Whether traveling by plane, train or car, the information located below will help you. This advice will help with everything from finding the right lodgings to packing your suitcases efficiently.
If you’re traveling with kids, it’s tempting to let them all tune out with their own mp3 players, but consider bringing along some books on CD. Having something literate and interesting for the whole family to listen to is not only entertaining and interesting, but provides a common experience that each family member can take forward with them into life (“Hey, remember when I was ten, and we listened to Black Beauty on the way to Maine?”). It’s the stuff of which fond memories are made.
When you travel, it’s important to stop for the cheese as well as the big-time monuments. What that means is this: Go to Mt. Rushmore, sure. But first, you need to stop at the Jolly Green Giant Statue in Minnesota and get your picture taken. You need to actually go see the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD, and Wall Drug. These places are kitschy, and that’s exactly why they’re essential. America is both a place of great beauty and great silliness, and both should be celebrated by the traveler.
If you will be out of town for a few days or more, consider having someone you know drive by your house occasionally to make sure that everything looks okay. You may also want them to go inside and turn lights on at night. This will let anyone watching know that the house is being cared for.
One of the questions I most often get about traveling is the transportation question. “How do I get about when I reach my destination?” The answer really depends on the amount of driving you intend to do. If you intend to go places within walking distance perhaps only use a taxi as needed. Contrarily, if many of the places are a bit away, then it might be more prudent to rent a car for the duration of your trip.
A great way to get some sleep on an airplane is by bringing an eye mask. Even when you close your eyes, you can still see the different colors and shapes in front of you. With an eye mask, that will allow it to be completely blacked out, allowing much better chance of sleep.
Bring your hotel business card with you when you are on your trip. If you are walking around and about on the local streets and get lost, you will have this business card to show people who don’t understand your language. It’s good for anyone that really can’t speak the language.
If you are staying at a hotel while traveling, be sure to figure out where all of the emergency exits are located. You never know when there might be a fire drill or even a fire. Your map reading skills aren’t going to be at their best when you are woken by the alarm at 4 AM, so it’s better to know in advance.
Make your travel plans without locking yourself into advance booking. While you can get a good deal this way, you are asked to pay in advance for the length of your trip, and you don’t have the flexibility to cancel or change the dates of your trip. Particularly if you know that your plans could change, pay a little more and stay at a hotel that will let you adjust the dates of your stay up until a day before your arrival.
If you’re going on a long car trip, make sure to bring a plastic bag that can be dedicated to trash. This way you will have a place to throw all of those fast food wrappers and used tissues so they don’t end up all over the floor of your car.
If you are traveling in a car, take the time to go slightly out of your way and visit small town bars and restaurants. You will meet some interesting people and have the chance to sample some of the local fare. Residents of these towns will instantly recognize unfamiliar faces and often go out of their way to talk to you.
If you travel frequently and use rental cars, join the car rental company’s loyalty club. It will save you from waiting in long lines when you need a rental car. It will also save you the hassle of having to fill out the same paperwork over and over again, each time you rent a different car.
If you are traveling with children, allow them the opportunity to get some exercise before you bring them to the hotel. It can be difficult for children to ride on a plane or in the car for a long period of time. Try to find a playground to stop at or allow your child to swim at the pool once you get to the hotel. This will help them unwind at the end of the evening.
Need to convert your US Dollars to another currency? Don’t convert them at the airport, as soon as you step off the plane! Many kiosks in airports, charge high teller fees for converting to international funds as an easy way to make money. If possible, walk to a nearby shopping mall or bank to convert your funds.
A savvy travel tip everyone can use is to seek out restaurants that are popular with local residents, rather than selecting eateries that cater to tourists. By dining where the natives dine, you will gain greater cultural exposure, eat better food, and have a far more authentic experience than a tourist trap restaurant could ever offer.
When you are traveling abroad consider buying a fanny pack. It might not be the most fashionable thing to wear but it will certainly protect your valuables from pick pockets and people that prey on tourists and travelers because they know they are carrying more cash than the average citizen.
Keep these tips in mind as you pack and plan. It can help you on your trip.
