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 traveling in another country and your passport is lost or stolen, head to the nearest Embassy or Consulate as soon as possible. Many times these agencies can issue a replacement in as little as 24 hours, letting you get back to enjoying your vacation quickly and easily.
Always make sure that you have a set location for your important paperwork and documents when traveling. It is easy to lose or misplace these things. Determine a safe pocket or pouch ahead of time, and always take them out and put them back in this same location.
Do not bother wrapping gifts. A lot of people buy small souvenirs when traveling. If you are planning on bringing something back to a loved one, don’t bother wrapping it before you return home. On the off chance that your bag is inspected, it will have to be unwrapped anyway.
Pick the proper camera for your trip. If you are planning on backpacking, for example, a rechargeable battery may not be the answer. Make sure the camera starts and focuses quickly so you capture every shot.
If you’re going to be staying in a hotel, one of the first things you should do is check the alarm clock. Often either the guest prior or a maid playing a prank will have the alarm clock set and it may wake you up blaring in your ear in the middle of the night.
International travel can be quite fun. On the plane flight to your destination, bring along a phrase book and try to learn a few phrases in the language of the culture where you will be spending time. You do not have to be fluent in the language and many locals will be delighted that you tried to learn a little bit of their language. Do not be shy about mistakes. Most people will appreciate you tried to learn a little bit about their culture.
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.
While you should always have a luggage tag on the outside of your bags, be sure to place identification inside as well. Outside tags are easily ripped off. Should it be that your bags go missing and no tag is attached, airline employees will look for identification you have placed inside so that they can get your bags to you.
In you’re on a cruise and you start to experience seasickness, have the room service bring you some green apples and crackers. Both of these are great for soothing your stomach and can sometime be better than medications. And they’re also tasty and won’t leave you with a foul taste in your mouth like some seasickness meds.
Take out appropriate travel insurance before you leave for your vacation. Travel insurance is important as it can cover any medical help, hospital treatment or alternative transport you may need while you are away. Without travel insurance, if you take ill or have an accident, you could end up with a very large bill for medical treatment.
To avoid jet lag and getting sick while flying, make sure to drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated while you fly will increase your energy levels and combat fatigue. You can always ask for water on board, but it is often easier to buy a large bottle of water after you go through security.
Before leaving home, do some research on the sightseeing locations you plan on visiting. Make note of attraction hours, days they are closed, and whether you need to get a ticket beforehand. For example, it is very frustrating to get to a much-anticipated art museum, only to find that they are closed every Tuesday.
Reviews that are online are quite helpful but they are not always 100% reliable. Read between the lines to get a better idea if the person who has written the review is being persnickety or if they actually had a bad experience in the place you are researching. You may find other reviewers that say that it was a lovely time there.
Be willing to learn about new cultures and people. Do not take narrow-minded ideas on your travels. You will be meeting and interacting with a wide range of people and they may have very different ideas than you have. If you are judgmental, you will likely miss much of the beauty of your destination.
Get up to date offers from airlines, by signing up to receive e-newsletters that they offer. Sign up to get them from airlines, car-rental companies and hotels and you will get the information that the general public has to dig for, right there in your email inbox. They include special rates, deals and discounts.
When you enter your hotel room, check for bed bugs. Even though this is probably the last thing on your mind, it is an important factor. These pesky bugs can get into your luggage and attach themselves to your belongings, meaning you can end up bringing them home with you.
If you are planning a road trip by car, keep the car well-tuned and have the tires properly inflated. Doing this will save gas costs up to 15 percent. If you are concerned with pollution, consider renting a hybrid or biofuel car from a rental company. You may feel better knowing that you are doing everything you can to be eco-friendly to the environment.
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!
