can’t read it, consider using it as wrapping paper for the gifts that you bring home to your friends and family. It will add another unique touch to your presents.
When you are packing for a trip, put smaller objects, like shampoos and medications, in see-through plastic bags. This will make it easier for you to find what you are looking for. It will also help save time if you are traveling internationally and customs wants to look through your luggage.
Use a good quality suitcase or bag when traveling. Cheap suitcases or bags can be flimsy, easily damaged and difficult to maneuver. When you are traveling on public transportation, the last thing you want is for your suitcase or bag to split open and have all your personal belongings fly everywhere.
Once you have decided and chosen a trip and the day has come for you to start packing, take a few minutes to make a packing list and gather your thoughts. This way, you have a tangible list that you can cross things off of as you start to compile your items to pack and run less of a risk of forgetting something.
After reading these tips, you can begin to understand what it takes to become a smarter traveler. There is a lot of information and you need to know how to use it. Keeping that in mind, you can refine your own traveling plans so that you can relax and enjoy your next trip.
