While it’s usually relaxing, traveing can often be very stressful and disastrous. This occurs mainly due to poor planning, which can quickly alter your trip and turn into a bad experience. The following tips will teach you how to properly plan for your next excursion.
If you are concerned about the safety of your wallet on your next travel adventure, consider using an alternate form of storage for your vital belongings such as your cash and personal identity cards. Many different types of wallet storage are available that stay conveniently hidden beneath your clothing, from a belted waste pouch to a zippered wristband.
During the winter, in particular, it is smart to keep a couple of blankets, some boots, some matches and a large candle, in the trunk of your vehicle. These could come in very handy if you happen to skid off the road and find yourself lodged in a snow bank with no chance of immediate rescue.
If you’re going on a cruise, pack a travel mug with you. They’re great for filling up with coffee or tea while you’re wandering the ship in the mornings. They can also keep you from spilling your drink while in the buffet line. And if you’re going to be sitting by the pool, they’ll keep your drinks nice and cool for you.
Bring your own comfort items on the plane. With airlines trying to recoup costs wherever they can while keeping ticket prices low, many have resorted to charging for many of the comfort items that used to be free. A travel pillow, blanket, music and headphones can save you precious money that is better spent on your vacation.
For the inside scoop, join a travel forum months before you decide on a destination or lodging. People who enjoy traveling and discussing their experiences are an excellent source of information and most remain completely objective when making recommendations and offering detailed reviews and information.
If you plan to travel and have animals, you will need to decide whether they are staying behind or coming with you. Pets can make travel hard if they will need a care giver while you’re gone or the places you plan to travel are not pet friendly. Searching for inexpensive care or pet friendly destinations in advance will help you tremendously.
If you are someone who loves to travel frequently, a timeshare may be a good investment. Many timeshares offer a points system and exchange weeks. If your timeshare is in Maine and you would like to go to Aruba, you can exchange or trade your timeshare week with someone else. Although there is an initial investment, the money you will save on hotel stays, will be well worth the expense.
Convert your money a few days before your scheduled departure. Also, confirm with your bank or credit card holder that your cards can be used when you’re traveling to a foreign country. It’s also helpful to let them know that you will be traveling so they won’t “deny” a foreign transaction. Have some traveler checks on hand that can be used internationally as well.
When you make travel plans, thinking ahead is important, so do not forget about the weather. Keep a close eye on the forecast and check it regularly until the moment you actually depart. Having a weather-sensitive vacation like a beach or ski trip ruined because of a random weather event would be a miserable experience.
Exchanging currency will be very costly if you do it abroad. This is not the easiest way to get foreign money. Bank ATMs are a great place to get your foreign currency from. A lot of times these machines offer better exchanges rates, and are cheaper than using an exchange.
If you are on a special diet, call your hotel or other accommodation and tell them so. These days, many businesses aim to keep their customers happy. If you let them know in advance that you require certain foods, chances are they will make sure they have the food available for you when you arrive.
When making airline reservations, make sure you request seat assignment. Without it, you could be fighting with other passengers over which seat you want. Or worse, you could be forced to have to take a later flight because your original flight is overbooked. When you get your seat number, make sure it is documented on your ticket.
A great travel tip that’s often overlooked is to pack toilet paper with you when you’re going on a road trip. You never know how far the next rest stop will be or if someone in your group needs to use the bathroom right away. It never hurts to be prepared.
When you are traveling, make sure that you always bring a first aid kit in the event of an emergency. It is always safe to carry Neosporin and ibuprofen, especially if you are going to be traveling into unknown territory. Always exercise caution when you are traveling with a quality first aid kit.
To keep your clothes clean when packing for a trip, put your shoes inside socks. Then place those socks inside plastic bags. Shoes hold odors and dirt gets on the bottom of them easily. By placing the shoes inside socks and a plastic bag you will keep odors and dirt at bay.
Try rolling your clothing instead of just folding them when you are packing for a trip. This will save room inside of your luggage. Investing in some tissue paper to wrap each piece of clothing in will help you prevent extra wrinkles and save you time pressing your clothes on vacation!
When traveling, bring postcard stamps with you. It can be fun to send friends and family postcards during your trip, but finding a post office can be a pain. By bringing postcard stamps with you, you can just write a note and drop it in a mailbox. Some hotels may even take outgoing mail for you if it’s already stamped.
Traveling should be a time to relax and enjoy yourself. But, without proper planning, it can be stressful. Hopefully, these tips will help you enjoy your trip to the fullest.
