Planning your next vacation or business trip can always be worrisome. In the process you may forget some things that you should keep in mind for a safe and worry free trip. The article below contains some one of a kind advice that you can easily incorporate into your next journey for full success.
Bring clothing that is suitable for travel. This means items that you can wash and dry in the hotel room, and that won’t wrinkle from being air-dried. Also, remember that you can buy clothing as you go, and it will most likely be more suitable to the climate and culture of the area.
To avoid any awkward confrontations, do some research if you are traveling to a foreign nation. This includes looking up standard phrases such as “thank you,” “how much” and “how are you.” You should also look around for standard customs of the country, such as gestures, so that you can avoid offending anyone with gestures or body language that seem normal to you.
When traveling to an area where the tap water is unsafe to drink, pay attention to the altitude as well. Above about ten thousand feet, water actually boils at a lower temperature. This means that it must be boiled for a longer time in order to ensure all of the contaminants have been killed.
Make a portable washing machine with a plastic bag. Save money by skipping expensive coin-operated washers and dryers when you travel by using a do-it-yourself tip. Find or pack a large and sturdy plastic bag, and add a little laundry soap and water. Put your clothes in the bag, and shake. Drain the soapy water and repeat the process with clean water, then hang the clothes to dry.
After you drop off your items in your hotel room, step back outside. To prepare for an emergency, count the number of doors between your room and the emergency exits. You want to be able to get out safely and if you are unable to see, you will need that number. You may want to have a flashlight handy, as well.
If you are a heavy reader it may be useful for you to purchase an e-reader before leaving home. E-readers are lightweight and small but can hold hundreds or even thousands of books. If you download many books before your trip you will never find yourself with nothing to read on your travel downtime.
Adjust your schedule to your destinations timezone a day or two before leaving. If you will be traveling to a location where morning is three hours earlier than you are used to, set your alarm to start the routine early. Get to bed earlier to match the timezone as well and you can acclimate your body to the ritual.
Before traveling, program the customer service numbers for your airline, hotel, and car rental agents into your phone. Should you run into an emergency or delay, need to ask a question, or have to make a change the contact information will be readily available to you. This can also save you from waiting in long customer service lines when you arrive.
If you have diabetes and are traveling, plan ahead. Get a doctor’s note explaining that you have diabetes or wear a medical alert bracelet. Take enough insulin with you and even some extra, if possible. Pack snacks, such as juices, peanut butter and sugar cubes or packets, for emergencies. Dress in comfortable and loose clothing and shoes.
Do not take your medications out of their labeled bottles. You may find yourself in trouble at security if you do not have the correct medication in the correctly labeled bottles. There are strict laws concerning drug trafficking and pills out of the correct bottles may raise unwanted suspicion.
Don’t hold on to your frequent flyer miles for too long, since they may well expire before you get around to using them. Miles often expire 18 months after you earn them, so use them while you can. If you don’t need to fly, you may be able to trade them in for magazines or other rewards.
Get a credit card that is associated with your favorite airline or hotel so that you can earn miles or reservations. Often the bonus for your first purchase will be enough to get you a free ticket or night’s stay. Be sure you pay off your balance regularly, though, or the card may cost you more than it saves.
Your schedule should be flexible when you take a road trip so you can take time out for rest stops if necessary. An extra 5 or 10 minutes won’t wreck the plans or ruin your trip. This will alleviate some of the grumpy travelers and cut down on whining.
A great travel tip if you’re planning on taking a cruise it to book a room with a balcony. Even though a room with a balcony is a bit more expensive, it’s definitely worth it. There’s nothing more romantic than gazing at the open sea from your own balcony.
If you have a young child who does not like to take long car trips, leave around the time they like to sleep. If a majority of the trip is taken while your child is sleeping, it will be much more enjoyable for you, your child, and anyone else in the car.
Travel can be an amazing experience but for people who are new to it it can seem quite intimidating. The most important thing to do before going on a trip is to make a checklist of all the important things. This will help you to avoid apprehensiveness and be able to enjoy the trip better.
As you have read at the beginning of this article, planning a trip can be quite worrisome. Keeping in mind some great tips and ideas will always prove to be helpful to you in your time of need. There is no right or wrong way to go about planning a trip, but you can still keep some advice in mind for next time.
